The Mathematics of One More Person #307

Till now, I still struggle to figure out how much rice will be enough for a group of people.

That might look like it's not a big deal until you are left alone in a Nigerian kitchen with a pot in your front and someone out is asking, "what is the number of people coming over?" That was the question someone asked me sometimes ago and recently one Sunday afternoon after church, which I was confident about, and said, "maybe seven." The person looked at me with a side eye and asked, "maybe?" I just smiled, but trust be told, there was no better response I could give.

Based on the number of people that were coming, that was how I measured the rice. Before I finished measuring, my younger brother came in with two of his church friends. And a family member also called saying she is almost at our house. Then some random church members also came just because our house is near the church. And just like that, the seven people I've calculated for has increased, and I was stirring at the pot on the fire as though the rice might double in size out of pity.

That very moment, the adult side of me came out as I did what most adults would do especially when the have no idea about what they are doing or about to do at a giving time. I behaved like I had a plan. Still looking at the pot, I adjusted it while I added more seasoning, put more water and was just using other mind to pray as I hope for the best outcome. My mother walked by as she looked at me and said nothing, I don't know if she knew what was going on at that moment.

Some minutes after the food was ready and all the visitors finally ate, it was enough just that it was barely enough because of the quantity that was dished out. I can remember someone asking for more but I just did as if I didn't notice because I had some panic expression on my face already.

Since that day, I have gotten to know that what happened isn't just limited to cook alone. And now that I can call myself an adult, I have also realised that it comes with making some decisions with incomplete information and then I need to act like I know exactly what I am doing all along. The exact money I'll need to spend in a month? How early should I leave? The quantity of food to get? And at what point is 'enough' actually enough? All these little things but not so little are all part of the struggle most of us should confidently know but it is not.

There are still moments that I overestimate. And there are also moments the I underestimate and I end up doing the math if I can stretch what is left.
And at this point in my life, I no longer see it as embarrassing. And that is because being an adult does not mean I should have it all memorised especially the measurements. But it is comfortable with adjusting what I have in front of me like I did while cooking that rice due to more people were coming. And till now, when I measure rice, I do it with more accuracy than being accurate about the number of people it will feed. But anyways, we somehow still eat.

Thank you for reading.

_{Images created by Gemini AI}