MURKY WATERS

 

MURKY WATERS

Part One

 

So, I am going to talk about it

Yes, the rumors are true

"They" didn't lie

No, not this time

What they said even in ignorance, they said in truth.

I journeyed to Libya. I journeyed through the desert. My wealth came from years of drug trade in Europe. Why are you looking at me in shock? Don't you believe me? Haha! Yes, you. Are you surprised that the rumors are true and the gossips didn't lie this time?

Don't be my dearest one. The world is really a mysterious place. 

I desired it all. I wanted the flashy things in life. I wanted the fast cars, high ceiling houses, expensive dresses and even high-class parties in palatial mansions. I wanted to dine with silver and sleep with silk. I wanted to hold women holding bags made from real crocodile skin; women pretty not by nature or God but by surgery and fanciful doctors. I wanted to hang real gold around my neck. I wanted it all and more.

Calabar, a small town with many shanties. My friend will sit across on the dirty stairs that led to his house and watch me while eating another strange snack with a nice name. It was shawarma the last time; I wondered what the snack was this time. He smiled and told me

"Real money is in Europe. All these boys going abroad are making real money. Me sef, I'll soon leave this dead country. The real hustle is abroad."

After taking a bite or two of his snack, he will continue

"Uche that went abroad last month, you know Uche now?!" He would say and I'll nod listening keenly because I knew Uche. It was barely a month since he left the country to ‘the abroad’.

"Uche na big boy now. Uche enter Europe today, tomorrow, e done make 190,000 dollars. Change that money to naira sharp and see how much e be."

I'll scream in shock and think about how easy it must be to make it abroad. I would lament the lack of money to go abroad and wish I had a better chance like Uche. My friend will nod and regret too that the chance didn't exist for people like us. He will finish his snack without giving me a bite and I will go into my mother's house lamenting my fate and day dreaming about how I will make money if given the chance to leave the country.

 

One day! One very day I thought was my luckiest day, my friend returned. He was excited. His friend had just returned from abroad, Europe to be precise. He came shining and beaming with dollars on every side and wanted to meet both of us. I almost fainted. I was excited. I told my mother about it and she danced round the small room. There was hardly any space to dance as the room was stashed with all forms of items. From bags to a small work out foam bed with no covers atop and some buckets to catch the water leaking from the roof. Mother danced in the small space she had. She sang praises to God and said that ‘her own don finally better. God don remember her to butter her bread.’

Then, I didn’t know that Europe was a continent with countries of which many are poor. I thought Europe was the modern land flowing with milk and honey; or was it? I foresaw the land with money growing on tall trees and beautiful white women wearing gold anklet and clutching little dogs, waiting for men like me to come and pluck the money - for spending.

 

To be continued…..