ATTRACTA

"Get lost!" someone yelled at me as I tried to cross the road and I chastised myself for being so carefree about my surroundings to the extent of almost walking into a car. The streets of Lagos weren't those to play on. 

The whistles and shouts of "hey" and "hello" from the street thugs popularly referred to as "agberos" filled the air as I walked past.

Some even had the effrontery and shamelessness to call me names such as "overload" and "heavy duty". It's not entirely their fault though, we can blame it on my sizeable butt. 

I ignored their calls and wolf whistles as I trotted down the alleyway. I sighed in relief as I realised I had passed them all without harassments. 

You might be wondering, what could the reason for my testimony be?, but I was a seventeen year old against a pack of wolves. Hard competition. 

My joy however didn't last long as I felt a hand grope my butt from behind and another man towered over me grinning wickedly and I caught a whiff of cigarette smoke. They were both drunk. That was when I sighted my weapon. 

I used the total sum of strength in me to deliver a fierce kick to one of them where the sun doesn't shine as I grabbed the bottle and smashed it on the other man's head and on instinct I bolted out of the alleyway like my life depended on it because it actually did. I didn't stop running till I got to a more crowded area.

As I continued walking, I saw an eatery nearby and decided to feed my eyes, I looked inside and on the cue my stomach grumbled at the sight of so much food. I walked past without disappointment. I couldn't afford anything.

Oh yeah! You might probably be wondering what a seventeen year old was doing on the streets at eleven pm, almost midnight. 

I am Attracta Kosisochukwu Okafor, seventeen years old, from Delta state; Nigeria, only child, loved by very few yet hated by many. Let me give you the rundown.

Two Years Ago

"I can no longer tolerate you bunch of nuisances in my house, you have stayed here for twelve good months without paying me a dime, if you can't afford it,leave!" the landlord barked at my dad before a look of realisation donned his face.

"What am I even saying?, I don't even care if you can afford it from today, I want you out of my house this instant!" he barked once more.

"Baba landlord please, just give us some more time." mum pleaded on her knees but her pleas fell on deaf ears as the landlord threatened to involve the police before he pushed my mum out of the way as he stormed off.

"My wife,my child,let's go."Dad said as he picked mum up and looked up at me with wet eyes and a sad smile. 

We packed our things which only consisted of two plastic chairs and an old centre table that we had, our clothes and kitchen utensils. My dad gave these to the Hausa men that bought junk and he got some money for it.

"Dad where to now? " I asked as I realised we just arrived at the Ojota bus park. 

"Back to the village my dear, we have no other option." he answered and that was when it all came crashing down. I was going to leave my school, my friends, pretty much my whole life behind. I had to get out of this.

"No dad, I have to go to a good school and not those low standard excuses at the village called schools." I fired.

 I might be sounding like a rich spoilt brat right now but it this was what it took to remain at Lagos, then I was taking no chances. 

"Darling she's right. "mum added.

Thank Goodness.

"But where will she stay. " Dad retorted and mum went into deep thought. It was quite obvious from the look on her face. She looked like she was solving an equation. 

"Ehen!" she exclaimed earning weird looks from I and Dad. 

"What?" we asked on the same time. 

"She can stay with my sister Christiana." mum said. 

"No she can't!" Dad fired back defiantly.

Who lit his fuse?

"We have no choice my love." mum said making the thinking wheels in Dad's head roll to life. 

"No problem then, God knows best. " he finally said making me release a breath I didn't even know I was holding. 

Mum called Aunty Christiana, and after all pleasantries were exchanged, she got to the point, it was so thrilling when Aunty Christy agreed. It was like a dream come true. She was my favorite aunt, well more like my only aunt. 

Mum's family were against her marriage to Dad and had to cut ties with her when she turned deaf ears to them but only Aunty Christy still kept in touch with her. Well once in a blue moon.

I got into a bus heading to Aunty Christy's house after a million goodbyes and prayers from my parents alongside a few tears here and there, they began their journey to Delta State while I embarked on mine. It was time to rule my destiny. 

As I sat in the bus, I began to reminisce on how it all ended this way. I know you are also probably wondering how we became this poor.

I was born into a wealthy family, I was a child born with a golden spoon. We were very rich, It all went south about two years ago when dad invested in a huge capital business with a few foreign expatriates not knowing they were scammers until it was too late. 

Bad decision? He figured.

Ever since then we had to sell our houses and other properties in order to feed and pay my school fees and take care of our basic amenities.

It was all slowly deteriorating until we became tenants who couldn't even pay our monthly rents anymore. It was like the universe was against every venture dad went into but mum never for once lost faith in him. 

"Lekki!" was the next thing I heard as I was dragged out of my reverie making me pay for my fare as I alighted from the bus. 

I took in the serene environment around me. It wasn't a new sight in Lagos, people would rush from dawn to dusk then do it again the next day. It's like the cycle never stops. 

I fished out my phone from my pocket, it was the last expensive birthday gift got from my parents before the disaster occured. 

I dialed Aunty Christy's number and she picked on the second ring. 

"Hello, Christiana Peters on the line, who am I speaking to? "

"Hello Aunty Christy, good after-"

"Attracta my baby, where have you gotten to?" she interrupted me. 

"I'm at Lekki toll gate ma. " 

"Okay then, take a cab going to Favour Estate then take a tricycle going to Oladimeji street. I'll pick you up at the junction. " she explained. 

"okay ma, I'm on my way. " I replied. 

I scanned the area looking for a cab going to Favour estate and until I heard a group of people chasing a certain guy and shouting "thief! thief! theif!" and on instinct I decided to hold my phone tighter but that was when it dawned on me that it was my phone that had been stolen from my back pocket. 

After all my fifteen years in Lagos state they still managed to show me "Lagos sense". I was done for.

"It's my phone! It's my phone!" I shouted as I ran towards the small crowd that had gathered as they were beating up the thief. 

"Next time you need to be more careful. " I heard behind me as I turned to the owner of the most beautiful voice I'd ever heard, only to be met with the most handsome face I'd ever seen as he handed my phone back to me. 

"Th-Thank you. " I said as I collected my phone from him. I'm sure my ears were red from embarrassment I was but more importantly why did I even stutter. What effect does this one have on me that made me stutter. He was probably using black magic.

"Sisi dey careful next time. (young lady, be more careful next time)"

"no dey keep phone for pocket like that again.(don't keep your phone carelessly in your pocket an't keep your phone carelessly in your pocket anymore).

"You be JJC? (Are you new here?).

Those were comments I kept hearing from the crowd that was beginning to diffuse. Trust Nigerians to give you a lecture after helping you, especially the elderly ones. 

"Thank you. " I said before I scurried away to find a cab going to...different places. Oh no, I had forgotten the name of the estate and the street due to all the ruckus.

What am I going to do, I was done for. And as God would have it, I received a text from Anty. 

"Favour Estate; Oladimeji street. "

I was so happy, I felt like she heard my cry telepathically.

*****************

"Attracta! " I heard Aunty's voice across the road. Seeing her after so long made me feel like I was floating. I had missed her badly, and not to forget her children. 

"Aunty!" I screamed as I hugged her and she hugged me back with the same amount of enthusiasm.

She helped me with my luggage and we walked down to her house. 

"Cousin Attracta!" I heard someone scream and looked up to see Junior, Aunty's last child. I missed him so much as I remembered how little he was the last time I saw him. I hugged with so much love as he told me all about his day. 

I might have spaced out at some point but I didn't fail to hear the last part; "and that's how mummy refused to buy me ice cream, she's so mean, your day can't be rougher than mine." I laughed out so hard, if only he knew. 

"Mum what's she doing here? " I looked up to find the person who uttered that statement only to find Ruby, Aunty's daughter. My cousin and birthday mate.

"Be nice. " Aunty warned. 

"You don't own my life mum." she said and ran off with tears in her eyes. What's wrong with that one?

Aunty Christy massaged her temples obviously stressed with Ruby's attitude. 

"Aunty? " I called out.

"Yes Attracta? " 

"What about Rose? " I asked. 

"Erm, she's in a boarding school. " she said with uncertainty in her voice. "Let me show you to your room."

I'm still wondering why my dad doesn’t like Aunty, she was so nice. 

The house was a six bedroom duplex and each room was en-suite. That wasn't even the best part, each room had an air conditioning unit and a TV that was connected to the house cable. 

"Take a shower and get some rest. "

"Thank you very much ma." I said about getting on my knees to show my gratitude and respect but she stopped me halfway before giving me a hug and walking out. 

I took a long hot shower and plopped on the bed, it was so soft and comfortable. I was positive that I’ll love my stay here.

I was tethering on the border between sleeping and being awake when Aunty came to tell me that in a few days, we'll go school searching so I'll be resuming at a new school. I was overjoyed, why didn't this happen earlier?, I should have brought up this suggestion to mum and dad and -wait! 

Speaking of them I rushed to my phone and dialed dad's phone.

Thanks for reading🖤