Riding in minibuses is for many a fact of life despite all the things you might experience, things that could be described from outright stupid to shockingly abusive. But then riding in minibuses could be an adventure which you might, down the road, would recall and laugh or just talk about it like… “One day I was in this minibus when…” Believe me there could be a lot of adventures however brief they might be. It is one place where whoever thinks of studying how people act and react under multiple circumstances. They might find useful, unlimited resources. One thing about these minibuses is that however hard you try to be the odd guy out ignoring whatever is happening around you your nerves could really be stretched to the limits. You might be forced to act “Do all these people act just like they are doing here in their houses?” That’s the million birr question, isn’t it? We are in times where the professionals of the behavioral sciences may have to look back at all that has been written and narrated about the behaviors people display. Being in uncertain times where many things aren’t what they appear to be on the surface maybe it’s time for some revision of much of what we believed.
Recently, I was in this minibus taxi going back home after a tiring and mostly uninteresting day. By my side there was this man I knew by sight when I used to live in the Piazza area. Not that there was anything that stands out about him; he’s just one more guy in the streets which for some reason you run into multiple times a week. We never greeted each other and I didn’t know what he did for a living, where he actually lived, his name or whatever info about him. In fact, I’ve absolutely no right to be aware of these things as private as they are. But I have to confess, even without having any information about him, I took him for a person who’s not that welcoming. Who in the world am I to reach at such a conclusion about a complete stranger? Well, maybe the bug of trying to mind other people’s businesses might have bitten me as it seems to have bitten many!
So, chance made sure that he sat next to me in that minibus. What the hell was he doing going to the extreme end of the town as I thought he was still a central town guy! I acted as if I didn’t notice him as many who don’t want to have anything to do with us do even though our shoulders touch and might have to remain that way for whatever distance we still have to go which might take from forty-five minutes to an hour. That’s quite a trip especially when you sit by the side of someone who isn’t giving you any comfort.
“Hello!” coming completely out of the dark I would be misleading you if I say I was not startled. I was. Practically out of words because I wasn’t ready for what was happening I tried to smile and awkwardly nodded. “So, how are you? It has been some time since we saw each other.” I mumbled something like, “I am alright; and you?”
“Oh I’m alright. I heard you have gone to…” What! What does he mean he has “…heard?” How come this guy whose name or identity I don’t know is asking around me about where I went? What’s going on? Whatever’s going on I didn’t have much time to lament as this guy dived into a narrative the like of which you hear in many places. Yes, about life being hard, people being bad and evil. He said that we were in times where even family and friends couldn’t be trusted. Why is he narrating all these to me? Look, there are the usual small talk in various places with people you don’t actually know, and largely they are nothing more than what they’re supposed to be– small talk. The more he talked, the more uncomfortable I get. But I’ve to admit is that the fellow was a good talker. I mean he did not seem to have any problem in making his narrative heard as his voice could even make him the perfect anchor of the evening news.
All this time I said nothing. One thing the guy seems to be adamant about seems to be not leaving enough gaps for me to jump in. Had he known how my mind was working at that time he would have made gaps in which you might a short story’s narrative in, I still was in no man’s land and I am not sure if I even made head gestures let alone say anything. Maybe aware that I would not give him any response even if he went on talking for another forty-eight hour he asks; “Do you like the place you live in?” What is it with this guy seems so interested about me!
“Well, it’s not bad.” Maybe that is my way of saying, “It’s none of your damned business!” I’m not sure! But I can tell you it’s one answer I give to many as if it was tattooed on my tongue or whatever. But my best guess as to why I am fond of repeating such phrase might be more of some defensive tactic. You know, I might say… “It’s nice. In fact seeing all that’s happening it’s very nice.” That I can tell you could be very ill advised. You know why? If down the line I face discomforts I didn’t expect or I didn’t even see coming I might be in a dilemma I couldn’t come out of. I might want to say, something like…“It’s the worst of places. I don’t know how the hell I came to this place in the first place,” and believe me that would demand quite an effort.
Anyway, until we came to the taxis final stop he continued chattering and you wouldn’t want me to tell you about the things he was talking about. You have to be a professional psychiatrist, psychologist or whatever to put this guy in a specific box of human behaviors. Well something I would be sure to look out for in the future is not to take any seat next to this man. But then the guy not need another minibus to make my day uncomfortable, and you know why? The guy currently lives in the block next to mine! The mother of all ironies!
The torment of ‘the ‘stranger’ could be uglier than we might think!
BY EPHREM ENDALE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 8 JUNE 2025
