After spending a couple of weeks with my sister and enjoying Christmas with them, I finally broke the news of my going back home.
My sister was not happy about it but it was something beyond our power, school was resuming in a few days, and unless I wanted to be left behind, I should be back.
I was supposed to leave on Sunday but I told her about it on a Wednesday, so that it won't be something impromptu for her.
The next morning, I just finished making my prayers and decided to relax a little more, when I heard a knock at the door.
“Who is there?” I yawned, stretching my arms wide.
“It's Daddy Jane,” a voice replied.
I flung the pillow I was embracing and quickly rushed to the door.
“Good morning sir, please come inside,” I opened the door for my sister's husband who was already dressed in his FRSC (Federal Road Safety Corp) uniform, carrying a backpack.
“No, don't worry,” he objected. “My wife told me you are leaving on Sunday, why so soon?” He asked.
I smiled, “I wish I could stay longer but school is resuming soon, I have to go back so that I can meet up,” I responded.
“It is okay. I thought I would be able to stay until the weekend but my boss called last night and asked me to go back to the office.”
“Sorry about that, Sir, that means you won't be around when I am leaving," I replied.
"Yes! and I am not happy about it. Nevertheless, take this money, and get yourself something,” he responded, then handed over a brown envelope to me.
Ah! I exclaimed aloud, “Thank you, Sir.”
“It's okay, I'll be leaving now,” he added.
“Let me walk you to the main road I suggested.”
“Alright,” he answered.
I inserted the envelope in my pocket and collected the backpack from him.
He continued talking about his dissatisfaction with my leaving, till he boarded a car, and we waved each other goodbye.
When I got back, I went straight into the room and counted the money. It was five thousand Naira, back then it was a lot of money. I was so excited about it that I spent most of my time that day pondering on how to spend it.
On Saturday, a day before my journey, my sister woke me up early and told me we should go to the market.
I quickly got dressed and we hit the road. Prior to that time, I had only heard about the Bukuru market. There have been reports of how authentic and yet cheap goods are in the market.
So, I brought the money my sister's husband gave me to do some shopping too.
When we alighted the car, I was dumbfounded, the market was so crowded, that you could get lost in the midst of the crowd.
My sister whispered, “Hold your phone well o.” Fear gripped me and I held my pocket firmly.
Okirika (fairly used clothes) sellers were everywhere, but those who sold rubber shoes had their corners, and those who sold fairly used skin shoes also had their place.
The arrangement really swept me off my feet. The market was arranged in such a way that you can't come there and not get what you want.
After taking me around and getting me a few things, on our way out, my eyes caught this beautiful shoe.
At first, I wanted to resist but the more I tried to leave the more something pushed me to go to it. It was white in color, just the kind of color I liked.
Its sole was high and fancy, and to crown it all, I saw something like it on television recently. One of my favorite music artists wore something just like it in one of his videos.
Photo by Antoni Shkraba Studio
Within a split second, I headed to the corner. “Ina kwana, (good morning)” I greeted the man who sat under the umbrella where the shoes were arranged on the ground, in Hausa.
“Lafiya, mai kana sau, (I am fine. What do you want?)” He replied in Hausa.
I pointed at the shoe and he picked it up and handed it to me.
“It is such a nice shoe, touch the sole, all the material is skin, " he said after giving me the shoe.
My sister didn't even know that I was purchasing something at a corner, because I left without her knowledge.
While the seller and I were still bargaining, she sighted me and came over. She was also caught by the beauty of the shoe.
“Wow, this shoe is nice,” she took it from my hand and observed it for some time, and gave it back.
Then she dragged me aside and said “All that glitters is not gold,” these men don't sell quality things. Let us leave.
But I was captivated by the beauty, “No, sister, I know shoes, this one is just good. And the price is cheap, he said five thousand but I insisted on three thousand five hundred Naira.”
She looked at me and smiled, then said “Okay.”
When the man discovered that my sister was trying to persuade me not to buy, he said “bring the money.”
I was so happy, I quickly paid, out of the money her husband gave me.
When we got home, the joy in my heart was beyond measure, my sister bought me some clothes and all of them fit well. I liked everything, the moment was epic until I decided to check my new shoe.
Then I noticed that the sole was not original, it was just air pumped into it. If you press it too hard it will go in and then come out after some time. That means too much pressure can make it break or squeeze inside.
It was like a dream, my money was gone for nothing. I was surprised how I allowed the outward beauty of the shoe to distract me from properly examining it.
We couldn't take the shoe back because it was late, and we were not sure we would be able to locate the man again, and even if we located him, the man might not take it back and even if he did, he would not give us back our money in full.
Considering all the risks involved we just decided to keep the shoe. I brought it back to my hometown of course but I didn't use it, I gave it out to my younger brother.
