GROUHY BEN

Amina's watery eyes dart from the blurry photographs and camera on her wicker bed that her friends dubbed "grouchy Ben" due to its loud squeaks. She picks up one of the photographs, imagining it to be a beautiful Polaroid photo, and sighs. Her lens is bad again!. Going back to Tony, the camera technician, isn't an option because she still owes him from last time. She chuckles, recalling her mother's suggestion to ask Tony to accompany her to a wedding she was to cover because of her camera's frequent faults a while ago. "How will I repair it? Jobs don't even come." Amina mutters.

Days later, although thankful that Tony repaired the camera and asked her to pay later, Amina is lamenting her ill fate at getting gigs. “ should I leave photography?" she asks herself, sobbing. She is in dire need of money to take care of her aging mother, who's been complaining of her chest pains getting worse. She screams, "Fuck photography!" Storms out of the house and sets out for an ushering job. Upon arrival, she gets starstruck, seeing who the photographer is. "Timi!" she screams, momentarily forgetting she is in a public place. The very popular Timi she stalks on Instagram. She resolves to have him talk to her about his career journey, and a smile tugs at her lips.

Fortunately, Timi agrees to talk to her after the event. “my dear, never give up." Timi rounds off his words with that popular line that has always sounded like a platitude to Amina, but this time around, it feels different. Timi's words make her feel as though she's found the golden compass to navigate the photography freelancing landscape. "You went through worse; if you could do it, I can," she says in a low-pitched tone. Timi smiles and says, "Don't forget, hone your skills, have an online presence, and stay positive." "You can come work with me if you want," he adds.
Amina is in disbelief, her squeaky career that was just like grouchy Ben, is finally getting an iota of stability, she crouches and weeps uncontroll
ably.