As a kid, I loved hanging out with teenagers because children groups seemed too childish for me or so I thought. It felt better listening to high school jokes, gossip about the popular kids and the wicked senior students.
Luckily, the teenagers I knew were calm and collected people or maybe they just kept their cool whenever I was around, but for about two months, I was always with these three teenagers (let's call them Janet, Tom and Isabel). Although they were about six to seven years older than my seven year old self, we still bonded like family
We had two hangout spots which were my dad's house or Janet and Tom’s father’s house, so we took turns staying at each house.
On one of those days, we were hanging out at my dad's house and to spice things up a little bit, we agreed to play another game because we were all tired of the Ayo game at my dad's.
“We have the Ludo game at my dad's,” Janet announced.
“Yes we do but are you sure we can find all the components of the game?” Tom chirped in.
“Also, the sun is quite scorching and walking over to your dad's would be tedious” Isabel said.
“I still want to get that game because if I have to play this Ayo game one more time, the whole world would hear me scream." Janet thundered.
“Although my dad warned me against this, we could take the bush track!” I blurted.
For a moment, we all looked at ourselves as if we were considering the idea.
“So we basically just hasten our steps, walk past the bush track, get to my house, grab the Ludo game and come back here. Easy peasy.” Janet said.
“And moreover, what could possibly go wrong in broad daylight?” Tom said.
“So you in? Because I am.” Janet said.
“I'm in,” Tom said.
“I'll pass on this one.” Isabel said. “It's just one light Ludo game and a full squad wouldn't be necessary.”
“I'm in.” I lightly chirped in as I wasn't one to pass on adventures.
“No way!” Isabel thundered. “Do you always have to follow Janet and Tom around?.”
“It's only fair that she comes with us as it is her idea after all.” Tom said.
After going back and forth about whether I was going or not, we finally agreed that I should go.
Janet, Tom and I began our journey. The bush track was a shorter and faster route. Meaning we were going to be playing the Ludo game at my dad's in no time.
We walked and talked till we arrived at Janet's father's house. She quickly grabbed the Ludo game and we were already on our way back. We kept talking but for a minute I zoned out. Something didn't feel right and I thought I was just feeling guilty for going against my dad's orders.
“Hey you! Hey you! Stop there!” Two voices chorused and I froze in track. They sounded like typical robbers. But really? In broad daylight guys?
“Where the others dey run go?” One of the men asked his colleagues. As that question was asked, I turned slightly to my left and saw Janet actively scaling over a fence and behind me, Tom was sprinting like he was an Olympic champion.
I could feel my throat constrict as I tried to swallow. All I could think of was saying my last prayers because my supposed protectors had long legs while I had tiny and not-fully-developed legs.
“This wan na small pikin. Make we leave am.” One of the armed men suggested to his colleague and a few minutes after cracking jokes and scaring me, they vanished back to where they came from.
Not knowing how to locate my dad's house, I just stood there, waiting for Tom and Janet. About two minutes later, I heard Tom's familiar voice.
“Whoosh! Well, that was close. Where is Janet? He asked and I wondered who the fluff he was asking. The same person he sprinted away from without thinking twice? I looked up straight at Tom and I knew that he could see the anger I was feeling through my eyes.
“Look, I'm sorry Wongi. Before I could think straight, my legs were already in motion. When I realised what was happening, I came back for you.”
“Hmmm” I hummed, not deigning to give him a response.
“I and Janet would try to make it up to you. I promise.”
“Hmmmmmm” the second hum longer than the first.
As Tom was still trying to make amends, Janet resurfaced with loads of wounds and was explaining how the adrenaline coursing through her veins caused her to scale a fence even with the long gown she had on. Something she had never done in her life.
Quietly, we all walked back to my dad's house and during the walk, I managed to convince myself that hanging out with teenagers wasn't so nice after all. As we reached the house, I slowly walked into the house, shut my room door and that was it. We were still friends but naturally, we grew apart after that incident.
Eventually, I came to the conclusion that either the ‘teens’ had set me up or we just had really kind robbers at the time. Either way, a vital lesson was learnt.
For Better Context
“Where the others dey run go?” means Where are the others running to (Pidgin English)
“This wan na small pikin. Make we leave am. means This is a child, lets spare her (Pidgin English)
All images used belong to me and were taken with my mobile device unless stated otherwise.
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