Toiling Under the Sun: A Morning in the Market

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The birds chirped softly in the distance, the trees danced gently as the wind tossed their branches back and forth, and the cock crowed in rhythm - it was dawn already. Nature had begun its morning symphony and it was another Monday. The day had just begun, and yet another moment to continue the grind. I muttered a silent “Thank you, Father” as I raised my head in prayer, showing a sign of gratitude for waking up to another beautiful morning, while I stretched my arms wide.

It was a new week, and it is always believed that Monday is a day of sales, and one must not feel sluggish to start on a good note.

As I rounded up my morning devotion, I dashed straight to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Next, I entered the kitchen to arrange things accordingly while warming up my cooked stew. I checked for the items that weren’t available while I calculated in my head the things I would need.

I was set for the market and I wasn’t going to let that get postponed again, not after a week of contemplating whether to go or not.

"I need to restock, and it’s today, not tomorrow or the next," I confidently said while holding my waist with one hand, scanning through the whole kitchen for a few seconds. I quickly reached for my phone in the sitting room and started typing out the list of things to get before I transferred them into a paper.

I knew I mustn’t be slow, especially when I still needed to write a post, but I concluded that would be after I returned from the market. After I took my bath, I left the house in my blue jean trousers and a blue and white top to match, and then my black & brown sandals to fit in. I picked up my bag, threw it around my right shoulder, locked the door and headed out.

It took me ten minutes to walk down from my house to the junction, and soon, I saw this Keke Napep coming towards me. "Hey hey," I waved my hand for him to stop. "Good morning," I greeted him and the two passengers I met inside. "I am going to the main junction," I quickly added.

As we moved, I saw shops were open, traders were beginning to arrange their wares for display and were ready for the day. I saw a woman who was already seated, waiting for customers to patronize her. Her baby was being held around her arms while breastfeeding. There were the bike men stationed at their usual spot, chitchatting as they signalled at every passerby, hoping they’d need a bike to convey them to their destinations.

After about thirty minutes, I got to the market. Everywhere was crowded. There were noises flying around and cars/buses honking repeatedly. It was a busy day and what do you expect of a typical Monday morning? There were fresh goods placed on different sack bags spread on the floor as a display so everyone could see what was being sold. I waited at a corner by the roadside for some seconds to recheck my list again for the first item to go for before the others.

"Sister, come over here. Come and buy from me," a trader beckoned to me. But I only smiled and walked past her while focusing on what I needed. I could see everyone on their feet, hustling hard, trying to make ends meet. They kept signalling and calling everyone who passed by to come check their goods out while some were being politely dragged to come check whatever they were selling. I wasn’t ready to be tempted to go beyond my list, so I frowned my face at some point as I kept walking.

If care wasn’t taken, you might be pushed around with the number of people moving up and down. But I made sure my bag was held tightly and was fully alert, too.

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"Good morning, Mama. How much is this one?" I greeted while pointing at the dried cow’s skin tightened in a white nylon on the big ash-coloured tray.

"Haa, omo mi, kaaro (my child, good morning), two thousand naira ni (it’s 2,000 naira)."

Trust Nigerians, we are good at negotiating. "Mama, I only have 1,500 naira with me, please," I said with a pity-filled face, and at that point, I’d humble myself at the mercy of the woman.

Mama sighed but nodded negatively shortly after, begging me to buy from her as she couldn't sell below the price. She said I was the first customer that had come around (rule no 1: don’t listen to them when they say this. Most of them are lying. lol)

"No Mama, that’s what I have on me. Would you sell for me or not?" I replied firmly but politely and was ready to move away.

"Okay, omo mi, mu owo wa (my child, bring the money)," she said reluctantly.

"Haha. Thank you, Mama," I said with a smile as I collected the stuff from her, thanked her, and left for the next item on the list.

I bought everything I needed and set to return back home. While in the Napep, I couldn’t stop thinking about these people, mostly the traders with their wares outside who would be there from morning till night trying to make ends meet. The worst is how the sun would come out so brightly, and they’d endure the hardship, sometimes even in the rain. They are always out there just to make sure they survive and do not go hungry with their family.

I looked out and saw young children with trays on their heads with different things being displayed as they moved around, also at alert in case they were called upon to buy from them. But what do I do than show my concern? These are children who are exposed to such hardship at such a young age, and as they grow up, they continue with the mentality of making ends meet with different jobs their hands could hold onto.

I also am trying to make ends meet, but my case is different because for now, I’m doing that from the comfort of my home, and I don’t need to complain about the hot sun or the rain that makes it harder for those outside. All I just do is whisper a prayer for God to make everyone out there trying to make ends meet reap the fruits of their labour in due time.