03/06/2025
I hate my parents' job.
Customers don't remember to buy drugs until late in the night. Like now, this is 9:30pm and there are still customers in the job. "Don't they consider that they are also humans and have to rest?"
I just want to go home, lay on my bed, and sleep.
The blaring sound of the generator coupled with the noise of the customers started making me feel irritated. Ugh! I need to get my random attitude under control. Chewing silently on the gala i brought a while ago, I observed the busy street and the customers trickling their way into the shop.
"Why won't these people come in the afternoon to buy thier stuffs. Why do they have to come at night when i want to go home and lie down?" I thought to myself
I gazed outside as I watched some men talking loudly with their ties, probably somewhere in their bag, their shirts loose and thier briefcase hanging loosely on their shoulders, walking on the street. From their walk, i could tell they've had one or two to drink .
One of them was complaining, "I can't wait to leave that place."
His co-worker laughed. " You've been resigning by mouth. You've been saying that for the past 5 years. If you leave this job, where you wan take see another one."
Their voice fades out as I continue observing the street.
"Funmi,"
my mom called out.
"Yes ma,"
"Call that mallam selling sponge. I want to buy sponge. "
"Ok ma".
I walked out of the door to call out the man.
"Mallam, we want to buy sponge"
The mallam walked towards me, and i saw the most handsome Fulani man in my life. His skin shone as the midnight, causing his eyes to shine like that of a panther.
"But he is Fulani," I thought. He is probably a terrorist,"
Immediately, my admiration changed to disdain.
I bought the sponge and he left.
7 years later, I still can't forget the face of this Fulani man, and I wonder if ineed he is a terrorist or just a "mallam" selling sponges.
It makes me wonder just how we judge people based on assumptions, stereotypes, and the 1% they showed us or the society showed us . We filter people based on this and don't give them a chance enough to prove themselves or show what they are really like.
On the other hand, what if these counter measures have been placed there by our minds to filter people and not to make errors based on bad judgement? Since we can't get to know everyone beyond the fist glance and it will be pure folly to let everyone show their true colours before we can know who they truly are. Isn't it safe that society has placed standards by which we can measure people and their intentions?
I, for one, belive in filtering people based on societal standards and I think some times, stereotypes should be challenged and we give people a chance.
