“Mummy, are you going to buy anything today?" Adanne asked her mom.
“Hmmm," Adanne’s mom looked at her with suspicious eyes. “Why are you asking?" her mom said.
“I just want to help you out," Adanne replied with a smile that clearly showed she was definitely up to something.
“Hmmm… okay if you say so. I wanted to go to the market and buy some meat to add to the soup for tonight and also Garri because I don't think the one left will be enough,” Adanne’s mom answered.
"Okay, is that all?” Adanne asked, almost too eagerly.
"Yes it is, and this one you are asking to help me by yourself I am not buying anything for you ooo,” Adanne’s mom sounded loud and clear.
"I know, so what time do you want me to go and get it?” Adanne asked.
"You can go anytime before noon, whenever you are ready tell me so I can give you the money for the things," her mom said.
“Okay, I will go by 3 pm," Adanne said with a smile before going back into her room.
It was 3 pm on the dot when Adanne was prepared, wearing a T-shirt with jean shorts and a sac bag folded under her armpit.
“Mom, I’m ready," Adanne said to her mom who was lying on the chair.
“The money is there, 2000 naira for a custard of garri and 3000 for the meat. The remaining 500 is your transport to and fro," her mom said, still half asleep, pointing to the money on the center table.
Adanne repeated what her mom said twice to memorize it as she took the money and left the house.
When Adanne reached the market, she bought the meat first from the Hausa men who mounted their tables on the road before going to Madam Iyabo to get the garri.
“Thank you, ma," Adanne said, taking the nylon of a custard of garri from Mama Iyabo.
She had already taken a few steps when Mama Iyabo called her back, “Adanne, you didn’t collect your change," Mama Iyabo waved the change at her.
Adanne rushed back and took the change, quickly mumbling thanks. She was in a hurry, not to get home quickly but because she was going to meet Emeka, her secret boyfriend.
Adanne walked a little further, before getting to the field where Emeka said he would be. When she got there, he was playing a match, so she sat on a bench to wait.
When he finished, Emeka rushed to her, smiling. She grinned back and sat on his lap with his arm wrapped around her waist as they chatted.
“Jesus!" Adanne suddenly jerked and quickly stood up.
“What is it?" Emeka asked, puzzled.
“I think my dad's sister just saw me,” she whispered, her face downcast.
“Are you sure?" Emeka asked, looking around.
“Yes, she’s still looking at me. I have to start going now," Adanne said, panicking.
Just as she was about to leave, someone kicked the football, and it hit her hard on her back.
The football hit was so strong that she dropped the sac bag, and the garri bag inside burst open, with half of the custard of garri spread on the dusty floor.
Adanne stood frozen, her hand on her head, mouth hanging wide open in shock. Half of the garri was gone, wasted in the dirt.
Emeka hurried to help her scoop up what little garri was left, and she snatched the bag in anger, storming off to take a bike home.
At the gate of her house, she realized with horror that she had lost the change. She stood there for a moment, helpless, as tears welled up in her eyes. After a while, she gathered herself and entered the house.
“Finally, you’re back. What took you so long?" her mother asked, sitting up.
Adanne couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into tears.
“What is it? What happened to you?" her mom rushed to her side, inspecting her body to see if she was hurt.
“I was walking… then… then all of a sudden they hit me with football and the garri poured… now I’ve lost the change,” Adanne cried, making sure to leave out the part about meeting Emeka.
Her mom sighed, “Is that all? Don’t worry, stop crying. Sorry. Just go and bathe and lie down and sleep.”
Adanne nodded weakly and turned to go to her room, but just as she was about to enter, there was a knock on the door.
"Who is that?" her mom asked as she moved to answer the door.
“It’s me, Nene," came the familiar female voice from outside.
Adanne’s heart skipped a beat. It was her aunt, Nene, the one who had seen her with Emeka. She quickly dashed into her room, trembling.
She sat on her bed, her ears focused on the conversation outside. Was she going to get busted? Did her aunt tell her mother already? Everything seemed to be going wrong. Like she was in a domino effect.
Her body shook in fear when she heard her aunt ask about her.
“She’s resting, she just came back from the market,” her mother replied.
"Okay, greet her and my brother for me. I just came to say hello and see how you guys were doing,” Nene replied.
Adanne let out a long sigh of relief as she collapsed onto her bed. It was over, at least for today.
