In February of 2016, I traveled with my school sports team to the University of Lagos, Nigeria. We were to represent the east in a University wide competition. We had come in late in the evening after a long journey and we had to do our covid-19 test before we lodge. While we waited our turn, Fat Jimmer was asking me how I was feeling after the journey as he thought my legs would be broken by the evening. I did not answer him. Then he turned to his friends.
"I am the Tarantula that…," A fat chunk of spit landed across my left cheek, and I screamed.
"Eww!!! Can't you talk without releasing hormones through your mouth? Or do you store barrels of saliva in your esophagus," I fumed. Fat Jim stood silent as everyone turned to stare at him. Getting their attention, I continued. "Did I tell you that I was trying to take my bath in front of everybody? Must you overdo everything? Even teacher Cole that splashes spit on everyone does it in a tiny way, but Fat Jim's turn, he drops one the size of a bottle cover. Were you not taught moderation?" I eyed him as I screamed. Some people giggled
It took everything in me not to burst into laughter seeing fat Joe's face. He was enraged. This was the first time I had gotten an opportunity to taunt him in public.
In my first year and second year of college, Fat Jim was one person I prayed not to bump into. He was always taunting me in front of his friends and his friends were really cute. They called me Breeze or Biscuit Bone. I used to laugh with them anytime Jim teased me but I was seething inside. My freshman year was one of my worst years because I used to be very thin.
Fat Jim would always tell me to put heavy stones in my pocket when going out so that the wind would not carry me.
I had been looking for one opportunity, just one, enough to disgrace him in front of all the cute girls he was trying to talk to. The University of Lagos was the perfect place because more school representatives were still coming in to take covid19 test.
"Now I have to go and wash my face with antiseptic because of your loose mouth," I moved close to him, pointing my finger at his face in anger.
Fat Jim stepped forward, seething. "Leave this place, you are pissing me off, people are already gathering," he gritted his teeth.
"You are not the one to tell me when to go, I'll go by myself when I want to go," I moved back a little bit.
To be honest, I was a little scared. Fat Jim was huge and he could bulldoze me at any time.
But I needed the last laugh, so I continue talking as I stepped back. "I wonder where your mouth has been and all the weird things it has done for you to be throwing saliva without control." Many of the girls that had gathered chuckled and some of them had to cover their mouths.
Many people may not like me for my outburst and it may not be entirely nice to call someone out like that, but Nigeria has taught me to be smart and stand up against bullies. I walked into a nearby bathroom. That was the highlight of my day.
Thanks for reading, much love 😘