The next morning, Mary woke to the sounds of the city—street vendors shouting, cars honking, and the faint rhythm of a local radio station playing in the distance. Lagos was alive, chaotic, and full of lessons, if one knew how to look.
Mama Mary called her into the living room. "Mary, today you will meet another visitor. His name is Ade. Remember what we talked about—observe, think, and act wisely. Every person teaches you something."
Mary nodded, her stomach tightening. She had practiced during Tunde's visit, but she knew each new encounter would be different.
When Ade arrived, Mary greeted him politely. He was confident, dressed in a neat shirt and trousers, and his smile was easy—but Mary sensed that he noticed everything, quietly measuring her as well.
As they talked, Mary paid attention to his words and actions, noticing details that might be important later. She learned how people revealed themselves in small gestures—the way they smiled, laughed, or paused before answering.
By the time Ade left, Mary felt a little more certain. Mama Mary clapped her hands together and said, "Well done! Each meeting is practice, Mary. Today, you learned observation, patience, and understanding. These are tools that no one can take from you."
That night, Mary reflected on the day. Lagos wasn't just a city of noise and people—it was a city of lessons, opportunities, and choices. She realized that her mother's plan wasn't only about gaining money; it was about learning life skills she hadn't known she needed.
Mary smiled to herself in the dark. She was beginning to see that perhaps, with each lesson, she was not just following her mother's plan—she was growing stronger, wiser, and more capable of navigating her own future.