If there is one thing I am afraid of and trying to avoid, is being a server at any occasion. I have always run away from such even in my church because I don't like serving guests; this is because no matter how you do it, some people will still want to step on your toes, act greedy and complain they aren't served even when it is obvious to them that you are still serving others and haven't reached their turn.
(At the reception ground during Grandma's burial ceremony)
My immediate younger sister is talented in this aspect. She is a great event planner and knows how to organise parties for people. Just last year, she was given a million naira project to organise a conference for hundreds of people and she was compensated for a job well done. In case you want to know, she would be the event planner on my wedding day. She has the energy but I don't have it. Sometimes, I wish I could be like her and it is one reason she is loved by people including my family. I am always seen as the weakest child in family gatherings because anything that is called stress, counts me out.
When Grandma died, I knew there was no way I was going to escape this since it was our event, we were doing it together. At least they hired caterers for a week to cook and serve everyone even before the occasion. Ours was just to arrange the souvenirs and serve the guests on that day. With all these, I was still trying to keep my head low and run away from serving. Maybe I am good at following orders, tell me who to serve and which table to go to first, and I will gladly do it but for me to start thinking and looking for the next table to be served, I don't have that strength.
So, it happened on the last day of the burial ceremony, we had just returned from church and were ready to serve guests at the reception ground, and my uncle's wife saw me and begged me to come help her serve people chinchin (snacks) while she engaged in other activities. As much as I wanted to refuse it, she didn't allow me as she kept begging. My big sis offered to help me and I was excited that it wouldn't be me alone, my shyness was part of the reason for refusing to do that apart from the fact that I hate serving people.
Somehow, my sister was tasked with another thing and I was left alone. At that moment, I was feeling nervous about how I would start facing the crowd and sharing snacks in a small bowl for them. With the number of tables and chairs being in circles, that would be difficult for me to serve all. As luck would find me, my younger sister (the last born) who has been busy with other things was free and volunteered to help me. I was happy and I told her what to do; she would be the one serving as I instruct her while pouring the chinchin in each bowl. We served over 20 tables of 5 people each and the chinchin was gradually finishing. I looked around and did a rough count of the remaining tables, the remaining snacks would not be enough to go round. Now, you see, this is what I am always avoiding. If you give to some and do not give to others, instead of understanding that it has finished, they start to feel unhappy as if they contributed money for the snacks.
With the little remaining which I was trying to reduce the quantity, there sat some old women from the village who kept signalling to me to pour some into their hands. With the way they sat down in groups, they looked like those witches having a meeting in their coven.
One thing I have known about my village is knowing there are witches and wizards who love to inflict pain on others. As much as I knew about this, I was being careful with any of them. It is not like I am afraid but one has to create a boundary because even the Bible says the one who is in me is greater than them. So, why scared?
I frowned my face while sharing the chinchin and pretended not to see them. The next thing I saw was one of them stood up to meet me and silently said into my ear, "Do you want to say you don't know us? I told you to pour something, but you refused. What is wrong with you, this child?" I looked up to see the woman and lo and behold, I never knew this woman before, not in the village. At that moment, I was fidgeting and my hands were shaking. Immediately, I apologised and gave the remaining chinchin to the women and the others as I poured into their hands. As soon as it finished which they saw too, I left that place, holding my sister's hand while calling the blood of Jesus 😁
I don't want somebody to come and attack me over chinchin they never contributed money for. The world is wicked 😄
Thanks for your time on my blog.
