Chapter 92
Chapter 92
Amaka seemed a little bit relieved when I assured her that I won't mention anything about the rules that her best friend disobeyed and now the air hostess came out for the second time to inform us that the plane will be landing in fifteen minutes, she however made it clear to us that all seat belts should be fastened. Can't wait to get out of this plane, I'm so tired and I need something to eat and a place to properly rest my body. "Would I still be able to see you in Lagos once we land?", I asked trying to see if I can hang out with her. "I'm not sure because I will take another flight to Enugu", she replied. "Where the hell is that?", I asked looking a bit confused because I have never heard of a place like that.
"It's a state in Nigeria and that's where I come from, I need to see my brother and also see my dead mother who should be lying lifelessly in the morgue", she replied while cleaning the little drop of tears in her eyes. I felt pity for her and I clearly forgot that she was in pains before we started our conversation, asking for her number won't seem right, now when she is not in the right state of mind. "Alright, I wish you luck. Just be careful and take things easy on yourself, you will overcome this, I know for sure", I assured her, the plane landed few minutes later and just like a flash, she dashed off from her seat and when I tried to see her face one more time, she was already gone.
I took my luggage from one of the security guards who handed it over to me, now the only person keeping me in this airport is my aunt and I don't even know where she is right now and the worst is that I don't have her number neither can I call her. I'm completely helpless at this juncture and I don't know if I should just look for someone who knows how to easily navigate through this town so that I can book a hotel where I can rest because I'm already exhausted. "Andrew!!!, a faint voice screamed my name from behind and when I turned, I found out that it was my aunt who called my name, I find it very hard to recognize her because the last time I saw her was three years.
She rushed towards me and gave me a tight hug that some how restricted my air flow my airflow for a while. "Aunt, it's enough", I managed to say. "You look so mature now, I can't believe that you are the little Andrew I knew ten years back, I couldn't even recognize you until I looked very well, it's been a very long time sweethearts", she called out to me in a soft tone. The last time I saw her was about ten years ago and I could see that she has also changed a bit, she now looks so fat and fair in complexion.
"Yeah, can we start going now. I'm so tired, I need some food and a good night rest", I replied looking so uninterested which what she has to say, "That's not a problem, that's my car over there", she replied, pointing to a 2018 Mercedes Benz parked in the parking lot, we walked down and she help me arrange my luggage so that it will fit in well and I went to the front seat of the car because it would be quite rude for me to sit in the back when she is not my driver, she got into the car and we zoomed off from the airport. "So how is life going for you in Nigeria?", I asked, trying to stir up a conversation while she is driving.
"It has been going well for me and I must thank God for that because living in Nigeria can be fun and also stressful depending on your bank account balance", she replied, "How do you mean?", I asked trying to understand her better. "Life can be a living hell for you here in this part of the world if you don't have cash or you are extremely broke. Don't worry, we would pass through the streets of Surulere so that I can show you exactly what I mean", she replied. All these African names are really confusing me, they seem so local and funny at the same time
"But actually, it's the same thing everywhere and that's why every human needs money to live a good life.", I replied trying to be optimistic, "Yes, it's the same everywhere but here is like times three of what does same broke people face outside the country. Now take a look at that young boy running after those cars to sell sausages, isn't he suppose to be in a school environment?", she asked after pointing to a young boy who was running through the midst of different cars. I opened my mouth but no words came out because I was too shocked to even say anything, that young boy should probably be around the age of seven or eight.
"What is he doing there?, somebody should get him out of there before a car knocks him down", I replied and opened the door immediately so that I can save the boy from the unforeseen danger that is coming towards him but my aunt dragged me back by pulling my clothes so hard that it nearly tore into pieces. "What are you doing?, do you think this is America?", she yelled at me with anger, "I'm trying to save that little boy. Would you be happy with yourself if he gets run down by a vehicle with break failure?", I asked looking so sad. "I understand that you want to help the boy but the only way you can help him is by giving him some cash or purchasing all his products so that he will run back to give profits to his mother or father but bear in mind that you will still see him here tomorrow, they won't leave the streets", she replied sounding so discouraging
I looked at the boy through the window and I felt sorry for him, he was running after different cars, offering to sell sausages to them for a little fee but nevertheless, I got down from the car and chased after him so that I could give him some money. My aunt stopped the car and tried to hold me back but before she knew what was happening, I was already in front of the boy and I called out to him with a soft voice. "Hey young boy, why aren't you in school like your age mates. Don't you know what you are doing is very dangerous?", I asked, the boy looked a bit sad and he started crying.
"My father was the one taking care of my bills and when he passed on, my mother couldn't afford to carry on from where he stopped. So I started selling sausages to support her little funds so that I can go back to school", he replied. I felt so sad for him and within a space of two minutes, I brought out $500 dollar cash and handed it to the boy, he quickly grabbed the money from my hand and squeezed it into his pocket like a thief. I was a bit surprised with the way he squeezed the cash into his pocket, "Why are you squeezing the money like that?", I asked looking a bit surprised by his actions
"Thank you so much sir, may God richly bless you. If I don't squeeze the money like this, some thugs will attack me on my way home if they probably see that someone gave me dollars. So I have to quickly hide it so that no one would see it", he replied. "Alright then, but please leave the road, once you get home. Give your mother the cash so that she will enrol you in a school where you can get quality education but would that money be enough for your education and feeding?" I asked while searching my pocket to see if I still have some dollars left because I always make it a habit of stacking some cash into all my pockets incase If I lose my wallet.
"Don't worry about my feeding sir, this money alone would do wonders in the life of me and my mother. Once I hand it over to her, she would go the bank and change it to naira", the young boy replied. "What's that?", I asked. "It seems you are new in this town, judging by the look of your skin and your hair. It's easy to say that you just got into Nigeria, naira is the currency we use here and this $500 you gave to me is equivalent to two hundred thousand naira, thank you so much for your kindness", he replied and ran off with his sausages. I didn't quite get what he said about the currency used here but I'm just happy to put a smile on his face, it shocks to see a young boy like that who looks so smart and sharp
My aunt kept staring at me and she started moving the car so that she doesn't block the other drivers because we were in a traffic congestion. I had to chase after her car like a sprinter until I even took my place in the front seat after running and sweating all over the place. "How did it go with the little boy?", she asked looking a bit concerned. "I thought you didn't want me to help him at first, why do you care now?", I asked.
"I was only trying to tell you that most of these kids will still return back to the streets after you help them", she replied. "I don't think so because I gave him $500 dollars so that he can resume his education journey". my aunt was shocked after my reply, guess she didn't expect that at all. "You never seem to amaze me you man and which story did he tell you that made you give him $500 just like that?", she asked
"He said his father was the one sponsoring his education and when he died, his mother couldn't afford to keep him in school so he has to sell those sausages to support her", I replied. She didn't say anything for a while as she was trying to turn around a big hole in the road, the hole was quite big and I saw a car whose tire fell into the hole with a loud sound. That hole would definitely affect one of the tires in the long run. "So are you sure he didn't make up that story so that he could get help from you after seeing the way you are dressed?", she asked.
"Why are you talking like this aunt, how would a small boy like that lie to me just to get money?", I asked with so much confusion. "Johnny just come Lagos, you haven't seen anything", she replied. Seriously I do not understand all these slangs and African words and I don't seem to flow with it at all. "Please can you stop with the slangs, I don't understand them", I pleaded with her
"Andrew you don't have a clue about what's happening in this town and mark my words, if you keep giving people money because you think they are helpless, you will sooner or later go broke, extremely broke if I must say. Not that helping that little boy is bad, his story might be real but I just want you to be careful because you are new here. Don't worry, when you spend a month here you will understand everything I'm saying", she replied. "Well, I'm just glad that the boy will no longer be on the roadside anymore", I replied looking so pleased with myself and the next thing, she burst into laughter