Even as a child, it had always been my will to bring something to the table. To help mom and dad out with little things and not always bother them with some things I could possibly provide myself should I put myself to work. I asked John, one of my childhood friends who at the time was already into the sachet water business. John kindly explained how his hawking experience had been and how much he was able to make each day. I was impressed, the interest for the little business grew instantly. I told him I would love to join. It was August and a long vacation for students.
But then comes the challenge, telling Mom and Dad of my intentions. I was only 12 years old. Would they allow me trek the city with a bowl of water on my head?
That evening, I told them I wanted to discuss with them. They were eager to listen. I started by telling them how well John, my friend was already doing in the business and then of course of my intentions to join him. Mom was furious, she wasn't happy that I could think of something that dangerous and risky. She considered the busy roads, the wicked hearts of men which would always lead them into doing vile things even to children, and then my health. Can I stand the scorching sun? Could I be able to endure the weight of water placed on my head for long? And of course many other reasons she couldn't mention. But in all, it was a never for her, a big NO.
I pleaded with Mom for long. I reminded her of three of the kids in the area who were already useful to their parents. Firstly was John. Another was Purpose, who was selling newspapers at the moment and then Jacob, who would bring things he bought with the money he made from working home to his parents. I assured mom that I would be much careful and would avoid questionable people or places. After so much persistence coupled with the tears she could see running down my cheeks, she agreed. She asked if I had money already set aside for the business, it was a positve response. A bag of water was One hundred and twenty (N120) Naira then.
Out of exitement I ran to John that evening, I informed him that my parents agreed and that we would be going together the next day. Very early in the morning, I took my bath, ate and headed straight to John's house which was a stone throw from our building. He wasn't done and I patiently waited. After a short time we left to the market to the distributor he buys from. A man called 'Sequence'. At Sequence's store, lots of children including adults come to buy water to resell. He offers bowls to people like me who do not have one and expects us to buy water only from his store even if our water finishes at a distant place. There are twenty sachets of water contained in one bag and as such one is expected to make 80naira as profit on each bag sold.
I bought mine and John helped me set it in a way that it looks presentable to potential customers. I set out. It felt really good when I made my first sale, then the second and it continued. After making about 500naira at about 3pm in the afternoon, I decided to visit Mom's shop, I showed her what I've been able to realise so far, she was happy. Mom invited her neighbors with the money in her hands. She narrated how she was willing to stop me from selling but how productive my persistence had turned out to be. I told her I would continue for the day and before the day was over I made 750Naira.
That was how my life as a street hawker started. This life includes but not limited to running each time you're called to make sure another seller doesn't sell where you should, identifying where some who buy on credit stay, who in some cases would fail to pay, returning waters with leakages to the distributor who in turn would swap it with the water companies for better ones. Customers commended me for being very neat and respectful. I made more money each day than i did on my first day and I saved. I consider it an advantage seeing fellow sachet water hawkers stopping by roadsides to watch movies from television screens or resting when they ought to be selling.
Dry and sunny seasons are the best times to hawk sachet water because the demand for water tend to increase with the increase in people's thirst. Rainy seasons are never favourable times. When it rains, hawkers find it very much difficult to make good profits.
I was able to achieve a lot during my days as a water seller like purchasing my first cell phone, paying for some important things I needed for my Junior secondary school examination and subsequently my graduation. And lots more.
But as the price of water increased and lots of people joined, I decided to stop. I was happy to have met friends and enjoyed the experience that came with it. It was really a period to remember.
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