It was a hot May afternoon, in the heart of Sokoto State in the Northern part of Nigeria.
At the new site somewhere in the outskirts of the town where a new 45 meter telecommunication mast was installed. Work on the site had been ongoing for quite sometime now.
25 years old Tony, a telecommunication engineer, was working on top of the mast a moment ago but then decided to climb down to get himself something to drink - his sweat soaked clothes was an indication that the sun was very hot up there.
Lifting up his head, he saw a girl approaching, hawking soft drinks - she had a medium sized plastic basin on her head with different brands of soft drinks neatly arranged inside, kept chilled by ice blocks - just the way soft drink vendors hawk their wares in this part of the world. What incite my interest is that the drinks in her basin were arranged in an orderly manner in the order of their brand.
She wouldn't be more than twelve years old. Dressed with old pieces of clothes and an old pair of flip flops that seemed to have seen better days. Dark skinned with deep blue eyes. Standing at 5 feet 2 inches, one would say that she has the height to go with her slender feature.
As she came closer, he couldn't help but to take in her outward appearance. Her clothes were clean, fingers neatly trimmed, her legs were well watched and oiled with no trace of foot marks on her toes. No doubt, the girl had a neat and orderly personality behind those old clothes.
A child this young should be in school and not on the street hawking. Something must be wrong somewhere.
He couldn't comprehend why any parent in their right senses would allow their child to go through this at such a tender age.
"Buy your soft drink," she called out, snapping him out of his reverie. It was then he remembered that he had something more important to be worried about - like the need to tackle the monstrous thirst that invaded his focus and spoiled his concentration; the very reason he came down the mast. So, he beckoned her over.
"Good morning sir," she greeted as he helped her put down her wares.
"Thank you, how much do you sell your minerals?"
"150 Naira for one."
"Can I have a bottle of coke and 7up please?"
Oh, that guy and 7up, a thought of Alex popped up in his mind, he loves 7up too much for his own good.
Switching back his attention to the girl who was still busy sorting out his request, he asked, "What is your name?"
"Miriam," was her abrupt response with a thick Hausa accent.
"And how old are you, Miriam?"
She stretched out the minerals in her hands which she had sorted out from the collections of minerals in her basin to him, not so tactfully evading his question as she said, "take your mineral, its 300 Naira you will give me sir."
Wow! He didn't see that coming. Although he was not too surprised by her reaction because it is not uncommon among ladies in this area to have such cold disposition towards strangers, especially men. But he never thought he would get such a reaction from a child.
"Oh that's rude," he said, creasing his brow.
"Sorry sir. I didn't mean it like that oh... it's just that I have to go now."
Gesturing towards her basin which was still full, she said, "see, I just started market oh, I still have many minerals to sell."
"It's OK," he nodded in understanding, satisfied by her explanation. He then brought out his wallet and handed her a 500 Naira note.
"Abba, customer!" she exclaimed still with the strong accent, "me I don’t have change oh, see." She emphasized, zipping open the money bag that was strapped by a rope to her waist in an attempt to show him the content.
"Keep the change," Tony interrupted.
"No oh!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. "I can not keep it oh," Looking around in search of somewhere to make change, "Let me ask people around whether they will give me change."
This girl is cultured, she seems like the type that does not accept gifts from people she doesn't trust. He noted in his mind.
A strong urge within prompted him to help her in any little way he could, so he tried a more diplomatic approach.
"Don't worry Miriam," he began in a soothing and persuasive manner, putting on the best innocent smile he could muster, "I mean no harm, consider me a friend."
For a while she stared right into his eyes warily, checking out for any sign of falsehood. Seeming to be satisfied by her findings, she smiled broadly and collected the money bending one of her knees in a way of appreciation, "Thank you sir."
"You are welcome."
She then picked up her basin and left. "Buy your mineral," she kept calling out until she disappeared into the distance.
Wow! So much courage and strength of character from a little girl! She acts too mature for her age.
"Tonero my man," Alex called, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Look at you man. The way you look right now, someone who doesn't know you may conclude you are a paedophile."
Alex studied him a little further, and gestured with a wave of the index finger in front of his face, "I know that look on your face, Tony. I know you have a knack for helping people but whatever you are thinking right now, forget it."
While ignoring what he said, Tony threw him the bottle of 7up, "here, have this."
"Ah 7up!" Alex exclaimed as he caught it with ease, raised the bottle to the level of his gaze, and stared at it like a recovered treasure long lost, "thank you man, you are the best."
What is up with you and 7up?" Tony chortled as he unscrewed the cover of his drink and took a sip.
"Would you blame me?" Came Alex's blatant reply as he did the same with his 7up.
"This is the first time I am setting my eyes on 7up since we came here. This thing is really scarce here, you know," he lamented.
A brief moment of silence passed between them.
"I kind of wonder why such a young girl like that would be victimised this way," Tony spoke up stirring the discussion back to the earlier topic.
He was about taking another sip, with the bottle of drink already on his lip when Alex's response came, "how do you mean?"
Tony retracted and asked, "You saw her hawking, right?"
"Yeah, no one with eyes can miss that," came Alex's sarcastic response as he took another sip from his drink.
"A child her age is supposed to be in school at a time like this, and not on the street hawking," Tony said with a very serious expression mixed with concern to which Alex did not so much as give any attention.
"Well" Alex shrugged. Holding Tony' s gaze for a cople of minutes with that look that screamed 'I dare you to do anything stupid,' he added "she certainly has her story to tell, as we all do."
Alex drank up the remainder of his drink and disposed the bottle in the waste bin nearby.
"Let's get back to work, we've spent so much time here already." With this said, he left Tony and went back to resume his work.
Tony also disposed the now empty bottle of his drink and climbed back up the mast to resume his work also.
*** *** ***
"Miriam! Miriam!" Standing in front of the entrance door to Miriam' house, Amed called.
"Amed!" Miriam called back with excitement lacing her voice. "Please wait for me, let me arrange my things."
"Be fast, the others are already waiting, they sent me to come and get you."
Just then, she came out, wiping her hand she just washed a moment ago on her dress.
"OK, I have finished, let's go."
She liked Amed so much for one simple reason, Amed never judged her.
His father, Allahji Danjuma is one of the richest cattle farmers around, he owns the biggest ranch in Sokoto. As a son of such a rich man, who would think Amed would be associated with the likes of Mariam?
Even with all the 'choose your class' sermon and disapproval from his mother which she never failed to show any time she found them together, Amed always made out time to spend with her and the twins, Musa and Rashidat.
Hand in hand, they ran off to their meeting place - a cool spot under a mango tree not too far from her house - where the twins were already waiting.
"You make us wait for you again," Rashidat pouted. Rashidat is well known for her dramatic tendency.
"Leave Miriam alone, Rashidat." Her twin quipped, "we all know that things are not easy with her right now."
"Well, I am here now, so let's start." Miriam cut in.
So, they started by playing a spelling game, after which Musa brought out his English text book from his portable bag which had been lying under the tree. This they took turns to read, savouring their moments together.
Miriam always looked forward to this, she loved their time together so much because that's how she'd managed to improve her vocabulary and spoken English this far.
A/N: What do you think of this chapter?
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