Too small Tola By Atinuke

Tola is very small, dark and smart girl from Nigeria. She wears a gown with colorful stripes, checks, circles and many different patterns on it. Tola’s brother is Dapo. He is tall, kind and a helpful boy. Tola’s family lives in Lagos, Nigeria.

Mr.Abdul, Tola’s neighbour hurt his leg. He cannot walk any more unless the injury is cured. Mr.Abdul is a tailor. He meets different customers, take measurements and stitches outfits for them. He must earn money to pay his house rent. To make money he must meet customers and stitch dresses for them. But now, being hurt he cannot move or do his routine. Tola and Dapo have agreed to help Mr.Abdul.

Tola said “I and Dapo will ride our bicycle and meet your customers. I take the measurements and Mr.Abdul, you can stitch”. Mr.Abdul was happy. He gave the customer’s addresses and details to Tola and Dapo. He also informed them that he has a fat, fancy lady customer who will always complain about his work. He instructed them to take proper measurements of that particular lady. You should charge for the price of her rudeness.

Everyday Tola and Dapo ride around the city visiting mansions, huts, cottages, houses, hotels and markets. Dapo pedals and pedals and pedals. Tola measures and measures and measures. And Tola gives the measurement to Mr.Abdul.

Back in the home, Mr. Abdul sews and sews and sews.

Before the festival comes, all the clothes were stitched and ready to deliver to the customers. Now Tola and Dapo’s work is to deliver all the clothes and check whether it fits them perfectly. They both were so nervous to do this. Fingers crossed, they started.

Tola watches and waits as each and every customer tries on their outfit. And the outfit perfectly fits! Each and every outfit fitted the customers perfectly! Nobody can complain about the fitting not even the fancy lady.

Tola collects money from Mr.Abdul’s customers. Tola collected ten times more money from the fat, fancy lady. She handed over the money to Mr. Abdul and his wife. They both were happy. Mrs. Abdul cried and hugs the kids for their help.

Tola and Dapo are happy too. Now after all the bicycle rides Dapo’s calf muscles are as big as a pillar. Tola’s memory for measurements is as long as the lines of traffic in the busiest road.

Most importantly, Mr and Mrs Abdul had all the money that they need for their rent and food!

This story is written by Atinuke, a writer from Nigeria. The book’s name is Too Small Tola. There are many other books written by Atinuke.