Chapter Two
The power supply had run through the night, even till mid afternoon, everyone was elated, pleased and thanking God for touching the hearts of the NEPA men in charge of distributing electricity.
As Bunmi, mentally checked off her list, she prayed for the 100th time that she didn't miss anything out, anything important.
That morning they were all happy, but her happiness was on a higher volume. She sang sweetly, twirled every chance she got.
Being 21 and with only an ounce of educational experience, she had learned a lot from the street and all around her values and attributes of qualities that makes a person a person. Good or bad, everyone is who they are because of an upbringing, or collision with certain conditions, circumstances or people.
She just about knew enough to keep her going and enough to help her in avoiding certain situations that could spell Doom for her.
As Bunmi watched the fan twirl at a particular speed on the ceiling, it's circular motion luring her to sleep, she was anticipating the return of her mother from the market.
While Bunmi rested in the house, the whole neighborhood were making sure all electronic gadgets were fully charged and enjoying the light as long as it would last.
And they had better make the best of it before the power company madness began again.
Bunmi slipped easily into dream land, the air revolving around her and soothing her skin was comfortable enough to make her feel like she was in paradise, her Maami always taught her that being contented with what one has was better than digging up golds that weren't there in the first place.
Bunmi's elder sister Wura became an example over the years, Wura had mixed with a lot of bad crowd, leading her into different uncultured habits, she drank till she was drunk and unable to move, smoking all sorts of things, after different attempt to reach out to her, Wura saw us as bad people stopping her from living and enjoying the downward spiral of a life she thought was suitable.
She died five years ago when Bunmi was 17, Wura died while trying out a new drug. The people she had called friends, who she thought were to be trusted, never showed an eye at her funeral, and whenever Bunmi passed their area, they would snigger and act like they were whispering to one another's ears but every words they spat was enough to awaken Wura from her death, to kill them all.
Bunmi's parents prayed that their daughter Bunmi never joined or would encounter such kinds of people.
Their fear emancipating as she grew older in the span of time.
Last night, while Bunmi slept in her room, Mr and Mrs Ekundayo shared a silent emotion, now all they would do is pray that God keeps Bunmi as she goes to Lagos to live in the city with her aunt Bimbo.
It was late when Bunmi opened her eyes, her mother was back long ago, had made dinner and power hadn't been disconnected.
"Olabunmi, Bunmi ooo" her mother called, knowing how light of a sleeper her daughter is.
"Ma, ma, I'm coming" She got off of the bed and bolted out the door, to where she presumed her mother had called her from.
On seeing her mother, Bunmi greeted her.
"Eka san ma", she greeted in Yoruba.
"Omo mi, you're blessed", Mrs Ekundayo patted her daughters back.
Mrs Ekundayo went on saying "Bunmi, there's no more cold water in the fridge, take this 500 naira", her mum lifts her purse from the fridge, opens it and places a 500 naira note in her daughter's palm.
"Go to Iya kayode's shop and buy two bags of water and put it in the fridge, we don't know if this light will stay till the night".
Her mother instructed, Bunmi complied.
Holding on to the money carefully, Bunmi went to the next street, the shop in front of the third house was were she was headed.
Bunmi had long black hair, her eyes always caught many attention, before her behind, she was at five foot seven, her shapely legs visible in her knee length flare skirt, she walked with haste with a bit of control with the movement of her butt.
It was late, and it was known that at such hour bad boys tend to move and smoke around, trying to stop any lady that they liked and toast them just to sleep with them.
Bunmi was glad that she got to the shop without much worries from the area boys, one out of all of them had always irritated her. His name alone caused her enough repulsion.
She greeted the shop owner, went on and bought the bags of water, with assistance from Iya kayode, the bags were secured on her head, with her change in hand, Bunmi started her walk back home.
Her steps were more careful and decisive this time around, she wouldn't want anything to happen to make the bags of water on head to cascade to the ground then burst open.
Her mother wouldn't have ear for any explanation.
On getting to her street, walking down the stony partway, Bunmi's nostrils got hit first with the smell of cigarettes, before she saw the figures coming before her, she knew that trouble was around the corner.
And it was no joke.
Trouble as he liked to be called and his crew of misfits were heading towards her, they were oblivious to the person a few feet away from them, Bunmi wore her brave coat, crossing to the other side of the road, she walked fast her hands holding on to the bags on her head tight, she began to increase her pace, sweat staining her forehead.
As she passed the lot, their mind and energy put solely into their conversations, Bunmi felt relief wash over her.
She remembered her last encounter with Trouble, she didn't want that to ever repeat itself.
Bunmi opened the door, and announced her presence to her mother, she then placed the bag on the floor gently before putting them in the fridge.
"Ah omo mi, you're back", Mrs Ekundayo steps into the kitchen to check the stew she was preparing for dinner.
"Yes ma, Iya kayode sends her greetings", though that wasn't entirely true, Bunmi felt it was right to make mention of it.
"I'll greet her when I go to see her, I just got off the phone with your aunt".
Bunmi jilted, "What did she say Maami?".
Mrs Ekundayo laughed "Calm down, you this child".
Bunmi composed herself a bit, "I'm calm Maami, what did aunty Bimbo say".
"Help me pass the spoon".
Bunmi did ask her mother asked, patiently waiting as her mother stared the stew before turning the stove off.
"Wash these plates, I'm coming let me get something in my room", Mrs Ekundayo left the kitchen purposely torturing her daughter by dragging on the suspense.
Bunmi washed the plate with a sad expression on her face.
Why won't Maami tell me what aunty Bimbo said? Or did she change her mind? But it was aunty Bimbo that got her the job in the first place?Does this mean she won't be making money and be sending it it Ba mi and Maami?
Bunmi thought and thought for long, rinsing off the last plate, her mom came into the kitchen.
"Welldone Ola," Mrs Ekundayo pretended to check if the stove was turned off before facing her daughter.
"Your aunt is coming tomorrow, you and her will be leaving for the city the day after that."
Bunmi jumps up and hugs her mother.
As mother and child stood hugging, Mr Ekundayo walks in and ends the moment.
"Mummy Bunmi, I'm famished"
Bunmi's fathers tummy growled, both mother and daughter laughed as they moved around the kitchen getting plates to set for dinner.
Table of contents
As Bunmi, mentally checked off her list, she prayed for the 100th time that she didn't miss anything out, anything important.
That morning they were all happy, but her happiness was on a higher volume. She sang sweetly, twirled every chance she got.
Being 21 and with only an ounce of educational experience, she had learned a lot from the street and all around her values and attributes of qualities that makes a person a person. Good or bad, everyone is who they are because of an upbringing, or collision with certain conditions, circumstances or people.
She just about knew enough to keep her going and enough to help her in avoiding certain situations that could spell Doom for her.
As Bunmi watched the fan twirl at a particular speed on the ceiling, it's circular motion luring her to sleep, she was anticipating the return of her mother from the market.
While Bunmi rested in the house, the whole neighborhood were making sure all electronic gadgets were fully charged and enjoying the light as long as it would last.
And they had better make the best of it before the power company madness began again.
Bunmi slipped easily into dream land, the air revolving around her and soothing her skin was comfortable enough to make her feel like she was in paradise, her Maami always taught her that being contented with what one has was better than digging up golds that weren't there in the first place.
Bunmi's elder sister Wura became an example over the years, Wura had mixed with a lot of bad crowd, leading her into different uncultured habits, she drank till she was drunk and unable to move, smoking all sorts of things, after different attempt to reach out to her, Wura saw us as bad people stopping her from living and enjoying the downward spiral of a life she thought was suitable.
She died five years ago when Bunmi was 17, Wura died while trying out a new drug. The people she had called friends, who she thought were to be trusted, never showed an eye at her funeral, and whenever Bunmi passed their area, they would snigger and act like they were whispering to one another's ears but every words they spat was enough to awaken Wura from her death, to kill them all.
Bunmi's parents prayed that their daughter Bunmi never joined or would encounter such kinds of people.
Their fear emancipating as she grew older in the span of time.
Last night, while Bunmi slept in her room, Mr and Mrs Ekundayo shared a silent emotion, now all they would do is pray that God keeps Bunmi as she goes to Lagos to live in the city with her aunt Bimbo.
It was late when Bunmi opened her eyes, her mother was back long ago, had made dinner and power hadn't been disconnected.
"Olabunmi, Bunmi ooo" her mother called, knowing how light of a sleeper her daughter is.
"Ma, ma, I'm coming" She got off of the bed and bolted out the door, to where she presumed her mother had called her from.
On seeing her mother, Bunmi greeted her.
"Eka san ma", she greeted in Yoruba.
"Omo mi, you're blessed", Mrs Ekundayo patted her daughters back.
Mrs Ekundayo went on saying "Bunmi, there's no more cold water in the fridge, take this 500 naira", her mum lifts her purse from the fridge, opens it and places a 500 naira note in her daughter's palm.
"Go to Iya kayode's shop and buy two bags of water and put it in the fridge, we don't know if this light will stay till the night".
Her mother instructed, Bunmi complied.
Holding on to the money carefully, Bunmi went to the next street, the shop in front of the third house was were she was headed.
Bunmi had long black hair, her eyes always caught many attention, before her behind, she was at five foot seven, her shapely legs visible in her knee length flare skirt, she walked with haste with a bit of control with the movement of her butt.
It was late, and it was known that at such hour bad boys tend to move and smoke around, trying to stop any lady that they liked and toast them just to sleep with them.
Bunmi was glad that she got to the shop without much worries from the area boys, one out of all of them had always irritated her. His name alone caused her enough repulsion.
She greeted the shop owner, went on and bought the bags of water, with assistance from Iya kayode, the bags were secured on her head, with her change in hand, Bunmi started her walk back home.
Her steps were more careful and decisive this time around, she wouldn't want anything to happen to make the bags of water on head to cascade to the ground then burst open.
Her mother wouldn't have ear for any explanation.
On getting to her street, walking down the stony partway, Bunmi's nostrils got hit first with the smell of cigarettes, before she saw the figures coming before her, she knew that trouble was around the corner.
And it was no joke.
Trouble as he liked to be called and his crew of misfits were heading towards her, they were oblivious to the person a few feet away from them, Bunmi wore her brave coat, crossing to the other side of the road, she walked fast her hands holding on to the bags on her head tight, she began to increase her pace, sweat staining her forehead.
As she passed the lot, their mind and energy put solely into their conversations, Bunmi felt relief wash over her.
She remembered her last encounter with Trouble, she didn't want that to ever repeat itself.
Bunmi opened the door, and announced her presence to her mother, she then placed the bag on the floor gently before putting them in the fridge.
"Ah omo mi, you're back", Mrs Ekundayo steps into the kitchen to check the stew she was preparing for dinner.
"Yes ma, Iya kayode sends her greetings", though that wasn't entirely true, Bunmi felt it was right to make mention of it.
"I'll greet her when I go to see her, I just got off the phone with your aunt".
Bunmi jilted, "What did she say Maami?".
Mrs Ekundayo laughed "Calm down, you this child".
Bunmi composed herself a bit, "I'm calm Maami, what did aunty Bimbo say".
"Help me pass the spoon".
Bunmi did ask her mother asked, patiently waiting as her mother stared the stew before turning the stove off.
"Wash these plates, I'm coming let me get something in my room", Mrs Ekundayo left the kitchen purposely torturing her daughter by dragging on the suspense.
Bunmi washed the plate with a sad expression on her face.
Why won't Maami tell me what aunty Bimbo said? Or did she change her mind? But it was aunty Bimbo that got her the job in the first place?Does this mean she won't be making money and be sending it it Ba mi and Maami?
Bunmi thought and thought for long, rinsing off the last plate, her mom came into the kitchen.
"Welldone Ola," Mrs Ekundayo pretended to check if the stove was turned off before facing her daughter.
"Your aunt is coming tomorrow, you and her will be leaving for the city the day after that."
Bunmi jumps up and hugs her mother.
As mother and child stood hugging, Mr Ekundayo walks in and ends the moment.
"Mummy Bunmi, I'm famished"
Bunmi's fathers tummy growled, both mother and daughter laughed as they moved around the kitchen getting plates to set for dinner.
Table of contents
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