Attai_Episode2

9 years ago

Attai_Episode2

TITLE: Attai
EPISODE: 2

I took my shower that morning with my head sailing
in the clouds while the water splashed playfully on
my skin. My mind filled with the number of things I
planned to do. Nothing is going to stop me from
making sure I get that fine girl that sells recharge
card across the street as I had already prepared the words to say to her. After using the last drop of water, I dried my skin
and proceeded to stroll back, this time making sure I
walked softly on the ground in order not to raise
unwanted sand to my body. I scanned the
compound this time with my eyes taking note of the
number of doors locked. In fact, all the doors were locked and the only one looking open is Ekaite’s and
mine. Two jobless people. Can’t say I am jobless
because I had something doing which cannot be
termed legal but as everybody believed, I am a fine
yellow boy whose brother resides in the state. The compound is cemented all round and kept clean
by the ladies who takes turn in sweeping it. Made up
of twelve rooms facing each other, it was a mini
barrack as everybody in it try to outdo each other
with loud music and I pass my neighbour generator.
The gate to the main compound is already falling off and I keep wondering why no one has cared to
burgle us though I know the burglar is going to have
a tough time burgling.

“Ekaite baby, na you dey try pass o” I hailed her as I passed by while she answered by
nodding her head and immediately broke into one
Calabar song. “Abasi, ayaya o, ayaya…” I did not bother to listen to the remaining words
before banging my door shut to shut out the ugly
voice, cleaning my ear in the process. Some people
should hum songs instead of singing out loud because
their voice can cause lots of undiscovered ear
infections.

I came out looking good and smelling fine that Ekaite
could hardly take her eyes off me as I pocketed my
key and bid her bye before bouncing out of the
compound feeling her eyes bore through my back. I
proceeded to walk the shades out of the sun which
was already becoming hot so that my skin will still have its fair glow when I get to my destination. I veered off the main road into a dusty path that
leads to rows of uncompleted building. This road
goes on until it disappears into undeveloped land
which stretches so far that the eye cannot see the
end of it. I checked my wrist watch and discovered I
was already running late. 8:03am and I had planned to leave the house early. I cursed under my breath
for allowing Ekaite take my precious time, though I
reaped the dividend of it. I will be returning to clean
clothes and a well swept room. I smiled, shook my
head and increased the pace at which I walked but
being careful not to raise dust.

“Psst, psst”

I’m in the heart of “the jungle” and it is normal to
hear this sound. I turned round and realized it was
Godwin calling me. I stopped in my track while he
jogged to catch up with me. “Attai how far na, this one wey you just enter jungle
early this morning, abi you no go go hustle again” He said as we shook hands. “O boy, you know say na me be hustling king,
nothing fit change am. Abeg you get pencil there
make I write my name small before I look for biro to
take sign am” I asked him as he dipped his hand into his pocket to
produce a pack of White London, opening it and
offering me one. I took it and requested for “strike”
which he also gave to me. Lighting the cigarette, I
took a long drag and allowed the air to fill my lungs
before exhaling it in a long jet. It calmed my nerve a little bit as we both strolled to the farthest building
while I puffed on my stick of white London. “Guy, wrap on biro sharpaly abeg, I no too get time
and my oga go don start to dey look for me” I said. This prompted him to bring a black leather
from his pocket, opened it and looked at me. “Guy, you get rizler? The one wey I get na the
wrapping paper and you know say e too thick and
no dey too sweet to wrap weed”

I produced one from my wallet and watched him as
he wrapped it, removing the sticks and seed
carefully from the weed and then added a little
“ermo” to control the smell of the weed. Legend has
it that the seed and stick will cause a lot of headache
when smoked with the leaves. Having wrapped it, he lighted it, took a drag and
passed it over to me which I collected quickly having
disposed of the stick of cigarette I was smoking. I
dragged it, toying with the smoke in my mouth
before releasing it. I rushed the weed and quickly
stood up to go after receiving a call from my oga asking of my where about. I was already feeling
high, my head lighter and my body feeling like
feather. I made my way back to the main road, looked left
and right, crossed over to the other side and strolled
up the road before flagging down a bike, hopped on
and told the bike man, Mararaba. “Oga, na how much you go pay because I no want
make we reach then you go begin bring up story
because I no go hear o” The bike man said as he put the bike on gear. I
detected his accent, and using it to my advantage
replied him: “Haba Northerner na, you know say me and you na
from the same place, why you wan fall my hands na,
I be Kano pikin o” The man laughed out loudly. “Kai, me ma na from Kano na, anything wey you
get, just pay” I smiled satisfactorily as he took me to Orange
Market where I load buses going to the far north and
once in a while accompany any of the driver who is
ready to pay me enough money. My life, my way, I
do my business the way I want. Watchout for episode 3