Rejected episode 3

REJECTED...
CHAPTER 3

.....some hours later I arrived at Onitsha, the bus stopped close to the bridge,it was already 8:15pm,the area was still busy,I looked for what to eat first, I bought a plate of white rice in a restaurant I saw....the main issue was were to sleep,,,I was just walking round,hopeless and helpless,not knowing what direction to face,I got tired and looked for where to sit.
Soon,two boys about my age came to me,"bia,waiting you dey do here,we dey observe you since as you dey waka about like hunter wey no get gun,you dey fine person,abi you get plan, "my brothers,please help me,I am helpless and homeless, I don't have anywhere to sleep.come on speak waiting we sabi,na you go school pass,the other boy said,,,sorry sorry,no vex,I quickly responded, abeg make una help una guy,I no get where to sleep this night,I never come here before,na my first time... Na the same rope hold us ohhh, we be hustlers, we no get where to sleep, but na under bridge we dey stay, dey break hustle continue, man no die man no rotten,one of the boys said,abeg I fit join una,abeg,,,,they looked at each other and said oya na,thank you very much I replied.
I followed them to a corner of the bridge, and the mosquitoes must have noticed I was new,they all decided to have a taste of this new blood I assumed, because i was beaten by mosquitoes mercilessly... At dawn,we woke up early had our bath by the river,as we were bathing, they boys who I later discovered are Chibuzor,(chichi for short) and Kingsley (kings for short) asked me about my family and relative...they were shocked at my story,especially the part that I had to go to jail, oya Jeff tell us the truth, chichi asked,you no really join the robbers,,,God forbid I have never stolen anything in my life and I can never do,,well we just wan warn you,this one na Onitsha, no be Benin,if you dey theif,you try arm here,them to use tyre burn you to death ohhh,them no go let you get the privilege to go jail ohhh,King's cut in,,,,thanks for the advice,but trust me,I can't do that...
Well na wheelbarrow we dey push for market, we go carry you go meet Akim,ne him dey give wheelbarrow out to guys ,at the end of the day, you go give arm him cut,na correct person...thanks a lot....I said to them.I met Akim, and he gave me a wheelbarrow, I joined chichi and kings in the business, the boys were nice to me, the became my brothers and family I never had, I was happy been with them,at least they loved me in their own way,than being with my so called family who doesn't care about me....
Unfortunately, the bridge, our home was no longer safe,the government had prohibited anyone from sleeping under the bridge,,, I told the boys, it was even high time we left,we put our finances together and looked for a one room apartment, it was very very poor,but that was what we could afford,we started living there together,with nothing inside,but we were grateful we had roofs over our heads....life continued, we were living from hand to mouth,living for the day,and taking it one day at a time.
I was soon very popular in the market, I had people who always wanted me to carry their goods for them,they practically look for me,amongst whom was Lady B,a popular wealthy woman who owns a big Fabric shop,for both Ankara and English material in Lagos, she comes to the market every week or two weeks depends on her sales... She calls me J boy,she so much liked me,anytime she pays me,she always leave her change for me,according to her,she just loves me,and she is attached to me,but she doesn't know why,maybe because I was different from others,as I am respectful, and diligent, but she can't really place her finger,but she likes me,I would always thank her,for her kindness towards me...
Soon Lady B started buying me things when ever she comes to the market, at times clothes,shoes or even foodstuffs... My friends chichi and kings started saying the woman loves me and probably wanted me to be her sugar boy,God forbid I replied, waiting God dey forbid,you still be baby,kings shouted.I had already turn 20 by then,I simply told them she took me like a son...mean while things weren't that easy for us,we were still trying to survive. .
One day,Lady B came to the market as usual, I carried her goods,but as we were arranging the goods in the truck of her jeep,she mistakenly dropped her bag,I didn't even noticed, and she drove off,I later saw the bag where she had dropped it,i opened it and saw a bunch of dollar notes,two big phones,international passport,and two lipstick...
Getting home I met my friends, and I showed them what I found,they danced for joy, saying God had finally answered our prayers, that those dollar where worth a lot in naria,and also I don't even have a phone,I could keep one As mine,and sell the other, this is just God's way of answering our prayers chichi concluded..
I looked at my friends, trying to match what they were saying...
I looked at the bag not knowing what to do with it...

Written by
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi