Diary of an ‘Asaba’ Kid
Dear Diary,
I woke up by 4am to the nightmare of being stuck in traffic on my way to work. I guess this is the new normal since Asaba wasn’t favorable to me. As a first timer in Lagos, no be life una dey live for here o.
Terrified by the memory of being held up in a standstill traffic for three hours the previous day, I quickly boiled some water with the old kettle. Although I had to take it off the gas burner after 10mins in order for the whistle not to wake Aunty Kemi up, as she’s complained several times.
While waiting for my water to boil, I pressed my only black trousers yet again. E go don tire for my matter. God dey.
When I get the ₦15k that Brother Ebuka promised me, I’ll go to the market. Okrika get quality as we chanted back in NYSC camp.
“Mimo mimo mimo”
*Bell rings*
The usual early morning cry on my street that I get to listen to as I leave the house everyday at 5:30am. Music to my ears at this point. Literally.
I shouted at a keke saying “Cathedral Bustop”. He told me, “300 naira ni o”. With my British-Yoruba accent, I replied “Driver, 200 lowa o” as I entered, greeting the two brothers already in.
Thirty seconds before getting to the Bustop, one of the brothers started a peak gist. “You remember Segun nauuu. Guess what he did to his mother…”. In my mind, I was like talk fastttt this guy. Unfortunately, he got a phone call that cut OUR gist short.
Bothered about Segun’s mother and pained that I couldn’t get to know the rest of the story, I angrily came down from the keke. I tucked my phone into my bag securely and started trekking to where the buses were parked. Walked past Binta.
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You might ask. Now who tf is BINTA?!
Lmao. Binta is the name I gave to the lady on the PEPSI billboard who’s smiling with a Pepsi bottle in her hand. In a world this cruel to me, Binta is the only one who smiles at me. I mean, she’s always smiling. 24/7, literally.
I approached the park and started hearing the conductors.
“Oshodi Oshodi. Wole pelu 700. Mi o ni change larokututu Monday ooo. Oshodi wole ooo”
I instantly rushed to the bus to enter with my ₦1,000 note. Thankfully, I had an extra ₦200. I already did the calculation in my head. Finding ₦500 shouldn’t be hard.
I got to work. My same old, same old toxic boss who does nothing but try to water down my efforts. It’s cool though because I know this is a stepping stone. I won’t be here all my life.
I closed work by 5pm and headed straight to buy my favorite meal right now, Amala, at Amoke Oge around that Mafoluku side of Oshodi. This is my best spot after a long day at work.
Took the next bus home.
I’ve had my bath. I’m on my bed now, and just as I’m about to sleep, I wondered if Mummy Segun, from the gist of the Keke brothers earlier today, is fine.
Goodnight, Diary
Hello I’m Opeoluwa. I write. I love words. The realization that I have the power to construct words the way I want with just 26 letters fascinates me. Any deals? opeoluwafatunmbi@gmail.com
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