Emeka had always considered himself a lucky guy, but his luck seemed to take a dramatic turn one fateful afternoon. After a long morning of meetings and errands, he decided to treat himself to a hearty meal at Mama Bisi’s Buka, a popular restaurant in Surulere known for its delicious jollof rice and suya.
Emeka walked into the bustling eatery and was greeted by the tantalizing aroma of freshly cooked food. He found a seat and quickly ordered a large plate of jollof rice with plantains and a generous serving of suya. As he waited for his food, he scrolled through his phone, catching up on the latest news and social media buzz.
When his food arrived, Emeka dug in with gusto. Every bite was a burst of flavor, and he savored the meal, feeling his stresses melt away. He finished his meal, wiped his mouth, and reached for his wallet to pay the bill. But to his horror, his money was nowhere to be found.
Emeka’s heart raced as he patted down his pockets and searched his bag. He even checked under the table, hoping it had somehow fallen. Nothing. His money had vanished. He took a deep breath and called the waiter over. “Excuse me, I seem to have lost my money,” Emeka said, trying to sound calm.
The waiter, a young man named Kunle, raised an eyebrow. “Oga, are you saying you can’t pay for your food?” Emeka nodded sheepishly, explaining the situation. Kunle sighed and gestured for Emeka to follow him to the counter where Mama Bisi herself was seated.
Mama Bisi was a no-nonsense woman with a reputation for running a tight ship. When Kunle explained the situation, she fixed Emeka with a stern gaze. “Young man, how can you eat my food and then tell me you can’t pay?” she asked, her voice rising.
Emeka swallowed nervously and explained that he must have lost his money somewhere. He assured her that he wasn’t trying to dodge the bill and even offered to leave his phone as collateral while he went home to get money. But Mama Bisi wasn’t having it.
“No phone! You will wash plates until your bill is paid!” she declared. Emeka stared at her in disbelief. “Wash plates? But I have an important meeting to get to!” he protested. Mama Bisi crossed her arms and stood firm. “No money, no leave. You must wash plates.”
Seeing no way out, Emeka reluctantly agreed. Kunle led him to the kitchen, where he was handed a scrubbing brush and shown to a large pile of dirty plates. Emeka rolled up his sleeves and got to work, scrubbing furiously while muttering under his breath.
As he washed plates, Emeka’s mind raced, trying to figure out where he could have lost his money. He remembered putting money in his wallet after buying a recharge card earlier. Could it have fallen out on the bus? Or maybe when he was hurrying through the crowded market?
Just as he was contemplating his bad luck, the kitchen door swung open, and in walked Chinedu, his childhood friend. “Emeka! What are you doing here?” Chinedu asked, eyes wide with surprise. Emeka explained his predicament, and Chinedu burst into laughter.
“You, washing plates! This is too funny,” Chinedu said between laughs. But being a good friend, Chinedu offered to lend Emeka some money to pay the bill. Emeka sighed in relief and thanked him profusely.
Together, they approached Mama Bisi and explained the situation. She eyed them suspiciously but eventually agreed to let Emeka off the hook. Emeka paid the bill with Chinedu’s money.
As they walked out of the restaurant, Chinedu couldn’t stop laughing. “Emeka, only you can turn a simple lunch into such drama!” he said, shaking his head. Emeka chuckled, finally able to see the humor in the situation.
“You need to write this down, Emeka,” one friend said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. “This is pure comedy gold!” Emeka grinned, knowing that this was a story he’d be telling for years to come.