Chapter 2: Midnight Caller

Around two for midnight, my phone begin ring, wake me from sleep wey sweet me well well.

I dey dream say I dey chop nkwobi with cold malt when the call land. The taste of pepper still dey my mouth for dream. My body still dey heavy, but sharp guy no dey slack.

The number wey dey show, I no sabi am.

For Lagos, if unknown number call that kind hour, e fit be emergency or wahala. But my mind still dey for business.

"You be the locksmith? My door no gree open—abeg, you fit help me unlock am?"

Na woman voice I hear, e dey shake small.

Her voice get small Yoruba accent, but e soft, as if she dey try hide fear. She dey drag her words like person wey no sure if she wan cry or beg. Even as she dey talk, I hear small sniff, like person wey dey shiver or wan cry.

I calm her down, then ask for her address and which kind lock she get.

I lower my voice, dey talk gentle: "Madam, abeg, calm down. You dey safe? Na which kind lock be that?"

She talk say she dey Room 14B, Block D, Palm Grove Estate. Normal mechanical key lock. The key dey enter, but e no dey turn at all.

I sabi Palm Grove Estate well; na those blocks wey face the express. Many working-class people dey there. As she talk finish, I already dey picture the lock for my mind.

I tell her say e fit be wahala for the lock cylinder, maybe e need replacement.

I dey explain small small, no wan make her panic: "E fit be say the thing don jam or dirt don enter. Sometimes, na cylinder dey spoil."

She ask how much, and when I tell her the price, she happy well.

You know say for Lagos, if price too high, person go begin shout. But this one, she quick agree. E surprise me small. Normally, dem go price you tire, but this one just gree sharp sharp—something no clear.

I tell her say I fit reach there in ten minutes.

She thank me like person wey dem just free from police cell. "Abeg, hurry, biko," she add, voice low.

As I drop call, I jump comot from bed, wear my work uniform—custom one wey make me look sharp. For front and back, big big letter dey show my work: "Bello’s Locksmith Service."

The cloth dey neat, deep blue, with orange reflectors. For Lagos, e good to shine for night; LASTMA fit mistake you for thief otherwise. I clean my face, brush quick, spray small body spray—customer fit judge person by odour.

Once I ready, I carry my tool bag, waka commot house.

I double-check my bag: pliers, screwdrivers, lock picks, flashlight, even my small bottle of anointing oil (just in case wahala pass lock). For Lagos night, you must dey ready for anything.