Room 17— Fiction.

Out of all the rooms in that house, room 17 happens to be the only one I could afford. The house consists of both single rooms, two rooms and a parlor, and a self-contained unit. But what can I do? I just finished school and had to start facing another different kind of reality.

Back in school, I remember how we always talked about doing this and that at a certain age, all of that we planned and said confidently, maybe because we thought the life after school was rosy.

I can't forget the first time I went to check the room out; I was greeted with various smells, from dirty cloths to kerosene, not to mention the toilet smell that was evident in the corridor. And since I don't have much on me, I just have to settle for it.

The night before I moved in, my mom called me, we talked for a long time, then she prayed for me, and before dropping the call, she said something.

"My dear, you will be fine. Just manage them for the time being." She said.

And you see that word "manage," it has become the national anthem of almost every youth in my society.

"Young man, don't disturb anybody, okay?" My red-eyed landlord told me as he handed me the key to my room.

"Okay sir." I responded.

"And we are careful of visitors here too..." He added.

"Alright sir." I replied.

"Also, if NEPA brings the bill for the month, everyone contribute to pay for it." He said, frowning.

"Okay sir." I responded.

He left, and I made my way to the door. On getting to the front of my room, I looked up, and lo and behold, there it was written in very bold alphabet, ROOM 17.

I entered, swept the floor, and arranged my little belongings inside. The room isn't so big, but my loads aren't many either, so I was able to get it arranged in a way that would allow me to have a walking space to some extent.

Not long after rain started, I tried closing the windowpanes, but most of them wouldn't even budge. Rain began to drizzle in from the window. I had to find clothes I wasn't wearing again to put there. Immediately I was done with that and wanted to rest my head. I noticed the ceiling was leaking as well. I traced the exact place it was dropping. I picked one of my buckets and placed it right in the middle.

Adulthood.... Huhm.

The following morning was a Sunday morning. I'm new to the area, so I had no intention of going to church. I just made my way out, got stuff to cook, bathed, ate, and stayed indoors all day.

After a few weeks, I began seeing and knowing a lot of things. People you don't even know already know you; everyone knows what each person is doing, cooking, or eating. Even though I was always indoors, trying to check various sites for employment opportunities and minding my business, they still know certain things about me that I never let out. Like, the fact that I'm a new graduate, what my name is, the school I attended, and all...

One evening like that, after the heat wouldn't allow me to stay indoors, I stepped out to the veranda to take fresh air. That was when I saw Mummy Twins; that's what everyone calls her. She sells akara (bean cake) right in front of the house. I just sat down as she was busy preparing to start frying and waiting for customers.

"My neighbor, the latest graduate." She said immediately she noticed me.

I had to feign a smile in response to her words.

"The country is somehow, and if we can complain, who are you not to."

"Huhm, it is well, ma." I responded, already getting tired of the topic.

"Yes o, it is well, my dear..." And that was how she began telling me all of her life story and how she became a single mother. I felt for her, but in this country we all are faced with one or two. I have mine to battle with as well.

One evening, I think it was a weekend, as everyone was home and the house was full. Rain began again, and this time it was not the regular kind of rain. At a point, after I'd tried doing all I could and saw that nothing could be done, I picked up my important stuff and placed it somewhere safe, then stepped out to the corridor so the rain could do all it wanted too.

As I stepped out, I saw Uncle Joe; he was the always advising type. He was just smiling. It was then I got to know that my room was not the only one getting flooded; about 5 rooms in that house experience such anytime there's a heavy rain, and since they already knew that, they were already sitting down on the long bench in the corridor waiting for the rain to reduce.

That night was the first night I felt among. We all took turns to help each other arrange, clean, and mop each other's rooms. We joked, smiled, and played music while doing it.

A few months later, I got an online job. I merged that with the small cement shop I was helping someone to oversee nearby. And you can tell that I'm not getting much from it. Aside from that, there are bills to sort. From transport to feeding to data to NEPA bills and all, not to mention the various contributions that do arise in my rented apartment.

One morning, it was around 10am, I was just preparing to go start out the day when I heard Mummy Twin's voice; she was on call with the principal of her children's school. I knew because she was begging the man not to send her kids home and that she would sort the bills out soon.

I was... I don't even know. Not only that, but I felt it somehow. Like, now are these adults carrying this much responsibility and pain and still functioning.

Well, I got dressed and made my way out. Later that night, I got home and noticed everyone was out. Uncle Joe asked me to join them, which I did. I know if I'm to go inside, I will start thinking again, so I sat there with them.

And we discussed various topics, and from that everyone started taking turns to talk about deep stuff and make confessions. The most touching part is nobody laughed at the other because we all understood, and all of us are going through one thing or the other.

That night, I looked from face to face with the help of the moonlight. I saw the various cracked hearts, I saw tired faces, I saw people carrying things beyond their age, I saw things....

Later that night, we all smiled, said "it is well" and bade each other goodnight.

A few days later, I got a job in a different state, and even though the pay wasn't much, it was enough to go for and be sure I won't ever rent another room 17.

What amazed me was that a party was thrown for me the night before I was to go. I told Uncle Joe about my new job; I only told the rest I would be changing location, so I believed he told others and they planned a party.

It amazed me because I saw how everyone was just living and trying to survive, yet each person found a way to contribute to the success of my sent-forth party. Even though it was done in our little corridor, we had fun, played music, ate, and drank.

"We thank God for you." Uncle Joe said as the party was coming to an end.

"Huhm...." Everyone said.

"Nobody told us this is what adulthood is like." He added.

"Nobody warned us..." Mummy Twins added.

And that was how the talks began.

And in all honesty, nobody told us what adulthood is like. We don't know it comes with loneliness, with bills, with responsibilities, with dreams cut short, and a lot more.

The following morning as I was about to leave, I dropped off some of the things I won't be able to carry along for my neighbors. I stepped out of room 17, closed the door, and acted the way I did the day I moved in back then. I raised my head up, read the inscription again...

Room 17.

The place where childhood didn't follow me to. Room 17, the place that showed me what life really is like. Room 17, the place that shook me, molded me, and made me understand adults and adulthood.

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Images are AI generated.

Thanks a lot for taking your time to read through.

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