The sound of Conner's irritating laughter echoed through the walls of the restaurant. He flung his head back in a carefree manner and I was sure he didn't care if he was being a nuisance to anyone or not.
I smiled awkwardly and tried to laugh along, but it was hard doing so. Conner and I have been colleagues for four years and I still wasn't used to his personality.
"Dude this place is lit I tell ya" he said and I only replied with a subtle nod. As usual, he was oblivious to my disinterest.
"There's this new boat my dad got for the summer......" He began, talking about the things his family could afford and once again reminding me of the invincible line that divided our world.
I tuned him out and stared out the window. The air was damp and the street was wet from the early morning rain. But the bustling streets of New York was still busy as always.
The sound of a female voice brought me out of my thoughts.
"Huh" I said with a mixture of surprise and confusion.
Conner chuckled "you're so out of it these days Samuel" he said
"What would you like to order?" The lady asked in a rich thick Nigerian accent.
I stared at her with my mouth opened wide. Ten years I've spent here and not once have I met a Nigerian, I've met other Africans but never a Nigerian.
"You be Nigerian" I said, using our local language called pidgin English
Her eyes lit up in surprise "haba!" She exclaimed in surprise "ah ah! U sef from naija." She turned and yelled over her shoulder "oga tayo we get naija customer o"
"Naija customer! I dey come" A man with a beer gut rushed out of the kitchen and came to our table "my broda! how you dey na" he hailed, giving me a very Nigerian handshake.
"I dey fine o, I no know say na Nigerian restaurant be dis o" I said staring at the restaurant
"U don see am na" oga tayo said
"Na wetin u go chop?" The lady asked
"Banga soup dey?" I asked, requesting for the local delicacy of my tribe.
"Yes na" he said
A few minutes later and he came back with the most naija looking banga soup. My mouth began to water and a sudden hunger I hadn't felt in years filled my stomach.
When I took the first bite, I felt like I was back home in my mother's kitchen. I closed my eyes as I envisioned myself eating from her pot of banga soup.
The joy I felt in that moment, not even a bad day at work could take it away.
"I told you you would like the restaurant" Conner grinned and I stared at him with a smile on my face.
"I love it" I said and he threw his head back and laughed.
