Nobody prays to have a bad day. At least not with the kind of signs you’ve been seeing lately. They say if you experience a continuous itching of palms and feet, then you are about to receive some major financial blessings. 

It has happened many times before. 

You keep smiling in anticipation of the way it would come this time around. 

Maybe hubby would realize again how freaking amazing you are, that without you he cannot breathe, then go on to spoil you silly…

Or massive orders for Ankara from your customers abroad…

Possibly a mail from Racheal saying the deal is on…

Or Christmas could come early and Santa would just appear on your doorstep, bearing gifts and shouting “ho ho ho”…

Something along those lines. 

It definitely had to be huge because the itching has kept you awake at night for days. 

Then today happened. 

You say a hasty prayer as you get up from bed reluctantly. 

Then you go on to wake your son but he refuses and raises his backside to your face. 

“Lolu you have exams now. Wake up jo.” You say. 

Few tickles later, he is up and laughing. You prepare his food and get him ready for school. 

The cold from the previous night rain is lingering still and you tell him to wear his blue cardigan; the one you spent over five hours crocheting. 

He refuses as usual. 

“Mummy I will fight the cold with my spider man web and super gecko muscles”. He demonstrates. 

“See this boy o, you think your teacher would allow you play outside in the cold abi? Will you go and wear your sweater before I open my eyes”. You scream. 

You and Lolu walk to the bus stop. You see the line up of tricycles also called Keke Napep and you go and sit in the one whose turn it is to load passengers. 

You carry Lolu on your lap. 

Usually you don’t mind sitting in any particular spot at the back, but today you decide you are going to sit in the middle. 

The reason being to protect your son from the cold as other passengers would sit on your left and right respectively. 

Then, a woman with a child strapped to her back and two older ones enter the seat on your right. The eldest child stands while the younger one sits on his mother’s lap. 

You mutter inside, 

“Why can’t this woman just take two seats, so the older children can sit and the baby on her back would be comfortable”. 

Before you are done thinking it, another passenger enters and sits at your left and another at the front with the driver. 

He drives off. 

Like many people, when something is about to go wrong, you have some sense of unease or premonition or dream. 

But today you feel absolutely nothing. If anything, you are optimistic about the blessings coming to you. 

Today is going to be fine like other days right? 

Right? 

One second, Lolu is sitting comfortably on your laps, the next second, you see a car come out from the T Junction in front of you and drive into your lane. 

The Keke driver swerves to avoid being hit and the impact brings the tricycle down, falling on the right side and sliding a bit. 

In that split moment inside the fallen vehicle you aren’t sure if you made it. 

A myriad of fearful questions grips you. 

What if there is another vehicle coming at full speed?

What if the Keke catches fire?

What if your neck and legs are broken?

Where is Lolu?

He just recovered from an illness. God Abeg!

“Jesu, Jesu, Gbami Oluwa”. You scream on top of your voice. This isn’t the time to speak english. 

People rush and pull the Keke back upright and help us out. 

You hear screams coming from the woman with three children.

“Awon omo mi ooooo, Ah my children”. She wails on and on. 

The vehicle had fallen on their side.

You don’t know who put your son in your arms as he cries. 

Lolu’s tears make you cry too like a huge baby. 

You walk to woman with the kids. Her legs were hurt, bleeding but she is more concerned for her children. 

Ah! Abiyamo to o to.

You say sorry to her as people help her prepare to go to the hospital. 

As the shock wears off, you start examining Lolu and discover no scratches. 

Not a single scratch on you or him. 

Nor a broken bone. 

Nothing amiss. 

Even your house key that had fallen in the vehicle is brought to you. 

Tears trickled down your cheek as you ask God who you are that He’s mindful of you. 

“Madam, just be thankful”. One man say. 

You cry even more. 

PS: Blessings aren’t always monetary. The gift of life, good samaritans, sound health and peace of mind, family and even the littlest things should never be taken for granted.