I Missed the bus: Episode 2

Epilogue: T’was a really bumpy ride from waking up late to missing the Staff Bus. If only I had met @FarmGirl on the way, she’d have given me a ride in her Convertible Lamborghini.

I’m pretty sure you all pretty enjoyed the first part of the story. If you haven’t read it, here’s the link to how it all started: https://read.cash/@Kristofferquincy/i-missed-the-bus-2aebca19

@Princessbusayo didn't wake me up with the required kiss, now I'm trouble.

Picking up right from where I stopped in the last episode, the staff bus had left without me and I was basically losing my mind, paid a double bike fare and had no way of getting to work but by spending the money intended for my lunch break. Here we go; the story continues.

The story continues

Since the Staff Bus had left me and I’ve got to be in the office before 8am, waiting for the BRT wasn’t an option (BRT is a government owned public transport system- cheaper and more convenient) because there were over a million persons waiting to compete for the limited number of available buses. Ignore my exaggeration, there were about 300 people, and I was definitely going to be the 300th person on the queue. I had no choice but to board a danfo (common name for public 18-seater buses in Lagos) from Ikorodu to Ojota. The only available danfo was an almost empty Bus with only two passengers with me making the third. I waited in the bus while the conductor had to look for more passengers to complete the 15 vacant seats; I was beginning to lose my mind at this point. Another bus passed me with @Gaftekloriginal at the front seat but it was already filled. I tried saying hi to him but his eyes were fixed to his phone, probably monitoring the BCH price fluctuation- we all know how that can be.

I looked at my wristwatch and “damn” I really was in trouble, it was few minutes past 6 am and I was nowhere near the beginning of the journey.  I just had to give myself the classical conditioning of “remain calm, remain calm” if you know what I mean, I was basically trying to hypnotize myself but it wasn’t working. The driver didn’t move until the vehicle was full; at this point we had already spent an extra twenty minutes.  At this point I thought to myself; where is @cool08 when I need him?

Finally, we move

The vehicle finally moved but the traffic was so terrible that I already gave up getting to work early, I didn’t care anymore. I was like “I’d get there whenever I get there, I can’t kill myself”. I gave the conductor 500 Naira cos’ the transport fare was 300 naira, my balance should be 200 naira but I didn’t collect it without a little drama from the bus conductor.

We didn’t get to Ojota until 7.45am, the plan was to move from Ikorodu to Ojota, and Ojota to Maryland, which is where my work is located, take note it’s not Maryland in the United States but Maryland in Lagos, Nigeria. “Conductor where is my change” were the words that came out of my mouth when I got to my Bustop, “Abi you think I will forget ni” (in pidgin- a local Nigerian dialect). Meanwhile I was already putting on my blazers, and having an official look, then the conduct was like “I don’t have change o”. Unfortunately for me, someone else was getting down at the same junction, someone whom the conductor owed 300 naira. Since the conductor owed me 200 Naira and owed the second person 300 naira, he simply tied us together with a 500 Naira note.

Only Lagosians will understand the “tied us together” concept.

At that moment I wished @CoquiCoin was there to see what I was going through.

Supply and Demand

Permit me to quickly explain the “tied us together concept”, it goes like this; since the Bus conductor owed me 200 Naira and owed the second person a 300 Naira change, He simply gave us both a 500 Naira note and asked us to sort ourselves out- that’s the tied together concept. Lagos conductors do that a lot, “tie” you to an unknown person and leave you to your fate, those conductors are damn wicked, and I’d punch one in the face one of these days. If only @clixmoney was closeby, change wouldn’t have been a problem.

The man to which I was “tied” looked at me and uttered the most disgusting words ever “I don’t have 200 Naira change o”. “Let’s go look for change naw or what are you doing over there staring at me?” was my response. We began going from shop to shop seeking for change just like the devil seeking whom to devour hahahaha...(evil laughter), I had to follow him before He shows me Lagos (Lagos is a dangerous place, you have to be smart or they will “show you Lagos”).

After minutes of not getting change, He looked at me in a funny way and said “Mr. Man you’re bigger than 200 Naira”, I gave him an instant response of “because I’m putting on a suit? Bring the money let me look for change.” I pulled my suit, hung it on my shoulder and collected the money in search of change (I’m putting on a quality blazer and looking good doesn’t mean I’ve got money to spare @OfficialGamboaLikeUs taught me how to dress to look rich but I’m struggling just as you are, every amount matters). He gave me a weird look once again but it didn’t matter to me.

Bank of Beggars

I already gave up getting to work early so I didn’t care anymore. I met a beggar on the street and the weirdest thing happened.

Since beggars usually had different currency denominations, I decided to ask a random beggar by the road side to help me with change from his “surplus currency bank”. Well, it would seem the beggar was “a beggar” after all, he said he was going to give us only 400 Naira and keep 100 Naira to himself; I guess that was our contribution to him for helping us out (He lived up to his name, Beggars will always be Beggars)... Real life o, that was my first time of asking a beggar for change, a mistake I’d never make in this life and the next. Random thought- if a next life actually exists I’d rather eat pizza in heaven than come to this world of suffering. I got the change from the Beggar and was ready to be on my way, the rest of the story is history…..

Office At last!

After my withdrawal from “the bank of beggars”, I boarded the final vehicle from Ojota, and finally got to work by 8.37am. While I was in the vehicle, I passed by @Olasquare chilling in the back seat of the newly bought Aston-Martin, but I couldn’t say hi cos’ my mind was really disturbed.I was busy thinking about the fact that; If only @meitanteikudo was the CEO of the company, He would have Instructed the Staff Bus to wait until I arrived at the junction, I wouldn’t have missed it in the first place………

I got to the office while sweating like a Christmas Goat (Do Goats sweat? I don’t think so). As I entered the office building, the AC in the hall-way blew me up and immediately evaporated the sweat on me, I felt a bit relaxed. I felt like myself again. The adventure ended as quickly as it began but I’m glad to be alive to tell the story, this kind of stress is a killer. My Boss didn’t ask why I came late cos’ he's @Idksamad7869, he's very understanding , plus I had the good reputation of getting to work super early. He offered me a bottle of cold water to cool the tension in me (told you he's a nice boss). Phew! I’m alive.

That’s the whole story- how I missed the Bus and went through a hall of stress to get to work.

I do hope you enjoy this story. It didn’t happen to me but a close friend of mine. I’m glad he told me this story, and I’m happy to write it in my own way. What do you think? @Jinifer

Shout out to @Eylz2021 and @ARTicLEE, you guys are awesome. I'm considering writing a third part, something about the return trip after work, I hope the required inspiration comes early.

Thanks for reading.....

If you enjoyed this, checkout this amazing story: https://read.cash/@Kristofferquincy/gone-too-soon-7a9fdb96