My friend Chizii made me buy this shirt.
In 2017 I think..
We were done with our first degrees and at the phase where we were looking to get jobs et al.
Chizii had called me to accompany her to Ariaria International Market, Aba and boy was I glad..😄
I love Ariaria! Fine fine things full that market abeg.
My dad still teases me about my “relationship” with Ariaria. And my mum was the matchmaker between Ariaria and I.
It started during my secondary school era. As a boarder, when we prepared for a new term, I would write a list of things I needed.
The miscellaneous stretched from majors like school bag and sandals, to minors like a bathing soapdish and sponge.
And I could be quite detailed in what I wanted.

“Mummy, the sponge should be pink coloured. If you don’t see pink, you can buy purple. But don’t buy blue o.”

My mum did not care for the stress of cramming my little details, but she wanted me happy with what she got, so she would peruse my list and say,

“ O mu na gi j’eso ga afia.. “
-it’s you and I that will go together to the market.
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Mum’s most preferred market in Aba was Ariaria, so I became very much acquainted.
By my third year as an undergraduate, I could go to Ariaria unchaperoned.
My friend Chizii knew this, hence her calling on me when she needed an Ariaria “tour guide”.
▪︎
I was excited to accompany Chiziii to the market, despite not having a decent spending budget myself. I had just little change with me to get a couple of wardrobe necessities and any other clothes that r.e.a.l.l.y. caught my eye.
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We had a good day in the market.
Whenever Chizii and I link up, there’s plenty laughter. We were at boarding house and university together, hence we share quite a number of experiences and inside jokes.
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On our way out of the market after we decided to call it a day, we stumbled upon this shop. They had fine skirts and shirts. A skirt piqued Chizii’s interest while this brightly coloured shirt caught my eye.
I asked for the price and got a good bargain. The shirt was brought to me and I proceeded to try it on.
The shirt was much larger. Whew!
I told them to bring a smaller size. They said it was the only one available, so I asked them to return it to the hanger then.

I have a theory about ready-made clothes. I feel they should be ready-to-wear as well.
I do not fancy buying ready-made clothes in the market and thereafter, going to a tailor to do a wear-sew-try on amendment.
When I asked them to return the shirt, Chizii was surprised..
She was a bit confused about what the issue was. I explained to her that I did not fancy doing any form of “amendment” on new clothes.
In an amused calm voice she said,
“Nena, buy the shirt. Unless you don’t like it oo. But if you like it, buy this shirt let me take it home. I’ll bring it for you, ready-to-wear.

I didn’t even argue. Something about her measured tone, made me not to. 😄
I bought the shirt and handed it to her.
Some days later, Chizii returned my shirt. She had “shaped” it and taken out some inches. The shirt fit snugly and I wore it for years (like that), until earlier this month.
I had brought out the shirt to wear and noticed it was a bit too snug. I removed it to change to another and then my eyes caught the shaping thread Chizii had used to get it to my size.
The role Chizii’s played in the purchase suddenly came to me.
I chuckled as I went down memory lane, and sat to take out the lines of thread used to hold off the extra inches.

Finally, our shirt in its original form was now ready-to-wear.
I went ahead to rock my “Chizii” shirt and had myself a good day.
😊