Christian Nwachuku @sorano

I was in the middle of a long, tiring day when the message came in. An invite from Collins. At first, I thought it was one of those random broadcast messages, but when I opened it, I realized it was a wedding invitation. Collins? Getting married? I couldn’t believe it. The last time we spoke, he was just trying to get his life together, struggling like the rest of us. Given the state of the economy, I never imagined he would take such a big step this soon.

I wanted to ignore it. Not because I wasn’t happy for him, but because the wedding was in the village, and traveling there on such short notice wasn’t exactly convenient. But Collins was an old friend, one of the few people I genuinely respected. After thinking it over, I decided I had to be there. It didn’t feel right to miss it. So, with no time to waste, I packed a small bag and began the journey home.

By the time I arrived, the wedding was already in full swing. The sound of drums and cheers filled the air as I made my way to the venue. The place was nothing like I expected. I had imagined a small, simple gathering, but what I saw was a grand celebration expensive decorations, a live band, and more food than I had seen at any wedding in a long time. Collins had really outdone himself.

As I stepped in, I spotted him from across the room, looking sharp in his suit. He was laughing with some guests when his eyes suddenly landed on me. His expression shifted from surprise to pure disbelief. For a second, he just stood there, blinking, as if he wasn’t sure I was real. Then, in an instant, he was rushing towards me.

“My guy!” he exclaimed, grabbing me in a tight hug. “You actually came?”

I laughed, patting his back. “Did you really think I’d miss this?”

He shook his head, still in shock. “Honestly? I had lost hope. But you made it.”

Seeing the joy on his face, feeling the warmth of the celebration, I was glad I didn’t let distance or excuses keep me away. Sometimes, showing up for an old friend is the best gift you can give.

For years, every Saturday in Prince Jomo Lodge had been dedicated to general cleanup. It was an unspoken rule, and everyone complied without complaint. At exactly 7 a.m., the lodge president, Jackson, would ring the bell, signaling the start of the cleanup. The tenants would step out with their brooms and buckets, ready to put the compound in order.

Last month, a new tenant, Ozioma, moved in. She kept to herself and barely interacted with anyone. She didn’t seem like someone who would cause trouble, so no one paid much attention to her. But on this particular Saturday, when the bell rang and everyone came out as usual, she remained inside.

At first, people assumed she would join later, but as the work progressed and she still didn’t show up, it became clear that she had no intention of participating. Jackson sent someone to call her, but she refused to come out. Since the rules were clear, she was fined two thousand naira for failing to partake in the cleaning.

Meanwhile, another occupant, Henryzaza, who always joined in, had a personal issue that prevented him from working with the other boys that morning. To balance things, Jackson instructed him to clean the area assigned to Ozioma. But Henryzaza wasn’t comfortable with the arrangement. He didn’t see why he should be made to cover for someone who had simply refused to come out.

Instead of arguing, he chose another route. If Ozioma could pay her way out of the work, so could he. Without hesitation, he brought out his own two thousand naira and handed it over.

At that point, the remaining tenants watched silently, waiting to see what would happen. Jackson sighed, looking at the untouched portion of the compound. The whole idea of a cleanup was to keep the environment neat, not to collect fines like a business. Since no one was willing to clean the spot, he exchanged glances with the excos. Without another word, they picked up brooms and did the work themselves.

By the time they were done, the compound was spotless, but an unspoken message had been sent rules could be bent, but responsibility would always fall on someone. The peace in Prince Jomo Lodge remained intact, but whether this was the start of a new trend, only time would tell.

Today was a close call. In fact I'm still in shock even as I write this. I went to the market to buy a dining set, and after careful selection, I finally agreed on a beautiful set with the seller. We agreed on the price, and I paid for it.

But little did I know, the seller had other plans. Luckily, the driver who transported the dining set to the park was vigilant. As he was offloading the items, he noticed that the dining set I bought was not the original one I had paid for. It was a fake, cheaper version. He immediately called me and told me to come back to the market.

I rushed back to the store, and sure enough, the dining set was fake. I was furious. How could they try to cheat me like that? I demanded that they change it for the original dining set I had paid for, and after some argument, they agreed.

I was so grateful to the driver that I wanted to show my appreciation in a tangible way. When it was time to pay him for his services, I decided to pay him double what he had charged me. He was taken aback when I handed him the money, and his face lit up with a wide smile.

I was suprise seeing him appreciate me as though I've done something that can only be done by an angle. I couldn't just help but to compliment on his kind gesture.

He beamed with pride, and we parted ways. I felt happy knowing that I had shown my appreciation for his kindness, and I hoped that it would encourage him to continue being a good Samaritan.

We've been having a hard time sleeping because of the hot weather. Every night, we would lie awake, feeling the heat and wishing we had a way to cool down. Our old fan broke and we didn't want to buy a new one because we're moving soon. But the heat was too much.

We tried to find ways to stay cool, but nothing seemed to work. We would take cold showers, wear light clothes, and even try to stay in the shade. But as soon as we lay down to sleep, the heat would become unbearable.

So, we decided to go to the market and buy a new fan. We looked around and compared different models. Some were too expensive, while others didn't seem powerful enough. But then, we found a good one. It was affordable and had good reviews.

Happily we left the market for our house anticipating how best to unbox our new product and enjoy the best it can offer but unfortunately there was no power when we go home my friend became disappointed why must it be today he asked. But I just knew that we only had to patient wait for the power to be restored.

Not too long we heard a sound from our metal and will smiles on our faces we knew the power has been restored and we can now enjoy the cool breeze from our fan. We can finally sleep without feeling hot. It's a big relief. And such feeling has been missing for a very long time.

This morning was church cleanup day, so I arrived early to join in. After the opening prayers, we had a short meeting where everyone was given refreshments. The atmosphere was lively, with people chatting and preparing for the cleanup. It felt good to be part of the team, knowing we were working together to keep the church clean and organized.

Once the cleaning started, I suddenly remembered something we used to do as kids. Back then, we would stack up plastic chairs and climb to the top just for fun. Feeling a bit nostalgic, I decided to try it again. I carefully arranged several chairs, making sure they were stable, then climbed up and sat at the highest point. The feeling was incredible, like I was on a throne, watching everything from above.

As I sat there, completely relaxed, I almost forgot about the cleanup going on around me. The cool breeze, the height, and the slight swaying of the chairs made it an oddly satisfying experience. I was enjoying my moment when, suddenly, I heard my leader’s voice calling my name. He was urging me to come down and lead the closing prayer. At that moment, I realized I had been sitting up there for quite some time, just enjoying the view.

With a smile, I climbed down from my "throne" and joined the group. Everyone was already gathered, waiting for the prayer to wrap up the day's work. I took a deep breath, cleared my mind, and led the closing prayer, thanking God for strength and unity.

As I watched students rushing around, I felt a wave of memories wash over me. Just two years ago, I was one of those nervous second-year students, studying hard for a tough exam. Many students had failed that course, and I remembered how stressful it was.

I saw my classmates flipping through textbooks and writing notes. They looked stressed, and I felt some sympathy for them. I remembered all the late nights and cups of coffee I had gone through to prepare.

Let's go back to the main business of the day as I wouldn't want to waste my entire morning on things that wouldn't benefit me. Just then the memories of a senior colleague who happened to be of a great help and assistance during those hard times and how we had grown close while studying together.

Feeling inspired, I decided to talk to some students nearby. I walked over to a group at a table covered with books. “How’s the studying going?” I asked with a smile.

They looked surprised. One student admitted, “It’s overwhelming. This course feels impossible.”

I remembered those feelings from two years ago. “I know how you feel,” I said. “But it’s manageable. I got through it.” I shared some powerful mnemonics that will help them remember some important points, and I left them with some tips on staying organized and taking breaks. Their faces brightened, and soon they were laughing.

After a good chat, I wished them luck and went to my usual study spot. I didn’t get my favorite table, but I felt good for helping others who were facing the same challenges I once had.

As I opened my textbooks, I felt a boost of energy. I thought about how important it is to encourage each other. Today was about more than just my studying; it was about building a supportive community. With that in mind, I dove into my work, grateful for how far I had come.

This morning’s exam was nothing short of chaos. The lecturer in charge wasn’t from our department, and we’d already heard he had a tough character. Before he arrived, our department’s staff had done a good job arranging the seats and briefing us. Everyone was ready to begin when he finally walked in, and that’s when the drama started.

He got into a heated argument with the other lecturers, claiming we weren’t supposed to take the exam. For several minutes, we just sat there, watching them exchange words. Finally, he handed over the envelope with the question papers, but not without a condition, he announced that we must sit one person per seat. His instruction immediately messed up the seating arrangement, and students were moving around trying to figure out where to sit.

Frustrated with the confusion, the man completely lost his cool. He grabbed the question papers, stormed out of the hall, and left us all in shock. Some of us laughed while others were just confused.

After what felt like forever, he returned. He looked calmer and began distributing the question papers without saying much. We finally got to write the exam.

When my lecturer yelled, "If you bring that hair back to my office, I won't attend to you," I knew she meant business. She was one of the strictest in my department, and while most of the other lecturers never minded my hair since I always kept it combed and neat, this particular woman seemed to have a serious problem with it. Her irritation was clear, and I didn’t want to risk any issues with her course.

Stepping outside, I thought long and hard about my options. Keeping my hair meant appearing stubborn, and that could backfire during the semester. Reluctantly, I decided it was best to trim it down. I walked to the nearest barbershop, sat in the chair, and told the barber to make it low. It felt like a small price to pay for peace with my lecturer, but little did I know it would open a whole new set of problems.

The reactions were immediate and brutal. My friends and classmates couldn’t stop teasing me. They said I looked like a monkey, a new primary school student, and even a newly admitted boarding school kid. The taunts came from everywhere. People weren’t used to seeing me with a low cut, and honestly, I wasn’t used to it either. It was embarrassing, but I had to endure their jokes and awkward stares for the next two months until exams were over.

From that experience, I made a decision: never again. No matter who complains or what the stakes are, I’ve sworn to keep my hair. That semester taught me more than just academics, it taught me the cost of trying to please everyone.

I’ve never really been a fan of alcohol; it always irritates me. But my good friend Prosper loves his drinks. When his birthday came around, I thought long and hard about what to get him. In the end, I decided on a nice bottle of wine, knowing it would make him happy.

On his birthday, I dropped off the wine and headed home. I figured he would have a busy day celebrating, so I thought he’d enjoy it. A few days later, I decided to visit him, thinking he might have finished the wine by now.

When I arrived, we exchanged pleasantries, and then he surprised me by pulling out that same bottle of wine I had given him. part of me wanted to say no, but I also didn’t want to hurt his feelings. After all, I was the one who bought it.

So, I sat down with him, and we shared the wine together. It was tempting, and we ended up having a good time, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of being unhappy. I had gone against my own preferences just to please a friend.