Bright Stephen @applecoral

For the past two weeks, the Harmattan season has been harsh, with its dry and dusty air making me prefer staying indoors. Since I traveled, I’ve barely stepped outside the compound. The weather makes it difficult to even think about going out, but today I have no choice. There are important things I need to buy before school resumes and academic activities kick off in full.

I already expected prices to be higher than last year, so I wasn’t shocked by the inflation. I had prepared my mind and my budget, which made the shopping trip less stressful. The real challenge, however, was finding a store that was open. Most shops were locked, and my brother and I had to walk a little farther than usual to find one.

Eventually, we found a small store that had everything we needed. We quickly grabbed the necessary items and wrapped up our shopping in about 20 minutes. On our way back, we greeted neighbors and exchanged cheerful “Happy New Year” wishes. The walk back felt much shorter as the streets were lively, and the festive spirit was still in the air.

Now that I’m back home, I’m thinking of frying some of the fish I bought for lunch. Breakfast time is long gone, and I’m starting to feel hungry. A plate of fried fish might just be the perfect way to reward myself after braving the Harmattan and completing my errands.

On my way home, I stumbled upon a new relaxation spot that looked recently built. It wasn’t there the last time I passed by, and it caught my attention. I decided to sit down for a bit with my two younger sisters, just to take a breather. The place was quiet, with only a few people around, and it seemed like a peaceful spot to relax after a long day.

While we were chatting, a scruffy-looking man suddenly walked up to us. He looked unkempt, with a cigarette dangling from his fingers, and his face had a strange expression. He told us we weren’t allowed to sit there, but his tone didn’t sound official. I figured he was drunk or just trying to act important, so I brushed him off and told my sisters to ignore him.

Things took a different turn when he reached out and tried to grab my youngest sister’s hand. At that moment, I stood up immediately and blocked him. I told him calmly but firmly to leave us alone. He acted like he wanted to make a scene, puffing his chest and pretending to be tough, but when I didn’t back down, he hesitated. He looked around awkwardly and eventually walked away, muttering to himself.

We sat there for a while longer, but the incident left us feeling uneasy. It was strange and unnecessary, and I couldn’t figure out why he acted that way. After some time, we decided to leave the place and head home. I was just grateful nothing worse happened, and we all stayed safe.

After a long trip, I finally made it back home. The first day back was rough; my whole body ached from sitting for so long during the journey. I decided to take it easy and spend the next two days resting, hoping to shake off the exhaustion. But even after five days, I still felt drained. It was hard to find the energy to go out or meet people. I wasn’t my usual self, and it showed.

Today, I decided to push myself a bit and went to church. Meeting people there was uplifting, but I still wasn’t in the mood to hang around after the service. As soon as it ended, I left right away. The struggle continued when I tried to get transportation afterward. Every regular stop was crowded, and I just couldn’t wait. I told my siblings it was time to go, and thankfully, we all managed to head back home.

This week has been nothing short of eventful. Yesterday, a filling station near my area caught fire and exploded. It was a scary sight, and the news spread like wildfire. Despite the chaos, I also found time to explore a part of town I had never seen before. It felt refreshing to discover something new so close to home.

In the spirit of Christmas, I visited the Christmas Village for the first time. It was a nice way to get into the Christmas spirit.
Looking ahead, I’m hoping this week will be better. I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs, but I’m optimistic that things will fall into place. There’s still so much to do and plenty to prepare for as the holidays approach.