Silence. That was all I could hear all morning besides the rhythmic throbbing in my head. I rose supporting my head with my palm as I sluggered towards the bathroom to rid my mouth of the phlegm that had gathered in it. I turned the knob of the tap in the washbasin to the right, appreciating the warmness of the water that ran over my scalp as I bent my head in.
Image is mine
When I lifted my head, I heard the first knock on my door for that day. I knew it would be my best friend, Treasure. I had asked her to get some drugs for me with the prescription my mom had suggested the night before so I dragged my limbs to get the door opened for her.
"Babygirl," her hands ran over me immediately, trying to gauge my body temperature and see if my cheeks had sunk in or my neck bones were becoming visible. "I brought you some food, come."
She held me by my hand, pulling softly until we got to the bed then she lowered me down and dashed to the kitchen. The clattering of pots and pans made my head throb even more but it was not for long. She soon brought a wet towel to mop my head and neck then presented a steaming plate of Jollof rice and boiled egg.
She allowed me to take a couple of spoons before getting the spoon herself and proceeding to feed me. As she offered the food, she began to talk. I knew she couldn't be silent so my cheeks rose with amusement when she began the naira conversation.
"Treasure, I heard that by December this year, the new currency notes would be in full circulation." I nodded, barely able to speak because there was a full spoon of rice in my mouth and I was grinding it as slowly as possible so as not to offset the throbbing in my head.
"That means we have to gradually stop accepting the old currency so we don't get stranded like last year. Just be intentional about it." I nodded again, but I knew she wanted me to talk so I took the cup of water she had placed beside the food and took some gulps till she snatched the cup from my hand.
"I've not seen an official circular yet so it's possible it may be rumors" I saw her face deepen in rumination for a minute before she raised her shoulders and brought them down again.
"That's possible. In fact, anything is possible in this country. The guy I withdrew some money from this morning told me there was almost no money in the banks. So I think it's true"
I turned my lips downward and got another spoon of rice from her, then a thought crossed my mind.
"Speaking of cash, how about you give me a thousand naira cash? I don't have any cash in this house. I'll transfer it to you before you leave" She inserted her index and middle finger into her jean pocket and dug a thousand naira note out. I took it with a "Thank you "and then lifted the note as if to heaven to confirm its authenticity.
"What are you looking for madam?" There was amusement on Treasure's face as she watched me raise the money in different directions before giving a satisfactory nod and inserting it under my pillow.
"I was trying to see if it was authentic. Since the new notes emerged, I've seen and touched almost 10 fake notes"
Treasure's eyes widened as an exclamation escaped her lips
"I've never observed. Wow! But these central bank people should come up with innovative ideas that would make it difficult for someone to falsify the currency notes" I chuckled.
"As if you have those innovative ideas yourself. Okay, what would you have suggested they do?"
Her shoulders went up and down again in a shrug.
"They could change the faces on the notes for instance"
I rejected the spoon she attempted to stuff my mouth with so I could talk.
"Treasure! Those notes have carried those faces for centuries. What makes you feel they should be changed?"
"They're old people. We have other people who are doing great things in this country now, their faces can be used."
I finally collected the spoon of rice from her and ruminated carefully as I munched on it.
"I get your point," I told her, "but you see, there's nothing wrong with the faces that are currently on the notes. First, for consistency's sake, our currency cannot be entirely changed like that and secondly, whatever notable things these people you talked about are doing today, the current faces on the currency formed a solid foundation for it. Besides, it's a sure way to pass down their legacy from us to our children."
Treasure cleared her throat, glancing at me with the sides of her eyes. I got the message before she said it.
"Aunty I didn't come here for a lecture please, eat this food and let me leave this place" It was then I laughed for the first time since the day before. I stopped talking but The national anthem began ringing in my head, reminding me that the labors of our heroes' past should never be made to go in vain.