WAZOBIA: A Tale of Two worlds

Twenty One

The cold northern air froze me to the spot on my equally cold bed as I fluttered my eyes open the next morning.

Goosebumps plied my entire body, hairs standing on one end.

Curse this northern chill.

We weren't even at the harmattan season yet. It was safe to expect hail by December.

It was four o'clock. Good, we should set off early so that we arrive early. I was used to waking up to this kind of piercing cold back at camp. The rooms were very porous and the sheets were light as paper. Even paper could generate more heat than those flimsy, plain fabrics.

I peeled myself off of the hard master bed and wrapped myself with the sheets, forcing my eyelids to stay open even though they so dearly wanted to cover and protect the shivering eyeballs inside.

I trudged out the door and locked it. People were up already. Sex workers getting ready to leave and shameless married men begging they stay a little longer.

The walk downstairs seemed eerie and I felt like sitting on the steps, resting my head on the railings and dozing off.

I knocked on Jioke's door.

"Its Simbi, good morning. Biko come and get the car ready so we'll be going"

A muffled 'yes ma' erupted from behind the door and my mind raced to the ghana-must-go of ammunitions.

I'd hidden it under the seats at the middle row of the Jeep. Cartons blocking the openings at the back and front. The officers wouldn't suspect anything, and they didn't do car searches; they just looked at you and at your trunk and assess levels of suspicion.

But Jioke might see it.

"Don't tamper with anything oh" I said, as if that would prevent him from noticing the bag.

I lugged back upstairs to tidy up my stuff and get my bag down. No bathing for me, I couldn't expose any more parts of my skin to this deadly cold.

I wore socks and pulled on a big jacket, tucking my braids into a cap and fingers into black gloves.

My bag hung at my back as the door clicked, me hoping I didn't leave anything inside.
I'd already checked thrice. I was sure I didn't.

I dropped the key on the reception counter with nobody behind it, the receptionist probably hadn't come back from her appointment with one of the male residents. I left it there, not bothering to look for anyone so that I could check out. I'd already made payments, sure, so I was free to leave, save that I didn't steal anything. Reason why I chose places like this: I could do anything I wanted in anyway I pleased because they weren't even half organised and run by irresponsible people.

I snuggled into the passenger seat at the front, buckling my seatbelt tight as if it would somehow protect me from the cold.

Jioke slammed the door shut, dusted his hands and hopped into the driver's seat in his pullover.

The weather was terrible.

We drove out, having to honk almost four times to awaken the 'security guard', and then being answered by a grumpy middle aged man who thought we were disturbing him.

Jioke said, 'no vex', and drove out, winding up the windows.

Talk about hospitality.

*. *. *

The first few hours seemed like a dark, cold ride to nowhere until the sun finally came out; it only took a few more hours for me to relieve myself of the seatbelt covering.