I remember the year my big brother was traveling out of the country to study. I went with him to the airport and saw so many planes and flight attendants of different races. I was so happy to be there with him and told myself that one day, I would get on a plane. It felt like a dream I wanted to achieve. However, most of the places I have traveled to could be reached by car, so I didn't have a need to fly until then.
The year of my service arrived, and I was posted to Sokoto for camping. I told myself that this was the time to make a plan. Although I wasn't thrilled about my posting, I was relieved because I knew my dad would be anxious about me traveling the dangerous road in the north. The safest option for me was to travel by air.
I shared the news of my posting with him, and he wasn't very happy about it due to the horrific stories he had heard about that road. He mentioned it to one of his friends, who then introduced him to another acquaintance who knew the safest routes to the north. Sometimes, I wish my dad didn’t have friends like this.
The truth was that the flight fees were outrageous, and traveling by road was much cheaper. Since they knew someone who could take the safest route to my desired destination, it was a done deal, and my dream of getting on a plane was postponed yet again.
After completing my service year, I managed to save a substantial amount of money. This was possible because the federal government was paying me, and my job provided a good monthly salary. Additionally, I had some savings from my writing. This time, I promised myself that even if no one would sponsor my flight ticket, I would use all my savings to buy a ticket and finally travel by plane.
A week before my trip back to Lagos State, I checked the price of a plane ticket from Abuja to Lagos. It was one hundred and forty-four thousand naira (₦144,000), while I had just one hundred and sixty-five thousand naira (₦165,000). The dream of flying was within my reach, but at what cost? Would I spend most of my savings on a fleeting moment of pleasure, only to struggle for the rest of the year? It took me months to gather this money. No one needed to advise me; I made the decision myself. Instead, I took a bus back to Lagos for just forty thousand naira (₦40,000), saving a significant amount that I later used to buy a laptop.
I might not have gotten on the plane all these years but I know one day I would be able to.
Thanks for reading.
Posted using Neoxian City
