There are days I don't joke with, saturdays are one of them. I literally avoid anything that will make my saturday look like I wasted it. I love staying home on saturdays because that's probably the only day I have a little time for myself and for the chores especially. It may or may not be relatable but, I know most chores are done saturdays, at least that was how I grew up. So to effect, anything that makes me leave the house on saturdays is a pain for me, except it something really worth it, you know, like weddings and other enjoyment occasions.
Last week was really stressful for me, I couldn't even wait for the weekend to come. My whole body was screaming rest and sleep. Friday came after 85 years of waiting and finally my hope of resting from a stressful was taking shape. When I came back from work that friday, we had power supply. Happiness. Electricity here in Nigeria is not so stable as we know, so seeing the entire place all lit was really satisfying. Also because I knew that most times when we get some electricity on fridays, it runs over the next day, saturday. My dreams were really big, I would charge up all my devices, do a lot of ironing and you know, probably watch movies with the fan blowing directly over my head or so I thought.
I had already mapped out how good my saturday was going to look when I got an unexpected call. It's always the unexpected ones right?. As I was saying, I got a call of one of my older cousin, he needed my help. Apparently, one our aunties who came from the village had to visit the hospital because of her health, he needed someone who would accompany her to see the doctor and help out with other errands around the hospital and that's where I come in. I didn't even waste a second before saying yes because this man in question had done a lot for me, it was only right that I come through for him when he's need of help and also, this was the first time he's ever called to ask for help so it'll really be disappointing if I let him down.
All the while I was thinking going to the hospital will probably be around noon, when I must have done a few things at home but no, he said I should be done by 7am, he's sending a ride to come and pick me. That means I couldn't even wake up late, I had to wake up earlier so I can prepare. That notwithstanding, I still wanted to do it. Saturday morning, I woke up early and prepared and as said, the ride came at 7 and we headed to the hospital.
The location was quite far, because we could even there, there was already a long wait, so we took our numbers and joined the queue. At that time, the doctor was yet to come, yet more people were coming in and taking their numbers. Finally the doctor came around noon and started speaking with his patients one after the other. It was an orthopedic hospital, people with different problems came in and it took really long for the doctor to finish up with one patient and attend to the other. Lunch came, I had to go find us something to eat while we kept waiting. Our turn was getting nearer but I was doing a lot of imaginary fast forward in my head because I was getting tired of sitting for so long.
When our turn came, we went in to see the doctor. The doctor explained that we needed to get an X-ray of her leg so he could get a clearer picture of what the problem was. He referred us to another hospital to go for the X-ray and another journey began. I accompanied her to the place and we we able to get the x-ray done and the results. We went back to the doctor who sent us and at the time we got there, he has already moved on with attending to other patients so it was another waiting spree. It was getting dark, we were even supposed to get going but no, we were still waiting. The old woman was as tired and fed up as I was but there was nothing we both could do.
We were called in yet again by the doctor, and after examining the results, he said was to perform a somewhat surgical process to remove a physical outgrowth from her leg. That meant we had to come back, the next monday. That wasn't the plan, the old woman is with all her bags, hoping to get some treatment and heed back to the village that same day. I was carrying all her bags all that time wherever we had to go. Since there was a twist, we had to find somewhere close she'll stay till monday. She knew a relative who lived not so far from the hospital, she suggested I take her there so she'll stay till the next appointment and that I did.
After making sure she was all settled, I headed back home, all tired and worn out. To make matters worse, it rained and I wasn't with an umbrella. What a day. I called my cousin and gave him the final report of the entire situation he thanked more times than I could say "you're welcome", I was happy that someone very close to me is happy. Sunday morning I woke to a credit alert of some cash from him, another unexpected move from him. Interesting. I called back and it was another round of thank you from both ends. Lending a helping hand brought smiles on our face and in the it wasn't such a bad saturday after all.
Images are mine