The concrete floor did not help issues at all, as it dished out more cold than necessary, neither did the wind relent in its bid to blow frantically. The only best friends in the cold situation were a little piece of cloth that served as cover from the cold breeze and her tattered gown which didn't make her in anyway different from a mad man. Lizzy carefully folded herself on the cold floor as if hiding from a frenemy. She wished she had a warm place to sleep. Atleast, a warm place that would console her of the hunger she was facing. She had not eaten since morning because the little money she made for the day was forcefully collected from her by one of the "Big Boys" in the market. It was an old woman who generously gave her the money to sympathize with her. The load and distance she carried for the woman was only worth #50, and after she dropped the load, the woman handed her a #200 note. "I don't have change ma" She said in a sorry tone. "don't' worry. Keep the change." The woman said, feeling like a saviour and a hero. Lizzy was excited. Her stomach had been complaining all the while, and with #200, she can mute their noise for a whole day. "…and, make sure you go to school". The woman added before she boarded a bike. Lizzy didn't like people telling her to go to school. It insulted her 16 year old self. Every attempt to help one or two people carry their load in the market was always met with "you are supposed to be in school". Only the more concerned care to ask, "why are you not in school?", and with the questions, they disqualify her for the job. "why would people keep asking me why I'm not in school?" she thought. "did any of them put me is school and I refused to go?" she questioned herself. It was on her way to Mama Biyi's shop to fill her bowels with the "well-anointed" beans and bread that she met the big boys who deprived her of her hard-earned money. Her body was just adapting and settling down for sleep when she felt her gown being lofted up. At first, she assumed it was the breeze taking the whole game to the next level. But, when she realized that the speed at which her gown was being drawn up was more rapid than that of the breeze, she opened her eyes, and behold, a man was bent all over her with his trousers way below his kneels.
"Baba, what are you saying?" Oloye protested. "You said after 3 days of sleeping with a mad woman, the calabash would start bring forth money." He added, as he dropped the empty calabash on the floor. "Be calm." Baba advised. "This is not the first time I'm doing this for people, and it has never failed." Baba explained. "Baba, I did what you told me to do." Oloye replied. "Or, is there another way to make love?" He questioned. "It's OK. Let me consult the oracle" Baba said. Baba made consultations and then turned to face Oloye. "I knew it. The mistake was from you." Baba said. "How?" Oloye asked. Becoming angered. "The person you had sex with is not mad." Baba declared. "What?" Oloye was shocked. "But... she was... she was... putting on torn... clothes." Oloye stammered. "It is not all the people with tattered clothes that are mad, and it is not all people putting on good clothes that are Ok." Baba explained. "Baba, wha..wha...what do we do now?" Oloye stammered again. " You should even count yourself lucky because such a mistake could have made you go mad." Baba explained again. "You would have to go again." Baba said. "What?" Oloye exclaimed. "This time around, you have to be sure it's a mad woman." Baba instructed. "Or, you can forget the whole money ritual." Baba added.
(c) 2016. Austus Ofmat Nwanne
Is the whole confusion clearing out now? Well, if it's not, don't worry. It will very soon. Poor Lizzy on the street. Desperate Oloye on the hunt. Only time would tell who would survive. Did I tell you that the stories for the magazine would be an entirely new and different story? Something you have never read before? Well, I think I just did. And, don't forget it would not just be stories alone. There would be other exciting and thrilling column. And to be a columnist, kindly chat me up. I'll come your way again as we continue the story. It's still, MAN ON THE RADIO.
It is good to share. So, take your time to share Daily Diet with your friends and loved ones. I'm sure you don't want them to miss out of the fun and lessons. For whatsapp users, you can create a broadcast list to enable you easily share Daily Diet with your contact. If you need help on how to create a broadcast list, message me so that I can put you through. And, if you don't want to create a broadcast list, you can simply give your friends my number to message me on Whatsapp, and I will add them to my broadcast list. For those who would also like to receive Daily Diet via Whatsapp, simple send a Whatsapp message to my number @ +2348072970850. Did you know there are over 20 of these wonderful stories? Did you know that there are over 50 wonderful articles that you need to read? Well, get them all for free on my blog www.tyobstacle.blogspot.com
HAPPY MID-WEEK !!!
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OFMAT AUSTUS NWANNE
Inspirational Speaker/Media Consultant,
Swift24 Multimedia Services.
+2348072970850
Mrtackle2009@gmail.com
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