SUNNY WEDNESDAYS (ATINUKE)

BACKSEAT 

She kept it at a minimal, she just wiped her face with a detox facial wipe and put a glossy lip gloss, bathed her eyes in a partially dried mascara she found beside her bedframe, wore her only nice dress remaining, a floral adire mini length gown.

Bugo sighed as she wondered what propelled her to talk to Madam Atinuke or better still accept her invite.

She took the flyer from her broken legged dresser and took the back door to avoid Baba Salami, the landlord targeting her for insults this morning, She was only owing two months rent.

The church looked decent as she sneaked in and spied to see if she would see a familiar face.

She regretted instantly the minute Madam Atinuke waved her over, she pretended like she didn't see her and felt a tap on her shoulder. 

“Ma'am, we have a special seat for you in front,”

Bugo smiled and knew it was Madam Atinuke's handiwork that she was taken from the backseat.

She saw her smiling and muttered a greeting, “Bugo, I am so glad to see you”.

She muttered her appreciation again, she was a bit amused, it was either Madam Atinuke was used to her errant behaviour or she just intentionally ignored it.

^^^^^^

Her spirit felt lifted, the worship session was uplifting and she was grateful she obliged Madam Atinuke's invite.

She felt the trickle of tears and heard herself say “God, you are good,”

Atinuke knew Bugo was a tough nut to crack, but she also knew it was not her place to crack the nut, it was God’s place, she was going to propel her to the nutcracker.

She saw when Bugo had hidden and was avoiding her gaze, she also saw when Bugo had grumbled when the usher had reached out to Bugo to nudge her forward.

But now, Bugo was smiling with tears trickling down her eyes, singing praises.

She was so glad and gave thanks to God.

^^^^^^

Pa Kem's Filling Station, the only existing one in the whole of Luwe Community, was indeed cashing out this season as everyone queued up to get fuel.

The rate had once again increased and while banter and distasteful comments flew from the people who surrounded the station, no one had a choice but to buy.

“When will you change this car,”

She laughed as she sighted Bugo, who had a toothpick at the corner of her mouth, trying to get rid of a possible meat piece which had gotten stuck in her tooth.

“Good evening to you too Bugo”

She hissed.

Although Atinuke was no longer offended with Bugo theatrics, she wondered how brazen Bugo could be in her expression of feelings.

She had often seen Bugo in church, though Bugo avoided her, she was pleased that more often that she had expected, Bugo was now a regular.

“How have you been Bugo, one of these days I would love to host you over at my place,”

Bugo shot a suspicious glare as she adjusted the machine to read in the purchased fuel price “what for”

“Haba can't I just have my church member come over for tea?”

Bugo laugh was so hysterical that people turned to find out what was going on before resuming their complaint on the poor government.

“Wetin be this, is this oyinbo land, wetin I wan do with Milo and milk? Tea Ke”

Atinuke couldn't help but join in the laughter.

“Wetin dey happen for here Na, Na only you wan buy fuel today?”

The elderly disgruntled man in his fairly used Peugeot Jeep stared at Atinuke angrily.

“I will pick you after Bible study” Atinuke said hurriedly as she drove out.

Bugo smiled. This woman sha

^^^^^^

How do you dress up for Tea?

Bugo hated playing dress up and that is what this woman wanted her to do.

"How many clothes dis woman tink say I get? Inno dey understand why pesin go dey invite pesin for tea."

She laughed out loud in her slightly messy one room apartment and smoothened the wrinkles at the hem of her only flowery yellow dress.

The dress gave her body some subtle gentleness, she had grumbled when her childhood friend and lover had cajoled her to buy it few years ago.

She smiled as she took a spin in her broken mirror which loosely was hanging by a rope she had tied to the nail of her door.

She smiled and mentally made a note to call Mummy Jide to make her cornrows during the weekend.

"Tea, here I come"