It was a beautiful sunny afternoon. I was very hungry but I had no food item left at home. So I quickly ran downstairs to buy some food items with the money my mom had left me.
Luckily, after buying everything I needed_ tomatoes, pepper,oil,rice. I had some spare change. But going back home, I knew I wouldn’t have the strength to prepare a meal immediately. The hunger had spread through my veins like wildfire
Just a few steps from my house, something caught my attention on the left - eggs.
Boiled eggs, shining under the afternoon sun, with that pinkish-white color that always makes them look innocent and delicious. I stopped. My body wouldn’t let me walk past them.
"Hope it’s fresh, ma?" I asked mama nkechi, a middle-aged woman who ran a small provisions store nearby.
"Yes, it was cooked today," she replied, too quickly, like someone who had rehearsed the line
I stepped forward, scanning the tray of eggs like a hawk. My eyes landed on the biggest one. I picked it gently so I wouldn’t disturb the rest.
But as i removed the egg peel, a miserable smell hit my nose. At first, i thought I was imagining it. But the egg got closer to my mouth,the truth became real.
"Yerk!" I exclaimed, dropping the egg immediately. "But you said the eggs were fresh!
"They are! Maybe you picked the wrong one," she said,not even looking in my direction.
"Please ma, can I get a refund or maybe a better egg?"
"It's not my fault the egg was bad," she replied flatly. I can't take that loss. If you want, you can buy another one".
Her words rang in my head like a bell. I stood there, unsure whether to argue, shout or walk away. But I was too tired to argue. Quietly,I threw the half-eaten eggs on the ground and walked away _vowing never to buy from her again.
Months later
One evening, my friends and I planned to visit a classmate who was sick. On our way, I realized I didn’t have airtime,and we needed to confirm his house location. Out of urgency, I rushed to the closest shop (mama nkechi store)
I had forgotten my vow in that moment.
"200 naira airtime, please ", I requested, handing her 500 naira note
She gave me the recharge card and quickly handed me some notes as my balance. I typed in the airtime code and dashed off to meet my friends.
Hours later, after the visit, as we walked home, I decided to buy a sachet of water . I dipped my hand into my pocket to pay for the water but realized something odd.
I counted the money 700. She had mistakenly given me 700 naira as change instead of 300 naira
Immediately, I froze.
Part of me whispered, This is karma. A reward for that spoiled egg. Another voice echoed No, this is wrong. Return the money.
As I walked closer to home, the egg incident returned in full force. I remembered the taste, the smell,the disappointment. I wanted to keep the money. I deserved it, didn’t I?
But as I neared her shop again, something shifted. My legs slowed, and despite my inner conflict, my hand reached into my pocket and brought out the 700.
"Ma, you gave me 700 naira instead of 300," I said plainly, stretching the money toward her.
"Heee! Thank you o! I didn’t even notice!" She gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. God bless you!.
She went inside to get my correct change, but when she returned, she handed me 300 and a boiled egg as a thank you present.
My face lit up without warning. The pain I had carried for so long_over one bad egg_ suddenly lifted.
I smile faintly, nodded and walked home feeling a strange kind of peace.
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