"Tunde, I hope you know that this thing can change our lives for good, and tonight is our only opportunity." Dave whispered to me under the moon's dim light.
I just stood still, thinking with loads of things going through my small head. I checked the few cash in my pocket and responded, "Are you sure about this , Dave? You know how risky that is."
*“Well, maybe it's risky, but then don't you see the bigger picture? You get to make what you make in a year in just one night. You could give some to Mama to bring back to life her dying shop, your father's hospital bill is there too, and even you have a lot to get for yourself. "Come on, grow up." He said as he leaned close to me and then concluded, "Just say yes."
I looked around; the streetlights didn't even bother to stare at me. They're no longer working. I could smell the roasted yam being fried just a few poles away from where we were standing, and even though distant, I could hear the honking of the danfo buses. Lagos is always alive, but then I'm here with a choice pressing down on me.
“I have thought it through; I don't think I want to throw my life away because of money,” I said in a shaky voice.
“Its obvious you are scared," Dave said. “You are afraid of doing what it takes to have a good life, don't you know living itself is a risk? You just have to take certain risks; responsibilities are weighing you down, obviously, and you think you can't do it. You want to keep counting what is not even enough to feed the family, not to talk of paying your dad's bills. See how much work you do, and compare with the little you are earning. The world is moving; opportunity itself has come to you, but then..."
I swallowed hard; his words cut and hit me at the very spot. He wasn't wrong; the small work I'm doing is truly not enough to cater for what's on the ground. My mom is tired; her shop is almost closing down, there's nothing to display for sale in there anymore, there's my dad's health issue too, and then there's my sister, who I've promised to make sure she won't drop out of school. All of these weighed on me like a big stone. Guess what? This deal can fix everything, and I will still have enough to start up something for myself.
“At what cost?” I asked, now a little bit courageous. “I could get caught, it might not go as planned, what if I hurt someone while trying not to get caught, what if a much worse thing happen.”
*“Then don't.” Dave said, almost shouting. "This is simple: the shop will soon close, go close, snatch the bag from the man, and the security will be holding the door car for him. Before he enters, you will snatch the bag while I will hit the security with a plank from the back. What's risky in that? That's a chance to really live. Think, think, bro, think..."
I glanced around with my heart beating fast. People were not really much around anyway, and that side of the shop where the car is parked is always dark; I can see from the distance how dark it even is. Just take some steps, take this risk, and have my life changed forever.
“I nee...eed to thiiiii....nnnk,” I said, stammering.
“Think? You don't have much time anymore; we don't have time. I just wanted to help your life since we're friends and I see your struggles." He said as he hissed. "If we miss this, it's gone forever; decide fast."
Here I am at a crossroads. Where exactly should I go? Where should I turn? Either do this and get things changed for good or decline and continue living life from hand to mouth. Even my conscience was having a bad time coming through for me. But then, I was desperate..."Just one night, just this time, just take the risk and solve everything." I whispered to myself.
"Let's do this." I said.
"You are serious." Dave said, looking surprised.
"Dead serious." I said with a very steady and ready-to-go voice.
He laughed as he patted me on the back. "let's go get the bag then." he said.
We moved, and when we almost reached the side of the shop, I stopped. He looked at me somehow and asked, "What's wrong? Just a few minutes and we are done."
I shook my head. "I'm not doing this.”
Chuks’s looks shocked. “Are you being serious right now?”
“I am. I can’t risk my future and all that I could become because of quick money; I won't be at peace, and I can't become someone I’ll regret.” I said.
He laughed a very wicked kind of laugh. “You are not even man enough to do what it takes to save your family. You're nothing and will always be."
"You had an opportunity to save your family, and you didn't; continue to live in the regret of your choice." He said as he walked away into the shadows. Rain began to fall, but then I couldn't even run; I just faced home and trekked all the way down. I felt somehow, I don't know how to explain it, I could have just grabbed the money. By now, maybe we would have been done already, and I would just be left thinking of what to solve first. But also, I would have lost myself.
Mama was already waiting at the gate; I could see her looking into the darkness trying to make out the figure coming close to her. “Tunde!" She shouted as she noticed it was me. "Where have you been since?”
I didn't even know what to say. I moved close to her and held her. I trembled as I mumbled, “Mama, I choose... I chose to stay and stick to my hustle, I chose to not hurt someone else, I choose to believe in God and see how things unfold, and I choose not to destroy us and my conscience..."
Even though she doesn't seem to understand what I was saying, as a mother would, she smiled and said, "I'm proud of you, my son.”
Later that night, I sat on my mat counting the little I had been able to make for the day. The weight of my choice hit me. There are still a lot of bills left to be paid; the landlord will definitely come to shout again in the morning. There's Mama's shop that's almost running out of wares, my dad's health too is there, and my sister too.... But then, my choice is mine.
That night, I slept with peace of mind. I didn't even bother to think maybe if Dave had gone ahead with it or not, but then, I knew he would blame me if he didn't. I was happy and glad a son slept off; I felt happier and richer than any deal could make me.
Aside from money, choices is about that person I wanted to be, even in the presence of temptations and enticing deals/offers. I had chosen myself, and I was glad I did because it would last longer than any quick fix.
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