MY ENTERY FOR: THE STEEM SHORT STORY CONTEST.

The day was #Saturday the 23rd day of the December 2017.
The incident took place in ecobank ATM machine.

I left my house and went in search of ATM which is free from army of people in rush to withdraw money so as to purchase what they would need or use during the #Christmas since the next day is 24th and two preceding that has been declared public holiday.

As entered the bank premises, I lifted up my eyes only to see a see of people.
By their actions you may think the bank is about close and that moment is the time that one can get his money out of her.
People were shouting, quarrelling and arguing about who came first before the other.
There was great commotion.
I had no option but to join the queque.
Though is one which we usually see at filling stations during fuel scarcity or the one we do see in the Northern part of Nigeria on voting day.

Few seconds after I joined the queque, a woman in her late 30's came and quequed at my back.
Few seconds later another 50 quequed up behind her.
Looking at my front is an endless line and at my back is a line that best imagined.
It was long, endless and increasing by the second.
As the people began to withdraw on after the other each man according to his need or according to what he has, I silently prayed that the fund loaded should not finish.
After two hours of queing, I sighted a friend in front of me.
He called out me. I went to meet him and we exchanged pleasantries. As I was about to go back to my position, he urged me stay in front of him.
Everyone at his back and in front of me protested. He held on to his position and said that I must queque in front of him. When they querried why that should be done he said that we came together. All who were at his back said they know when I came and if there is a help he wish to render to me he should abdicate his position to me. He obliged but then slipped his ATM card to me. The people said no that haven vacated his position to me he cannot make withdrawal neither can I do it for him.
As was about leaving the position to back to my previous position my friend simply started walking away. I beckoned on him not to make such a great sacrifice as we don't know if the bank employees will load cash into the ATM the next being Sunday, because as it stands the money in the ATM will definitely be exhausted.
Before I could finish he had gone.
Just then I got a text message on my phone. I brought out my phone and opened and saw that it was from him. The text read

send your account number to me so that I will transfer the money you will withdraw for me to you.

I did as was requested and he immediately transferred the money to my account.

Finally I got to my turn, but before I will insert my card someone pulled me from the back. I turned to look at whom it was only to see the woman that I had earlier told you that quequed at back in my previous position which is still far behind me. As I turned to Know why she pulled me she knelt down and said

Brother please I'm in haste, I need to go to the market to buy things we will use and before it will get to my turn the market must have closed.

I didn't know what to do or what the people may say. I simply nudged her to go on amist wild condemnation from others at my back.

She inserted her card typed he #pin and waited for reply to which she got known.
I had to check to see what the problem was and discovered that the machine has seized her card.
I said madam your card has been seized and cold hot sweat ran through her body and in a quivered voice and tearful eyes she said:

What will my children eat?