I stood by the road side with my left hand 'hanging' my elegant bag and the right arm hurling for a taxi, I'm already late for work. After about 10 minutes of doing this, I saw one taxi slowly drive towards me. With a silent 'amen' said I hurriedly jumped into the vehicle.

It was when I turned to say a cheerful "good morning" to the other passengers, that the "aroma" hit me. Imagine the smell of smoked fish on an empty stomach  early morning. Eerrhhhhh!!!! 

The trunk of the car was loaded to the hilt with fish and on top of that all the occupants of the car were fish mongers in their 'working gear'.

So do I pretend I left "something" behind and get down? (my perfume could never compete with the natural "aroma" of fish) or stick my nose in the window and endure the ride of my life? - I stayed.

With my nose in the air, I began to reason with myself. My scholarship money through Senior High School and subsidy for my University education may have come from the taxes of these women.

 My National Service allowance  too may have come from these hardworking women and millions of others like them.
 

Then I was humbled. Any utterance I made in the car was laced with 'please'  and 'Thank you'. 

And it got the lady closest to me to turn and say "Mawuraba wo kasew ye me dew papa" (My lady, I like the way you speak).
I alighted at my usual junction and walked the short distance to my office. I wore the biggest smile and smelled like I just bathed in the sea.