The days when we eat to survive.

The plans we have for ourselves are always good and quite promising, but it is sad how they don't always go as planned. Before I gained admission into college, I had plans. My plans included eating whatever I wanted, when I wanted. I also planned that I would have savings I could turn to when things got tough. I was always mad at my sister, who was already in college, whenever she called home complaining about how she needed money and how it was urgent, even after the huge amount of money they always sent to her.

It was quite annoying because my parents made her a priority because she was in college; they always attended to her needs first, even before ours, all because she was in college and was living alone, but she still called home for help every now and then. With the picture of how things were at home and how much they send to my sister, I mapped out my plans on how I would save some of the money I get from home and how I would eat whenever and whatever I want, but all that changed in the blink of an eye.

With the plans I had, if someone ever told me I would one day eat food without any ingredients, I would have argued like my life depended on it. I gained admission into college, and I was the happiest person on earth. Finally, I left home, and I started receiving the same amount as my sister, and it was at this point that I understood her plight. The money was not even enough to feed me; there is a textbook to buy, there are dues to pay for, and there are handouts to buy too, and all I was left with after all that was nothing.

My dreams of living life the way I wanted came crashing down before my eyes a few months after leaving home. After lectures I got home and met my roommate in a thinking position.

"Hey bro, what is the problem?" I asked on seeing how worried he looked.

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"We have run out of foodstuffs; all we have is one spaghetti and plenty garri (cassava flakes) left and no ingredients to use and cook what is left." Joel, my roommate, said

"Bro, I just called home feeling hours ago and asked them for help because of the dues and handouts I had to buy. I am broke and cannot even call them again." I responded as I buried my head in my palms.

"I have also called home, and they said no help is coming my way anytime soon, bro. I have been thinking about what it would taste like cooking spaghetti without ingredients". Joel said as he put the spaghetti on fire.

Everyone kept lamenting and thinking about what it would be like to eat spaghetti prepared without ingredients. This was not the plan; I never dreamt of a day like this was the thought that kept running through my mind. The room was just filled with sad faces; we looked so sad, and if we don't tell you what's really going on, you can conclude that we lost a loved one.

In no time our special spaghetti was ready, and as we sat round the plate it was served in, no one wanted to be the first to dig in. Other days we rushed to dig in but that day was different; it was more like everyone needed to brace for the impact that came with eating food prepared without ingredients, but we had to eat to survive and at this point, we are not eating the spaghetti because we want to; we are eating it because we have to. Joel made up his mind and closed his eyes as he scooped from the plate.

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I sat down looking at his face, hoping it would be encouraging at least, but the face he made after the spaghetti hit his tongue was discouraging.

"How is it? Any taste at all?" I asked despite seeing the face he made.

"It is good, bro, really good, man." Joel said as he nodded.

I closed my eyes and followed suit. I could not pretend like him, as I kept making a face showing that I was not enjoying what we were eating. His phone rang, and he rushed to take the call.

"Yes, I have it for sale. Come to my room and pick it up." Joel said as his sad face turned into a happy one with smiles from ear to ear.

"This must be good news; I like the look on your face." I said, Get him to tell me the update.

"I have plenty of garri (cassava flakes) here; I cannot have it and allow myself to be eating this type of food. I will sell like half of it to enable me to make ends meet." Joel said with a smile.

"I need to make ends meet too. Does the guy want the garri (cassava flakes) in large quantity?" I asked, "Because I have some for sale too." I added as we burst into laughter.

Source

We both sold some cassava flakes in order to make ends meet, and to date we still use that day's experience to tease each other.