THE MECHANIC SHOP

I visited a mechanic's workshop of recent and it brought back so many memories. When I was much younger, I went to a lot of mechanic workshops with my dad and it was one of my most happy moments. You see, I was a very curious child and so, I would ask a lot of questions, thankfully, I had a very patient  dad who was always ready to teach me everything I wanted to know. 

THE AUTOMOBILE- I always asked why there were a lot of broken cars in the mechanics workshop(I know that you may be thinking, "but that's what mechanics are there for")- well, I mean the cars that are just abandoned with no one working on them. I always felt that they were lonely and should just be put out of their  misery...

                                                                

THE APPRENTICE- another thing that fascinated me about the mechanic shop is the apprentice that they always keep. Their age usually ranges from 8-20years, the apprentice usually run errands or does lighter jobs like carrying the toolbox from point A to B OR bringing the spanners etc. I saw this really cute child and I waved to say 'Hello', and he said 'hi' back in the most quiet of voices. I see them but I don't just see apprentice, what I see is young professionals. Whenever I looked at him, he'd smile and run away and all I could think of was myself when I was his age...

P.S- all pictures were taken with the consent of my muse.

THE ENVIRONMENT- in all the years of going to the mechanic shops , I noticed certain things that were a constant at all the mechanic shops, kind of like a package deal for all - there was always this tree that had a really big trunk and provided a sort of canopy shade where the mechanics will go to rest, eat and/or gossip. The next thing I noticed is that there is always  this 'Lilo' or (swing) situated at the middle of the workshop, as a child, I always wondered if the mechanics kept the swing there so they could play on it when they are less busy... The last thing I noticed is that, there was always this friendly lady who almost seems to be part of the mechanic family selling peppered meat/fish and agbo. She'd come, banter with the boys, sell her market and say "See you tomorrow" with such certainty. They'd all respond with "mama d mama!" knowing that she'd be there the next day with their "delicacy"

THE TOOLS OF THE MS-  I was always very intrigued about the tools, particularly the spanners and that tyre alignment thing that you kinda have to climb and jump on to remove the wheels of a tyre (don't ask me why, but you can probably guess why I love the 2nd tool). I realized that in their hands, these weren't "just" tools, they were instruments of change and had to be handled with the utmost care and it made it all the more interesting. I used to empty my dad's toolbox a lot 😅

HUMANS OF THE MS- I always wondered how come there was always someone named 'Christopher' at the mechanic shops who usually does the electric work OR welding OR 'Baba Sule' which stands for Suleja who was a father figure that everyone respected and went to for advice OR how on days where there is no market, they would just sit under the tree and do 'amebo' about the customer that had come to make their lives living hell and how there's this unwritten rule of, you don't leave the shop angry at your fellow workmate. 

 

Now that I have successfully taken you down memory lane, I'm curious to know if places you visit bring back a burst of childhood memories. If yes, please share and if no, I hope you're making the conscious effort to do memorable things now as a grown up.

Well, till next time...

Love Always,

Princess💞