Stephen Okon @thestephen

Most nights when I come home late, I like to stop at my favorite spot to buy some fruits, and sometimes, akamu. It’s become a small tradition that helps me unwind after a long day. Tonight was no different except I didn’t have enough cash on me. After bargaining for the fruits I wanted, I walked over to a nearby POS vendor to withdraw money.

While I was at the POS stand, struggling with the usual poor bank network, I heard a loud crash. Turning around, I saw that a reckless tricycle driver had crashed right into the fruit shop. The worst part? He didn’t even stop to apologize or help. He sped off like nothing happened. Fruits, my package, and the shop owner’s goods were scattered across the road.

It was heartbreaking to see. People who witnessed the scene immediately jumped in to help her pick up whatever they could. The fruit seller looked overwhelmed, almost defeated. I couldn’t help but think how unfair life can be, especially in these hard times when every kobo matters. Watching her losses spread across the road felt like watching a piece of her hard work crumble.

I felt so bad for her. All I could do was add a little extra money to what I owed, hoping it would help soften the blow, even if just a bit. She managed a tired smile as she thanked me, but I could tell she was still broken.

When I stayed at my friend’s family house for two weeks to handle a small business, I noticed something odd in their compound: their chickens were infested with lice. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but within a few days, I realized how serious it was. The lice would crawl through the feathers of the chickens and sometimes end up on people's clothes or bodies. It was so irritating to see, and I began to worry they might get into my hair.

Surprisingly, even though I spent so much time there, I never got infested. I was careful not to touch the chickens or sit too close to them, but the fear of waking up with itchy hair still haunted me daily. My friend’s family joked that maybe I had "special immunity," but honestly, I think it was pure grace or maybe their constant cleaning helped a bit.

The family later decided the best solution was to get rid of the chickens entirely. They explained that lice infestations are common for people who rear chickens, especially if the birds are free-range and mix with others from less hygienic environments. It wasn’t an easy decision for them because the chickens were a source of income, but the infestation was becoming unbearable.

By the time I left, the chickens were gone, and the family started working on thoroughly cleaning the area to ensure the lice didn’t spread further.

Saturday hit me hard in a way I didn’t expect. The day started fine; I went jogging early in the morning, feeling good about staying active. I didn’t leave the house after that, just spent time reading my Bible and taking short naps. Everything seemed okay, and I even felt relaxed.

Later in the evening, I went jogging again, thinking it was a good way to end the day. After that, I called it a night and went home feeling tired but satisfied. I stayed up late, though, which I now think was a bad idea. I didn’t realize my body wasn’t happy with all the stress.

In the middle of the night, I woke up to the most painful muscle pull I’ve ever had. My calf felt like it was tearing apart, and I couldn’t help but scream. The pain was so sharp it scared me. Luckily, after a few minutes, it went away, but it left me afraid. I was just grateful it didn’t last longer, but it was still a terrible experience.

Even after the pain stopped, I couldn’t sleep again. I kept rolling around in bed, worried it might come back. That night taught me a big lesson about overdoing things and not letting my body rest properly. It’s something I’ll be more careful about from now on.

I’ll never forget this experience. It was raining lightly that day when I got home a bit soaked. I made my dinner hoping that when I'm done showering, I will eat then sleep immediately.
I quickly rushed into the bathroom to rinse off. While I was halfway done with bathing, NEPA took the light, but thank God for my rechargeable bulb, so I kept going.

Out of nowhere, the power came back, and that bulb exploded with a loud sound. I was so terrified that I slipped and fell on my back. My heart was pounding, but the miraculous thing was that my head was safe.

After that scare, I had no interest in continuing my shower. I dried off quickly, wrapped myself up, and went to my room, relieved nothing worse had happened. Even the food I was supposed to eat, I left it on the table till morning.

Visiting the seminary where I once studied felt like going back in time, but it was a good feeling. I had come to see a former classmate, who’s now a lecturer there, and hoped to catch up on old times. When I arrived, though, I found out he was caught up in a special meeting, so I’d have to wait a while. With time to spare, I decided to take a walk around the place and see what had changed since I left.

Strolling around, I noticed a few familiar spots, but also a lot of new developments. One building, in particular, caught my eye, a brand-new structure they called the “Students’ Lounge.” It looked modern and welcoming, a place clearly made for people to relax. It’s designed as a cozy spot where students can rest, especially those who might need a break before going for their next class or task.

Near the lounge, I spotted a big water tank, conveniently placed for anyone needing to fill up a bottle. It seemed they thought of everything to make the space comfortable and refreshing. I found a seat there and let myself sink into the peaceful environment. The breeze was gentle, and the whole area was kept so clean.
Just as I was getting lost in old memories, my phone rang, it was my friend, finally done with his meeting. I got up, relaxed and grateful for the chance to revisit such a familiar place.