There were at least 12 paper bags sitting by the broken TV–gifts waiting to be sent out to friends and family. Despite the hard times, Mae* and Bryan* try their best to liven up what is said to be the most wonderful time of the year.
It has been two years since their TV got broken, just months shy before the TV station they work for went silent. It was as if the broken TV was a premonition of the things to come. After several years of hearings, the franchise of the company they had worked for eventually expired. It could have been them; they could have lost their jobs, but by some stroke of good luck, they are still able to bring something to the table.
Mae and Bryan, undeniably, did not like how things turned out for them. But after years of toiling in their office during holidays, they finally spent it at home this year. Their workload, however, has also found its way into their home.
Staring into their screens for long hours during the night, the couple has yet to resolve 50,000 unread emails in their inbox. Mae would spend the afternoon coordinating with the company’s technicians to ensure their subscribers’ issues are resolved. Bryan, on the other hand, directly addresses their customers’ concerns through the company’s messaging platforms.
Though swamped with work, at least they are with their four-year-old son tonight, Jay-jay*, but he must be fast asleep by 10:00 p.m., before his parents’ work emails start flooding in. A salary increase could help cushion the family’s expenses, particularly now that Jay-jay will have to start school soon, but that is nowhere in sight until the government insists on keeping the company they work for out of business.
But they always wish for the time the media giant they work for resumes its place on the airwaves. It is the only chance they would get a salary increase, or when the company somehow miraculously makes more profit.
A little extra money could be used for their child’s education, and a TV they’ve been wanting to buy to replace the broken one. Jay-jay could be watching his favorite cartoons on the TV instead of the small screen on either of the couple’s phones. During days off, they could watch movies together as a family, if only Mae and Bryan were not too caught up with the workload they had to face to make ends meet.
If only they had more time together–but they have to keep working. Instead of waiting for things to get better for the company they work for, they opt to work an extra two hours a day, and another day a week. They only have a day to focus on Jay-jay. But at least they can earn a bit more to earn the increase they so covet.
So, while they answer calls and emails at their home, when everyone else is enjoying the night with ham and wine, the couple watches their son fast asleep. At least they would have enough money to buy a TV by the end of the year. Something for them to look forward to. ●
*Not their real names.
