This Is What Most Children Are Passing Through Due To Bad Economy.

I went to the market to get some soup ingredients, on getting to my customer, an elderly woman who sells ewedu, was still sorting the vegetables when I got there. I couldn't wait, so I paid for 2 (200) and told her I will be back to collect it. She usually helps me to pluck the ewedu and I pay her 100 for that, sometimes, I give her more, if I have change. After buying all I wanted from the market, I left, totally forgetting my ewedu with mama.On getting home, and removing things from the bag, I remembered. I looked at the time, too tired to go back, I asked someone outside the shop to help me call anyone she sees hawking ewedu. Much later, someone knocked at the gate. I went to open it. They were two little children, not more than 12yrs of age. The one selling ewedu looked thin and tired. I asked him, if he was okay, he nodded. I finished buying the ewedu, Paid him and about to go inside. My mind nudged me to ask again. And the other boy answered for him. "Talk na" He said in Yoruba. "He is hungry ma."Past 2pm."You haven't had lunch?" I asked."No ma, he hasn't eaten today." The second boy replied in Yoruba. Meaning he hasn't even had breakfast, not to talk of lunch. They weren't even in school to begin with.Hmm.I asked him if he would like to take bread and mayonnaise, cos that's what I had. There was stew, but boiling rice will take their time, I thought. He didn't reply. He just stood, looking at his feet and avoiding my eyes. The second boy answered, "yes, he will eat."I went inside and brought some bread spread with mayonnaise for him and his friend. They sat outside the gate and ate. I didn't want to bring them inside, don't know if they will follow me inside. As they ate, I went to the shop close by and collected 2 cold Fanta and gave them. Told the woman I will bring money later.As they ate, the other one told him, "see what you would have missed. You are too quiet."Then the boy replied, "but I will eat when I get home."His friend replied "You ate eba with water last night, how are you sure you won't do same again today. "that sounded like a jab."Toheeb, stop." He muttered. "You ate eba with water? How? I asked "There was no soup, mamah said pepper is expensive in the market but maybe she will buy today. "My heart tightened. I tried to inhale and exhale to calm my heart. I went inside, took some money and squeezed it into his hand and told him to give it to mamah to make soup.Immediately, he prostrated, thanking me, with his friend. I asked them to go.As they went, he friend kept giving him a friendly jab, "you see why it is good to talk. But looks like this mummy is angel o. Do you think she is Yoruba? She didn't speak Yoruba with us." He kept chatting away as they walked some distance from me.All the while, Ola, never said a world. He must have seen enough life in his little years on earth, to make him take solace in his thoughts.