Drawing closer to her destination, she began to wonder. It had definitely been a long time since she had been here. Everyone will be excited to see her which is a feeling she has not been keen to in a while.

The only thing she doesn’t like about this is how long it took her to come here or maybe the eccentricities of these people get to her some times. She went away to make something for herself and for a long time she did until it all crumbled.

Didi was stuck in her head yet again but the light tap on her arm brought her back to the here and now.

“Isn’t this your stop?” Didi looked and saw that she had indeed reached her destination.

“Yes, thank you” She said with a smile and came down from the bus.

She was carrying only one bag so it was easy for her to meander her way around. Things were still the same as they were the last time she visited and she didn’t know whether to be frustrated at the monotony or be happy at the nostalgic feeling it brought her.

Didi walked a short distance stopping to buy banana and groundnut at a distance where she was sure to not get mobbed by the hawkers. After buying the items, she went to side of the road to stop an Okada. The Okada rider she stopped asked for her destination and she answered wistfully “Home”

The man looked at her as if she had lost her mind and she quickly told him the exact place where home was located.

Breeze blowing her face, her hair flailing about and the up and down fast movement, these were just some of the things she missed doing. She hadn’t been on an Okada in a very long time; it didn’t fit with her image.

As they slowly approached she began to hear the loud music that was playing and she knew something must have been going on. Probably one of the numerous ceremonies these people liked to put on.

Soon they couldn’t go any further because everywhere was blocked. Didi’s intuition had been right, they were celebrating.

The Okada man grumbled something about not being able to go on. She came down and paid the man his money. He turned around and went away and she continued the journey on foot, after all it wasn’t so far again.

The music got louder as she got closer and the sounds became understandable to her. Once they did, she rolled her eyes, they were attempting yet again to bring out the crocodiles that resided in the lake.

What a fool’s errand. Growing up she had heard the tales of the mystical powerful crocodiles but over the years, no one had seen these crocodiles. It’s like they simply vanished.

That did not stop people. Every year, they’d have these massive events – exercises of sorts – to appease the crocodiles to come out. The best of live music is played and everyone gathers round to celebrate, bringing items like; kolanuts, nzu, white fowl, few days old chicks.

People brought items in masse, depending on their financial pedigree. The items are then shared between the people and the crocodiles in the lake – their share is tossed into the lake. Of course, the ones that brought out more things got to take first. You’d think the ones that don’t have enough will be asked to go first seeing as the other ones can afford plenty.

Didi strolled past and went straight to her house. The house was empty, no one was home of course, they were all at the festival.

She quickly got settled in and lay down on the bed. Soon, she had fallen asleep knowing peace for the first time in a while.

The next few weeks were a blur of the same events. She’d wake up and go for a run on the same route; from her house, to the road, through the lake and then to the other side around Mama Ofunneka’s house before returning home.

The chores had to be done, her aunty had insisted on it. Then she’d walk the younger children to school in the morning, and help with the cooking. On some days, she would go to her aunty’s shop and help with the sales.

She had slowly gotten to a groove, one that was not as challenging but as hectic as her work had been. Didi even reconnected with old friends and made new ones.

Everyone here was nice and accommodating. No one judged her or looked at her like she wore a scarlet A on her forehead. The children looked up to her as if she hung the moon especially when she helped them with her homework. It was not a big deal, she just had a genius IQ.

It was like no time had passed since the last time she had visited and for the millionth time, she was happy she chose to come back home and be among family.

Every mosquito net can tear, every wall has a door or a window and every dome has the possibility of crashing.

Hers just did....

http://www.myvirtualorbit.com/it-will-be-okay/