I remember during that Christmas period everything was going high. Prices of foodstuff were just rising, and the common man couldn't even afford it. Those who try to buy look for a cheaper means to survive.
I have written my list of groceries to get at home for the festive, especially those non-perishable ones. I was confident that the money I was going into the market with would be more than enough. Little did I know that a shock was waiting for me.
I left my house with the hope that after buying all the necessary things, I could get okra and some other ingredients to make soup and stew for the week. So I wrote everything, and off to the market, I went. I branched the first place to get groundnut oil and tomato paste, rice, salt, and other condiments.
Good afternoon, I want to buy rice and groundnut oil, then I went ahead to mention other things that I need.
The son: Aunty, Good afternoon; please slow down so I can get everything you want.
Me: Give me half a bag of rice and 3 liters of groundnut oil. I mentioned everything in the list very slowly, and when I asked for the price. What I heard was just too much. I tried to bargain the price, I asked him to call his mother and let me talk to her, but the woman just stayed inside and said whatever he told you is the last price.
I said Ma, the price is just too much. Please try and reduce the price of some things here, it was just last week I bought this oil 1500, how can it 4000 just three days gap. She told me that she was not reducing it and that I was blocking other customers. If I can't afford it, I should drop it and check the next shop, I might get it cheap there.
I was so pissed; she didn't even know what and what I bought; it was just the groundnut oil. I was asking her to cut the price for me. She just ignored me and came out to attend to my friend because she was with a car key, dressed like this rich auntie, and I was just wearing shorts and a jacket with a flip-flop. She said, madam, be going now
My friend told her that she didn't want to buy anything, that she only escorted me. I looked at her and left, I think maybe she asked her son what I wanted to get, and he told her, and she started calling me back. I didn't answer her. I heard her beating her child.
I went to the next shop, which was three shops after hers, and I got everything cheaper than her own price. The difference wasn't much, but the woman made me understand why things are like that. Although I was running short of five hundred naira, the woman asked me to leave it. I thanked her and went to buy soup things. I budgeted that I would buy nine hundred naira okra, only to hear that a very small portion that wasn't up to 300 naira was now five hundred, and fresh pepper was equally from five hundred too.
I begged the woman to give me three places for one thousand after I must have roamed the market around finish, but it was the same as if they had a meeting. I was surprised she agreed to put it for me and even add some more; she gave me plenty of pepper for 200. She says, I know the market is cost, but we are all suffering it. I dash you the pepper; I have seen you walking around the market just to see who will reduce the price for you. She collected only okra money. I was moved by her gentleness and polite manner.
After I finish my purchase, I withdraw another money and dash her. If you know how many insults I collected that day because of price, it's the one that told me to go and steal or the one that called me a prostitute. That okra woman and the second woman I bought rice from God will bless them. They are humble and calm even when you price rubbish.
From the first woman, I learned that you shouldn't look down on anybody at all, whether as a salesperson or not. There is always a way to make someone buy from you without being harsh or rude. From the last woman, I learned humility and what giving is all about. It is not until you have enough that you can give; start from the little you have.
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