Chapter 7

• When I woke up this morning, it already felt good knowing I was going somewhere and not have to take one of her tantrums this morning.
• I didn’t expect it to feel this nice knowing there is some place to be at least for hours before I can think of coming back to this house
• Sliding down from my bed with the most utmost joy ever I went to the bathroom and did my stuff, humming all the way the way to the bathroom and in the bathroom and back to my bedroom
• After dressing up in my yellow camisole button up shirt and a blue jeans and sliding into my flat sandals I felt more than ready to begin the day
• I brought out my blue bag making sure my phone and all the necessary information I needed to submit on my first day is there
• My heart is already beating widely from joy and happiness just thinking about how the day will go
• Closing my door soundless I walk out of the room into the living room
• I didn't expect to see my mother cuddled up in the one of the sofa's in the living room with a book on her hand
• She raise up her head and her eyes trail towards me giving me the longest stare ever
• She took in everything I wore and the way I look. She sat up straight then her eyes went back to the book on her hand like she didn't notice me at all
• "Good morning mother" I greeted her feeling uncomfortable with her sudden silence
• Not a word was uttered back as her eyes are fixed back on the book she is holding. Sighing softly I turn going towards the dinning room that held the fridge
• Opening it I took some fruits (I know dad will always buy fruits) and stuff them into my bag then went back to the same route I came from
• I didn't tell her I was going out as I walk out of the house and she didn't ask either.
• Oh I surely know one thing, she is as curious as a cat to know exactly where I was going by 6am in the morning
• But she knows that if she eventually ask me and I decide not to answer her she will go back to swearing and name calling and she wouldn't want to do that when she is literally holding a Bible
• One thing with her? She considers swearing with a Bible on your hand is the biggest sin and sometimes my brother always jokes that she is scared one of her few curse words will come to pass if bible is beside her
• Oh well that saved me today
• Hastening up I took one of the route where I will get a quicker bus to the hotel with so much excitement
• * * *
• Getting to Meriden Hotel I knocked softly on the gate and someone came out instantly
• Not the person whom I saw the last time. This one is older with a bushy hair and has an unkept look about him
• He grinned at me like we have known each other for years, showing me sets of brown teeth's.
• I shuddered not wanting not make a bad comment
• "Hi good morning" I greated him with a smile playing on my face
• "Beautiful girl how you dey?" The beautiful girl is accompanied with a look that he ran through my body
• "Good, can you open the gate I need to get inside" looking at my wristwatch it's almost 7 and I needed to be there before
• "Ah....." He gave me another long hard stare, barring his teeth at me "you must come to see one of your alhaji's"
• Is this man serious? His hand is holding the gate with the other on his waist, his eyes so playful that you will think him incapable of saying trash
• "I think that's no business of yours, your work is to just open the damn get" my voice went higher than it should go and the man shot angry eyes at me
• "Come who you dey shout for, e be like you wan remain there make the alhaji see you outside, some ashawo like you want to come and shout at me. Oya get out" he angrily said
• Am grilling my teeth so hard, why should my first day have to be an argument with this man. Am growing so impatient as the time is ticking
• "Is not like that you see....."
• "Mr. Livinus, you and who dey quarrel again?" Again? Great, awesome and it just have to be me
• A female appeared to his side, her face filled with a cheeky grin as she look between me and the said Livinus
• She's tall, and certainly a beauty with a great smile. She look to me and back to the man
• "Na this one oh she......"
• "Please I literally have no problem with him, can you tell him to get the door open? Am running so late already all thanks to him" I tell her interrupting whatever the man wanted to say
• "This one no get respect oh just imagine, and all this things na because of knack wey she wan go knack another person husband"
• Jezz my patience is running so thin and I do not for the love of Christ want to snap at this man right now
• I gripped the iron bar angrily while shooting daggers at him. He saw my eyes and retreated back
• "Open this fucking gate will you?" I said in a pleasant way but my voice is definitely not pleasant but rather threatening
• "All this one no matter oo. I no dey encourage bad thing so go your house madam"
• I want to scream so much right now, why does the man have to be so difficult making my life difficult too
• I turn to the lady
• "Can you tell him that am running late for my first day here and that is all thanks to him" I ask her nicely
• She suddenly looks elated "Oh you are one of the new workers?" I nodded "the what are you waiting for" she nudges the man away snapping the key from his hand and opened the car
• "Welcome" she tells me as I finally step into the hotel compound. I eyed the man who doesn't even look the least bit sorry
• "She for tell me say she dey work here naa" he rather said
• "But Mr. Charles told you new people will be joining us today. Am reporting you for this" the lady tell him
• "Come on let's go" she walks to the front leading the way as I follow her
• The man kept asking her not to report but his word is fleating away as we kept walking....