You've been dodging mom's calls for a week now.
No, you are not wicked.
Who said you are? Responsibilities have piled up like a baker's bread awaiting sales.
So, you switched off your phone AGAIN today, picked up the twenty leaves that houses your expenses in their order of preference, and sighed as you tried to reshuffle their order of importance. You will probably cancel out some bills, reduce some quantities, anything, that can squeeze out some change.
- House rent
- Food stuffs
- Mom's routine check up and drugs
- Eze's school fees
- Nepa bill
What if house rent waits for a while? No, your landlord is not the patient type. You are owing two months already. He would literally throw you out of his compound. No, House rent can't be postponed further.
Nepa would have to disconnect for this month. You can definitely do without their occasional light that comes like a woman's menstrual period - four times a month.
The number of shoes you have for sale are still much. You checked the number of clothes for sale, thirty pieces! You would have sold them off if not that work had been a little hectic of late. Folding them neatly, you remembered you needed your phone for the calculator to calculate the amount tied down to these clothes you still have unsold.
Immediately you switched on your phone, the message beep, announcing a new message was instant.
"Ngozi, mama don go blind o, we don carry am go hospital. I bin dey call but your number no de go. Call me back asap."
You closed your eyes, inhaled d...ee..p..ly and released it slo...w..ly. You shook your head slightly to relieve the shock. Your hands were already shaking violently, the room rotated as you sat down numbed.
Your mother had earlier been diagnosed of cataract. You know she was long overdue for a surgery, but then money had refused to be saved. Already, the fifty thousand naira salary you expect for the month had been evenly shared.
A message beep again. "Ng. Baby, your line is not reachable. Please stop ignoring my advances. You know I love you. My family just moved to Dubai, break those shells of yours let's have fun."
You called your brother.
"How is nne?"
"worse" he replied.
"when are we getting the money you promised"?
" I don't know. Give nne the phone"
"she has refused to speak with any.."
"GIVE HER THE PHONE!"
"Ngozi, nne gị ekpu kwala isi o."
You heard your mother's teary voice and couldn't hold yours back, it flowed.
The realization hit you real hard. Your problems are bigger than your hustle. The fifty thousand salary and the shoes and clothes you sold as a side hustle are not enough. Your situation needs a desperate measure.
"Nne, you are not blind." you consoled.
"you need that surgery, I'll do something".
"how"?
"anyhow".
You called chief, made an arrangement and met him at one of his houses in town. As you walked inside his compound you couldn't help but question God's inability to balance the world. You needed money for basic things of life but here money is ostentatiously lavished on the most trivial and frivolous items . Why would lack be associated with people you created in your image, God?
Am I not hardworking enough?
What offense did I commit?
As you removed your gown in one of chief's suites the tears rained down.
"what is it"?
" am I that old and ugly"? He questioned.
You cried harder. Chief was surprised. He insisted you tell him your problems.
"wear your clothes" he said.
You narrated your story.
Every
Bit
Of
It
"Hmmmm. Your story is a pathetic one. My company needs plumbing equipments and wood for my current building site. I'm awarding you the contract."
"for now, take this cheque, go and treat your mother."
You glanced at the cheque
"two million naira"!
The amount struck your knees to the tiled floor. You laid flat and thanked him. He helped you up, patted your shoulder and pushed you gently to the door.
"hurry" he said, smiling.
Your heart was filled with happiness as you flew out of the door to the village...
