08/01/2026
From "Darkness" to Dollars: A New Year Plot Twist
December 31st. 8:00 PM.
I was dressed up, smelling good, and ready to link up with my guys for the crossover. Then, the phone rang.
“Fred… everything just went off.”
If you’re a technician, you know that sentence is the ultimate vibe-killer. It can cancel plans, joy, and appetite in one second.
The kicker? Her house was just 5 minutes from where we were hanging out. But I promised to check it the next day.
The Timeline of "Gbege":
Jan 1st: New Year’s Day happened. I’ll be honest… I forgot. 😬
Jan 2nd: The reminder call dropped. The voice was calm, but the words were heavy:
“Fred… you left me in darkness all through the New Year.”
I dropped everything and headed there.
The Culprit?
I checked the inverter. Fine.
The batteries? Healthy.
The panels? Perfect.
The problem? One loose wire at the changeover switch. Just one stubborn wire living its best life while everyone else was in darkness. Something so small, yet so dramatic.
Here’s the thing: This system is entering its 3rd year of flawless service. The only other time she called me was two years ago—and that was just because dust had covered the panels. We washed them, and the power returned like magic.
The Lesson: Sometimes the problem isn't the system… it’s the quality of the installation.
The Plot Twist 😌👇
After I fixed it, she asked for the bill.
I told her: “Just give me transport money.”
She transferred ₦5,000. I thanked her and went my way.
A few hours later...
My phone rings. It’s her daughter calling from the US (the one who originally hired me years ago). She’s laughing.
“She actually gave you 5k? After everything you’ve done for us over the years? Hold on...”
GBAM !!!
A $25 alert dropped immediately.
My very first earning of the year—in foreign currency.
Baba God, if this is how the year starts, please let my "problems" be in Dollars for the rest of 2026! 🙏😂
