A Memorable Incidence

Two weeks ago, I was inside a mart, shopping for new toothbrushes and toothpaste and cereal. Usually I am a Sensodyn person, but I decided to change it for something else. Something cheaper. At least that something self get 'for sensitive teeth' and 'whitening' for pack.

A week later, I was battling lip cuts and bleeding from my gyms whenever I brushed. I would have blamed the toothbrush, but I changed it to soft bristles. A trip to the doctor and then to the dentist and he delivered the verdict, It is your toothpaste.

So for 3 days, I haven't brushed my teeth. I have been using only mouthwash and avoiding some food. The dentist said brushing would hurt my mouth further.

Yesterday, I rereturned to Iya Martha's. The kid was at my older brother's. Little generator was acting up, I grumbled at having to pay for fuel again to power on the big one. The little generator, like short people, was always acting up. Everytime coughing black smoke.

Sha we switched on the big generator and I powered on my Pc, plugged in my phone and powerbank. The room was hot so I went to check if the ceiling fan was revolving on full mode. It wasn't. I turned the controls to 5.
Meanwhile, something smelled like rain, but there was no wind so I said nothing.

Iya Martha asked me if she should bring the mattress to the sitting room, because I hardly use the bed. I said nope. I said I would be working overnight. I said I would probably pass out on the couch.

So, I write, Iya Martha watched Smackdown. I write with tiny interruptions to answer WhatsApp messages. Soon it began to blow hard. From the windows. I looked at Iya Martha and said, Rain?

She stared at the window. At the curtains billowing inwards. We went to switch off the generator. I hoped my powerbank would last me through the night if I connected it to my writing lamp.

The powerbank held out for an hour then the light went off. I say, As I no fit see wetin I dey type( I should get a pc with lighted keyboards) make I use laptop battery charge phone.

Outside, rain fell hard. Battering the windows, streaking my couch with droplets of water. I wanted to close the windows, but I liked the wind.

The next thing, Iya Martha was shaking me awake, holding a pile of my clothes. She was asking me if they were dirty. I nodded half-asleep. She never let's me do laundry in her house. Even if I am washing just one shirt she would come and say, Leave am for me na.

There's no light. There's never light in this place. I wheeled the generator outside and powered it on. I hadn't even settled down to plug my phone before neighbours started bringing their phones, lamps and annoying behinds to fulfil their obligations as Nigerians.

Oh well, what to do?
I was at the table, trying to think of how to continue what I was typing. Then I decided to leave it and go brush my teeth. My mouth felt better. And I don't have the energy to go to the dentist and sit through another painful plaque removal session.

I closed my pc and walked to the bathroom.
Seconds later, the door opened and Iya Martha came in looking terrified.
"Wha..."
"Come see" she said.

We walked to the sitting room. The ceiling fan I had been working under had fallen down and shattered the glass table and my PC was buried under the rubble.

I realised I was touching my neck as I stared at the mess. I realized also that I had actually closed my pc before going to the bathroom. I had left it open all night and closed it to go brush for a few minutes. Epic.

So many things flashed across my mind at once. The rain yesterday that didn't let me leave the generator on late into the night. Me telling Iya Martha not to bring the mattress(which would have been under the fan) because was going to sleep on the couch. The kid, far away on holidays that she hasn't been to ever, and how she always jumped to switch on the telly and watch Smackdown and Monday Night Raw. Her favourite seat, under the fan.

Her favourite position, leaving forward. The toothache. I always brushed late. After breakfast. I only went to brush early today because I haven't in days, using mouthwash alone. Weeks, days; culminating into escaping one moment. The wheels of time roll funny.

Iya Martha and I went to work, sweeping shards of broken glass. Neighbours came in and I rolled my eyes inwardly because I knew soon the house will be filled with feet, curious face and loud prayers and thanksgiving and testimonies and 'if e still dey siddon dia nko?'. A full Saturday crusade. Someone may even be inspired to collect offering .
Something came to me as I ignored everyone and focused on getting tiny, elusive bits of glass from corners of the rug. It made me chuckle and try so hard not to laugh.

It was a line from Game of Thrones.
What do we say to the god of death?
What do we say?