FED UP!

(…continued…)

Mrs Biodun turned to the rest and said, “Whatever you have heard should remain with you. Act matured and don’t go spreading what she told you. She doesn’t need any pity party. As you can see, she has overcome that.”

                They agreed not to talk about it. Then she told them she was leaving.

  “Mabel, will you come tomorrow?”

  “Yes ma,” Mabel replied.

  “Are you set to go so I can drop you off?”

  “I will drop her ma,” Ephraim said.

                Mrs Biodun looked at Mabel for a response.

  “Thank you Eph,” Mabel said to Ephraim. “I will go with Madam B.”

  “Ok,” Ephraim said.

                Mabel got her things together, said goodbye to her colleagues and went out with Mrs Biodun. They entered her car and she drove off.

  “I am glad to see that you have not allowed the incident affect your efficiency,” Mrs biodun said to her as she drove out of the office premises.

  “Thank you ma,” Mabel replied. “It was not easy when I came in the morning o.” 

  “I noticed. When I told Ephraim to find out whether you have worked on the files, I knew you had not done anything.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. You forget there are surveillance cameras.”

  “It is true.”

  “But after then, you picked up.”

  “I had to, so I will not give some people an opportunity to laugh at me.”

  “Who are the people?”

  “Don’t worry ma.”

  “Ok, if you say so. There are different types of people in every establishment; those who want you to succeed and will do anything possible to make sure you succeed; and those who want you to fail and will take advantage of every little opportunity to make sure you fail.”

  “And they will let the whole world know that you failed.”

  “Exactly.”                                                            

  “I had to just brace up. So I will not lose my job.”

                Mabel looked at Mrs Biodun with the tail of her eye as she said that. Mrs looked at her and smiled.

  “That is your fear right?”

  “Kinda,” Mabel said shyly.

  “I have not seen the thing that will make me give your job to someone else, even if you embezzle funds. You put in more than 100%. I can’t lose a staff like you.”

  “Wow. Thanks a lot ma.”

  “No, thanks for putting in more than your best.”

  “I just have to. That is how I was raised.”

  “Your mum did a good job then. By the way, how is she?”

  “She is fine.”

  “How is she handling all the issues in less than a week?”

  “She is a strong woman. And God has been helping us.”

  “Your sister is getting better right?”

  “Yes she is.”

  “Thank God.”

                After driving for a while, Mrs Biodun slowed down and wheeled to the right to park by the side of the road.

  “I want to buy something,” she said as she tried to park.

  “Are you sure you are parking in the right place?” Mabel asked her. “These task force people could be around.”

  “You are right.”

                Almost immediately Mrs Biodun parked, Mabel called her attention to two men walking towards them.

  “These people look like them,” she said.

  “But they are not wearing uniform,” Mrs Biodun said.

  “Most of them don’t wear uniform.”

  “They cannot do anything.”

  “Not these touts o. They don’t care who you are.”

  “I think I better move out fast.”

                Mrs. Biodun checked her rear view mirror for on-coming vehicles and wheeled left. When the men saw that she was trying to drive out, they walked faster.

  “You see,” Mabel said.

  “You are right.”

                Mrs. Biodun drove off speedily. The sound of her screeching tire was so loud that people turned around to look. They didn’t bother themselves when they saw two women in the car, so there was no possibility of car theft. From the side and rear view mirrors, Mabel and Mrs. Biodun could see the men standing and showing them five fingers (waka).

  “God punish all of you,” Mrs Biodun said.

  “You just escaped harassment. Before your military connection will come in, they would have rubbished you.”

  “Who commissioned these hoodlums sef?”

  “Nobody sent them, though they say they have the backing of government.”

  “Terrible.” 

  “And nobody can do anything about it. It is either you settle them or you get delayed and embarrassed.”

  “What a country.”

  “I think abroad is better.”

  “Ha. No o. You will pay tax through your nose o.”

  “But they have a more organized society.”

  “Yes. Depending on where you are talking about.”

  “I will find out for myself one of these days.”

  “Thanks for saving me from wasting my time there.”

  “No wahala ma. What will you do about what you wanted to buy?”

  “I will send someone or I get it close to my house, though it will be more expensive there.”

  “Ok ma.”

                She got to T-junction and slowed down.

(…to be continued…)

-©2015.Chinedu Isaac