Writers 
Mum was home, but I constantly fought the urge to take the happy pills. It was becoming harder and harder to resist. Every time I thought about them, I felt an overwhelming desire to take one, yet I had to be careful. I couldn't let Mum notice anything.
She spent most of her time with me whenever she was home, and that made everything even more difficult. I had to pretend that everything was fine while, inside me, I was struggling with a craving I didn't fully understand.
After about a week, I started asking Mum when she would be travelling again.
She looked at me strangely the first few times I asked. I had never been the kind of child who wanted his mother to leave. In fact, I had always wanted her around. But now, the urge to take the happy pill had grown so strong that I felt as though I could hardly control myself.
At the same time, I was becoming increasingly worried about running out of them. Tanko wouldn't always be around to supply more, and the thought of having none left frightened me.
I even started thinking of a convincing lie I could tell Mum so she would give me money to give Tanko for more pills if the ones I had finished.
One afternoon, I asked her again.
"Mum, when are you travelling next?"
She stared at me, genuinely surprised.
"Simon, are you asking because you will miss me?" she asked, smiling.
"Yes, Mummy," I replied.
The words came out easily, even though I knew they weren't true.
The truth was that I wasn't looking forward to her leaving because I would miss her. I was looking forward to it because I wanted to be alone with the pills.
Mum stayed home for an entire month.
That month felt like the longest month of my life.
I had already resumed school, and whenever I returned home, Mum was there. She gave me her attention, asked about my day, watched me closely, and made sure I was okay.
But strangely, none of it felt like enough anymore.
Her love wasn't enough.
Her attention wasn't enough.
Even the things that used to make me happy didn't seem to matter as much.
All I could think about was the feeling I got from the happy pills.
I hated that I felt that way, but I couldn't seem to stop myself from wanting them.
Then, one day after school, I came up with another plan.
I decided to tell Mum that our teacher had instructed us to start saving money in a piggy bank until the end of the term. According to the story I created, our teacher wanted to see how consistent we were with saving.
It sounded reasonable enough.
When I told Mum, she believed me.
She even seemed pleased that my teacher was teaching us about saving money.
So, she started giving me five thousand naira every week and bought me a piggy bank.
I actually saved the money.
But I wasn't saving it for the reason Mum thought.
Every time I dropped the money into the piggy bank, I knew exactly what I intended to do with it. I was keeping it so I could give it to Tanko if I needed more happy pills.
The guilt was there, somewhere deep inside me, but the craving seemed louder.
Eventually, Mum travelled again.
I stood at the door and watched her leave. I waved goodbye and tried my best to look sad.
But deep down, I was relieved.
Before she left, she instructed Rose to give me five thousand naira every week until she returned.
"Make sure Simon has everything he needs," Mum told her.
"I will," Rose replied.
The moment Mum was gone, the house felt different.
And, just as I had expected, Tanko showed up the very next day.
He strolled into the house as casually as he always did, as though he belonged there.
Before he even took a proper seat, he called out to Rose.
"Oh, my darling Rose! I miss your food!" he said dramatically.
Rose came out of the kitchen and laughed.
"Tanko, I've always known you love me because of the food."
He laughed bleakly.
"No, no, no. I love you because you're beautiful and intelligent. The food is just an added advantage."
Rose shook her head, amused, and returned to the kitchen.
It was Saturday, so I was home. I sat on the couch watching television.
Tanko looked at me and smiled.
"Hey, little man."
I barely acknowledged him.
"What else am I supposed to watch?" I muttered, keeping my eyes on the television.
He sat beside me.
"I've always wondered why you love watching kids' stuff so much."
I ignored him.
For a while, neither of us said anything. The television played in the background while I sat there, impatiently waiting.
Eventually, Rose brought out the food.
We ate together, and Tanko continued making jokes with Rose.
I barely paid attention.
My mind was somewhere else.
The moment I finished eating, I stood up and went straight to my room.
I closed the door behind me.
Finally.
After waiting for so long, I was alone.
And all I could think about was the happy pill waiting for me.
I had spent an entire month fighting the urge.
