“Do you all know the difference between a lost child and a found child?"

She looked around briefly. "Okay, I will explain it for the benefit of those hearing this for the first time. A lost child is when the parent comes to you and say they're looking for their child. A found child is when you come across a child looking for his or her parents. Is that clear?"

She paused, looked around and then continued, "the code name for a lost child is..."

"Abeg Wetin she dey talk?"

I looked away from the supervisor and turned to the guy beside me. I smiled. I got to hear this question a lot during briefing. There is always a new guy who doesn’t understand the job requirements. Two weeks back, I was also the new guy.

"Pikin wey her parent dey find is a lost child. Pikin wey dey find her parent is a found child," I answered.

"Oh okay, thanks bro."

"Anytime."

"You've done this before I guess."

"Yeah." I turned and continued to listen to the supervisor.

"…if you are with your SIA badge I want you to move to this column on my right. While Safety Stewards remain where you are," announced the Supervisor.

We were more than 30 people seated at the West side of the stadium, while the supervisor and six of her colleagues stood in front of us. Eleven guys with their badge strapped on their arm got up and moved to the next column. It was more than two hours to kick off, and the turnstiles don’t open until an hour before kickoff. The only people in the stadium were the setup crew, media, security and stewards.

"Which one be SIA?" The guy beside me asked.

"They handle security."

"What about Stewards?"

"Well, basically to provide good customer service, and ensure the safety of everyone."

He nodded and turned back to the supervisor.

"…who has done turnstiles before?" She looked around and smiled. "If I see no hands I’m going to start picking you myself. I need 16 of you."

Ten guys seated in the two rows in front of me raised up their right hand.

She counted them. "Okay guys, come forward."

The guys stood up and walked down the stairs to stand behind her.

She looked around at the rest of us still seated. "I need six more."

"Wetin be turnstiles?" The guy seated beside me asked.

"You help to scan the tickets of the spectators before they come into the stadium."

"You don't want to do it?"

"Nah, not today. I want to watch today's match."

"Will they allow that?"

I smiled. "Nope. But it comes with the territory if you're stationed at one of the vomitories."

"Correct man. Let me tap from your experience."

We both laughed.

"So what's the name?" I asked.

"Felix. You?"

"Afolabi."

We shook hands.

"…so who wants to monitor the vomitories?" The supervisor asked.

We both raised our hands.

To be continued.

Signed
Olumide Holloway (King Olulu)