Mrs. Sade felt encouraged by Mercy's words. Confidence bloomed in her heart as she realized they could make it through their trials together. Mercy settled onto a small stool, observing the world around her like a spectator while her mother took a much-needed nap to regain strength for the evening sales.
As time passed, it was soon 4:25 PM, and Mercy, feeling a bit restless, decided to start organizing the firewood and oil for the evening sales. A few minutes later, Mrs. Sade woke up from her deep sleep, stretching her body, her eyes red and heavy, as if she had been smoking. The bench marks on her arms showed she had been sleeping deeply.
When she spotted Mercy preparing to strike matches, Mrs. Sade shouted, "What are you doing? Fire is not something to play with!"
"Mum, I was just trying to help since you were sleeping," Mercy replied softly.
"But it's not yet time, and besides, we have enough time to rest before the evening sales begin," Mrs. Sade insisted.
"Let's start the evening sales now so we can finish early today. We'll have more customers if we begin early," Mercy urged, hoping to convince her mother.
After some coaxing, Mrs. Sade finally agreed to start early. She instructed Mercy to arrange the ground beans and other ingredients. Excitedly, Mercy volunteered to mix the beans and fry the akara, leaving Mrs. Sade with no choice but to teach her the process.
As Mrs. Sade guided her, Mercy found joy in learning how to fry the akara. To their surprise, customers began to arrive one after another, eager to buy the bean cakes even before the official start time. They were drawn in by the sight of Mercy, a young girl frying akara with such enthusiasm and happiness.
By 6:00 PM, they had sold out of the first batch of akara. Not wanting to lose momentum, Mercy quickly went to buy more beans and grind them at a neighbor's house. She was efficient, returning to the shop to mix and fry as quickly as possible.
Although some customers had to wait longer than usual, they remained patient, charmed by Mercy's constant apologies and friendly demeanor. Mrs. Sade, sitting on the bench, watched her daughter with pride, a smile spreading across her face as she enjoyed seeing Mercy thrive in the bustling environment.
YOU ARE READING
The Agony Of A Weeping Child
Mystery / ThrillerThis is the story of a Nigerian teenager who loses her inheritance after the death of her father and must navigate life's challenges without his support. It's a traditional narrative that takes readers through her journey of pain, hardship, and resi...
