It was two thirty when I go to mums shop from school, being in the bustling market and seeing different displays of items from food to clothing and various services rendered in the market made it seem like there was no difference in class and it was refreshing to watch.
Children who were supposed to be in school were hawking sachet water under the scorching heat of the sun each looking more malnourished than the next trying to help their parents so they could afford their next meal and not be thrown out of their houses by their unforgiving landlords.
The difference between the rich and the pore so glaring the more you look at it. Not hawking under this sun is a Privilege my divorced mum gave me and it's something I always appreciate mum for. A vow she took on herself that all her children will have at least the basic education she could not get during her time.
"Ella wetin you don dey look come sell market for this woman "
Yes ma. I stood and gave the heavily pregnant lady before the the *nzu* she wanted while she paid to mum.
Mummy why are these pregnant women always eating this thing, I asked her curiously
"Na wetin the pikin Weh dey belle want. Of she no eat that thing she no go fit sleep"
I was too stunned to say anything.
"Go mama Ejiro shop collect rice and beans with oil from her, tell her say I go come see her before I go begin pack "
Ok , I left for mama Ejiro's shop across the road. After picking up the thing I had to I left.
"Greet your mama for me she shouted after me"
Ok I yelled back while waving her goodbye
It's like these women can not communicate without shouting. I returned to mums shop.
"Oya carry them dey go house make you change your uniform, collect Shiney fish from mama Ejima make you cook keep if seven sharp you boil water keep for me I go see you for house. Take this fifty naira enter okada"
Thank you ma I said collected the money and went looking for a bike(motorcycle). The man refused to collect my money
"fuel don cost and where you dey go far"
Oga abeg Na wetin I get be that help me I don tire and I want rush enter house before all these welfare people go enter market, make dem no carry my mama go police.
He finally agreed after emotionally blackmailing him into it. As the government has refused for students to be in market places during and after school hours especially on their uniforms anyone caught his or her parent will be arrested.
I got home and started making preparations for dinner when sis got back from her shop "hey sis good evening how, was your day?"
"Hectic couldn't sit for a few minutes ontop one thousand naira profit weh no be my own"
Sorry sis at least you're home now you could rest before mum gets back I said
"What's for dinner I'm hungry"
Mum said we should cook banga soup so I'm preparing for that, I'll pound the banga seed while you instruct me on how to cook the soup so you could rest.
"Make I rest, Abi you dey fear to cook the food"