Ghetto Youth

. GHETTO YOUTH

Akara became expensive since April 25th, the day Papa died, yet struggle remained a luxury until the day Iya Nofisat shouted out loud that the street's transformer had exploded and that she couldn't afford to keep giving us free water to fetch from her water tank. Mama fasted more, slept less, killed mosquitoes at night so as to keep the doctors away. Sometimes she cried and I often had to convince her that Aminat would fall sick from watching her cry. I am the first born.

I played NairaBet with countless heartbeats and prayers for RealMadrid to win. Everyone called me Zaccheus because I often hung at the treetops to watch RealMadrid play, knowing I couldn't afford the viewing fees but always assisted Onile to collect his money so I could be granted grace to watch the match. If RealMadrid won I would be rich enough to buy Garri to support the leftover crumbs that the Akara seller often piled up for me at nights. After all Aminat must eat. RealMadrid scored the first goal and suddenly everything went blank as Nepa took the lights. By the time the lights came back on Barcelona had equalized.

"Messi please have mercy" I cried.

And out of nowhere, Christ intervened in form of Christiano as the swerving white ball descended on his head like a white dove and deflected to find the back of the post. Goal!!! The whole ghetto came alive! Ronaldo lifts the trophy. I lifted my Akara home!

The next day we had to fetch water. I carried the green bucket, Tobi carried the red.

"Iya Nofisat will shout at us" Tobi said.
"Let's go and beg. The Bible says ask and it shall be given unto you," I said.

So we set off. The queue was so long it bent in arcs like a hungry giant snake, but we joined anyways, as if to add to its hunger.

"Are you with Money?" Iya Nofisat retorted. I tried to prostrate.
"No, don't prostrate, just go back home!" She exclaimed.

But we stood still, and watched the water in the tank recede as people took turns to drain it. She finally agreed when there was no one left on the queue. So we rushed to the tap with our hearts full of thanks. Only for the tap to hiss at us, as though mocking us for being poor.

"Omi ti tan!" Water has finished!

Tobi started to cry. I looked up to the heavens for help, my gaze on the blue clouds whose blueness was the blue of cotton balls soaked in blue dyes.

Tobi's crying rose: "But you said we should ask and it shall be given unto us"

And just like a miracle well timed, the rain came, first in drops that fell against my shoulder like stones to punish me for my sins, but then it multiplied like the feeding of the multitude.

"Thank God it's Rainy Season" a voice said from behind the tank.

The God of Noah has come to the Ghetto!....To save my family, to wreck the business of those who intend to sell water to our shame. We'll rock this boat from here to the dry season where greener pastures await us. Our backyard farm and garden will blossom. Lagos will have a new governor in a few months, and we shall have better foods, water, light and football!

Life in the Ghetto has taught me to put my hope in God, and never give up. Never resort to stealing when you don't have. Family always comes first. Show Love and respect to your neighbor and you will receive love in return. No matter how hard life gets, always believe in a brighter future! You will triumph!

Olaniyi Benjamin
#thanksforreading