I stopped at a restaurant to have lunch. It was not the best of my world. Most of the chairs were rickety and there were cracks here and there on the walls. I almost went round the restaurant as if I was on an inspection of some dilapidated structures. When I finally found a seat that was befitting, I was almost exhausted. Life is cruel if you have too many sad choices to make.
The owner of the restaurant looked pale. There were wrinkles on her face. Many years of activities was taking its toll. At a glance, she was like a woman in the pool of old age!
I took my seat in the extreme and ordered for a meal that would last forever in my stomach. Considering the times, it was honourable to do what is right and not what you like. Eating because you need to eat is good. For a man of little means, food is a luxury. All that matters to him is to find a meal that could keep him out of the pool of hunger long enough. Do I care if all eyes were on me? It was hard times. The recession was biting hard. To me, eating a meal meant for three or more people alone was no crime. It was only a bargain. Who knows, it could be my last in this miserable world. Let us wine and dine. Tomorrow we shall live. If there was a better time to be mindful of my rations, especially as it concerns the quantity of food that I consume every time that I stumble on the chance to have a meal, it was now.
The meal, when it was served was like a mountain. I could barely see the people at the other side of the table. One of the men gazed at me as if I was going to kill myself with the “fufu and egusi” soup that occupied nearly half my table. When our eyes met, I flashed an exaggerated smile at him. But he did not return a smile. Instead, he wore a frown. He swallowed hard and began to chew his thin lips that were hidden under a heavy line of moustache!
I lowered my head and faced the meal. Let him kill himself because I want to have my lunch…
