Story 1: Finding solace in garri.

It was already looking like a great day. Your 7 am lecture got cancelled, your only class for the day. You felt like screaming your lungs out, but you resisted the urge to shalaye.

That small voice told you to sleep a little more, you slept till 9. You decided to check your class WhatsApp group. Yee! Dr Jason decided to hold an impromptu test by 9. Somehow, you made magic, you were at the faculty by 9:05.

Immediately you entered the lecture room, all eyes were on you, everyone looked all neat and peng, but you were there, standing like a drenched he-goat.

Everyone burst into laughter, some already nicknamed you, you were boiling inside, you couldn’t wait to unleash that rage but you had to write the test first.

After the test, you were ready to break some bones and run away, but your course rep brought the news of three lecturers fixing a class that same day for tests scheduled for the following week.

You began to sweat; your day couldn’t be any worse. Your village people had finally succeeded in getting you. At once, you began to read three books, you couldn’t afford to fail any of the tests. That first class, you must get it.

After the second test by 12, it then struck that you had eaten nothing, since you left your purse in the hostel, you encouraged yourself in the Lord.

8 pm came, finally, you’re free, you felt like a walking corpse, you managed to crawl to the hostel.

You realized you don’t have foodstuffs, big girls like you only order for food, particularly Oluchi’s toast. The best option was to sleep.

Oh my, sleep hits differently when you’re tired. You started dreaming of floating on puffy clouds, such an exciting adventure. Suddenly, you felt yourself sinking into that vengeful abyss of hunger.

Hunger woke you; you couldn’t refuse its rude awakening. You felt the worms in your stomach fighting for supremacy, but you had nothing.

It was 1 pm when you decided to wake your roommate for food. In her groggy state, she offered you onions, you were too weak to protest.

Hopeless, you started crying, heavy tears, premium tears. Your continued hiccupping woke your roommate. She felt sorry for you.

“Ayo, I know you’re hungry, but I finished my oats today, I have only Garri left, but you don’t drink Garri, I’m so sorry.” she said.

At that moment, pride died a thousand deaths in you, you surrendered wholeheartedly to the one cup of Garri she offered.

Garri has been saving lives since the 1970s, you refused to be an exception. You enjoyed it; you had no idea Garri tasted that delicious.

The following morning, you called Oluchi’s toast to place an order.

“Dear valued customer, this is Oluchi’s toast, you can place your order.” she said.

“Okay, please, I need two basins of garri, four bottles of groundnut and three packets of sugar delivered to Queen Idia hall today”.

Customer care hesitated, “are you sure you are okay ma?”

Great question, you smiled. They don’t know, they jhuzz don’t know whazz going on.

SAMUEL EUNICE