Pestilence at nineteen

Eight

April 24 , 2019. Nigeria.

Lasisi ignited his okada bike again , this time, with more exertion of force. It had been over a week now and he and his wife Titi had had nothing to eat. The lockdown had prevented them from going out on their normal day hustle, and what was worse? ever since the lockdown their Landlord had been cold with contempt towards them , hence , making the residence discomforting for them.
"Lasisi abeg dey careful , sofri for road , make all those police people no catch you " adviced Titi
"I must hustle woman! hungry no fit dey kill me for house because of virus were I no dey see - infact, na abroad e dey , e no dey Nigeria " said Lasisi.
He was angry at the turn out of event ever since the lockdown , he no longer got his usual pay as a transporter and he was even more infuriated with the fact that he hadn't seen anyone who he knew personally , that was killed by the virus. He was a supporter of the term *"government dey do us wayo" meaning , the government are playing tricks on us.
"No worry my wife , if I see all those police people I go run come house , just manage yourself , shebi you wan go make Madam Nofi hair?" he asked as the bike had warmed up.
"Yes , make me too see small cash take cook" she affirmed.
"Okay , God dey" he revved up his okada bike and off he went to the roads.

* * *
The days work hadn't been too bad , he had made some few cash , but it was a sneaky and risky job nonetheless , he had finished for the day and had gotten some petrol from the gas station and planned on heading home afterwards. He rode for some few minutes along the road merrily and he whistled to himself as he sped up , he was just too glad about the money in his possession. Little did he know that his joy was anon to come to a terminus, he was stopped by a road block patrol and was asked to dismount from his bike.
"Where you dey from come?" asked the officer.
"I go buy something officer" he lied.
"oya give us kola make you dey go , you see say night done dey reach" said the rather tranquil officer.
"I no get money officer" he said adamantly.
"Shut up!" came another officer "Jide , collect that him bike" he added as he came down from their jalopy vehicle. Jide did as instructed and swiftly manoeuvred the bike to a hern.
"Officer abeg ! na something I go buy , I no get money" he lied again this time pleading amidst frustration.
"You even get mind go buy something inside lockdown again abi? offence number two" said the rather tactful officer ,with his disorderly set of teeth. Lasisi knew he was going no where with this and he was gradually shooting himself on the leg.
"Okay Officer no vex..." sadly , he brought out some naira notes and noticed that he realized five hundred naira from the days work , he tried partitioning the money so he could give them half and keep half for himself , but he didn't know the other Officer had other things in mind.
"Give me the money! goat" he hollered , grabbing the whole stock of cash to himself.
"Haba! Officer" he exclaimed , "abeg make we share am , this Corona period bring hungry come , me and my wife never chop , abeg" he begged like a baby.
"Kadiri , abeg let's share it with him , it's his day work" said Jide
"Shut up Jide! " he said ,"you ! go carry your bike " he turned to Lasisi , who mechanically motioned himself towards the hern , he grabbed his bike , ignited it , and revved out , cursing under his breath. As he left the other Officer turns to his partner.
"Look Jide , don't you ever question me in front of those riders , this pandemic outbreak was meant for we officers , and it's our time to pick up our money , if you don't have the balls to pull it off , get out of my way" he said , flinging some loose change at him.
Jide stared blankly at him , trying to replay in his head what Kadiri just said , "...this pandemic outbreak was meant for we Officers..." he scratched his stubble , picking up his portion of the money, he runs after Kadiri.