My phone buzzed, jolting me up from my sleep. Lazily, I grabbed it from the counter where I left it and stared at the screen. It was Chidera, my cousin.
"Chidera, Ogini? What is it?*' I asked groggy and muffled over the phone.
"Hello Zee, you remember those pair of sneakers I told you about? I found them online in this store in Lagos. They're on black friday sales but almost out of stock. Please, you need to get there fast; I already sent you money," she rushed over the phone.
At first, I didn't understand all she mumbled over the phone. I was still battling with the light waves that come with a good sleep when I heard her yell my name over the phone.
"Zerah!"
I felt her voice crawl up my ears to my brain, bringing me back to life.
"Dera!" I yelled back.
"I already sent you the money and the location of the store. You better have those sneakers with you while coming back for Christmas, or I'll remove your name from the list of my favourite cousins," I heard her threaten.
That was Dera for you. When it comes to what she wants, she sees or has no emotions until she's acquired it. She doesn't care who she uses to do her dirty quest. So I knew that if I didn’t snag those sneakers for her and they went out of stock, Dera would never forgive me.
Quickly, I sprang to my feet. And dashed to the bathroom, splashed water on my face and dried them with a towel. Then I darted out of the house like I was being chased by a ghost.
"Zerah, are you okay? Where are you off to in such a hurry?" I heard Mama Chinedu ask from her kitchen window. I could perceive the aroma of the Egusi soup she was cooking
But I only waved back to her. "I'm coming back now, Ma", was all I could reply.
I ran out of the gate into the street, I was already sweating with my breath coming in shorts. The silk gown I wore clung to my skin like a second layer due to sweat. I glanced at my watch,
4:45 PM. Time was running out I had no time to book a ride. The only option was to get to the junction and jump on the next available Danfo Yellow bus to Lekki.
I was lost in thought thinking of my next move when I nearly collided with a street hawker and his wares “Madam, watch now!” the hawker hissed at me
"Sorry,", I quickly apologized and moved aside to let him pass.
Just then, a bus screeched to a halt before me as the conductor, a young boy with headphones dangling around his neck, shouted. "Lekki phase one gate!. One chance!".
Without a second thought, I jumped in. Holding tight to the frame of the bus for balance as the driver sped off
"Hold your change o." The conductor warns, plugging his ear with his headphones.
"Please just go" I pleaded, glancing at my watch again. It was 5 o'clock on the dot. I took a deep breath, I had just one hour to get to the store.
The ride was anything but smooth as the driver manoeuvred through lanes and traffic recklessly, shouting and cursing at his fellow Danfo drivers who tried to cut into his path. While his conductor sang loudly but incoherently to music playing on his headphones.
I turned to see if any of the passengers were fidgeting at the chaos like me, but everyone seemed so cool with it. I wondered how they all looked so calm with all that was going on.
"I'll survive this city" I muttered to myself, clutching my purse with one arm while the other still held tight to the frame of the bus. Then I wondered how I fell in love with Lagos when I wasn't cut out for all the beautiful chaos in it.
I got to my destination and squeezed a five hundred naira note to the conductor. Then I ran towards the store tucked in a corner of the street with its glass doors glinting in the evening sun.
Pushing the door open I froze. The crowd there was not what I expected. But I tried not to lose focus on my mission. Then I saw, displayed on a counter like a trophy a pair of the limited-edition Air Max
I squeezed myself through the crowd to the counter where the shoes were. But before I could grab it a tall guy in ripped jeans and a girl with pink hair blocked me as they argued over who would get the sneakers
"Sorry, but I'm here for those sneakers. I already booked them online" I lied to them.
They turned and looked at me from head to toe without saying a single word. Then they ignored me like I wasn't there.
"Look, I'm trying to respect myself before they say that I harassed a lady", I heard the tall guy speak rudely to the girl.
"You dare not! I came here first, and I'm having those sneakers," the pink-haired girl replied, slamming her hand on the counter.
I stood behind them watching them banter on who gets the sneakers while thinking of my next move. My eyes scanned the room as I spotted the store attendant and walked over to him.
"Is that the last pair of those sneakers?" I asked the tired-looking guy.
He nodded. "As you can see, these two won't let go of it for the other. They've been bickering over it for an hour," he replied avoiding my gaze.
I turned and stared at the two still arguing.
'Think, Zerah, think.'
Summoning courage, I knew it was either I dropped my soft nature aside and acted like Lagosian for once or risked losing the sneakers. I searched my bags for my credit card, and then I courageously walked up to them, with a nervous smile
“Hi, sorry to interrupt. But it seems like the manager is calling you guys. I think he wants to settle this issue," I lied, pointing in a direction.
They both turned to me, then to the direction I was pointing at, confused. Immediately, I grabbed the sneakers and bolted for the cashier.
“Pack this up! Now!” I shouted, handing over my credit card while looking back to see if the tall guy and pink-haired girl were after me. But they still hadn't noticed what happened. They were still looking for the manager.
The cashier quickly swiped my card and printed my receipt. She was just handing over sneakers to me in a bag when they two realized what had happened.
“Wait—what just happened?!” I heard the pink-haired girl yell.
“Did she just...?” the guy stammered.
I quickly grabbed the bag and dashed out the door. Luckily, there was an empty cab driving by. I flagged it down and jumped in.
"Where to madam?" The driver asked.
"Just get me out of here first", I replied, laughing heartily as the driver zoomed off.
I leaned back on the seat and took a deep breath. For the first time, I could feel my adrenaline rushing through my veins. I looked into the bags again to see my prize sitting pretty. Then I smiled again: Dera had better handled these shoes with care because I had just passed a full course on 'how to survive Lagos for it'.
