On my way to work some time ago, a daily life scenario occurred.
A young man (let’s call him Uncle) was walking to the bus stop where he would get a bus going to Ajah(Lagos), he was on the appropriate lane as such facing the oncoming vehicles heading to Ajah.
Fortunately, a commercial bus with the bus conductor’s head outside the window shouted Ajah while driving at the normal bouncing speed associated with a commercial bus in good condition
Uncle said “yes” to the shout of the Ajah. The following played out:
Conductor: attempts to ensure the bus slows down to pick up uncle
Uncle: was quite some distance from the bus and then he suddenly paused and had a rethink “Should I join the bus or not?”
Conductor: continues the process of halting the bus for uncle i mean he was intentional about uncle.
At this point, other vehicles are being forced to slow down due to the commercial bus’s intentionality about uncle
Uncle: keeps thinking “Do I just let the bus go and keep walking or attempt to go and join the bus?”, I see it clearly on his face the indecision, the struggle.
Commercial bus finally stops just like that in the middle of the road waiting for uncle, other vehicles were forced to stop and start looking for alternatives (patience or switch to the other side of the lane)
Uncle:” let me just turn back and keep walking this can’t work, it’s quite a distance”. I see it clearly Uncle is giving up and about to turn back.
At this point, the vehicle directly behind the commercial bus is already attempting to swerve and continue the rudely interrupted journey (” I could imagine the annoyance and frustration running through his mind like all these commercial vehicles in Lagos city self kilooode?”)
I was an onlooker but in my mind, I was already saying Uncle you are supposed to run and hop on that bus. Like if you are waiting for any more signs of intentionality, you missed it already.
It burned in my heart I had to say it out “you are supposed to run and catch up with that bus” he looks back at me, acknowledged my statement and takes the first step and boom! uncle is on a sprint to join the bus, he caught up with the bus and the conductor opens the door to the front seat (I mean the most comfortable seat in a commercial bus for me though)