I remember those days when Cockroach was the sole producer and supplier of red oil to humans.
That time, people had not learnt how to process palm fruits to produce the oil they used.
With the knowledge that she was the only one who knew how to produce the oil that humans sought after in droves, pride crept into her head.
Some times, she would refuse to sell oil to people for no just reason even though you had your money with you. Some other times, she would unduly increase the price of the oil.
In spite of all these, humans still endured her filthy and unhygienic life style as there was no other place they could buy oil.
Gradually, people started trying to produce red oil by themselves and eventually perfected in it. Now, nobody cares about Cockroach and her oil again.
Before now, who are you to see Cockroach in your house? What is it you had that would bring Cockroach to your house?
But now, she is even begging to hide under surfaces in people’s houses, even to stay in the toilets yet nobody wants to see her around.
Since nobody patronises her again, she now almost always goes hungry. That’s why she frequently sneaks into people’s houses to steal their food.
When she fails to see the main food, she settles for the left-overs. And she is perfect in hiding; she can hide anywhere and makes sure nobody sees her. She enjoys coming out in the night, that’s when darkness gives her protection.
She now produces and licks her oil all by herself; that’s why red oil is seen all over her body all the time no matter the season and whether.
People that climb palm trees see some of her relatives there who have made that place their permanent abode.
They are the ones that bring down the palm fruits with which she produces the red oil that she now consumes these days.