SHADOWS OF LAGOS

SHADOWS OF LAGOS

Episode 2: "The Streets Call"

Adeyemi woke up to the sound of his mom frying akara in the kitchen. The smell of beans and spices filled the small house, momentarily masking the stench outside. He rubbed his eyes, thinking about his plans for the day. He needed to find work, maybe hit the docks or the market. His friend Kazeem, who worked as a tout at the market, might have something.

He washed his face at the communal tap, dodging kids playing in the puddles. The sun was already hot, and the streets were buzzing. Adeyemi navigated through vendors and pedestrians, nodding at familiar faces. He spotted Kazeem leaning against a stall, chewing gum.

"Ade, my man! What's up?" Kazeem said, grinning.

"Just trying to survive, bro," Adeyemi replied, laughing. "Got anything?"

Kazeem nodded. "There's a tanker unloading at the depot. Might need help. But you gotta move."

Adeyemi's eyes lit up. "Take me there."

They weaved through traffic, dodging okadas and cars. At the depot, Adeyemi worked non-stop for hours, offloading fuel drums. The pay was decent, and he pocketed it with a smile. Maybe today would be a good day.

As they finished, Adeyemi noticed a girl watching him from across the street. She looked out of place – neatly dressed, with a book under her arm. Their eyes met, and she quickly looked away. Adeyemi nudged Kazeem.

"Who's that?"

Kazeem followed his gaze. "Dunno, but she doesn't look like Ajegunle, right?"

Adeyemi chuckled. "Definitely not."

The girl glanced back, caught his eye again, and smiled shyly before walking off. Adeyemi's heart skipped a beat. Maybe this day just got better 😊.