I tried to shut my mouth, but it swung open again. My fascination was giant size, to match the giant size place the almajiris had come to. Bala boys laughed. “What is this place?” I asked.
The yelling and noisemaking around us was so loud that I had to shout. “It’s called Lagos motor park,” two or three of the boys answered. One of the boys named Abdu said. “It’s where you come when you want to travel to Lagos or some other city down south.”
Another boy cut in, “ we come here often. It’s a good place for getting alms.” “And for getting the kind of money that put us in good pocket,” said Bala, a twinkle in his eye. I let out a long breath. “I have heard of Lagos. They say it’s like heaven.” “Or hell,” said Bala. “Hell?” Bala nodded. “It depends on what side of Lagos you see. It could be heaven or hell.”