BITTEN

A few weeks after I got into my new school, I was just about settled in and getting familiar with my new surroundings, I found a confectionery close to the school and decided to try it out. The first time I went there was a Thursday afternoon, after lectures. I perceived the sweet aroma of baked goodness while I was 3 blocks away from my destination and I knew I was in love! I stepped into this heaven-sent store and felt peace in my heart. That feeling you get when you get home after a long day at work...It was amazing!

The arrangement of the cakes, cupcakes, and cookies was beautiful. I could barely hide my excitement. In 2 long strides, I was at the counter pointing out the items I wanted packed up for me. That was when I noticed a second sales attendant at the counter quietly explaining to a lady standing beside me that there was insufficient cash on the lady's debit card to pay for what the lady had taken, most of which the lady had already eaten. I felt embarrassed for the lady who was already close to tears. I offered to pay for the things her debit card could not pay for. 

She was so happy, she waited for me to be done being attended to and proceeded to walk with me. I found out that she was a fellow student at my school and we got talking all the way back to school. Fast forward to 2 weeks after we met. After lectures for the day, she met me and asked if I want to go get cakes. "Why not?" I said and off to the confectionery we went. On our way back from the confectionery, she said that she wanted to use the ATM. I stopped for her to get done. From there, she said that she wanted to have Ice cream from some place, and fried rice from another place as the ones sold at the canteen in school were not what she wanted. "Shuo! This babe want carry waka like this o!"(This girl wants to take me around with her) I thought to myself. I immediately gave her reasons why I needed to be back at school and left her. 

The next time I saw her was a Saturday. She wanted to go get cakes again, and this time, at a different place. "Wetin happen?! Na only me done help person?" (What happened?! Am I the only person who has helped someone?) I thought. This time, I refused immediately, telling her that I wanted to catch up on some courses and had no time to leave school. Once bitten, twice shy. She never called me to go with her on her cake quests again.

In the world we live in today, we can not just let ourselves be pushed around by anyone and/or everyone. We ought to know what we want out of life, where we want to be, who we want to be with, and the likes. We have to have a plan. Be in charge of our lives. Not everyone's plans includes us, and some that do are not in our best interests. The girl mentioned earlier may have seen me as a friend, or just a partner in sweet tooth satisfaction. Whatever it was, I knew what I was in school for and knew that I had no time to waste going to different places when I had books to read. You have to make choices for yourself, be ready to look people in the eye and let them know what those choices are.

Your life is yours, be in charge of it!

- The Lady



         “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”
                                                                         Amos‬ ‭3:8‬