MEN WHO COOK

I had just come back from an afternoon lecture. Tired and hungry, I decided to quickly grab a bite from Amina Cafeteria, then rest before my next class, which was an evening one. None of my roommates was around. I got into the Cafeteria and, as usual, it was busy, long queue... I had no option but to wait as I couldn't start cooking at that moment.

While still awaiting my turn, I heard someone calling my room number, 5/42 (boys don't enter female hostels in ABU Zaria).

Ha! No one was in so I had to answer. But why now, when it was almost my turn to place my order?

Well, I went out to answer.

"Yes?"

"Kim," the caller responded.

"Yes?" I was curious as to who would be looking for me.

"Yinka is looking for you," she said. 

"Okay, thanks.

" I responded and headed outside.

Yinka was one of the ExCos in my fellowship then (the assistant Pastor, I think), Rhema Campus Fellowship. Till date (with due respect to all other Christian bodies), they are my most revered faith-based organisation (excluding my parents people: those ones are on another level).

I'm talking about my circle! Hope to talk about them someday.

So, as I walked out to meet him at the entrance to the hostel, some thoughts ran through my mind. Yinka is a giant (for those that know him) but he is a gentleman, a Godly giant. He is full of unusual wisdom. I enjoy discussing faith with him because his perspective is different and refreshing. He is also loving and kind. His siblings , whom I also know, are like that as well:  aunty Fofo can just wrap you in a bear hug, making you forget all your woes; my estranged twin, Ope.... wow! Their whole family is lovely. The kind of people you'd like to be with all the time.

Some guy once threatened me back then. The leader said "i only have to make a signal and my guys who are scattered all around Heights and Social Centre will quietly drag you to ABU Dam and no one will be able to save you."

Yinka and another person from the fellowship stood for me. I don't remember another encounter with those guys after then (prior to that encounter, there'd been a few).

He looks 7ft tall to me but he insists he's 6"5ft, meanwhile I'm easily dwarfed beside him and I'm  5ft 8".

I remember when a certain clergy  behaved inappropriately towards me, Yinka it was who noticed I was troubled. He called me aside, sat me down, talked to me like a big brother, told me how to refuse to be manipulated and to stand for myself. He told me many other things that day and then prayed with me afterwards. God bless Yinka for me.

Well, that day, when I met him outside the hostel, guess what he said?

"I cooked lunch and thought to come get you."

Ha! Oluwa modupe! Thank God for the long queue in Amina Cafeteria! I for waste money on top food wey no too sweet! 

You see ba, if Yinka cooks, better be hungry before eating. Don't rush to eat if you are full, but that's if the food will still be remaining when you are eventually hungry.

We strolled to his place in Area A. Lulu was there taking care of things. 

He had cooked white rice and stew. The stew... Hmmmm... He used freshly dried fish (my first experience with dry fish stew).

The egg was waiting to be fried. He had broken the egg, cleaned the  crayfish and poured the crayfish into the egg to soak while he came to get me. 

How much more thoughtful could one be?Omó! The crayfish was swollen, robust, having soaked inside eggs! He fried the eggs, then served our food.

The first bite I took of the rice and stew was... what's the word now? Celestial. To say it was very tasty would be doing the food great injustice. Awesome! Out of this world!

The egg? Never tasted anything better (I've tried out the recipe a few times). I almost started singing in between bites, but had to remember my home training. I wasn't hungry for the rest of the day. Couldn't afford to.  Had to savour the taste of his food the rest of that  day.

Yinka cooks, mehhn! I'm a lady and I cook well but Yinka! I give it to you, Bro! You are an expert in the kitchen! I still talk about you, your good heart and culinary skills to date.

Thank you for showing me the good side of people and faith. Thank you for proving that goodness still exists in humanity. Thank you for preserving my innocence and belief in God.

Thank you for being a good example for me and several others.

🙏🏻🙏🏻❤❤

Thanks, Lulu for selflessly sharing him!😉