“Classical Study No. 37,” from 1979. Eldzier Cortor, Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York

You don’t have to belittle yourself to successfully offer a compliment to someone:

One person screams “dahuuumm, girl! This your highlight is brighter than my future. You’re so peng”. The other girl laughs.

Ah! Jesu Oyingbo must hear of this.

I’m sitting there, looking at the highlight, looking at the girl that offered the compliment, looking back at the highlight, not knowing whether to laugh [because I laugh at weird things that don’t make other people laugh; I make my own jokes and scenarios in my head] or cry because Sade’s future is so bleak, according to her, and there’s nothing I can do for her.