I met Christopher at the market. It was a turning point in my life. I had less than ten bucks to buy food for my siblings and I. We were starving. My sister sent me to the market to buy bread and fish. She usually grilled fish for us to eat over an open flame outside, and made toast bread with those flames. We had nothing else to eat, and she fished out ten bucks from her pocket.
“Go to Mama Ben and get bread and fish,” she said as she folded the money and put it in my hand. I opened my palm and realized it was only ten bucks.
“This is not enough,” I told her. The money was not enough to buy bread and fish. Mama Ben was a petty trader who had a few grocery items she sold in front of her house. Everyone in the neighborhood patronized her. Her daughter, who was in the same class as my sister, sold in front of the house while her mother sold at the market.
“Don’t let me slap you, give her the money and tell her that I would bring the rest of the money later.” She hissed. I reluctantly wore my slippers and walked out of the house. Mama Ben was tired of my family and our financial…
