BUT Episode 28

 Episode 28

"Hey sisters, how are you doing?" Beatrice greeted excitedly and apologized for sleeping off and keeping them waiting. 

This is one of the biggest and popular  markets. People come from far and near to buy at wholesale and resell. There are several entrances to the market, but there is a central gate that leads to the main road. The shops were built in rows and columns connected to each other. The shops all have same pattern and painting, such that if one is not familiar with the territory, one can get lost. The market is always busy and there is almost nothing you wouldn't find if you know your way around. 

Whenever there is market related outing, Deborah is fond of making a long list of what she wants to buy, so she wouldn't buy what she doesn't need. As for Selina, she will buy things she never planned for and when she gets home, she will remember the things she really needs, but forgot to buy. Beatrice on the other hand, doesn't need write a list, because she saves all she wants to buy in her head and she doesn't go out of plan. .

When it comes to negotiations, Deborah will always beat down prices to the extent that you will start pitying the seller. For Selina, anything goes, because she feels that any amount given to her is the last price, while  Beatrice is a little considerate when haggling prices compared to Deborah. 

This market day isn't different from the way it used to be in time past. They had not walked a minute before Deborah brought out her list and started pointing at the things she needed.

The market touring started. Whenever they ask for a particular thing and the seller gives them a high price, rather than haggling, they move to another store to check for the same thing. You can begin to read the tiredness on Selina's face. 

"This is one thing about following you people to the market, you will always price endlessly." Selina said

"You better learn how to negotiate before they will sell a pen of 10naira to you for 100 naira." Beatrice said jokingly.

"You know say she get plenty money to dash out." Deborah added and they all laughed. 

"How much is this waist bag?" Deborah asked the round face black woman at the store.

"450 naira for one, this ones na quality o." the woman said, but Deborah with her negotiating skills ended up paying 350 and that was how they all got theirs and moved on to the next item on the list. 

"What of provisions?" Beatrice asked and they all moved towards the provision stores, they made sure they got all provision related needs before moving to the shoe stores and other things.

They bought all the things they needed and concluded on getting anything else they might have forgotten when they get to the camp.

As they moved from one place to another, their bag was getting filled up and heavier. They thought of rounding up so that they can start going home. The hot sun had began to set and the calm breeze was beginning to set in. 

"Let's move fast, it seems it about to rain." Beatrice said.

They moved towards the main gate. There is a  drainage covered with a slab close to the main entrance of the market. Deborah and Beatrice moved quickly to get past the drainage. As Selina tried to move past the drainage, the side of the nylon on her left hand was pulled back by an iron from the gate which tore the nylon and the things in her nylon fell.

A young man tried to be of help and in the bid of bending down along with Selina, they collided and for a minute, they left what they wanted to pick and held each other's head separately.

Beatrice and Deborah went back to help pick the stuff up and kept some in their own bags.

"I'm sorry about what just happened." the young man tried starting a conversation, but Selina hissed out of anger and walked away to join the others.

"Okay, I know it's not your fault too but can I at least drop you guys to where you can easily see a cab or something?" The young man offered to help.

They initially declined, but somehow, they felt it was not a big deal, so they hopped into the car. Deborah's phone started ringing and she picked. 

"Jesus, I am already on my way." Deborah shouted on phone. 

"What happened? What's going on? Selina asked.

What happens next?

Find out in the next episode