Post by Collins Maduabuchi Idoko (@Maduabuchii)

Every December, Papa Chuka bought his Christmas chicken early, so it could "rest" before the feast. This year he went further: he bought a fine white broiler, tied it gently near the kitchen, and named it Bullet, because according to him, "the fastest chicken is the sweetest meat."

Bullet rested for three weeks. The children fed it leftover rice. Mama Chuka gave it the fish head. By the second week, Bullet followed Papa Chuka around the compound like a personal assistant. By the third week, it had a favourite chair.

Then Christmas Eve arrived, and Papa Chuka announced the feast was cancelled. Nobody asked why. Mama Chuka just said, "Christmas chicken don turn family member."

On Christmas morning, Bullet sat at the veranda eating bread soaked in palm oil while the whole family ate rice and stew like visitors in their own house.

At night, Papa Chuka looked at Bullet and said, "Anyway, this chicken get sense pass some people I know."

Bullet pecked the bread and ignored him, like a landlord who has already collected the rent.

They took a picture of Bullet wearing a red cap. It got more likes than the family photo. Papa Chuka said next year he will buy two chickens: "one for Christmas, and one for friendship." But everybody knows next year will end the same way: two chickens with names, eating fish head and running the house.

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