Chapter 3: Suffer, Hustle, Repeat

2

For my last life, after I graduate, my family just drain me finish, oppress me anyhow.

No be small. Everything wey I get, dem dey take. My salary, my time, my joy—everything.

With this kind wicked bias and greedy relatives, nothing fit make me stay for this family again.

If to say I fit vanish, I for don go. Their wahala pass NEPA.

To be honest, I just dey pray make I commot and hustle my own.

I dey reason say, 'If I fit survive for Lagos alone, why I go dey beg for house?' My mind dey strong.

Because with all the memories and knowledge from my last life, I no even need to fear any so-called life-changing exam.

The thing wey pain me before na say I no get guide. But now, I sabi all the questions and answers.

Those hard, high-mark questions? Dem dey my head already.

I fit even teach people for my exam centre. If dem wan try me, make dem bring am.

Wetyn I mess up last time, this time I no go repeat. I go collect full marks.

No more dulling, no more mistake. I dey ready.

Plus, I get plenty business ideas lined up.

From POS hustle to online importation, to pure water supply for campus hostel—I dey plan everything. I go turn hustler.

All those money-making opportunities I only realise after others don cash out last time—this time, I go jump on top before anybody.

Even the small savings wey people dey ignore, I go invest am sharp-sharp. Na so Naija hustle be.

So when I write the university entrance exam, na to climb the ladder straight up.

No stopping for bus stop. I dey go express.

As for this yeye family, dem no go see one kobo from me.

For this new life, my sweat na my own.

Not for this life.

I don lock my mind. If dem like, make dem talk from now till next year.

3

Even after I stand my ground, my brother no gree.

He dey drag leg, dey do pity face. You for think say na Nollywood audition.

He tried to beg me: "Brother, with my kind result, I no fit even enter technical school. For wetin family go waste money on top me?"

He dey bend mouth, dey talk soft. E wan use guilt catch me, but I bone.

But I just hold my excuse—"na God’s will"—make he go school without stress.

I reply, 'Abeg, na God hand e dey.' If he like, make he cry. My own mind don made up.

My brother still wan argue, but my mum sharply cut am off.

My mama raise hand, cut am short, voice high. 'No argue. E don set.'

"Your brother talk true. Fate no dey change. Since na you pick am, just go."

Her tone don turn cold. She no even look my side well.

"After the exam, let your brother follow you to university, rent house near you, so he fit help you."

She dey arrange matter like say na benefit. For my mind, na new way to monitor me.

For the first part, I surprise small for her quick change of mind.

I dey wait for wahala, but she sharp. I dey respect her sharpness, but I no dey fall again.

But that second part just make me laugh inside.

So na so she dey use mouth sweeten bitter kola. Na me she wan put for chain again.

My mum nearly show her real face.

If to say camera dey, e for show for video.

No need to argue about empty promises now.

I just dey nod, dey look. My mind dey another place.

Still get more than two weeks before the exam.

Enough time to plan my escape. I dey count days.

She fit paint any sweet picture she like.

She dey talk, but my ear don block.

But straight after she talk, my dad give me work.

No time to rest. Papa just drop order like say na military camp.

"Olamide, start work for your Uncle Seyi’s site tomorrow."

He talk am with finality. For him mind, I no get option.

"Since you drop out, you must dey bring money come house."

Even before I talk, he don set the law. Na so.

I no complain.

Inside me, I dey laugh. If na money, I go make am. I no go beg.

First, I need money for university, and I know dem no go ever give me, nor will I ask.

If I dey wait for dem, na hunger go kill me.

Second, no matter how many business plans I get, I need small capital, so I must hustle.

Na true talk. For Naija, if you no hustle, hunger fit finish you.

Even if na hard labour, I no fit choose now.

I tie wrapper, ready for anything. No job too hard for person wey get dream.

Suffer small, enjoy big—e go pay.

My mantra na 'no pain, no gain.'

4

The next day, I just say goodbye to my people, carry my bag, and leave house.

Na early morning, cock never even crow finish, I don dey ready. I greet my mama, she just nod. My brother dey form sleep. I no send anybody, I waka.

I reach the site about fifty kilometres away, where my Uncle Seyi dey work.

The journey long, bus dey smell fuel and ogiri, conductor dey shout "Abule! Abule!" For junction, I jump down, trek small. The sun don dey rise.

Uncle Seyi dey lay blocks, me I dey mix cement.

Uncle Seyi, tall and strong like tree, no dey smile. 'Start work now, no slack.'

Under hot sun—over thirty-five degrees—helmet for head, sweat dey flow for my face.

The sun hot like pepper. Even the agbero wey dey sell sachet water dey sweat like goat. Helmet dey burn my scalp, sweat dey blind my eye. My cloth, from white to brown.

Cement bag for my shoulder don make my face white with dust.

Everywhere for my body dey itch, cement powder enter everywhere. If you see me, you go think say I dey do masquerade practice.

Sweat and cement mix, I no fit open my mouth well.

If I try talk, na powder go fly. My lips don crack, throat dry.

"Hurry up! You slow like this, you still want make money? Move fast!"

Uncle Seyi voice dey thunder. Other workers dey dodge, but na me e dey fire pass.

Uncle Seyi dey shout, voice full of impatience and disdain, like say I just dey waste space.

Every time I slow, e go remind me, 'This one na Ajibade boy? You no get strength at all.'

I grit my teeth, force myself finish the work.

My hand dey pain, but I lock my jaw. 'If I fall, dem go laugh.'

I never do this kind hard job before, so by evening, my body feel like say e go scatter, and as I reach the boys’ quarters, I just faint.

I just fall for floor, sleep carry me like rapture. But as I close eye, I swear, tomorrow go different—nobody fit cheat me again.

Next morning, I drag myself up for work again, body still dey pain me like say dem join am with glue overnight.

Na so body dey tell me say make I rest, but hunger no dey hear story.

After some days, everywhere for my body dey ache, I begin limp.

My leg, my back, even my finger nails dey pain me. But I gats endure.

But finally, good news come—the site wan pay wages.

When I hear say money go show, small joy enter my body. At least, sweat no go waste.

Even though I start in the middle of the month, the other workers say as long as you dey there on payday, dem go pay you for the days you work—no story.

One man tell me, 'As long as you mix sand, dem go give you your share.'

I happy, go look for Uncle Seyi, but I no see am for boys’ quarters.

I dey find am up and down, no trace. The place dey buzz like market.

He don go ahead?

Fear catch me say maybe e don collect my share.

So I waka go the container office where dem dey pay salary.

As I reach container office, na queue I see. Everybody dey push, dey shout.

The workers full everywhere, shouting and pushing.

Na real commotion. Some dey curse, some dey gist.

Loudspeaker dey shout: "Line up, or no pay for you!"

One security man, big like bouncer, dey bark order. Everybody shuffle leg, try maintain line.

Na that time people form line.

Omo, if you no sharp, dem go push you reach back.

I squeeze enter, see Uncle Seyi for front.

As I squeeze myself join line, I spot my uncle. E stand for front like say na king.

Afraid make dem push am out, he hold the pay table tight, dey argue with people behind: "No push me!"

He dey drag table like say e wan break am. People dey complain.

Dem start to pay.

Money dey change hand. I dey pray make dem reach my turn.

After he collect money, my uncle shout, "Hey, na two people I dey collect for."

He raise hand, voice loud, dey announce like town crier.

One man for back complain say why he dey waste time, collect for who?

People dey shout, 'Haba, collect your own, commot!'

My uncle grumble, "Few days’ wage, how e take be your problem?"

E dey form say e dey help family. Some people just shake head.

Some people look my side—they sabi say we be family.

One man wink me, whisper, 'Na your uncle, abi?'

I touch my nose, nod small, step out of line, wait make uncle collect the money.

I no wan cause wahala. I respect him as elder, for now.

But na that time, the foreman ask:

"Who you dey collect for, Seyi Ajibade?"

The foreman raise eyebrow, make sure say everything dey legit.

"Yes, Olamide Ajibade na my brother," my uncle answer quick.

He quick answer like say dem dey share national cake.

I shock.

My eye open, na who be brother again? Me and you, na uncle and nephew.

I rush go meet am: "Uncle, why dem put my work under my papa’s name?"

I ask am sharp, voice low but serious.

My uncle frown: "Wetyn be the difference if na your papa name or your own?"

He dey talk like say na normal thing.

"You never old reach, you no go understand."

He wave hand, dismiss me.

How e go be the same? If the money reach my papa, na when I go see am?

For Naija, once your money enter another man hand, na story you go hear.

How about my school fees? Or my capital to start business?

My mind dey race. If I no stand up now, dem go rob me dry.

Even if we forget all that, why I no fit collect my own sweat?

Person wey work suppose chop, na so Bible talk am.

"Uncle, shift. I go collect my own wage. I no need you."

I dey bold, my voice strong. Other workers dey look.

I try move go front.

I push small, wan pass am collect my money myself.

Next thing, my uncle push me, eye red, dey curse:

He vex, voice rise. 'You this stubborn boy!'

"You this small pikin, you no dey hear word? Shift!"

E wan use force. Other workers begin look, some dey whisper.

5

Anger just rise for my body, I look am well.

The way e dey shout, e dey disgrace me for public. My eye begin red too.

Yes, I no get mouth for house, everybody sabi am.

For family, na me be last to talk. But here, I fit defend myself.

But that no mean say you go help my papa thief my money.

Blood no be ATM. My sweat na my own.

I grab my uncle shirt, vexed.

Na so I hold him shirt, grip tight. People dey shout, 'Fight dey o!'

"Why I no fit get my own money?"

I talk am loud, my own anger don reach boiling point.

My uncle drop him tools, slap me hard.

The slap loud—workers pause, look. The whole site quiet, only sound na breeze blow nylon bag pass.

All these years for site don make his hand strong like iron.

E be like transformer wire touch my cheek. The pain na fire.

The slap nearly comot my brain.

I stagger, see stars. My ear dey ring.

After he slap me, he still dey boast to others,

He dey turn to crowd, dey run mouth.

"You dey rebel!"

He point me. Some workers dey nod head.

"Your brother need go school. As elder brother, no be your work to pay his school fees?"

He dey use tradition hold me. But na lie.

Dizzy, I watch as my uncle pocket my small money.

As he collect the money, he shine teeth, pocket am sharp.

I just dey think of my money.

Na my own mind dey pain me. All that sweat, na nothing?

My uncle just laugh, tell the foreman, "This one na stubborn goat. If he no hear word, beat am."

He dey mock me, dey form boss for site.

Then he look me with wicked smile, "No come tomorrow, you dey disgrace us!"

He talk am loud, like say he dey announce for market.

He pick his tools, turn go. I no fit take am again—I grab block, run behind am, break am for his head.

As I grab block, other boys dey shout, 'Ah! No kill am!' But my own vex no get brake.

The block split, my uncle freeze, then turn and grab my neck.

Blood begin come out small, e roar.

He roar, "You this bastard, you wan fight your uncle?"

His hand dey choke me, e dey shake.

"Today I go beat sense enter your body for your papa!"

His voice scatter. I dey struggle for breath.

Blood dey rush for his head, he dey choke me. I no get power, na to just dey collect blow.

I dey try fight am, but e strong. Na so I dey see black.

I faint, and when I wake, I hear people dey shout.

The noise loud, 'Bring water! Call ambulance!'

"Big brother, see your pikin o! He break block for uncle head—hospital, five stitches!"

My aunt voice pierce my ear. She dey cry, dey curse.

Na my aunt voice, sharp like knife.

She dey wail, dey call neighbours, dey make scene.

I try stand argue, but my body no gree.

Pain everywhere. My face swell, my hand dey shake.

"Brother don wake!" my brother shout.

He dey happy say drama dey. Small smile dey his face.

Before I fit talk, my papa drag me up.

My papa hand strong. He drag me like goat wey dey run from slaughter.

He pull me so hard, I wan shout for pain.

My back twist, my head dey dizzy.

"Wetyn happen? Why you put your uncle for hospital!"

Papa dey rage, voice high. He no care say na my money matter.

My papa no even care who right or wrong, just dey shout.

In short, na only shame dey worry am. Neighbours dey gather.

My mum stand with arms folded, her and my aunt eye dey burn me like criminal.

If eyes fit burn, I for don roast finish.

I look them, cold enter my bone.

The way dem stand, you go think say I be stranger for house.

My face swell, every move dey pain like fire.

Na me be the headline for village today.

I no need mirror to know say I dey suffer.

Pain dey teach me lesson.

But dem?

Them no send. Na only their own dey pain dem.

Na only my uncle dem dey pity. This kind clear bias just pain me reach bone.

I dey look my leg, dey wonder how I take reach this level.

So na so I no get status—not just for house, but for the whole family.

Dem see me finish. Even outsiders sef sabi say for my house, na me dey last.

I no fit even match my brother, for my papa mind, I no even reach his own brother.

Blood thick, but my own thin for their eye.

Fine. I shake off my papa hand, move go wall to sit down well.

I no go let their wahala break me. I gats survive.

"Why I hit am? Who send am to thief my money?"

My voice crack, but my spirit strong.

6

Once I talk "thief my money," everybody face change.

Like person pour hot water for their body. Dem dey shame.

Their eye dey talk: You no get shame!

Dem dey look me like say I commit taboo.

My papa point me, dey curse,

He dey stamp foot, dey rain curse. 'You go suffer! You no go hear word!'

"Just because of small wage, you put your uncle for hospital!"

He dey minimize my sweat. Na my money, but e no matter to dem.

"Na me tell your uncle to collect am. Wetyn concern you?"

He dey boast, dey form boss. For him mind, na him control everything.

I just laugh, I no believe am. "Why e no go concern me?"

I dey ask, but I know say answer no dey.

My papa shock, he no expect me to talk back.

He dey look me, mouth open. For his mind, he dey wonder where my boldness come from.

Last life, I no fit talk back. Even this life, till now, I just dey swallow.

I dey always hide. But now, my eye don open.

So now, he just raise hand, like lion wey wan bite.

He raise hand, but e no fit beat me like before.

I stand look am, I no run.

I look am, strong. If e try am, I go stand ground. My leg dey shake, but I no gree let am show. For my mind, na now or never.

As he see my eye, his hand hang for air, then he just drop am.

E realize say I no be pikin again. He swallow spit, turn face.

He turn to my aunt, "Third, keep the hospital bill. I go bring money."

He dey package, make e no lose respect.

My aunt glare at me.

She dey squeeze face, her mouth dey sharp.

"If no be for your papa, I for slap you die!"

She dey threaten, but na only mouth.

"Big brother, forget the money—just control this pikin!"

She vex, waka go. My papa just sigh.

7

After my aunt go, I face my papa, demand my money.

I no dey fear again. I stand for front, dey look am eye to eye.

I want the money wey I sweat for.

Na me carry block, na me mix cement. My hand dey pain, my money dey miss.

My papa vex, shout, "Wetyn you want!"

Him eye red, voice high. He dey expect say I go back down.

With this kind shamelessness, I just laugh, full of sarcasm.

I laugh, shake head. 'You dey try, papa.'

"No be my sweat I suppose chop?"

I ask am, voice low but firm. For street, dem go call am 'doings.'

My papa face red, veins dey show for neck.

He dey boil. Neighbours dey peep through window.

"Your sweat? Since you small, you never chop my money finish?"

He dey remind me, like say na crime to grow.

"No be you suppose pay back first?"

His voice dey shake. He dey count old debts wey no exist.

For small time, I pause.

The room quiet, tension dey everywhere.

But after three seconds, my smile just turn bitter and full of scorn.

My eye dey water, but I no gree let am drop. I dey bite lip.

For this family, na me always dey left out for anything wey concern money.

Every time dem share, na my name dem forget. I dey observe, but no talk.

Forget Christmas gifts.

If na me, Christmas dey pass like every other day.

Take school for example. School no cost much, na only uniform dey important.

Uniform matter for our area—if you no wear, dem no let you enter class.

Whenever school announce new uniform, everybody for class dey happy—except me, na only fear I dey feel.

Me, I dey calculate how I go take beg again. My heart dey heavy.

For house, I go beg my parents, promise say I go come first for my grade if dem buy for me.

I go kneel, beg, even cry sometimes.

But dem go frown, say money no dey, why waste on cloth?

Mama go talk say, 'Na book you go chop?'

I go explain say na school requirement.

I go dey reason, explain say principal go flog me, but story.

Instead, dem go buy for my brother.

My brother go wear new, dey pose for compound. I go dey look.

When my brother outgrow am, he go throw am give me, "You get uniform now, happy?"

The cloth go big, torn, sometimes even get patch. But I go manage.

When I no get, classmates just laugh say I poor.

Dem go call me 'rag boy.' Shame dey catch me.

After some time, dem no even send again.

If I wear my brother’s old, torn uniform, dem go still laugh.

'Why your cloth dey like wrapper?' dem go ask for class.

So, I stubborn, say I no go wear am.

One term, I say I no dey wear again. Mama vex, flog me.

My parents vex, call me wasteful. Say if I no want wear, why I dey disturb for new one?

Papa say, 'You wan waste my money?' I no fit talk.

Dem say thank God dem no buy, or na waste of money.

For their mind, na good thing say I no get.

In the end, I still wear am, because school dey force am. Na to just swallow my pride.

If not for principal, I for drop school.

Some rich classmates go laugh, say I pick my uniform from dustbin.

The laugh dey pain me, but I no fit cry.

I no talk, I just swallow all the insult.

All the pain, I dey carry am inside.

I think say if I move up, maybe dem go buy for me, but nothing.

I reason say maybe if I pass exam, things go change. Lie.

If I wan wear, na hand-me-down.

E be like curse.

Heh…

Now, as my papa dey talk with confidence, how I no go just laugh?

I dey laugh, but my mind dey bleed.

I no even want drag old matter, so I force myself stand, waka comot house, act like say I dey go toilet.

I waka slow, so nobody go suspect. My heart dey heavy.

I follow one villager keke go local government area.

The keke man dey play Fuji music, the breeze dey blow my eye small. I dey think plan.

If my papa no go give me my money, I go site myself.

I go face my problem like man. No time for fear.

You cause the wahala, you go settle am.

Dem cause the wahala, but na me go finish am.

I must collect my own sweat.

No go let anybody chop my labour again.

Few thousand naira no too big, but e go buy exam supplies and transport go university.

Even if na pure water I go sell for exam, the money dey important.

As long as I use this exam escape, sky na my limit.

This time, na God and my hand.

8

When I reach site, workers dey dodge me—everybody see the drama that day.

As I enter, all eye dey follow me. Some dey whisper, some dey shift.

Somebody must don tell foreman, because before I reach his office, he show face.

Foreman open door, face hard. 'You again?' his eyes dey talk am.

Him frown fit kill fly.

If look fit kill, I for don die.

"Why you come back?"

He bark, voice rough. Na so I brace up.

I point finance office. "I come collect my money."

I stand for door, voice steady.

"Which money? We don pay you already."

He dey form innocent. But I no gree.

"But I never see one kobo."

I dey explain, my hand dey shake small.

As I no gree, the foreman think say I be small boy, no fit do anything, so he just wear helmet waka go.

He waka go, dey bounce shoulder. But I still dey stand.

His body language just dey show say I dey disturb.

He dey vex, but e no fit talk am.

But e no matter—I get right, why I go fear?

My mama say if I no fight for my right, nobody go fight am for me.

I knock finance window.

Na iron window with small glass. I tap am, 'kpom, kpom.'

Finance lady open, shout,

Her face round, eye red. 'Wetin?' she bark.

"You dey craze? Which money? Go ask your people, dem don collect!"

She talk am loud, people dey look.

"Aunty, no be the person wey work suppose collect?"

I try explain, but she dey impatient.

"I no know. No disturb me."

She snap, her mouth sharp like blade.

She bang window close.

The sound loud, my own vex dey rise.

I grit my teeth, nod, bring out phone call Labour Office.

I dial number wey I see for poster last week. My voice calm, 'I wan report salary wahala.'

"Hello, I wan report labour wahala."

Dem answer quick. 'Give us location, we dey come.'

9

After my call, finance lady no even send me.

She dey gist with her friend, dem dey gossip. She dey act like say nothing fit happen.

She and her friend just dey gist, dey look my side.

I dey hear dem talk, 'Na small boy, him no fit do anything.'

I no rush, I just wait outside.

I sit for gutter, dey fan myself with hand.

Ten minutes later, Labour people show.

One small car stop, three officials step down. Dem wear badge.

Finance lady purse mouth, come out.

Her face change, she try smile, 'Good morning.'

She tell them say dem don pay me, say I dey cause trouble.

She dey talk, voice sweet, but eye dey run.

When she finish, I talk.

I clear throat, explain everything. 'I work, dem pay another person.'

"I no care who you give, but I never see one kobo."

I talk am loud, make sure neighbours hear.

"Na your uncle—go ask am. You dey craze."

Finance lady dey throw insult, but officials no send am.

She dey crack groundnut, dey spit.

She dey form busy, but her hand dey shake small.

I fire back, "How you take know na my uncle? He show you ID?"

Her face squeeze. She no fit answer.

"I just know. You this pikin no dey respect elder."

She dey use age cover up.

She roll eye, waka.

She waka like say she dey act for African Magic.

I tell officials, "I never see the money, I no sign anything. Now my uncle no gree, no pay me. Wetyn I go do?"

I dey bold, my English dey clear.

Officials pick the main point, ask for payroll and signature.

Dem dey serious. 'Bring ledger, bring signature sheet.'

Now the woman dey shake, she say,

She dey swallow saliva, dey stammer.

"Oga, na uncle sign for am—na so we dey do."

She wan use 'na so we dey do' cover herself.

Officials look am like joke.

The officials dey nod, dey write note for file.

"So you fit just let anybody sign and collect? If stranger enter nko? You go just say you pay and wash hand?"

Dem dey look am serious. Finance lady dey sweat.

Finance lady dumb, nod like goat.

She no fit answer again. Her friend don waka.

She say she no fit decide, call foreman.

She run go call foreman, voice dey tremble.

Foreman see Labour people, he vex for finance lady.

Foreman dey shout, 'Na you cause wahala!' People dey gather.

People for site no dey lack money, especially small change. But dem no like government wahala.

As e see Labour badge, his attitude change quick. He dey beg them make dem no close site.

So now, he pretend vex.

He dey form say na big offence, but before, he no send.

But before, when he wear helmet waka, he no even send me.

I remember as he bounce pass me before. Now, na him dey beg.

Some people no dey do right unless you force am.

If to say Labour no come, I for hear story till next year.

10

In the end, with Labour people settle, foreman pay me my wage.

He count my money, hand am over. The cash dey my palm, sweat mix with relief.

I use am buy exam supplies, save the rest.

I go market, buy biro, pencil, calculator. The rest, I keep for bank, small savings.

I no go house that night—if I go, na more wahala.

I dey think say if I show face, na slap and curse go greet me.

My papa call me, as I answer, he shout, "Where you dey?"

His voice dey loud, you go think say I thief government money.

"I don run from house, Papa."

I dey bold. No fear for voice.

"Run? You this stubborn boy, you go site collect your money?"

He dey vex, voice high.

"Dem find your uncle, force am return the money, now your uncle dey vex for me."

He dey blame me for family wahala. I just dey listen.

"No concern me. Na him collect first."

I answer short, make am clear.

"Go find who you like—my own be say I don get my money."

I dey calm. E pain am, but I no send.

My papa roar, say make I return the money.

His voice shake phone. If anger fit break screen, my phone for don scatter.

He say my brother school fees dey depend on loan, as family, I must contribute.

Na so? Make I contribute my left leg.

For my mind, I dey laugh. Dem wan chop me again.

I cut call before he finish insult.

As e dey talk, I press red. I no get time.

When he call again, I no answer.

I switch off phone, drop am for pocket.

...

Money no plenty, so I plan sleep for park.

I dey look bench, dey check corner wey mosquito no too plenty. I dey reason how I go survive.

But I dey fear say bad sleep go spoil my exam. After thinking, I just close eye, find cheap hotel.

I go round, ask small hotels. Receptionist dey look me, dey price room.

But as I try check in, receptionist tell me say my ID don dey reported lost—e no valid again.

I shock. For my mind, I dey wonder who fit run this kind format. Na family wahala reach here? The system for Naija fit surprise you—if person no strong for street, dem fit run am anyhow.

As I dey stand for hotel reception, I realize—my own family fit chase me reach anywhere. But this life, I no go gree.