I had gotten home that evening, hope shattered, morale low, but I wasn't giving up. It wasn't because I was some sort of strong guy that could withstand any storm, but knowing that my landlord would soon be on my neck, and coupled with the fact that hunger was staring at me from the dark corners of my room was enough to motivate me not to give up.
In case you have forgotten what happened to me in the previous chapters, my name is Daniel. I have been through a lot already. From the soldier's net to an interview that went haywire. I am just as frustrated as it is.
James? He is making things worse as always with his cooking. I do wonder if he does nothing else with his life but cook.
Regardless, I have passed through a lot in the hands of Benegota. Everyday, there is something just waiting for the first cock to crow, and it seems to sit down, patiently waiting for me to step out.
But I have a good feeling about this evening. My club, Western foram, is playing today. I have to pay to watch the match, but I don't have any money on me.
My mind darted to James, that annoying neighbor of mine. I decided to swallow my pride, it's not like it's gonna feed me, and I decided to beg James for money to pay to watch the match.
I got to his door, and a song titled "Poor man don come" was playing in the background. I felt uncomfortable. It was as though the singer was speaking to me directly. What sort of insult is this?
I gently knocked on James' door, and after a few minutes, he opened up. Just then, the smell of freshly backed doughnuts hit my nose. I looked past him, and saw a tray, just lying carelessly on the table. A can of malt was sitting comfortably beside the tray, as though mocking me that I can look, but not touch.
James analyzed me from head to toe, and laughed. His laughter indicated mockery, and he even pointed his fingers at me while at it. It's painful, especially when you know you can't do anything.
"Oh, let me guess, you have come to beg again." He said, his voice laced with mockery.
I lowered my head in shame. I have spoken against him many times, and each time I find myself in a situation, I have no choice but to turn to him. My other neighbors are just as broke as I am. One was worse, he has 7 children in addition to his poverty. Sometimes, I weep for him, the economy ain't smiling.
"So tell me, what is it you need? Another handful of garri without sugar, or something else?" James said, finally recovering from his laughter.
"Can you lend me 200 naira, I'd pay back." I said, trying to sound convincing.
"Pay-back?" James laughed. "It's just like asking a lion to father a goat. You cannot pay back. Do you want to know why? Because you're broke. Look at you…if you were in my shoes, would you borrow yourself anything? You have drunk garri to the point that everywhere you go, you smell of garri."
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry. After all, a man ain't meant to shed tears. Women are lucky.
He did give me the 200 naira, but not after a load full of mockery. I left his room, feeling disgraced. Actually, I have been insulted worse than that, but who cares, I have a match to get to. The thought of it warmed my heart.
I made my way to the "viewing centre" and paid the owner. Just like every good person, I sat at the back, and started arguing with one random person on who is better between Ronaldo and Messi.
The match started, and 2 mins into the game, we have already conceded a goal. 8 mins in, and two goals had entered our net. The opposing team fans kept laughing and mocking us, forcing us to give excuses for our team failure.
The second half had started, and our team scored two goals, and made the scores equal. It was a final, and I was really rooting for my team to win.
The second half ended, and they went to overtime, in which none was able to get an advantage over the other. It ended up in penalties.
Tension within the "viewing centre" was at its peak. Our team versus our enemies, sorry I mean opponents.
My phone rang out, signalling that it was getting low. I realized that I hadn't even plugged my phone in, and we didn't have any power supply back at home. So I decided to plug it in before the penalty shoot-out started.
After plugging my phone, and on returning to my seat, the penalty shoot-out started. A guy yelled at me to get away from the screen, and in the process of doing so, I tripped. In an attempt to break my fall, I held the plasma TV, and it fell along with me.
Tishhh
That was the sound that followed next. The 55 inches plasma TV screen was broken to pieces, and me? I had landed on my back and it hurts.
The entire viewing centre was quiet, everyone staring at me in total shock. I don't know what made me leave the house today. How was I going to explain?
Having realized what I had just gotten myself into, I made a run for it, leaving my phone behind. At least my life is more important.
"John, lock the door so he won't escape!" A guy shouted from a corner of the room.
If John locks that door, it's over. These people won't hear "I'm sorry". They will beat the upcoming football fan out of me, send me to hospital, and I will still pay damages. The muscles I am seeing these guys flex doesn't look funny at all.
Before John could lock the door, I hit him with my elbow, threw him to my side with all the strength I could muster, pushed the door open, and ran out.
The entire guys started chasing me like their life depended on it. Me? I was running with my legs nearly touching my head. If you looked from a distance, you would think I was a thief being chased by angry youths.
Everyone in the street panicked. It is a normal phenomenon here in Benegota that when people are running, irrespective of the cause, just run! Why, you may ask? Well, you don't know who is doing the chasing.
You could be innocently looking out for who is chasing who or what is chasing what, and end up as "scapegoat" (i.e the one used to teach others a valuable lesson in terms of being dealt with). No one really cares about your innocence.
So everyone did what a normal Benegota person would do, run! I was jumping over fences, entering buildings, being chased by dogs, and jumping out. I felt like James Bond.
The entire community was in disarray, as everyone abandoned their businesses. Even car owners didn't have time to reverse, everyone, rich and poor, flew out of commercial buses, bikes, and private cars. No one wanted to be used as an example.
I managed to arrive back home. The guys? Probably looking for me. I won't be leaving the house anytime soon. I think I am starting to love my inner space. But what if someone knows where I live? What if they decide to hold my best friend, Emeka, and use him to track me down.
I haven't eaten anything good since, and now I am owing a debt of 550,000 naira. How do I attend to pay back? This life ain't just fair to the poor. You stay indoors, hunger will deal with you. You move out, it's from one trouble to another.
Life!!!
There is how things will be, I will end up running away. But where do I want to go? Does the poor man run away? Run to where? More poverty?
It was night-fall already. I think I will go to bed hungry today. James? Nah, he will spite me, and probably not give me anything. Life is just…complicated.
I don't know what tomorrow holds. But if it's still going to be me in this situation or worse, it won't be funny at all.
But I have a feeling that things might change for the better, or get worse, could go either way. I need to catch some sleep, it has been a long day.
TBC