Story: The Unending Quest for a photo shoot

So for the first time, I looked forward to my birthday. If you know me you would know that I’m usually not the type to create a fuss around my birthday. This year 2020 was different, I wanted to snap pictures. Not just any kind with my phone but I wanted a photoshoot.

You know a proper photoshoot with professional make-up done. It was my first time and I was excited. I had decided I would make my hair and so I was looking forward to going to get an attachment at Ikorodu Garage.

A couple of days earlier protests had begun on the streets of Lagos against police brutality. It had been making waves with the #ENDSARS hashtag on Twitter and all over. The protest was becoming serious as people were experiencing high traffic due to roadblocks. This also made me stall my visit to the market since it was just for attachment. I figured I could get it anywhere else close to home.

Meanwhile, schools have been shut down since the dreaded covid19 and only a few days ago did the governor of Lagos state declare that all classes could resume in full glare.

He made this announcement on October 13 and asked that they resume on the 19th. This announcement comes amidst growing protests around the state against police brutality that can be likened to a tactical way to get protesters off the road. Even the Federal Government had announced NYSC orientation camps to reopen and asked their level 10 and below workers to go back to work on the same 19th. Talks with ASUU which had been shelved were resumed and there were speculations that university students would be asked to resume. All these were coming into play one week after the protests began both online and offline.

The government at some point had asked for representatives of the protest movement to which they were told we have no leaders. A Zoom meeting was set up with a few notable Twitter influencers whom they thought were the leaders, Ogbeni Dipo Awojide, Aisha Yesufu, and some notable bank MDs. There was an outcry on Twitter by all movement supporters for any sect to desist from representing the youths as regards the protests because the demand was clear. There was a 5for5 agenda Justice for the slain, police reform, and compensation to families of the dead.

All these had been happening in the background and so I went to Ikorodu garage on Sunday with my heart in my mouth and I prayed all the way because I had not been out since the protests began. The garage was peaceful as I sighted protesters mount their DJ at the roundabout and put a barricade to prevent vehicular movement towards them. I noticed many shops were not open so I quickly darted my eyes around looking for children’s face shields for my four-year-old whom I couldn’t allow wearing a mask to school.

I failed to get an attachment for my hair so I resolved to wear my wig. I was half hoping the stylist with whom I had dropped the wig since February would not tell me stories since it had been over six months.

Monday came and my excited boy went to school, amidst the hustle and bustle of resumption and school runs with a toddler attached, I was unable to get my hair ready on Monday.
By the evening of Monday, the government announced that all schools be shut down again. This time NUPENG had said they would be joining the youths in protesting and they would begin on Tuesday, which meant there would be no lifting of fuel by the tankers.

Tuesday came and I began to think up the best way to move so I could accomplish all I wanted. One thing was sure, I was going to do my photoshoot because the studio photographer had said I needed to take the pictures within the week if I wanted them to be ready for use on Saturday.
I had washed and ironed the clothes I planned to snap with. As soon as hubby hinted he was going out, I quickly picked up my clothes and hung them in the front seat. I grabbed my small combination of make-up kits not forgetting the powder I had bought on Sunday for this purpose. It was my first time doing a shoot for my birthday so I was excited and looking forward to it.

I went to the stylist at about 11 a.m. and met a little girl who told me she wasn’t available.
Hey God! This woman! Don’t come and spoil the plans I have made for today o. I went to my friend’s place to drop her powder which she forgot in my bag at a wedding we both attended. As I knocked and opened the door to her apartment, I met her seated and a young lady was fixing her nails.

Ah!! Oshey!!! I am also going to fix my nails for the birthday shoot o. The words came right out of my heart to my mouth as I landed on one of the sofas. She immediately affirmed them and told the little boy seated to get another super glue which will be used for my nails.

As I sat waiting for her to get done and admiring her new phone which was just bought for her by her sweetheart, my phone beeped and it was a message from my sweetheart telling me that my toddler seemed to want to tear down the roof with cries, he asked that I come around to sort her out. I quickly excused myself and rushed towards the family house where they were. I stopped by to check the stylist, thankfully she was around but she said the wig was kept by someone else who would be back by 1 pm. I glanced at my watch and it was just around noon. I figured I could wait while doing other things but I also began to quickly think up other fast alternative hairstyles I could do just in case the wig didn’t pull through. Leaving her shop and heading to sort my toddler out happened within a short time and I was back to my friend’s place.

On getting there as I opened her door I met another last seated and her nails being fixed!
Like seriously???
Just like that? I sat on her lap and stretched out my hands before the young lady feigned annoyance and asked for her to start working on my nails. The lady on whose lap I sat pleaded but I stayed put. She said she had not planned to have her nails done but when she met her she just decided to get it done since her birthday was the next day.
We were still on it when we were reminded that the governor had declared a curfew for 4 pm!!!

I took a quick shot at my phone clock and saw it was some minutes past 1 pm, my mind began to do several stop-and-search sessions as it flipped through different options.
I made a mental note of the studio which was a few blocks away, roughly calculated that I could get done by 3 pm and still dash to the studio for a quick session before 4 pm.
Just as I slipped out of my thoughts, the phone beeped and it was my sweetheart calling me to tell me about the curfew and how we needed to stock up on some essentials.

Noticing that I was beginning to give in to the pressure, I put my phone on silent and ignored further calls. He sent a message shortly asking that I abort the photoshoot plans and come right away. My heart must have skipped a few bits as panic struck! I made to stand up when my friend calmed me and asked me to finish what I started. As my mind raced faster than it had even when I first got proposed to, I sent him a message stating that I was already having my make-up done and I would come afterwards.

By now the young lady working on my face was equally agitated because she wanted to get some essential items also and her aunt had said she should be home at 3:30 pm.

I took a worrisome look at my phone clock which was around 2:44 pm. I began to think of several options to utilize the makeup and nails I was going to pay for.
Oh my! So much for the birthday shoot!
Maybe I would ask hubby to drive towards me with the clothes so I could dash to the studio, but no! He already asked that I abort the mission and head home so he would not buy this idea. I remembered another photographer who lived in the compound where I was and thought to call her to come to snap some shots
Alas! I only had makeup on, there was no wig! I didn’t even have her phone number and my friend had gone out to get some essential items. We were also now hearing that the cult boys in the area had started shooting.

Phew!!! It was official! No more photoshoots!

Not wanting to be discouraged I began to think of locations within the family house that could serve as my studio. I was not going to allow the makeup to go to waste!
I dashed home in the frenzy that was in the environment noticing pockets of individuals looking towards the direction of the gunshots.

Now indoors I sat and immediately picked up a hand fan determined not to allow sweat break thereby spoiling my make-up. The photoshoot became a home set-up photo session.

Story from Onoshi Betiku