Chapter 1: Film Trick for Lagos

For Lagos, na today be my own film trick.

Just after I signed a contract worth tens of millions, dem sack me sharp-sharp.

See as life dey, e be like film trick. One minute, everybody dey hail you, dey call you champion, dey pat you for back. Next thing, dem show you exit like you be thief. The air for my chest heavy as I dey remember that moment. Even cleaner sef, Mama Ifeoma, just dey look me with corner eye. Na wa!

The smell of akara from roadside vendors drifted in, mocking my empty pocket.

Oga talk say my year-end bonus too much—e fit pay office rent for one whole year—and him no wan pay am.

You know these Ogas na, always dey find story to dodge better payment. I no even surprise. Since e dey talk like say my bonus na crime, I just dey look am like person wey dey try swallow hot suya without water. For my mind, I dey calculate all my runs for the company, all the nights wey I no sleep.

He give me two options: make I forget the year-end bonus, or make I collect sack letter.

As he drop the options, e be like say my spirit just waka comot body. I dey look am wella, but I no talk, make e no come say I be stubborn. For this Naija, if dem wan show you shege, dem go use style dey threaten.

I choose make dem sack me.

E shock am small, because I no beg, no kneel down, no call family member. I just siddon, face calm, dey look. Man no fit come this life come dey beg for wetin e don work for.

Half a month later, I come back to collect the office building.

You know say Naija no dey carry last. I get sense pass their own. As I waka enter, security man greet me, dey look me with corner eye. The whole staff dey wonder, wetin this Tunde wan do again?

If you no fit pay rent, make I help you clear am.

Na as I dey talk am, na so dem begin look me like say I be landlord wey come sweep out stubborn tenants. Me sef dey reason say, na God dey fight for person for this life. True true, who get sense no dey carry last for Lagos.