While we were growing up, I was one of the few that wasn't exposed to what is happening in the outside world among my peers. I was either with my mother in the canteen or at home studying.
I was not used to going out, the reason is, I always felt inferior whenever I am among my peers, they seemed to know everything and have what they ever wanted but I on the contrary had none of those qualities, each time I am around them, I feel bad.
You know that feeling of being with your friends and every other kid wants to relate with them but you are being ignored? That's what I always go through when we are out there together.
But everything changed when I and Leo became friends. He is my neighbor but we weren't cool, I just didn't want to relate with anyone again.
One morning, my mother sent me on an errand. When I got to the shop it was crowded, the place was noisy with people lined up, some raising their money and trying to make orders out of impatience when it was not yet their turn.
Mommy Suzzy's shop was one of the hottest shops in town back then, unlike other shops, her goods were affordable and of high quality. So, everyone prefers to patronize her than any other shop unless it is urgent.
When I saw the situation, my body went cold. Leo was also there to buy something and I was the next person.
I waited for almost thirty minutes and it wasn't yet my turn and I was tired of standing so I tapped him, when he turned, I said “Please, don't forget, I am behind you. My legs are hurting, I want to sit.”
He grinned, “No problem, I'll inform you when it's your turn.”
“Thank you,” I replied as I stepped out of the queue. I sat under a mango tree for some time but the queue wasn't moving.
So, I walked back and told him, “I am going to another shop, I don't want to keep my Mom waiting.”
“Okay, let's go, I am also tired of standing here," he replied.
We went to the shop together and got what we wanted very fast.
After that day, we started talking and whenever any of us was sent on an errand, we loved to go together.
We became best friends. Unlike me, Leo was exposed and had independence, having visited the market, the community youth center, and the river to swim on his own, but I have not been to those places by myself, it was always with my mother or siblings.
One of those days we were discussing when he asked if I believed magic really existed.
I told him “no, it is only a movie trick, there is nothing as such, magic isn't real.”
He turned and looked at me for a moment, shook his head, and began to laugh.
“What's funny?” I asked.
“Nothing, Emreal, you are just too naive," he replied.
I tightened my face and the smile on my face disappeared. “What do you mean? I don't like that kind of play, I am not naive,” I replied.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you but you seem to be outdated. Bro, magic is real. Last week I went to the market to buy a jersey and I saw this magician.
He commanded things to appear and disappear and they obeyed him, I couldn't believe my eyes. He also has the power to talk to snakes and they do whatever he asks,” Leo replied.
I looked at him as he talked, the seriousness on his face was so comical that I nearly laughed my intestines out.
He stopped talking and folded his arm, “now why are you laughing?” He asked his eyes looking on to mine.
“Am sorry Leo,” I answered, covering my face with my left hand chuckling. “You will make a very good comedian, Leo. You expect me to believe you saw all these things?” I asked.
“Emreal, I learned the man comes every market day, so on Tuesday, next week, he may come again. If you are free, we can go there," he responded.
"Okay, I'll make it a date and if it's a joke, I will not trust you again, deal?” I suggested.
“Yes, deal, till Tuesday,” Leo responded.
To be honest, I believed none of the things he said, although he sparked my curiosity and the desire to be in the market with someone of my age kept me longing for that day. I was imagining liberty.
On Tuesdays, Leo came to my house as early as possible in the morning. I was still doing my chores, so, he helped me and we finished up on time and went to the market.
The market was crowded, noisy, and chaotic. People were moving randomly, tables with goods were everywhere.
Leo and I were like ants in the midst of the crowd, if not for him, I would have been lost in the crowd, but he held my hands. We navigated through the crowd, dodging a lot of people and wheelbarrow pushers to the magician's spot.
The place was already crowded with spectators. Having small bodies, we managed to make our way through the people to the front.
Before us lay a large mat, empty cartons with one end opened and facing down were arranged around the mat. A man, dark in complexion, tall, wearing a native dress, a sleeveless Buban Riga, and a trouser whose length stopped just below his knee, having a staff in his hand was standing in the middle.
We were lucky to be in the scene before it all commenced, he went round and lifted each of the cartons and they were all empty.
He spoke in Hausa, “Sanu da zuwa, yanzu zamu fara,” (welcome, we will begin now)
He then proceeded to ask for someone in the crowd to step forward, a young man and an adult volunteered and stepped forward.
Leo and I were watching keenly, the magician then began to laugh mysteriously, lifting his hand and saying some things in a strange language.
He started uttering those words one by one, then he made it like a prayer and started saying them fast, more like a chant.
Then he stopped and moved around touching each of the cartons with the end of the staff in his hand. He then asked the young man who volunteered what he wanted to see under the carton, and the guy said “Money.”
The magician said, “Go ahead and lift any carton, you will see money under it.”
The young man proceeded to do it and behold, a few thousand Naira lay there. The crowd shouted and began to clap.
I couldn't believe my eyes, I touched Leo, and he touched me back and laughed.
The magician asked the guy to take the money. Next he asked the young man to lift all the cartons, and he did, one after the other and they were empty, we all saw it.
Then he said, “I'll make a snake appear under one of the cartons.”
After saying that, he made another incantation, moved around and touched each carton with his staff as he did before after which he said, “lift the cartons.”
The young man lifted all and behold under one lay a cobra, he screamed and threw the carton away.
My heart skipped, my jaw dropped, "what is this?" I asked myself, I wiped my eyes and looked at it again and the snake was there. The crowd started cheering him and asking him to do more.
But we couldn't stay longer. I had to come back home to help my mother in the shop. Leo and I talked about the whole thing on the way home.
All my life, I have never seen anything like that. This world is deeper than we see it. When I got home, my mother was pissed off because she had been looking for me.
When I told her I went to the market and I described what I saw she was even more angry. She scolded both Leo and me and told us some of those people were thieves, they either stole human body parts or took their money without their knowledge.
From that day, I never went there again, but what I saw is still fresh in my head and I believed that magic exists.
What happened to the snake after he used it as a magic? Did it disappear? At least someone took the money. Who took the snake lol
Unfortunately, I didn't wait until the end but that man was something else..
Damn the relationship between you and your friend remains me of mine. My friend was this cool, popular dude that hovered around him like a shadow and when he was around other people, I got lost in the crowd because of my awkwardness. I did get over it eventually though I can't remain in the dark all my life🤣🥺🥺
Omo one time when I went to the market and saw two funny men with clay pots performing abracadabra with scorpions for some reason they were playing with this large looking creatures and they were no threat to them. They also ate a huge basin of rice in about 30 minutes without any stress
Damn magic is real but the one I am looking for is the ability to turn paper to funds
Hehehehe, it's very easy to get missing in the market..
Those guys are everywhere. I wonder how they are doing these things hehehe
What!!
Now I want to know what happened later with the snake.
Hahaha, I also wish I had stay back to know what happened to it but, I left early..
You would have waited a little bit to know what happened to the snake.....
Everywhere is interested in the snake, heheh, I wish I stayed back till the end..
Thanks