The coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, which was discovered in late December 2019 had become too unbearable this time around. This had culminated in a mammoth suspected cases and deaths. To minimize the spread of the pandemic, all social gatherings were forbidden. By March, 10, all schools in the country had been closed down and this lasted for three months. This had eaten into the academic calendars and had brought a drastic retrogression into the educational system. The wearing of nose masks, frequent washing of hands, the use of hand sanitizers among others had become strict customs. The declare of a three-week continuous work hitch as part of the lockdown left all economic activities in jitters and implanted famine in most households. This had increased Mum's debtors and her business was on the verge of collapsing. Torgbe's block factory too was halted but came into action immediately after the lift of the lockdown.
Slowly but steadily, September had settled in. But for the snag the pandemic had incurred on the academic calendars, all tertiary institutions would have been done admitting their fresh students. Consequently, the admission of all fresh students had been shifted to November or December especially for public universities and training colleges. The private ones, however, had set their protocols, and that were not under the ascendancy of the government. All good things come to those who wait, Baba Tunde, my friend, and a former classmate would say, the only food for thoughts in his book, I supposed. Since we completed secondary school, I had not heard from him and I had lost his contact too. Indeed, it is strange and he was one of those aberrant guys those days in the boarding house. Give him soap and washing powder and he will bath with the latter and keep the former for washing his clothes. Nevertheless, he was as kind as a turtle: one of his saving graces. Better placed, I was glad to have saved a handsome amount of money from the factory work.
As a prospective petroleum engineering student, I would need a laptop for programming, carrying out projects and assignments, and most importantly, for studying and that, the device was going to be crucial for my academic works. That being true, Innocent who was on vacation by then had taken me to town to get a simple and a brand new one, pricing one thousand and five hundred Ghana cedis there about. I was caught up in bewilderment when the storekeeper hammered on it time and again that it was the least price in the market and that he even considered me because I came in with a swollen forehead. Somehow, I thanked him half-heartedly but how could he say that he gave me a discount because of my protrusive forehead? I didn't blame him either. I cast nerveless spells on the day before, the afternoon when my friends and I had a soccer match with one of the neighbourhoods. I had scored the first goal amidst the jubilations, and subsequently lifted my body and threw myself to the bleacher fans and thought I would be held in thin air with those hands, like how one of those big stars do it on stage. Unfortunately, those ungrateful fans never acknowledged this new hero, left him to feel the impact of the hard ground. And behold, "Wham!", the concrete floor 'kissed' my forehead. The ignominy of such falls was proportionate to how long the victim lay on the floor and that I stood up asap, engulfed by the shame, looked in their worthless faces and walked away straight home. Whether the match continued or not, I had ended my 'football career' there.
But for Innocent, I would have cancelled the idea of purchasing the laptop immediately its price had been mentioned. Inevitably too, I needed the device and decided to get a second-hand type which would cost less and perhaps, keep the remaining cash and add it to my fees. Nevertheless, Innocent who knew much about computers drew a consensus with me and told me a second-hand type would only give me trouble afterwards. The dice had been cast and the consequence was evident -- I had been thoroughly drained financially and was wondering if there was any money left for me to buy even a pair of boxershorts.
A few clothes, bags, pairs of sandals and shoes, calculator, stationeries, and provisions followed later. Since I couldn't get the money in bulk, these items were bought piecemeal. That month for clothes and footwears, the next for stationeries and perhaps victuals…something like that. Hmm, I just don't know what to say and how to say it but these mealy-mouthed traffickers and their fashionable crafts in winning customers gave me mix feelings. "Chairman! You look like the president in that shirt! How much do you have?", one hung a second-hand blue suit around my neck without my notice, drifted back, flattered me with those words, stood akimbo, shot me with a faulty photographic camera, returned to my position and requested a deal.
A shirt may genuinely cost ten Ghana cedis but the seller could tell you thirty Ghana cedis. Yes, thrice the original price. You doubted and pleaded and upon several deductions, he couldn't agree more but he gave it to you at eighteen Ghana cedis. You were happy that at least, you had bought that shirt at a cheaper price but apparently, you were cheated eight Ghana cedis. How would you know? Later, you were dazed when you asked a friend who bought the same shirt in the same market and on the same day and he told you he got it at seven Ghana cedis. What would you do? Return the shirt to the seller for your money? Waste not your feet or fare trying to trace that seller because you may not find him at all. Even if you did find him, he would tell you he had never met you before even if you had left there five minutes ago. You may know the story and such transactions and monkey businesses are rife in the market. I won't say only in the blacks' markets because someone may think I'm being too strict on the blacks. I'm just expressing my fair opinions. Besides, I'm equally a black guy and to the backbone. What's next? And when a mean or an ungrateful seller mentioned his first price to you and you concurred with that, the same seller insulted you inwardly while you were still there or did so loudly when you were out of earshot, for accepting the high bargain. If asking for deductions naturally troubles you or a situation won't permit you to do that or you truly want to favour the seller, that is fine. But if you think you've got enough money and want to show off, that's crazy!
All right but as planned the preceding year, I had thought of reserving some amount and establishing a small business with it before leaving for school. Unfortunately, the amount left after those purchases was too scrimpy. I finally decided to add the remaining few savings to that for my transportation, feeding fee, and perhaps, textbooks.