Out for what matters

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.