Coma

some people's life are meant to be nightmares.

Keji :

I move out of the tiny store, closing the gate behind me.
Father's words reecho in my head.

'I'll kill you if you buy the wrong stuff again'.

I was fifteen year old and I already know all types of cigarettes&alcohol. I lazily tread down the path, determined to take my time before heading back into that hellhole of a house. 

''keji'' someone calls.

I stop abruptly, recognizing the voice that called out to me. I wait for him to catch up with me.

''Where are you going to? '' he asks, snatching the nylon bag in my hands ,viewing it's content.

''None of your business'' I snap at him.

My answer was rude but I wasn't in the mood for Bayo's tete-a-tete this hot afternoon.

  My ebony skin burned under the scorching sun and I can feel my body sweating all over after making four trips to the local market before finally finding a store that sold the kind of cigarettes father likes.

''did I do something wrong? '' he asks

"no"
  Here I was passing aggression on a friend who just wanted to chat.

Well, I wouldn't call him a friend per se. Bayo is a classmate and a neighbor since childhood_we practically grew up together though we were never close.

He was almost always annoying and butting into other people's business but he didn't deserve the curt treatment I give him.

I mentally caution myself. I didn't bother saying sorry knowing I'll be giving Bayo  a chance to revel in my guilt.

''I see you're in a bad mood ''
he replies as if I myself was oblivious of that fact.

''I'm just tired'' I confess, collecting the nylon bag he hands back to me.

He pauses for a second or two then inquires
''family issues? ''  his question earned him a sneer from me.

Maybe bayo knew too much for his own good. He knew a lot about my family being a neighbor, friend and all.
''it's not that '' I lie "school issues ''
On a second thought, It wasn't necessarily a lie, I had problems with some school subjects.

''I could help you'' he offers.

''the class guru offers to help me '' I tease and he smiles.

I was not surprised that bayo offered to help me study, he is a nice friend and a very intelligent boy even though I wasn't particularly friendly to him.

Bayo had always got the first place prize longer than I could remember. He was smarter than I give him credit for.
I am a mediocre student and lagging behind this term.

''thanks ''

With bayo's tutorial and a lot of reading from my end, I would do better than the 15th position I got last term, I smile at the thought.Mother would be so happy if I could up my grade.

We are so engrossed in our conversation I didn't notice I was just two compounds away from my house.

''First lesson starts during break time on Monday' ' He says  before rushing into his compound, just adjacent mine.

I Ogle at Bayo's family compound. It is beautiful, huge and senere in contrast to my family's less attractive, considerably small one.

I had always dreamed of living in such a fancy house,eating from imported plates with food catered by reknowed chefs. I have since woken up from that dream and realized that for some people, life is meant to be a nightmare.

"see you tomorrow morning " Bayo shouts, calling back my attention. He waves at me, I wave back.

Walking into my own compound, I said a silent prayer that father likes what I bought for him, determined not to think of the Consequences if otherwise.

Thanks for taking your time to read. Had mixed feelings while writing & the part where keji says 'life is meant to be a nightmare for some people ' really got me thinking 

Love you!
Marian