Back when I was still based in Benin, I was working at a filling station during the rainy season. There’s one particular day I’ll never forget. It was a Monday morning, and I was on the morning shift. As usual, I had to get to work early, but that day? The rain was something else.
It was pouring so heavily, I had never seen anything like it. The water on the street had risen to my chest, but my job didn’t care. I had to be there because no one else would man my pump.
I had no choice but to dive into the flood. I was soaked from head to toe, pushing through water with broken down cars and stranded people all around. I even saw a whole family climb onto the roof of their car just to stay above the water.
The scariest part was when I reached a small bridge I needed to cross. The flood had swallowed everything I couldn’t even tell where the bridge began or ended. One wrong step and I’d fall into the canal. That’s the day I realized how useful maths could be. I started calculating where the bridge might be, using anything I could observe. It took me 30 minutes, but I made it across, step by careful step.
Then this one okada guy tried to speed through like he was in a movie. People warned him, but he didn’t listen. He ended up in the canal. What saved him was that his shirt got hooked on a piece of iron. His bike floated away, but people pulled him out.
I reached work freezing and angry. Took a quick bath, changed, and stood there shivering till my shift ended. I fell sick for a whole week after that.
It was the worst day of my life which i would regret and i don't plan to experience this again.
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