I can still remember vividly the day I saw Aunty Bola for the first time selling bean cakes along the streets. That fateful day, I was actually on my way to school with a turning stomach. I was around 12 years old, and having breakfast was a big luxury for me. Even with the apron Aunty Bola put on, she was turning the beans cake professionally without stress and at the same time putting on a smile for the customers around her waiting for their own delivery.
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I might not really know much about Aunty Bola, but one thing I know is that her akara is always different and special compared to other akara sellers along the streets. One of the things that always attracts customers to her side is the fact that her akara is always cheap.
After over 10 years, I found myself back on Kabba Street. The same street that I was around 10 years ago, but now I have grown up, broken, and frustrated about life, because I was looking for a job after losing the present job I had.
Just scrolling along the street, I met Aunty Bola once again after many years. But this particular time, she was not staying on that street again selling akara. She now owns a kiosk where she sells beans
I shouted in surprise, "Aunty Bola!!!!"
She looked in my direction to see who was calling her, and immediately saw me.
"Ah, is this not Ade, Mama Dupe's son?" She asked.
"Yes, I am the one, ma," I responded.
"Ade, you have really grown up. Come inside"
She ushered me to her small kiosk and served me moi moi with bread. I was so anxious and eager to ask her some questions.
"Aunty Bola, how do you do it. I knew you were frying akara. But now you own this shop." I asked her.
"My son, it is hard work, tooo. I didn't stop hustling." She responded.
[Image Generated From Leonardo.Ai]
She began to narrate the story of her life to me, of how her husband left her around 10 years ago when the hardship was too much. She was left to cater for her 4 children and with lots of debts on the ground. That pushed her to start selling akara by the roadside to cater for family needs.
She continued that gradually, she began to find favour in the sight of people, and gradually even office workers began to patronise her akara and the moi moi she was selling to the point where they were buying it in bulk. She gradually begins to receive contracts to even sponsor party food. From trying to make ends meet, her financial life began to change gradually, positively.
From the money she gathered, she started to rent a small kiosk, which helped her to start selling other food items like bread, beans, and moi-moi. In fact, she told me that she started delivering to offices and parties in bulk.
"But my son, it was not easy at all." She further told me.
"There were nights I cried and cried because the load was just too much on me. But I always remind myself that I have no choice, and someone needs to pay attention to the future of the children."
That particular day, walking home with the moi moi she gave me as a gift, I began to ponder really hard on what she had said. I have learnt a valuable lesson today.
Listening to her story actually encouraged me not to give up, also. Even though I might not have a job yet, I will still strive to make sure everything works. I learnt something today that when trying to make ends meet, I will definitely come across days when I will feel like giving up, but I must not give up.