Expectations

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"Mama Aboy!" Femi yelled, waving to his neighbour across the street as he got out of his apartment.

He yawned loudly and shook his head as if it would fight off the hunger raging deep within his stomach. It was one of those evenings in Lagos where the sky painted everything shades of his.

But that was the least of his worries. He was on a mission, one that had to do with saving his stomach from the emptiness that echoed within. He was headed to Tune's Mini Mart to buy food on credit again. This was the fifth time that week he was buying on credit, so this time, he prayed Tunde wouldn't decline his request.

He got to the mart, and just as he wanted the last customer was leaving. He would have the privacy to bed Tunde to sell to him on credit and even if Tunde declines and decides to insult him because he hasn't paid up the last one, the shame will be between him and Tunde alone.

"Femoo" Tunde hailed him by his nickname as he walked into his shop. "I hope it's my money you're bringing?" Tunde jokingly said.

Trying to play along, Femi pretended to have the money in his pocket as he quickly stuck his hands to his pocket. "Yes o, that's what I brought", he lied. It was all a trick just to get Tunde to believe his next act. He deepened his hands in his pants pockets, and instead of cash, he brought out a lotto ticket. He looked at the ticket casually and continued acting like he couldn't find the money in his pockets again.

"Ahh, Tunde seems like I've forgotten the money at home. And I want to buy something too. Now you'll think I'm trying to buy in credit again".

Finds stared at him with disgust, he knew that trick and wasn't going to fall for it. "Femi no need to lie. I already know. I'll just give you what you want because I don't want your bad luck this evening. What do you want?" Tunde asked.

"Just garri (cassava flakes). My usual " Femi replied smiling. He felt guilty for trying to trick his friend Tunde.

His hands brushed on the lotto paper again, reminding him of what he had in his hands. He had played the lottery last week but didn't get to check if he won.

Tunde returned with Femi's order and handed it over to Femi. But instead of leaving, Femi sat on a bench in the Mart and checked the lotto ticket. His eyes darted from his phone to the ticket. Suddenly he jumped up in joy and shoute.

"Tunde I'm rich. I just won fifty million naira".

At first, Tunde didn't believe him, but after Femi showed him the paper and his phone, he joined him in jubilation. Their voices attracted passersby and neighbours. Soon, the whole neighbourhood gathered in Tunde's shop to celebrate with Femi who couldn't contain his joy.

"Femi, that means you'll pay me what you owe me plus extra. That's for being a nice brother to you and giving you goods on credit," Tunde asked, acting all gentle and smiling sheepishly.

"Sure, I'll. You've been helpful" Femi replied.

Immediately Mama Aboy chipped in as the crowd grew bigger. "Femi remembers me too," she grinned from ear to ear. "I used to give you food on days I cooked more than enough."

"No problem," Femi replied.

Another voice came from the crowd. It was Papa Ada's voice. "Femi, remember you liked my daughter. Although I didn't give you the chance to marry her then because you were poor, you can come now and marry her".

Femi didn't reply, he nodded only. And just when he thought all was over, more voices kept reeling out their demands from the crowd. Then, his phone started buzzing. The news of his win had spread like wildfire, and now his family and even people he hadn't spoken to for years were calling him.

Choking at their demands, Femi sneaked out of the crowd back to his house. He wasn't ready for all the buzz his win brought him that night. It was as if everyone he knew was calling him that night. He was sure if he slept it off, by morning everything must have ended.

But the morning brought heavy knocks on his door. First, it was his landlord at the door.

"Femi, my best tenant." His landlord said with a smile.

Femi was shocked to hear his landlord cursed him at any given opportunity because of his inability to pay his rent being so nice. But he played along.

"Good morning sir".

"Good morning my good tenant. So I just want to tell you that my rent has increased," his landlord said.

Femi looked at him, shocked. "But oga landlord, why?"

His landlord gave him a mean stare "Are you not a millionaire now? As long as a millionaire is living in my house he will not pay the regular rent".

Angrily Femi banged the door shut on him. He couldn't believe his ears. He tried not to get upset, but as he walked back into the house, a knock came again. Thinking it was his landlord again, he turned to go tell him off, but as he opened, It was members of his family. They had heard of the news and travelled through the night to the city to see him. Each one sang about his problems and why Femi needed to help them with the money he had just won.

When he couldn't take it anymore, he stood up and walked out of the house. He needed to catch some fresh air, he was suffocating with the chaos.

He walked down to Tunde's shop and ordered bottles of beer. Then he drank with Tunde pouring out his anger and realisation about life.

"Tunde, my brother, I know being a poor man isn't what we all crave. But it feels like life was peaceful when I was poor. Everything was going peacefully and quietly until I became a millionaire. Now everyone wants to be my friend, everyone wants me to solve their problems, everyone thinks their problem is my responsibility." Femi complained to Tunde as they gulped on their glass of beer.

He took a deep breath. He was exhausted, not from the celebration but from the weight of everyone's expectations.