Different Pieces, Same Part
716 Words
The final bell had barely faded when students spilled out of the classrooms, heading for the school gate in groups. Chioma Okoye walked with her hands in her pockets, already planning which shortcut to take home – the one through the back streets was quieter, and she could stop to pick up something for her mom on the way.
“Chioma!” Uchechi called out, jogging to catch up. “Wait for me – I’m not walking all the way home alone!”
“Never said you had to,” Chioma said with a small smile, slowing her pace. “You know I always save a spot for you.”
They turned onto the main road where other students were already gathering – some chatting, some already arguing about who got to buy the first round of drinks from the vendor by the corner.
“Fifty naira for a sachet of water – that’s robbery!” Kelechi said, shaking his head as he looked at the price board. “I’ll just go thirsty instead!”
“Come on, man – it’s hot out here!” Chukwuemeka shot back, already pulling out his wallet. “I’ll buy – you can pay me back later. Ebube, you want one too?”
Ebube nodded, a small grin on his face. “Yeah – I could use something cool. Mom always says I don’t drink enough water when it’s hot.”
They walked over together, Kelechi grumbling the whole way but still pulling out his own money. “Fine, fine – but next time we go to Mama Bola’s place. She sells sachet water for thirty naira each!”
[By The Vendor’s Stall]
The old woman behind the stall – Mama Ngozi – was arranging her wares neatly, little stacks of water sachets lined up like soldiers. She looked up as they approached, her face breaking into a warm smile.
“SS3 students, eh?” she said, wiping her hands on her apron. “I know you – you’re the ones who always count properly when you buy things. No trying to shortchange me like some of these boys do!”
Chioma laughed, pulling out a hundred naira note from her pocket. “We’re here for water today, ma. Two sachets each – that’s six of us total.”
“Six sachets – one hundred and eighty naira,” Mama Ngozi said, already handing them over in a small plastic bag. “You girls are good with your numbers – going to be running businesses one day, I bet.”
From a little way off, Ebube was talking with his friends, taking a sip of his water before nodding along to something Kelechi was saying. When he saw Chioma, he waved – she waved back, then turned to Uchechi:
“See? Even when he’s talking, he’s paying attention to things around him.”
Uchechi nodded. “Yeah – he’s not loud about it, but he notices everything.”
[Walking Home – Through The Back Streets]
Chioma and Uchechi took the shortcut through the residential area, where houses were set back from the road with small gardens in front. Ebube and his friends walked a little ahead, turning onto the street where his family lived.
“Ebube, you still planning to fix that fence for your sister?” Chukwuemeka asked, kicking at a stone. “She’s coming home for the holidays next month.”
“Mhm,” Ebube said, his voice light for once. “Got some new tools – should make it easier to get the posts straight. Plus, she wants to hang her paintings there – need it to look good.”
Kelechi grinned. “Who knew you were such a softie for your sister? You’re always acting like you don’t care about anything!”
“I care,” Ebube said with a laugh – actually laughing out loud this time. “I just don’t make a big deal out of it.”
Chioma heard them from a few steps back and smiled to herself – he was more relaxed when he was talking about things he cared about. Uchechi nudged her: “He’s actually pretty funny when he wants to be.”
“Told you,” Chioma said simply. “Everyone’s got something they love talking about.”
- Writer
