Waking up, it was already evident that today would be different because of the rain that fell. In the town of Kabba, it has been close to 3-4 weeks since it rains, and you can feel that the ground is thirsty for rain because of the lots of dust that the ground gives out.
But waking up, there was a cold atmosphere that signalled the day would be special. Bola tied her mummy wrapper around her waist and was about to set out.
"Mummy, I am set to go to the market," she told her mother.
Her mother, who sat in the corridor and was peeling the yam, stopped what she was doing to respond to her daughter.
"Bola, are you sure you can bargain the price of the tomatoes and the vegetables?"
"Ah mummy, of course I can do it. I have watched you several times negotiate with the sellers" Bola responded in a bid to convince her mother.
"Alright no problem, get me my purse inside the house"
Bola hurried in to get her mother's purse and brought it to her.
Bola's mother gave her 1,000.
"Bola, this is the last money with me for today; if you lose it, that means there is no food for us tonight", her mother echoes.
Bola got to the market, and, of course,e, just like how the market always, it was crowded with people and busy activities. Everyone facing their business.
Bola moved to the stalls available, carefully checking the materials they were selling inside. She checked into one stall and saw the exact types of Maggi which her mother always loved to buy.
Trying to pick the seasoning from the shelf, a little boy came to meet her, intending to pick the cube. Bola was shocked and tried to respond to the boy.
"Hello boy, I saw this first"
"No, I was the one that saw it first" the boy responded.
"I intend to get this for my mother" Bola responded to the boy
"I also intended to get it for my siblings " the boy responded.
They were looking at themselves and waiting for who would let it go.
Luckily, the seller at the shopping mall was looking at them with a smile. She walked to where both of them were and interrupted the little battle.
"Who is now going to pay for this" the seller asked.
"I will pay ma, I have money " Bola rushed to pull out the 1,000 note her mother gave her earlier.
Immediately also, the boy pulled out 50 coins from his pocket.
The seller took the packet of seasoning cubes and gave it to Bola and collected her money.
The boy's countenance changed, and he felt disappointed.
Bola looked at the boy and had compassion for him. Instantly, Bola broke the packet into two and gave the boy half.
"Really!" The boy responded, surprised.
"Boy, having bread is better than none," Bola responded.
"Thank you so much, my name is Dayo", the boy responded, feeling more calm and happy this time.
"My name is Bola" They exchange pleasantries like adults and go separate ways.
By the time Bola gets home, the rain has stopped. Handling over to her mother the seasoning cube, she knew she had gotten something more important than the seasoning cube, and that was the help she rendered to the little boy today.