Adiya Amir

Five

Saturday arrived quickly than it was expected, there wasn't school today. I woke up early and did my normal routine before getting dressed to go out for the day. I stayed with iya Oja at Bombata Market, she took me in as a daughter.

"Eka sọ ń má*" I greeted her warmly. I was staying at her half- shop for the main time till my pay could rent a container or half shop to call home.

"Afternoon omo mi*" she replied as she grounded her teeth on the kola nut.

"Mo fé sọ fún yín pé mo ti ré lọja*" I informed her in my local language because she disliked been spoken to in the English language. She would be like in her motherly voice" why are these nowadays children speaking English when Yoruba is the best, are they not proud of their mother's language?" while I would smile in reply. Because she knew, and I knew that the English language was our international language and business language.

She rarely spoke in English except if she was extremely angry. She mixed all the languages she understood to talk.

As I left her, I went to the wholesaler's shop to count some bags of water to sell.

"Hey Diya, how many water dey for yà head," Chidima asked me.

"E no finish faa, remaining bitin" I replied her with a smile. Chidima was my very good friend since I arrived at Lagos with no one. She was my support and the only family I'd now since I'd lost all.

"Era pour water, ẹ pé òùngbẹ ooo" I advertised, holding my big bowl on my head with my left hand while using my right hand to hold the money I'd gotten.

Since I'd arrived at Lagos, I'd been hawking cold sachet of water on the roadside. It was my only source of income and feeding without it I was as good as a begger.

After school, I would buy some bags of water and sold it by the road. But today, the sun was scorching hard. I continued hawking and advertising while bids of sweat rolled down continuously. I loved my work, I couldn't complain.

"Ọmọ òní pio water, I wan buy water" I heard a driver in a very expensive black car called me.

I rushed to him with haste because it was competitive, if I didn't, another person would. I gave him five sachets of water with a smile on my face. When it was time for me to collect my money, the driver ignited the engine and started to move. I shouted and ran after him, as I was running, I fell and grazed my knees that it started to bleed.

My money, my fifty naira, I screamed mentally in pain.

I was panting heavily when the car abruptly stopped, I was trying to catch my breath when a set of shadows loomed over me.

Thank goodness, I thought.

I raised my head slowly as Becky and her minors come to my view, I groaned in annoyance, "what do you guys want" I said going to the point. I couldn't allow them to waste my time.

She and her minor laughed before high fiving one another.

"Look at her, a pour water seller," Mary said the last part with disgust.

"Is it not work? it's still better than stealing or selling myself" I mumbled under my breath.

"What did you say, small girl?" Becky asked as she was looking at her perfect manicure nails like it was the most beautiful thing in the whole world.

"Nothing" I replied gruffly.

"Good" she clasped her hands while having that evil glint in her eyes.

"Can you see how she was running after the car because of fifty naira, she's really a rag" Nifemi laughed, mocking me.

I couldn't blame you guys because you never work for money but I work for it and I know the value. And fifty naira means so much to me because it cost a meal for me, I yelled for but I didn't have the courage to speak out.

"Haha, she's a real disgrace to our school- the Royals should have a pour water seller as a student. Yucky!!!" Nifemi outraged as she glared at me.

"I videoed everything, all the students will know," one of them said, I couldn't look up. I hung my head low in disgrace and humiliation as tears brimmed in my eyes.

I hated it that I couldn't defend myself but what could I do? when they were the government themselves.

Becky lifted the big bowl on my head and threw it away. I couldn't hold back the tears as I thought about today's income. I would go hunger strike for a week as I wailed loudly.

All the vehicles stopped moving, the people were watching, some with sympathy, anger, pity,..... But they couldn't do anything because she was the president only daughter. They stood there and watched. The policemen turned a deaf and blind eye to what was happening because they were afraid of been sacked.

I saw chidima in my peripheral vision marching angrily to where I was and slapped Becky hard on her face as she cried out in pain with her high pitched voice.

"God knows maybe she has been beaten before in her life" I wondered.

The sound emitted from the slap shocked everyone plus me too. She yanked Nifemi's phone from her and smashed it to the nearest pole.

"My baby, you smashed my baby" Nifemi whined.

"How dare you this fift... " Chidima didn't let her finish her statement before she backhanded Mary.

Shola tried to butt in but received a blow at her nose.

They were all whining like the babies they were.

" If I see anyone of you rats near her again, I swear to God your papa no go* recognise you. Trust me". She growled as she glared hard at their trembling bodies while they nodded meekly and scurried to their car.

"What are you all doing here? don't you have somewhere to go?. Bye you can go now the show is over" Chidima clapped her hands and shooed other people who were standing away.

Then she turned to the policemen "Hey bros, don't go yet. You are all disgrace to Nigeria police force" she hissed and turned away with me limping behind her.

I've not collected the money, I screamed internally as I continue to wail loudly for my loss.

Chidima glanced at me questioning but I shook my head because she couldn't understand why I was sobbing.

~~~~~~

Rough Translations

Ọmọ mi=my child

Eka sọ ń má = good afternoon ma.

Mo fe rẹ loja=I'm going to the market.

Dey for yà head = on your head.

E no finish faa, remaining bitin = it hasn't finished, it remains a little.

Era pour water, ẹ pé òùngbẹ =buy pour water and quench the thirsty.

Ọmọ òní pio water, I wan buy water = pour water seller, I want to buy water.

Your pápá no go = your fathers won't.

🌸🌸🌸

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Who likes chidima?...

How was the chappy?.

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