Before I tell this story, I just felt I should apologize to my friends and associates who, of course, should have known.
Having eaten aroso, the type of rice that’s common with the Egbas the previous night, I settled for Eba in the morning.
Of course, I topped the food up with ginger, garlic, and other items soaked in brandy.
I just remembered a Yoruba song,
Bi n o tie ku o
Ma je’po
Ma ja’ta!
If I’m going to die
I’ll eat!
Yeah, I was ready for the test.
Four days before my going for the test, I had sat in the car with a person who eventually tested positive for COVID 19!
I had to do the test!!
With Google’s help, I was able to locate a nearby testing center. The people at the testing center were quite friendly.
The test itself was another thing. But we were done with it in a matter of minutes.
The test result was to be given two days later on the phone. I was, however, instructed to self-isolate.
I had an inkling that I couldn’t be positive. Actually, I didn’t know what gave me that feeling.
I received THE call. The person on the other end was very friendly. But the result wasn’t!
I was positive!
Before I could think about my situation or the ‘death sentence’, I had received so many calls from various bodies in charge of the pandemic.
One gave me the number I could call if I needed financial help, another was concerned about my welfare since I would be self-isolating – specifically asking if I had enough groceries, yet another wanted to know if I was living alone and so on.
However, I was not feeling the symptoms of COVID 19. I was eating like it would be the last meal I would eat. I never lost taste. I didn’t have diarrhea.
Of course, I’ve been making my presence felt on social media. One thing I was unable to do was engage in creative writing.
I just couldn’t write!
But then, I just want to appeal to people that it’s very pertinent to keep themselves safe.
COVID 19 is real!
‘Life doesn’t have a duplicate!’
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