chapter 7

The blaring music coming from the cassette shop near the market played Nigerian christian pop songs. The music which was the sound of one of Nigeria's christian top artiste voice sent some of the sellers, who sold their wares dancing while some shook their heads to the rhythm of the song. At another cassette shop which was a little farther away played one of Nigeria's renowned song popularly known as 'sanko' which was old school but was now portrayed by the new age dancers in a more entertaining way. Some passers-by hailed if one of the moves displayed was unique or authentic while some sprayed or dropped money which even raised the excitement more to those that watched. Now some referred to these dancers as rogue's or as they would say "Bad boys". That was the streets for you. There was fun, sadness, poverty and that was where the hoodlums of the world were from, where the known armed robbers, kidnappers and even murderers where being founded including the subtle men and women of integrity, some were also from the streets. A terrifying sound of a gun was heard that afternoon sending most of the people running helter skelter looking for shelter. A man who was one of the individuals watching the dancers had already picked up his shoes from the ground which he removed from his leg and started running as fast as he could, shouting at the top of his voice.

"If you love your life run." Edna who was fast asleep on her cardboard sheet which she gently placed at the corner of the road wrapped it up immediately as she felt perplexed on what was going on. She got up and wondered what the problem was when a woman whose baby was tied to her back ran past her saying:

"won't you run?"

Edna tried to stop her and ask her what the problem is but the woman was so much in a hurry. The armed- robbers ,ran with their guns in their hands and the siren sound of the police cars came to the rescue. She went to a corner and watched in dismay, what was going to happen since their was no way to escape because already the armed robbers and the policemen had already started exchanging bullets,why some surrendered when they saw that the end had come.    

"Put your guns down" said one of the policemen which they obediently did except for one of them who ran as fast as he could.

"You,come here" the voice of the man   called out from behind. Edna turned slowly and fear gripped her whole body she relented at first then walked slowly to where the man was and halted.

"Take this"the man said in a commanding voice,he stretched forth his hand,and gave her a polythene bag containing a sum of money which she could not count at the moment,but was stocked up in piles.

"I will meet you at the market, close to the abattoir."

"Now run will you."

Edna stood transfixed at the spot and stared in absolute shock looking at the man in front of her.

"Run" the man shouted again.

"And if you don't meet me at that point i will find you and kill you."

"Run."cold shivers ran through Edna's spine,as a feeling of uneasiness crept through her.

A gun shot was fired by one of the policemen which sent the man in front of her down in his own pool of blood.she dropped the money and ran away.

"Who was that running ?" one of the policeman coming forward asked. 

"Nothing"the other policeman replied.

"Let's go." Another policeman said after  they had handcuffed the other armed robbers and put them in the van.

Everything went back to normal like it all started,market sellers began their daily job as usual even the cassette shop geared back to life as the sound of music boomed from their shop.

A film store which was at the corner of where Edna had laid ,had a big TV set which was placed at the front enabling passers-by to watch what was been displayed on the screen. A film was viewed,children who were between the ages of five to ten stood in front of the

"Tv"sets with their Haggard looking clothes watching what was been displayed on screen with enthusiasm

Some carried goods owned by buyers why other children just pushed their wheelbarrows of goods that where even bigger than the strength at which they could carry but they still pushed hard why the owners just walked along with them, giving them either fifty naira or hundred naira at least depending on the level of the goods they carried. Evening drew nearer,and some hurried to go home why some still hustled.This was the bustling life of the streets,and the dent for where poverty soared.