STORY:maxwell by Okiki Adeduyite(winner of justinfo blog writeup competition)

I stopped walking. This seems like the best place to sit without disturbance. It was a bad day. No stars in the sky yet but it was dark. Dark enough for Mummy to have returned from church. I dropped my tray on the gutter fence. My osuka¹ fell but I didn't pick it up. I sat and reflected on the day's sales. Or the day's wandering. I sold nothing.
I picked the finely wrapped pawpaw and watermelon one by each and admired them using the fluorescent street light in front of the building opposite where I sat.
I had no idea what Mummy would do to me. I knew what would happen but I didn't know how it would happen and that made me shiver. I didn't know if it was the cool evening breeze that hovered my legs and penetrated my body through my shorts.
I was hungry too. Mummy had said "Eat the last one when you've sold all." I can't even eat one as I didn't sell any. All 30 of them. I might not even eat tonight.
A man was approaching up the hill. I was tired of praying that the next person passing by should demand for one pawpaw or watermelon. I could care less. My legs ached. My belly squeezed from the inside. He got to where I was sitting and asked the usual questions Lagos residents ask hawkers sitting by the road. I replied with grunts and he left early.

Mummy was chasing me round the street with orogun² in her hand. I carried a plate of rice in both hands and ran as fast as I could. I got to a corner and hid. I was trying to catch my breath so I could start eating. I couldn't wait anymore. I was really hungry. I scooped with my hands. I heard a voice from above. "Pawpaw boy. Pawpaw boy."

"Pawpaw boy." I woke up. I began wondering why sleeping outside was sweeter than on your bed. It was a man sitting with another man beside the building opposite me. "PawPaw boy, Come." He said.
My mum would always say "Don't answer strangers." But I knew this wasn't a kidnapper. He was just curious and concerned. I didn't want to be disrespectful. I picked up my 'osuka' and walked to him.
"How old are you?" was his first question.
"What class are you?"
"What school do you attend?"
I was so exhausted. He asked these questions thrice at most before asking the next because I wasn't interested in wasting the little energy I had on a man who wouldn't buy a pawpaw at the end of the day.
His friend asked, "Will your mother beat you for not selling anything?" My heart sank. I refused to answer that question. Lagosians always act like they know everything going on with everyone on the street.
"Go home and relax. Don't sleep there." He finally dismissed.
I walked back. Picked up my tray and walked home. Angry and afraid. Angry that no human could 'pity' me and buy just one pawpaw or watermelon. Afraid of what is waiting at home.
When I got home, they were already eating dinner. Daddy was absent. Mummy was focused on her meal. Tade and Grace looked at my tray for a long while. Mummy didn't seem to notice. She told me to go get my food in the kitchen. I came back and sat beside Grace..I was shocked when I saw the soup. 'Two meats!!!' I was alarmed. I was sure I picked up Daddy's meal. I was about to go return it to the kitchen when Grace whispered into my ear,"Today is your birthday. Daddy told us."
It took me a few seconds to gather my thoughts. My birthday? I had forgotten today is January 16. I am now 10 years old. I suddenly started eating, happily. I picked up a meat and took a bite. I was still chewing when the side of my eyes caught the tray I placed on top of the fridge. Suddenly my happiness vanished. Mummy had not looked up from her meal since I walked in. She may not have seen the tray.
What would happen? Should I rush my meal before Mummy notices and stops me?
Will she beat me or force me to chew a full bowl of dry pepper?
Would I be forgiven because it's my birthday?

Would I?

"Maxwell" Mummy's voice rang out. "You didn't sell anything?"
"Ye...Ye...Yess" I knew i shouldn't have thought i would be spared.
Then she said, "Take it inside before your Daddy comes back."
I couldn't believe my ears. Why was she so nice? She wasn't this nice during my last birthday. What is happening?
I wasn't done with my meal. The Semovita tasted different today. Everything felt different. I was so reluctant to leave my meal because i was still hungry. I didn't wash my hand. I picked up the tray and carried it to our room. It was dark but Baba Tayo's generator dimly lit the room. I was smiling to myself as i was alone. I heard the door close behind me after i placed the tray on the floor. I turned around and the figure's height spelt doom.
"So you didn't sell anything and you want to eat my food."
"Mummy sorry please, mummy sorry." I didn't know if what she said was a question but that was all i could utter. She drew the carved turning stick out of her skirt from her back. I knew my chants of "Mummy please" wasn't going to change anything but what else could I say?
The next day was Saturday. With my tray balanced confidently on my head, i mapped out of the street. Smiling all i could. It was all i could do not to laugh. I refused to be dejected. I ignored the pain of my broken pinky finger and also ignored the 'no sale' status. I just moved around happy. I knew i would have to feign 'sad' come nightfall. Mummy may have beaten me last night, but she was dead this morning. And I was happy about it. I was.