Two days ago,I rushed out of the house because I was running late,as I walked quickly to get to the junction,my right foot felt funny,I kept walking but I knew my foot felt funny,so I paused to look down😨Oh Lord!I had done it again,on my right foot I had on ‘bathroom slippers’ and on my left foot,I had on the shoe I had planned to wear for the day. I stopped in my tracks and it all came rushing back…that day in Kaduna.

ABU had gone on strike,it was the year 2004 and since we didn’t know exactly how long the strike was going to last,I decided to ‘hang around’ at my older sister’s house in KD. She lived at Malali with her husband back then,so I was in Kaduna,with a lot of free time on my hands,I had read all the novels I had twice and I was getting bored as they would both go to work to get back in the evening,I decided to go to my cousin’s house at Jos road to while away time.
I dressed up in my jeans and nice top,I was on low cut then,so I spruced up my baby curls and was on my way out,when I remembered sis had just bought another bottle of Perry Ellis 360°,I loved the perfume,I decided to go and spray some before leaving,I did and headed out.
I took a bus and I asked the conductor if he was going to pass by Jos road,he said yes,I also asked him if he had change for 500 naira,he said yes,we were on our way,I paid and I can’t remember exactly how much the bus fare was but the conductor had not given me complete change,he had 150 naira left to give me. We got to the roundabout where he was to go straight to get to Jos road,instead he turned right to go another direction,I said to the conductor in my broken hausa,didn’t you say you would pass by Jos road,he mumbled something inaudible and I turned to the driver to ask why we were going another route,he said antie,I nor fit pass that road,e go delay me,I got upset and said oya drop me,conductor kawo changi ,he said baa changi and stretched out 50 naira,I got more upset and started raising my voice as he kept saying baa changi,by now driver parked and joined the shouting match asking me why I didn’t hold my change when I knew I was taking a bus or why I didn’t carry my own car as fine girl like me should not be dragging change with conductor😨I started speaking big big grammar and next thing I knew,someone in the bus said something I didn’t understand,suddenly,the driver stopped and looked at me with pity,shook his head and asked the conductor to just give me back my 500 naira. Before I could say anything,conductor quickly gave me back my money and the woman who earlier said something in Hausa I didn’t understand,said to me saanu kwo. I wondered what just happened,shrugged and went my way. I decided to walk to Jos road and check for novels while at it,I stopped at a place where they sold fairly used books,bought 3 and went ahead to Jos road.

I saw a gift shop on my way to my cousin’s house and decided to stop over and buy my sister a gift for her birthday or for valentine(can’t remember which)I entered the shop and looked round,I noticed the lady who owned the shop was uncomfortable,she kept following me around and when I turned to check she would take a step backwards😨😑I was perplexed by her behaviour but shrugged it off again. I bent to check something on the bottom row of one of the shelves and I just happened to glance at my feet,Jesus!I had on one foot my beautiful,girly pam slippers,and on the other foot,my brother in law’s old,tattered bathroom slippers that was much too large for my foot😱😱😱😱😱It was then it clicked,that woman in the bus had probably told them that I was not okay,abi I was crazy sef,Morogo! Me?crazy🙊🙊It all fell into place,the strange looks I got at the books stand,the pitying looks and quick retreat driver and conductor made,the gift shop lady that was staring at me funny,I raised my head and by then,it had dawned on the shop owner that I wasn’t crazy,it was just one of those freaky things that happens,she shook her head and was trying hard not to laugh,by then all I could think of was,you mean say na so I comot for house?🙊I just paid for my gifts and left quietly,my head was heavy,I thought of flying bike back home but I was already at Jos road,a whole me fa,fine girl wey dey feel herself😂😂😂😂 I realised I had left my shoe by the door of my sis’ room before going in to spray the perfume,and the yanma yanma slippers was by the door,so I stepped into one of mine and the slippers on the other. Everything else went by in a blurr,I can’t remember if I went to my cousin’s or not,I sha carry my ‘craze slippers go house eventually😂😂😂
Back to Tuesday,you can imagine the speed with which I ran back home😀Phew!We all have those days we wish we could shrink or just disappear,care to share?😉I promise I won’t tell😀

Image culled from pinterest.com