Chapter 2: Market Show, Online Gbege

Just as I finish pack the plastic bottles wey I gather put inside my woven bag, person call me from back.

The plastic bottles still dey make noise for inside my bag as I adjust am for my back. For this Lagos, na so person go dey mind e own before wahala go call am.

"Mama, abeg, take this hundred naira, spend am as you like."

One guy wey dress fine, hide the way e dey look down on me, come point him phone camera for my side.

The guy e shoe dey shine, e face dey smooth. But the way e take look me, I fit see say e no fit hide say e no dey used to ground level. Na people like dat dey call us 'street people,' but dem no know say street na school wey no get graduation.

As I dey look am with confused face, e bring out one red note, force am for my hand.

My hand shake small as I collect am. Hunger dey make person hand dey light. I no too understand why he dey do am, but na money I see, and money no get enemy.

"Na livestream I dey do. Collect the money, buy anything wey you want. Take am, mama, use am chop, buy recharge card, anything wey your mind want."

I grip the money tight, squint look him phone screen.

"Finally, Big Timi don stream again. I no fit stay one day without watch am."

"Big Timi dey really help people wey need am. Respect!"

"See as this scavenger mama look pitiful, clothes dirty and tear everywhere. I hope this hundred naira go change her life small."

"Omo, na real wahala be this!"

"Na only for Naija you go see this kain live show."

"Chai, this woman get strong mind o!"

"Kai, na only God fit save us."

The comments just dey waka for screen, as if e get one party wey everybody dey shout inside. The kind thing wey dem dey talk, na so e dey pain person sometimes—people go just dey judge with touch light for their house, dey type anyhow.

Comments just dey fly for screen, viewers dey increase, pass hundred thousand sharp sharp.

As I dey see the numbers, e be like say my suffering don turn entertainment. But for Naija, na so e be. Everybody dey look for wetin go make dem laugh or cry small. My own na to collect the money and keep face.

I just put the money inside my pocket, nod give the streamer—Big Timi.

I no even talk too much, I just nod. Sometimes for this city, nod fit mean plenty things. Big Timi smile as if say e just dash money give angel.

So many people see am—e don do.

E mean say my matter don go online, I no fit hide again. The street go remember my face, but me I no send.