Securing The Bag (The Lagos Hustle)

Another Baby Changes Things

::::::::::KANAKU
That's right. Another baby. Can you imagine? Ruki was not even up to 3 years and Barakat was pregnant again. Already 2 months gone. I wonder how a news can plunge you into depression and at the same time uplift your spirit and put you in a good mood. I had been conflicted since I found out about the pregnancy, how on Earth was I going to raise 2 children? That meant double expenses....oh God! But then I'd catch myself thinking; what if it was a boy? Ruki would have a younger brother. He'll have my serious eyes and Barakat's soft features. Of course he'll have my strong jaw. No son of mine would have a glass jaw. I'll teach him to box, teach him the way of the streets so he'll be street smart. But he'll be far better than me, he'll go to the university, maybe become a doctor or engineer and no one would ever mess with him at work or at home cause of the valuable street orientations i'll instill in him.

The baby also put me in a tight dilemma. When it was just Ruki and Barakat we had barely gotten by, but I was still able to provide and Barakat was a genius when it came to home management, every money I provided went a long way, no matter how small. But now with another baby on the way I could foresee the endless cycle of bills, bills and more bills. There's no way we'll be able to stay above water, not on the little money I made in the streets.

Something positive had to happen and change my situation before the complete 9 months or I had to make something happen. One of my elder brothers was a vice principal in some fancy secondary school. He had told me times without number he had a gate security spot open for me in the school. I'd laughed him off every time, telling him I was good.

It left a dirty taste in my mouth just thinking about it now but it was either I got a job or went into serious crime. I'd always leaned more towards crime but things were different now, I had a family and I couldn't afford to lose them. God forbid I get killed or locked up in prison. Barakat was beautiful, she would remarry and my children would grow up calling another man 'daddy!' Another baby changes things, Ruki had tamed me and now even this unborn baby had managed to make me imagine a life with an actual job.

It wasn't a bad picture to be honest, I could see contentment in the life. I'll get married to Barakat and knuckle down at my job, maybe give the school the next 20 years of my life, securing the premises. The pay was fair, a little over the recent minimum wage, Ruki was also a good hairstylist, I could open a hair saloon for her and together we'll be able to raise our kids and maybe we'll even have a happy home.

A couple of months ago I was seriously considering planning one more score but here I was considering making serious changes to my life. The streets had raised me but now I was 30, maybe it was time to settle down? I shook my head. Naaah.....something big will come up before then. The job was just a contingency plan. After all I was the infamous Kanaku, something must come up.