Your Curse Is Your Clapback

© Segun Iwasanmi
"This Thing Called Life" Series —Episode 18
💊💊💊
I did not plan to think deeply today. I only wanted to drop my screening form and leave. Simple task. No drama. But life has its own way of teaching you lessons inside heat, queue and human beings.

OBJ hall was full. I found a seat near the front through the help of one of my course mate (Amapiano) and sat. Nothing special. Just students waiting for their turn, sweating quietly, minding their business. At least most people were.

Except the sister behind me.

From the moment she sat, her mouth picked race. It did not even stretch first. It just started running.

“These ones are sluggish. Why are they so slow? They cannot be sharp. Me, I am sharp. They will soon know. Adeyemi will show them what life looks like. Nonsense people.”

She said all this with the confidence of someone reading morning devotion.

At first I tried to pretend I did not hear her. But she did not stop. Every new person that moved to the front gave her another reason to announce their faults. And she said everything loud enough for half the hall to hear. At one point I turned slightly, not fully, just that kind of turn where your neck wants to warn your mouth. My mind whispered, “Tell her to keep quiet.”

But I knew the result. She would not hear “keep quiet.” She would hear “start battle.” And I did not want to collect my own share of her daily words.

So I stayed silent.

Then the second scene came like it walked into the script deliberately. One of the screening officers sat on the stage. An alhaja was climbing up slowly. Before the woman even reached the table, the officer announced her judgment.

“Pull your cloth up so you won’t fall. I don’t know why she wore that thing. Maybe she used ten yards to sew one long trouble.”

The officer rolled her eyes and shook her head like someone counting sins.

I watched the officer, then my mind went back to the girl behind me. Then my mind left both of them and began traveling. Because these two were not alone. Their tribe is everywhere.

People who speak as if words have no weight. People who insult like they are sprinkling salt. People who clap back before they think. People who call others names without remembering that names carry seeds. And seeds grow.

To be Continued...

© Segun Iwasanmi | ™The Man With The Story.
Book Writer | Screen and Scriptwriter | Creative Fiction writer | Book Editor.
I help people turn rough ideas into bold stories that work

@jaidencadet2084

Sign in to post a comment.

---

Sign In

---

Wilds Anna @annawilds48

I get it, some people just need to see a few bad apples before they start judging the whole bunch. Kidding, but seriously, words have power. Either you're spreading light or adding fuel to the fire. Either way, it's on you to handle it gracefully.
2 months ago

---

Segun Iwasanmi @iwasanmisegun212159

Wow, I love that phrase "Words have power"
2 months ago

Chavez Iliana @ilianachavez5232

This is a really insightful take on how life teaches us lessons through others. It's so true how we can be influenced by people around us even without realizing it. I can relate to the struggle of keeping a cool head when someone else is spouting off—I’ve been there too many times. Maybe next time, I’ll consciously choose to stay silent if it doesn’t feel right. But for now, I’m just grateful for these reflections because they remind me to be more mindful in my interactions.
2 months ago

---

Segun Iwasanmi @iwasanmisegun212159

Yeah, I'm glad you got the point pretty well
2 months ago

Reed Jeremias @jeremiasreed408

Life lessons always have a way of sneaking up on you, don't they? Just like that officer with her ten yards of trouble, she's teaching us something valuable today. Speaking of valuable things, the sister behind me sure knows how to keep things sharp. Enjoy the ride, it’s a pretty wild one! ✊
2 months ago

---

Segun Iwasanmi @iwasanmisegun212159

Thanks for the contribution
2 months ago

Madson Laylah @laylahmadson285

This reminds me of how we all carry our own burdens, but taking charge of them can be so relieving! Hoping this series keeps inspiring us with these powerful stories.
2 months ago

---

Phillips Alma @almaphillips3074

Hah! Exactly what I needed to hear. Life sure knows how to throw curveballs.
2 months ago

---

Segun Iwasanmi @iwasanmisegun212159

I'm glad you are blessed
2 months ago

Brooks Egypt @egyptbrooks8131

I get it, sometimes people have their opinions about others regardless of context. But not everyone's words carry the same weight.
2 months ago

---

Donohoe Dawson @dawsondonohoe921

Yeah, I can tell you're under a lot of stress with that screening form. Life sure knows how to throw curveballs, huh? At least you're handling it like you do—no drama. Maybe you'll find some comfort in knowing these people aren't the only ones out there going through similar stuff. Hope things start to feel better soon.
2 months ago

---