Bryan and Ade are used to patronizing a food vendor who supplies them with food every morning before they leave for lectures. She is tagged 'MADAM HOT HOT'. She was given that name by her customers cause of the excessive steam that evaporates from her tasty looking food in different coolers.
'Madam Hot Hot' a dark skinned chubby woman, with cheeks fallen, passively submissive to gravity. Her grey long hair is distinguished with dark highlights stretching down to her waist. She has facial ridges bold enough to scare a child and she wears a serious demeanor at most times which portrays a maximum level of sedateness. Her facial stripes and her accent gives a first hand introduction of what region she hails from in the country (Yoruba).
She might be that serious though to other customers, but definitely not to Bryan and Ade as the humor from their excessive salutations gives her great joy.
She doesn't miss the timing, when she rolls her truck about which contains coolers of neatly packed food of assorted varieties. She sells jollof rice, fried rice, white rice, boiled beans, dodo (plantain), fried chicken as well as beef stew with lots of orishirishi (assorted meat) in it.
She never forgets their special order of a bowl of white rice, mixed with two scoops of beans,four slices of plantain and two chops of meat each, as it has been same for the last one year. She drops the well parked meal with the gatekeeper. She gets the money for the previous supply when she comes for the next one.
"Bryan! Wake up its almost 6:30am" Bryan's eyes blinked voluntarily whilst his eye gunk sticking to the side of his eyes. "Ade, good morning" Bryan said with a thickly voice. "Good morning man, please we are late already, go freshen up while I go wait for 'Madam hot' to supply the food" "You, have you had a bath?" He asked as he tries obstructing the sun rays with his hand from gaining direct access to his eyes. "Yes! Please we don't have this time right now" Bryan still feeling groggy struggled up from the bed and headed for the bathroom.
Ade heads for the gate "Sir! Sir!" He turns, a man showed up from a small chamber.
He's middle aged, very lanky with bulgy eyeballs and an outward feet.
"Oh! Mike it's you" He grinned.
SPEAKING NIGERIAN BROKEN ENGLISH
"Yes oh.. Oga na me" (Yes Sir it's me)
"Okay good morning" Ade continues walking to the gate. "Oga wait, madam hot hot don drop food go" (Wait sir! 'Madam hot hot' dropped your food and left). He stopped and pedaled backwards a bit. "Okay bring them then".
Mike walked into his chamber, took a couple of minutes and returned with two black cellophane bags stocked with foil. He handed the bags to Ade, who in turn gave him some pieces of Naira notes to give to 'Madam hot hot' when she makes the next supply.
"Oga you no find me something?" (Sir won't you give me some money too?) Mike asked with a sheepish smile flashing through his face. "Oh! Mike! I should give you money, did I employ you?" Gave him a livid stare. "Don't you know who your boss is?"
SPEAKING YORUBA "Olóriburúku" (Owner of bad head) Bewildered Mike walked into his chamber and clanged his door. Ade went upstairs with the package he just received.
-Door creaking-
"Ade you took rather too long, and why were you throwing insults at Mike?" Bryan gazed. "Listen, that man is becoming more demanding by the day. Do you know after giving him 'Madam hot's money for this food, he was asking me for money?" Bryan chuckled' "he did?" "Yes Bryan he did and why are you laughing?" "No! nothing. Please just hand me my food, we're almost late" Ade puts his hand into the cellophane bag. It made a crispy sound, he brought out a blue fully packed sealed foil plate. "Here is yours".Bryan reached out for the foil plate, moves it up-and-down trying to check the weight. " This woman's food is getting bigger by the day bro. I think the weight just hit double figures" chuckles. "Yes Bryan, I felt it too" The 'rip' heard upon opening the sealed foil plate attracted a stare from Ade.
In the foil plate, was white rice occupying half of it, with a few scoops of brown mashed beans. Some strands of spaghetti neatly placed at the right hand side of it, Four slices of moist fried plantain with dark golden brown edges resting on the four sharp edges of the plate, with two hot spicy chops of meat on the beans, the foil covered with darkish red flavoured Yoruba stew popularly called (obé atá).
The scrumptious look and savory aroma from the food caused saliva dripping down Bryan's mouth as he stares in awe.
"Madam hot is the best" rubbing his upper and lower lip with his tongue. "Bryan! We don't have any more time, hurry up let's get going"
After the meal they got up clanged the door and left for school.
Bryan gets down from the bus that he boarded to school leaving Ade to continue with the rest of the journey to his lecture building.
His choice of coloured outfit which is a yellow mixed with green adidas jacket, a white T-shirt, black suede pants and a white adidas sneakers with black stripes caught everyone's attention as he walked right into the faculty block.
Bryan waves at a couple of people as he kept walking.
"Hey man! You're here, damn..! You look really nice in those" Thanks Rukky just had to go a bit Rocky today, hope it isn't too flashy" Rukky giggles "you look like a rock star Bryan. Come here" He wraps his arms round Bryan's shoulders- "let me take you inside. I kept a sit for you" They walked towards the lecture room "Bry.....an! Bry.....an!" A raspy, aged voice called and Bryan took a Swift turn to see what it is. "What is it Bryan?" Curiosity filled Ade as he noticed the strange attitude of Bryan. "Did you hear that?" Bryan quivers in fear "hear what?" "A voice calling my name" Bryan Panics. "Listen Bryan, there's no one calling your name, I think you're having a fever right now cause your body temperature is increasing. I'll advise you go get some drugs at Lulu Briggs after lectures"
A chubby light skinned girl with grey eyes and black hair shows up in a black skirt and a white blouse from the walkway beside the lecture room.
"Hey! Bryan, wow! you look little over cute today. Happy new semester" She beamed as she reached for Bryan's jacket. "Thanks Deinma, you're not looking less beautiful yourself" Bryan shoves Ade's arm off his shoulders. "Alright guys, I would leave you two now. Bryan the sit by the extreme left, middle role that's where I am" Ade walks into the classroom. "So Bryan how was your holidays, you had a great time I guess?" "Yeah sure, and I'm sorry for not returning your calls or taking them, a lot's been happening to me lately" Deinma giving him a sidelong glance "are you okay? You're even shivering. what's wrong?" "Just a little fever ma'am, I would fix it. I have to go now lecture is in five minutes" "Right see you soon" Both waves and Bryan walks into the lecture room and sits on his sit. "She likes you man, I told you" Ha-ha-ha.. "I was right all along" "Not now mate, please".
A man walks into the lecture room.
He's in his late fifties, dark skinned, wrinkled face he's 5'10" Tall and his mustache is left hanging down his jaws. His fierce look and demeanor spreads panic amongst his students. His gruffy voice forces any one with questions to have a rethink. His nickname is "bulldozer" Due to his incessant threats of bulldozing his students. He wore a black trouser, white shirt, a well knotted blue tie, a brown pair of shoes and a pair of glasses to enhance his sight.
"Shit! How can my first lecture of the semester come from Dr Ipalibo?" Bryan dazed. "Oh man! This is so not good" Rukky makes the facepalm gesture in exasperation.
"Good morning students!" Adjust tie "good... Morning sir!" Class roars. "Good, I hope you all enjoyed your holidays and you're ready for this semester with me? Cause I'll not seize to bulldoze anyone who tries to stay behind this time" Ha-ha-ha... Uproar "bulldozer...!" Loud cheers engulfs the lecture room as Dr Ipadibo gives a daring gaze. "Silence........." Dr Ipalibo screeched "you people have decided not to ditch this crummy attitudes of yours. Now listen to me" "Must he be stupid with his words? God! I hate this man" Bryan whispers to Rukky. "Hey! You, Young man" points at Bryan " Stand up and get out of my class " Bryan astounded "but Sir, why?" "I think you are very stupid for asking me that, just get out right now" Fuming Bryan stood up, picks up his backpack and leaves. "Today's over for me it's better I just go home right now" Muttering.
Bryan went to the park, Boarded a bus and went back home.
YOU ARE READING
NOT YET TIME
Mystery / ThrillerA young University student had a nightmare of his death on his way to school. Waking up to reality, the clear events of his nightmare came hunting. ****** A young University student got caught in...
