123. Middle of Nowhere

123.

In the middle of the night when I think I am finally going to flip out, the bus comes to a halt. There is nothing around. —No bus station--Nothing at all.

This is the “Middle of Nowhere” I have heard about all my life but this is my first time to actually visit the place.

Everybody exits the bus and walks off into the fields to lie down and sleep.

I climb on top of the bus and sleep on my backpack, which is piled with the other bundles and bales up there.

Morning. The bus driver honks and we all climb back aboard.

I have cramps in both of my feet and my both my knees are bruised on the inside from being pressed so tightly together for so long.

Late in the afternoon we arrive in Niamey, Nigeria. There are lots of camels walking around the bus and the people seem to me to be dressed entirely in white bed sheets.

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