FED UP [LXXIX]

(continued...)



While Cynthia was still cleaning his face, Chuka suddenly held her hand.
  “What is it?” Cynthia asked him.
  “I can’t continue with this,” he said.
  “Continue with what?” Cynthia asked, a bit tensed. “With liking me?”
                Chuka forced a smile.
  “Not that,” he said. “I mean this face-cleaning.”
  “Why?” Cynthia asked.
  “It is really painful.”
  “Oh sorry. You have to endure it until I am done o. I will give you pain reliever afterwards ok.”
  “Ok.”
                He sat still till she was sure she was done with the cleaning. Then she gave him the warm water to rinse his mouth. He rinsed his mouth and poured the water into the bucket. When he was done, she took the bucket and towel to the bathroom where she washed them and came back to the parlour. She sat with him for a while. He tried making conversation but the pain in his mouth did not allow him.
  “Don’t stress yourself,” Cynthia told him.
  “Ehe, where is the pain reliever you promised me?” he asked.
  “You have not eaten anything na.”
  “I ate like an hour before I went to buy the kerosene.”
  “Ok, let me get it.”
Cynthia went to her medicine nylon and brought an analgesic for him. She went to the kitchen and got a cup of drinking water for him.
  “Are you done?” her mother asked her.
  “Yes,” she replied.
  “What do you want to give him?”
  “Pain reliever.”
  “Has he eaten?”
  “He said he has.”
  “Ok.”
She took the medicine and water to Chuka. He swallowed the medicine and sunk back into the chair.
  “How are you feeling now?” Cynthia asked him.
  “Same,” he replied.
  “Just give the pain reliever some time to work. The pain will stop soon.”
  “Ok. I just need to rest. Can I lie on your laps?”
  “No o,” Cynthia said. “My mother will just pour hot water on you.”
                He laughed but stopped the laughter abruptly because of the pain.
  “I think I should take my leave,” he said.
  “Now?” Cynthia asked.
  “Yes. I need to lie down.”
                Mabel came out of the kitchen.
  “The food is ready,” she said to Chuka. “Are you sure you don’t want to eat?”
                He looked at Cynthia.
  “Why are you looking at me?” Cynthia asked him.
  “Will you feed me?” he asked.
                She burst into laughter.
  “All because of ordinary kerosene,” she said.
  “You know I am hurt,” he said and winked.
  “Are you eating through your nose? Or is something wrong with your hand, that you cannot feed yourself?”
  “So what are you saying?” Mabel asked him.
  “Ok. Give me little. I don’t want you to feel bad for rejecting your food.”
  “Ok o,” Mabel said and turned to enter the kitchen.
                Their mother came out to the parlour as Mabel went back to the kitchen.
  “How are you feeling now?” she asked Chuka.
  “I am still feeling the pains but it is not as bad as before,” he replied.
  “Don’t worry. It will stop.”
                She went into the room.
                Mabel brought the food for him. Cynthia got a stool close to him. Mabel kept it on the stool and Cynthia mildly stirred it so the heat would evaporate.
  “Thank you so much,” he said.
  “Cynthia please take care of him and make sure he finishes it,” Mabel said. “Let me take my bath.”
  “I will definitely not feed him,” Cynthia said and eyed Chuka.
  “This husband and wife sef.”
  “Husband and what??” Cynthia asked.
  “Wife na,” Chuka replied.
                Mabel laughed as she entered her room.
                Chuka took a spoon of the food and writhed in pain.
  “What is it?” Cynthia asked.
                He opened his mouth and blew air out.
  “Is it still hot?” she asked him.
                He nodded.
  “Leave it for a while na.”
  “It will still touch the wound in my mouth,” he said, managing to swallow the food in his mouth. “Maybe I should leave every eating until morning.”
  “No oo. You will feel sorer in the morning before the wound begins to heal. It may not let you eat then. So just try and eat well this night, no matter the pain, even if you have to swallow it.”
  “You are right.”
                She brought a hard paper and ‘fanned’ the food.
  “Nonsense NEPA people,” she said. “When you need light, you will not see it.”
  “Our transformer is bad,” Chuka said. “So forget about seeing light for some days, if not weeks.”
  “Are you serious?”
  “Yes.”
  “When did this one happen?”
  “In the afternoon. It blew.”
  “Nawa o. Are the neighbourhood association leaders aware?”
  “They are. You know how slow they are in acting on things like this. Let us wait and see what happens.”
  “I hope it does not involve flat-by-flat contribution o.”
  “I don’t think it will get to that. The transformer was not vandalized. It may just require repairing something in the transformer.”
  “To get NEPA people to come and do it is another wahala.”
  “My dear.”
  “Don’t mind those people.”
                She touched his cheek and said, “With the way you have been talking, seems the pain has reduced.”
  “The pain reliever is working but I know it will still come back when the pain reliever wears off.”
  “In that case, check if the food is okay now. So you can eat before the pain comes again.”
                He began eating small small, using the side of his mouth where the injury was less. While he ate, Cynthia went to the room and met Mabel on the bed pressing her phone, done with bathing.
  “Has he gone home?” she asked Cynthia.
  “No,” Cynthia replied. “He is still eating.”
  “When you are done with your romance, let me know so I can go and eat.”
  “Are we preventing you from eating?”
  “I don’t want to interrupt anything.”
  “You are not serious,” Cynthia said, laughing. “Stay here and be pressing your phone. The transformer is bad o.”
  “What? Who told you?”
  “Chuka just told me now.”
  “My phone is fully charged so it will last for a while.”
  “Ok.”
                Cynthia went back to the parlour and met Chuka with the plate empty.
  “Did you pour the food away?” she asked him, surprised.
  “No,” he replied, smiling. “I had to try and rush it.”
  “Why?”
  “So I can vacate the house for you.”
  “Are we pursuing you?”
  “Not at all, but you need your own privacy.”
  “Ok.”
                Cynthia took the plate back to the kitchen and brought drinking water for him.
  “Thank you so much,” he said after drinking the water.
  “You are welcome,” Cynthia replied.
  “I will be leaving now. Where are mummy and Mabel?”
  “Mabel is resting in the room. Mummy is bathing.”
  “Help me thank them for me.”
  “I will.”
                He got up and went towards the door. Cynthia opened the door for him and he stepped outside.
  “I wish I will be wounding everyday just to get this kind of attention from you,” he said and looked into Cynthia’s eyes.
  “Aaww, that’s so sweet of you,” Cynthia replied.
  “I know I have not qualified for a hug so…” he said and brought out his hand to shake her.
                Cynthia ignored the hand and hugged him.
  “Thank you for your sacrifices,” she said to him.
                She turned and went into the house before he could say anything else. Chuka stood surprised for a while and then he left, smiling.

                As Cynthia rushed back into the house, she met Mabel standing in the parlour with her hand folded across her chest, and a grin on her face.

(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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WE WILL BE BACK SHORTLY...

Apologies for being off for some days. We will be back shortly.


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FED UP [LXXVIII]

(continued...)


                After waiting a little longer, they heard a knock on the door. Cynthia opened the door and saw Chuka standing at the door, with his shirt thorn and bleeding from the side of his mouth.
  “O My God!” she shouted. “What happened to you?”
                He did not respond. He handed over the kerosene can to her.
  “What is that?” their mother asked, rushing out to the door.
                She shouted too when she saw him looking battered. She saw some people in the compound looking in their direction. So she held his hand and gently drew him into the house and closed the door.
  “What happened to you?” Mabel asked when she saw how battered he looked.
                He kept quiet. Cynthia kept the kerosene can on the floor and helped him sit on the chair.
  “Say something,” their mother said. “What happened?”
He just sighed.
  “Did you have an accident?” Mabel asked him.
                He shook his head.
  “So what happened?”
                He looked at Cynthia and did not say anything.
  “Cynthia please come and find out what happened to Chuka.”
                Cynthia sat beside him and asked him what happened. He tried to talk and writhed in pain.
  “Sorry,” Cynthia said.
  “I know you will be disappointed with me,” he began.
  “Why? What happened?”
  “I fought.”
  “Where?”
  “At the filling station.”
                He writhed in pain again. They told him ‘sorry’.
  “Why did you fight?” their mother asked him.
  “When I got there,” he said. “The queue was a bit long, so I decided to jump the queue. I tried to do sharp-guy and get to the front.”
  “Why?”
                He looked at Cynthia and said, “Because I knew you needed the kerosene as soon as possible. So I wanted to make sure you get it early enough.”
  “Why didn’t you go to the kiosk?” their mother asked him. “I thought you said you were going that way?”
  “I changed my mind. It is cheaper at the filling station.”
  “So what happened?” Cynthia asked.
  “Some guys objected and I tried doing ‘hard-man’, so we ended up exchanging blows.”
  “So sorry.”
  “But you still got the kerosene,” Mabel said. “How come?”
  “A woman told them to allow me buy,” he said.
 “If I had known this would happen to you,” their mother said. “I would have just bought it by myself at the kiosk.”
Mabel took the kerosene can and went towards the kitchen.
  “Let me boil water to clean you up,” she said.
  “Clean me up?” Chuka asked with a babyish grin.
  “I mean your face,” Mabel said, laughing. “Yeye man.”
  “I don’t mind Cynthibaby cleaning me up o.”
  “As what na?” Cynthia asked, laughing. “Because of ordinary kerosene?”
                They laughed.
  “Remove your shirt let me sew it for you,” their mother said.
  “Don’t worry yourself ma,” Chuka said. “I will just change it when I get to the house.”
  “What will your brother say when he sees you like this?”  
  “He is not around?”
  “Is he not coming back today?” Cynthia asked him.
  “No. He traveled to the village with his wife and daughter. They should be back by Sunday.”
  “So you are alone in the house,” their mother said
  “Yes ma.”
                Cynthia looked at her mother quizzically. Her mother knew what she was thinking.
  “That means you will eat here before you go,” she said to him.
  “I thought you wanted to ask me to sleep over sef.” he said, smiling.
                They laughed.
  “Don’t mind me,” he continued. “I was joking.”
  “I know,” their mother said.
  “I doubt if I can eat here sef.”
  “Why?”
  “I have food to eat at home. If I eat here, that one will waste.”
  “Hmm. But you will wait for me to clean you up,” Cynthia said. “I mean your face.”
  “Ok.”
                Chuka sunk into the chair. Their mother went into the kitchen and Cynthia followed behind her.
  “Is the water ready?” she asked Mabel.
  “Almost,” Mabel said. “I just boiled small.”
  “It does not have to get to boiling point.”
  “Then it should be okay now.”
                Their mother checked the water and brought down the kettle.
  “Get a bucket from the bathroom and one of those small towels,” she told Cynthia.
                Cynthia went to the bathroom and soon came back with the bucket. Her mother poured the water into the bucket and added normal water until it was the right temperature.
  “Carry it and wipe his face,” she told Cynthia, handing over the bucket to her.
                She also gave her a cup of warm water for him to rinse his mouth. Cynthia went to the sitting room with cup and bucket while Mabel helped her mother prepare dinner.
  “What would we have said if his brother saw him like this?” their mother asked Mabel.
  “It would have been bad o,” Mabel said. “He would have said we have turned his kid brother into our errand boy.”
  “Exactly. Thank God nothing happened to him.”
  “But you did not force him na. He offered to help.”
  “That is not how people will see it o.”
  “You are right.”
                In the sitting room, Cynthia slowly cleaned Chuka’s face.
  “The water is hot,” he said each time Cynthia touched his face with the towel.
  “It is not. This is how it should be so it will work.”
  “Ok.”

While Cynthia was still cleaning his face, Chuka suddenly held her hand.



(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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FED UP [LXXVII]

(continued...)



Mabel went in and met Cynthia peeping through the window.
  “What are you doing there?” she asked Cynthia, gently pulling her back.
  “Is he the new guy?” Cynthia asked.
  “Who?”
  “Eji..”
  “Ejike?”
  “Yes.”
  “No. Why do you ask?”
  “I saw the way he was looking at you.”
  “Haba. He is my former course mate. I thought I told you before.”
  “The guy is freeeesssshh.”
  “You want to eat him?”
  “These are the kind of guys Dinma milks dry.”
Mabel laughed and Cynthia joined in the laughter.
  “The guy is not serious sef,” Mabel said. “While we were still talking, he asked for your phone number. Can you imagine?”
  “What?” Cynthia asked surprised. “Are you for real?”
  “I am. After you left me, he kept staring at you as you walked in.”
  “The same way he was staring at you after you left him?”
  “Yea.”
  “And he really asked for my number?”
  “Yes.”
  “What did he want my number for?”
  “I don’t know. Maybe he likes you.”
  “But you are the one he came looking for.”
  “He didn’t come looking for me. We met on the road when I was coming back from work.”
  “Anyway, I still don’t believe he asked for my phone number. You are just teasing me.”
  “I am serious.”
  “Did you give it to him?”
  “No.”
  “Ohhhm. Y na?”
  “You wanted me to give him your number?”
  “Yes na. Treasure is not bad na. He can be taking me shopping na, unless you are interested in him sha.”
Their mother came out from the room.
  “Mummy good evening,” Mabel greeted.
  “Cynthia told me you are seeing someone now,” she said to Mabel after acknowledging the greeting. “And he even dropped you off,”
  “Hmm who?” Mabel asked.
                She looked at Cynthia for explanation.
  “Let me check the water I boiled in the kitchen,” Cynthia said and got up from the seat to leave.
                Mabel blocked her and gently pushed her back into the seat. She burst into laughter and Mabel joined her.
  “Yeye girl,” Mabel said. “Will you talk now.”
  “I did not say anything o,” Cynthia said, still laughing.
 “Cynthia,” their mother said, turning to her. “You just told me there was a man with Mabel outside.”
  “Yes.”
  “And you are saying you did not tell me anything.”
                Cynthia kept quiet.
  “Mummy did you see him?” Mabel asked.
  “No,” her mother replied.
  “Then how do you know I was with a man outside?”
  “That little girl even told me when I asked her what you were doing outside the gate.”
  “Ok, I give up,” Mabel said and sat down
                Her mother sat beside her.
  “So who is he?” she asked Mabel.
  “He was my course mate back then in school,” Mabel replied.
  “Mummy if you see this man eh,” Cynthia said. “He is richer and finer than Segun ten times.”
  “Cynthia!” Mabel called.
  “Sorry.”
  “He saw me when I was walking home and stopped me,” Mabel continued. “We were just catching up outside the gate. Nothing more.”
  “Ok,” her mother said. “So there is nothing serious going on then.”
  “No. We just met today, after many years. Something cannot start today and get serious today. Moreover, it is too early for me to be thinking about another relationship.”
  “Ok.”
Their mother got up to go to the kitchen. Cynthia followed her.
  “So how rich is he?” their mother asked Cynthia as they entered the kitchen.
  “Mummy!” Mabel called and laughed.
  “Don’t mind us,” their mother said, laughing too.
                Mabel went to the room to undress while Cynthia and her mother went to the kitchen to look for what to prepare for dinner. When Mabel was done wearing something simple, she washed her hands and joined them in the kitchen. They pondered on what to cook. After a while they decided on what to cook.
  “I doubt if we have enough kerosene,” Cynthia said.
                Their mother checked the stove.
  “You are right,” she said. “We don’t, and there is nothing left in the kerosene can.”
  “I poured in the last drop,” Cynthia said.
  “So what do we do?” Mabel asked. “I wanted to buy gas cooker for you but you refused.”
  “I don’t want to set oga landlord’s house on fire,” their mother said. “You can’t trust those cookers.”
  “We will need to go get kerosene now,” Cynthia said and brought out the kerosene can.
  “Where?” Mabel asked her.
  “Either the filling station in the express road or the kiosk at the junction.”
  “I don’t have the strength to go that far with you.”
  “And I can’t go alone.”
  “Look for Chuka na.”
  “Honestly, I wish I can see him now. I don’t have the strength to go and buy this kerosene.”
                Their mother collected the kerosene can from Cynthia.
  “Don’t worry,” she said. “Let me go and get it.”
  “No na,” Mabel said.  “We cannot be here and you will be going to buy kerosene.”
  “It is not a big deal. It has not been long you girls came back so you must be tired. At least, I have been resting for some hours now.”
  “Ok, if you say so.”
  “Prepare what we need to cook,” their mother said and went out.
                Mabel and Cynthia prepared the ingredients for the food they wanted to cook.
  “Don’t do the one that will involve bending down o,” Mabel said to Cynthia.
  “Don’t worry about my back,” Cynthia said. “The pain is not that much again. I did not even feel it that much all the while Dinma made my hair.”
  “Ok.”
                The entrance door opened and their mother came back in, without the kerosene can.
  “What happened?” Mabel asked her. “Where is the kerosene?”
  “I met Chuka on the way,” their mother replied. “And he offered to help me get it.”
  “This Chuka sef,” Cynthia said. “Is he a ghost? He is everywhere.”
  “He must have heard when you called his name,” Mabel said, laughing.              
                They finished getting the food stuff ready for the cooking and sat in the parlour, waiting for Chuka to come back with the kerosene.
  “What is keeping Chuka?” their mother asked after a while, looking out of the parlour window.

                After waiting a little longer, they heard a knock on the door. Mabel opened the door and saw Chuka standing at the door, with his shirt thorn and bleeding from the side of his mouth.

(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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FED UP [LXXVI]

(continued...)


Ejike admired her for a while and then said, “I see you are not yet married.”
  “What?” Mabel asked, just to be sure she heard him well.
                Ejike’s friend cleared his throat as a sign for him not to go further. Ejike ignored it and pressed further.
  “You are not wearing any ring,” Ejike said, “So I am guessing you are not yet married.”
                Mabel burst into laughter. Ejike and his friend looked at themselves, confused.
  “So you now want to marry me.” Mabel said, still laughing.
                Ejike swallowed saliva and kept quiet, wondering what to reply Mabel’s direct question.
  “I just want to know,” he said after a while. “Afterall, it will not be a bad idea if I win your heart.”
  “You have a very long way to go o,” Mabel said. “To answer your question, I am not yet married.”
Ejike smiled.
  “Do you mean to say that men are not seeing what I am seeing?” he asked, scratching his head. “Abi you are yet to see Mr. Right.”
  “They are o,” Mabel replied. “I am just taking my time and being careful. Men are funny human beings. Crooked and highly unpredictable.”
  “Not all men are like that o.”
  “That is what they all say. When they get what they are looking for, fiam, they go.”
  “Try me and see. I am not like that o.”
                Mabel looked at him and chuckled.
  “Ok oo,” she said.
  “Is that a yes?” Ejike asked.
  “Yes to what?”
  “My proposal na?”
                Mabel burst into laughter again. Ejike joined in.
  “You are not serious o,” Mabel said.
                A little girl came out to the gate from the compound and greeted them.
 “Have you seen Aunty Cynthia this evening?” Mabel asked her after pleasantries.
  “No,” the girl answered.
Mabel checked her timepiece and asked, “Why is Cynthia not back by this time?”
  “But your mummy is around,” the girl said.
  “Ok. Tell her I am around ok.”
  “Ok.”
                The girl went back into the compound to deliver Mabel’s message. 
  “I should be going in now,” Mabel said to Ejike.
  “So soon?” Ejike asked.
  “I need to see my mother and then find out why my sister is not yet back.”
  “Ok.”
  “Till some other time.”
  “Don’t mind my poke nosing in your relationship life o. I was just pulling your legs.”
  “No offence at all. It is nice seeing you once again.”
  “Yes o. I hope we will get to see regularly before I travel again.”
  “I hope so too.”
  “Let me have your number then, so I will call you tomorrow.”
He brought out his phone to collect the number.
  “Is that phone not heavy on your hand?” Mabel asked, laughing.
  “My dear na packaging o,” Ejike said laughing.
  “You use it to deceive girl abi. Una dey try o.”
  “That one dey sha. But the packaging is mainly for the supply business. No one will take you serious if there is nothing to show that you are a big boy and have what it takes to deliver on your end of the deal.”
  “I hear you.”
  “Don’t worry, I will get you one as big as this the next time we see.”
  “Are you serious? I can go inside now and come out again, then you give it to me.”
  “Not today o,” Ejike said laughing.
Mabel gave him her phone number and saved his own.
  “I will call you tomorrow,” he said. “Do you do TGIF things?”
  “Nope,” Mabel replied.
  “Please, for old times sake.”
  “Ok, depending on what you have in mind.”
  “What time will be convenient for you?”
  “I wouldn’t know until you call.”
                A keke stopped in front of the compound and Cynthia alighted. She paid the keke man and walked up to Mabel.
  “Are you just coming back?” she asked Mabel as she got close and put her arm round Mabel’s neck.
  “Not quite long ago,” Mabel replied. “What took you so long?”
  “Dinma had visitors who kept distracting her. I just had to wait to finish making the hair.”
  “The hair is fine.”
  “Thank you. Is mummy back?”
  “I think so. I have not entered the house yet.”
  “Ok.”
                All the while they talked, Ejike and his friend just stood watching.
  “Ehe, sorry I forgot,” Mabel said. “Cynthia, meet Ejike, my course mate.”
Ejike offered his hand and Cynthia shook it. He held on to the hand a little longer than he should. Cynthia had to pull her hand out.
  “And his friend…” Mabel said
  “Kene,” Ejike’s friend finished for her.
                Cynthia just said ‘hi’ without offering her hand.
  “You are welcome,” she said to them. Then she turned to Mabel and said, “Let me go inside.”
  “Ok, I am coming behind you.”
                Mabel gave Cynthia her bag to keep for her inside the house. She turned back to Ejike and caught him staring at Cynthia.
  “Wow,” Ejike said.
  “Wow what?” Mabel asked, smiling.
  “Your sister is something else.”
  “Is that a compliment?”
  “Yes it is o. Beauty runs in your blood.”
  “Thanks Ejike. You too like fine girls.”
                He opened the dial pad in his phone and asked with a babyish grin, “Can I have her number?”
  “You are not serious,” Mabel said laughing loud. “You want me, you want my sister. How much more confused can you get?”
  “I did not see her before I asked you out. I have changed my mind. She is the one I want to marry now.”
                Mabel laughed and hit him on his shoulder.
  “Then Kene will marry me,” she said.
  “Immediately,” said Kene who had been observing and laughing all the while.
  “No o,” Ejike said.
  “You cannot marry two of us at the same time na,” Mabel said.
  “I am an African man. It is not a hard thing at all.”
  “Ejii bobo.”
  “I will just spoil two of you.”
  “We will milk you dry.”
  “Never.”
                Still laughing, Mabel begged to take her leave.
  “Please let me be going,” she said. “It is getting late.”
 “It has been nice chatting with you,” Ejike said.
  “Same here.”
  “Till tomorrow then. Don’t switch off your phone o.”
  “I am not a kid na. How will I do that?”
Mabel turned to go in.
  “Won’t I get a hug?” Ejike asked with the babyish grin.
  “Nope. You never reach.”
  “Kai.”
                Mabel went in laughing while Ejike and Kene stood where they were, watching her frame as she walked away. When she got to the door of their apartment, she turned back and saw them still staring at her. She waved at them to go. They waved back, entered the car and left.

Mabel went in and met Cynthia peeping through the window.

(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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FED UP [LXXV]

(continued...)


She got to a T-junction and slowed down.
  “I even forgot to ask you,” she said to Mabel. “Are you going to your place or your mum’s place?”
  “Even though I need to see how things are in my place,” Mabel said. “I will leave that till tomorrow.”
  “That means you are going to your mum’s place.”
  “Yes ma.”
                Mabel’s mother’s place was to the left while her place and Mrs. Biodun’s were to the right of the T-junction. Mrs. Biodun checked her timepiece. Mabel understood what she was considering.
  “I can get down here and find my way,” Mabel said.
  “Ok dear,” Mrs. Biodun said. “I thought you were going to your own place.”
  “You have tried for me. My mum’s place is not far from here.  I can even trek home if I want.”
  “Ok.”
                Mrs. Biodun looked around properly before she parked.
  “The fear of task force…” she said.
  “Is the beginning of looking well,” Mabel completed the sentence for her.
They laughed.
Mrs Biodun parked, brought out some money from her bag and gave to Mabel.
  “Manage this my dear,” she said.
  “Thanks a lot ma,” Mabel said and collected it.
She couldn’t reject the offer because of how close they were. She knew Mrs. Biodun would feel bad if she rejects it. She had done it in the past and it did not go down well.
                Mabel alighted and Mrs. Biodun drove off. She stood for a while wondering whether to trek home or get a keke. She decided to trek home since the weather was cool. As she walked, she made sure to stay away from the path of oncoming vehicles. She also held hand bag tight in case some of the hoodlums around decide to be funny. From time to time, a man would cat-call her and say nice things to her. She would pretend not to hear and just smile. As she got close to a junction, someone in a jeep drove past her, slowed down and reversed. She surveyed her environment well. It was a busy place so she relaxed, knowing that nothing much could happen where many people were. The car stopped in front of her. She saw that there were two men inside it.
  “Hello,” one of them men called as she got close.
She walked past them as though she did not notice them. She felt they were trying to ‘toast’ her so she did not as much as look back. As she kept walking, they kept moving closer to her. Even when she took a turn at the junction, they still followed her, trying to get her to stop and talk with them. After a while, she was getting embarrassed so she stopped and looked at them. They smiled, thinking they had gotten her after all. She politely told them to leave her alone.
  “You mean you don’t recognize me?” the man on the steering asked her.
                She was surprised by the question. She looked at him very well, trying to figure out if he was someone she knew. She couldn’t place the face.
  “Sorry I don’t know you,” she said and walked away.
  “Wait wait wait,” the man said to her.
She stopped, turned to him and asked, “What do you want from me? Have we met before?”
                He called the name of the university Mabel went to, her department and matriculation year.
  “How do you know all these?” she asked, more surprised.
  “Because we were course mates,” he replied. “Though we were not friends then.”
  “Wait wait,” Mabel said, trying really hard to place the face.
  “You don’t remember me? Ejike.”
He told her some other things that happened in school and mentioned the names of their lecturers while they were in school.
  “I remember now,” Mabel said, recollecting. “Ejii that fought with course rep one time.”
  “Oh you remember that,” Ejike said, laughing. “It is me oo.”
  “You have really changed. I could not recognize you. Imagine.”
  “My dear, it is God o.”
  “Why didn’t you call my name since you have been following me?”
  “I actually forgot your name. You know we were not close back then in school. We were all minding our businesses.”
  “Nothing would have made me stop and listen to you o, if not that I know you from somewhere.”
  “I know. I just decided to try and see.”
  “And you refused to give up.”
  “You are not worth giving up on.”
                Mabel smiled. All the while Mabel talked with Ejike, his friend in the car just pressed his phone.
  “Ejii Ejii look at you,” Mabel said. “You look good.”
  “You too,” Ejike said. “Where are you going?”
  “I am going home from work.”
  “Hop in let me drop you.”
                Mabel made to enter the back seat and stopped.
  “What’s the matter?” Ejike asked her.
  “People are looking,” Mabel said. “If I enter your car now, they will conclude that I am as cheap as these other girls who hop into any car they see, looking for who to take them out.”
  “You are concerned about what people think?”
  “Yes o. I have built a reputation for myself over the years. I won’t give them any reason to think I have changed.”
  “So what do we do? How do we see?”
                Mabel told him the address of her mother’s place and told him to drive down there and wait for her.
  “Ok,” he said. “I will be waiting for you there. We have a lot to catch up on.”
  “Ok, drive off. I will walk as though nothing happened and when I get home, we will see there.”
                Ejike drove off.
  “Wonders shall never end,” Mabel said to herself after Ejike drove off. “Ejike of yesterday, looking all tushed up.”
She wore her straight face and walked home. When she got to the compound, she met Ejike and his friend standing beside the car, outside the compound.
  “You are looking georgous,” Ejike said to her when she got to them.
  “As stressed out as I am,” Mabel said.
  “Am telling you.”
  “Thank you.”
                She side-hugged him and just said ‘Hi’ to his friend. She looked into the compound as though thinking whether to go in or not.
  “Do I follow you in?” Ejike asked her.
  “No o,” she said. “My mother will be around now. She is not very comfortable with male visitors she does not know, coming to the house.”
  “You know we have a lot to catch up on.”
  “Yea I know.”
  “What if I take you out?”
  “Now?”
  “Yes.”
  “I had a stressful day at work. I really need to rest so I don’t start getting dizzy. We can talk for a while here. Then exchange contacts and see some other time when it is convenient for both of us.”
  “That’s fine by me.”
                Mabel leaned on the car beside him.
  “So tell me,” she said. “What are you doing now?”
  “You know I had issues with school then,” Ejike began.
  “We were not close so I didn’t notice. Just that you hardly attended lectures.”
  “My dad fell very sick. Being the first son, I had a lot of responsibilities; taking care of him and carrying him from hospital to hospital.”
  “Eiyaa.”
  “There was no money for me to pay my fees and cater for myself while in school, so I had to drop in 3rd year.”
  “No wonder. I know we stopped seeing you at a point.”
  “My dad’s pension was never paid. My mother couldn’t carry the burden alone, so I went into business while my younger ones continued with school. It was the little money I made from business that helped take care of the family. Then early last year, a friend introduced me to some people abroad who made the business explode.”
  “What type of business is that?”
  “Supplies.”
  “Wow, really?”
  “Yes. That was when things turned around for me and my family. God really helped me. One single contact changed things for me. That is the evidence you are seeing now.”
  “God can truly change a person’s life o.”
  “Yes o. As long as you are God fearing, honest and hard working. These qualities make my business partners comfortable working with me.”
  “True.”
  “I suffered those days o. Kai. I shudder whenever I remember those days. It was worse when you guys graduated. I would see my course mates and be hiding because they were graduates and I was a drop out. They dressed well but I wore clothes that were patched and discoloured. It was a period of shame and questions, but I am glad I did not give up and join bad company then because I thought of it severally but my mum kept encouraging me. I thank God for where I am today.”
  “Thank God for you. Life is not about how fast but how well. Who started first is not important as long as we all get there.”
  “True. Now I travel abroad frequently. I just came back from Asia two weeks ago. Something I never thought could happen for me at this age.”
  “Ejii Ejii.”
  “My dear we give God praise. What about you? What’s been happening since after school?”
                Mabel told him about her NYSC posting and then where she was working.
  “For you to be working there,” he said. “You are a big girl na.”
  “It is not like that o,” Mabel said. “We are just managing o.”
  “It is showing on you na. see how fresh you are looking.”
  “Na small small sha.”
                Ejike admired her for a while and then said, “I see you are not married yet.”

(..to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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FED UP [LXXIV]

(continued...)


                Mrs Biodun looked at Mabel for a response.
  “Thanks for the offer Eph,” Mabel said to Ephraim. “I will go with Madam B.”
  “Ok,” Ephraim said.
                Mabel shut down her system and locked the files in her drawer. Then she got her things together, said goodbye to her colleagues and went out to meet 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 Mabel 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. I just needed to wake you up.”
  “And you really did.”
  “After then, you picked up.”
  “I had to, so I will not give some people opportunity to laugh at me.”
  “Who are the people?”
  “Don’t worry about it 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 also had to just brace up so I don’t lose my job.”
                Mabel looked at Mrs Biodun with the tail of her eye as she said that. Mrs Biodun looked at her and smiled.
  “That is your fear right?” she asked Mabel.
  “Yes ma,” Mabel said. “That was why I had to force myself to come today.”
  “I have not seen the thing that will make me give your job to someone else. You put in more than 100%. I can’t lose a staff like you.”
  “Wow. Thanks a lot ma.”
  “The ‘thanks’ goes to you 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. God has been helping us too.”
  “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 men o. They don’t care who you are.”
  “I think I better move out fast.”
                Mrs. Biodun checked her side 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 were right,” she said
                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 shaking their heads.
  “God punish all of you,” Mrs. Biodun said.
  “You just escaped harassment,” Mabel said. “Before your connection will come into play, they would have rubbished you.”
  “Who sent these people sef?”
  “Nobody sent them, though they say they have the backing of government.”
  “It’s 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.”
  “Anyway, 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 a T-junction and slowed down.

  “I even forgot to ask you,” she said to Mabel.

(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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FED UP [LXXIII]

(continued...)


He held Mabel’s hand, squeezed it gently and said, “Of all the staff here, you are one of the strongest, but there are times when even the strongest need to be taken care of.”
  “Thanks for the complement,” Mabel said. “But don’t let the password issue make you think I am not ready for work. I am.”
  “Ok, if you say so.”
  “But if there is anything I feel I can’t handle, I will let you know ok. Let me at least try.”
  “Ok. I like your spirit.”
  “Let the likeness remain for my spirit o.”
                He laughed. She smiled and used her index finger to remove a tear that wanted to run down her face.
  “Thank you for being a friend and a brother, standing in for me,” she said.
  “Not just me,” Ephraim said. “We all had a share of your work load.”
  “Thanks everyone,” she said to everyone.
                They acknowledged her appreciation. The customers there didn’t know what was going on so they just assumed she had been sick. Some told her “sorry”.
Ephraim went back to his work post and Mabel faced her work. She went through the folders in the computer and confirmed that everything was intact. After working for a while, her phone rang once and stopped.
  “Who is flashing me?” she asked rhetorically.
                She checked her phone. The ‘flash’ was from Cynthia. She dialed Cynthia who picked and asked her how work was going.
  “Let’s us chat,” Mabel told her.
                Cynthia agreed and she hung up. Then she switched on her data and chatted with Cynthia. She told her everything that happened and how she was not sure she was ready for the work. Cynthia told her to accept everyone’s advice and go home. She refused. Then Cynthia told her that she was still making her hair in Chidinma’s place. Mabel was so engrossed in the chat that she did not know she had chatted for thirty minutes. It was when Ephraim came to her table that she realized she had abandoned her work for a long time.
  “Madam B said I should find out if you have handled those files,” he said.
  “Which files?” she asked.
  “The ones I handed over to you in her office.”
  “Where are they?”
                Ephraim pointed at the files on the table and said, “These ones.”
  “Oh,” Mabel said, looking embarrassed with herself. “I have not gotten to them.”
  “You really need to go home.”
  “No please.”
Ephraim looked at her for a while and said, “I will just tell her you are almost done and then I will come and help you.”
  “Thanks a lot,” Mabel replied.
  “Please get to work immediately.”
  “I will.”
                Ephraim told Mrs Biodun that the work was almost done. Then he came to Mabel’s table.
  “Come and sit here,” Mabel said, drawing a seat close to her.
                He sat and helped her work on the files. Soon, they were done.
  “Thanks a lot,” Mabel said to him.
  “You are welcome,” he replied. “You need to really brace up.”
  “I will.”
                The rest of that work day was without such incidents. Mabel did her work so well that Mrs. Biodun had to commend her.
  “I am glad you came today,” She said when she met Mabel in her work station. “We have achieved much more than we did in the past few days.”
  “Thanks ma.”
                She rubbed Mabel on the shoulder and left. Mabel smiled and looked at Ephraim. He gave her a ‘thumbs up’ sign and she winked at him. When it was some minutes to their closing time, they began rounding off.
  “Mabel, remember the story you promised to tell us,” one of her colleagues reminded her.
  “I have not forgotten,” she replied. “After we are done, I will tell those who care to know.”
  “Ok.”
                When they were done and there was no client in the office, Mabel called them together and told them what happened. They listened quietly to everything she said. Even the two that were gossiping earlier listened with rapt attention. When she was done, they began telling her the version of the story that they had heard. She put them through on everything. While they were still talking about it, Mrs Biodun came out of her office.
  “What are you doing?” she asked Mabel.
  “Nothing ma,” Mabel replied, trying to cover up.
  “I heard everything. Why are you doing this?”
  “They are my colleagues. They need to know what really happened.”
  “…from the horse’s mouth,” one of them said.
  “It is good that we heard it from her,” Ephraim said. “Because what we heard before now was that she cheated on her fiancé and ran away with another man.”
  “We know who is spreading that rumour.”
Mrs Biodun turned to Mabel and said, “Well, as long as you are comfortable talking about it, fine.”
  “It is not a problem ma,” Mabel said.
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.
  “Mabel will you come tomorrow?” she asked as she turned to leave.
  “Yes ma,” Mabel replied.
  “Ok. 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.



(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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FED UP [LXXII]

(continued...)



                Mabel followed Ephraim to her work station. She exchanged pleasantries some more. From the side of her eye, she noticed that some of the staffs were stealing glances at her. She sat down, kept her bag and booted her computer. Then she tried to log in but was told ‘access denied’. She tried again but got the same response.
  “Which one is this?” she asked, feeling frustrated.
  “What is the problem?” one of her colleagues asked.
  “I can’t log into my system,” she said. “I think someone tampered with the password.”
  “Ask Ephraim,” the colleague said. “He was the only one granted access to that system in your absence.”
                Mabel looked around for Ephraim but she did not see him. She went to Mrs Biodun and reported the matter.
  “Who would have done that?” Mrs. Biodun asked.
  “I am yet to see Ephraim,” Mabel said. “Maybe he has an explanation.”
  “Did you check outside the office?”
  “I did ma. He is not there.”
                Mrs Biodun got up from her seat and left her office with Mabel. They met Ephraim coming into the office with a bottle of water.
  “Ephraim, who changed the password to Mabel’s system?” Mrs Biodun asked with her voice a bit raised.
  “Changed which password ma?” he asked, looking confused.
  “My system password,” Mabel said.
  “I am not aware of any change.”
  “I tried to log in now and I was denied access.”
  “Let us check it again.”
                He went with Mabel to her computer.
  “There had better be no foul play,” Mrs Biodun said as she walked behind them. Other staff left what they were doing and watched the mild drama ensuing.
                Ephraim told Mabel to type in her password. Mabel did and it still said ‘access denied’.
  “You see,” she said. “Someone changed it.”
                Ephraim burst into laughter. They were confused by his laughter.
  “What’s so funny?” Mrs Biodun asked him.
  “You forgot that there is ‘underscore’ in your password,” he said and logged in the correct password. The system opened. “There you go.”
                Mabel stood embarrassed. Ephraim left her alone with Mrs Biodun who didn’t know what to make out of the situation.
  “Thank you,” Mabel told him and made to sit down.
  “See me in my office now,” Mrs Biodun said to Mabel and left.
                Mabel took a deep breath and followed Mrs Biodun. In the office, Mrs Biodun asked her to sit down.
  “How could you have forgotten your password?” she asked Mabel.
  “I don’t know how that happened ma,” Mabel replied.
  “You made me accuse my staff wrongly.”
  “I am sorry ma. It will not happen again.”
  “I am not bothered about it happening again or not. I am concerned about you. Are you sure you are ready to resume work?”
  “I may not have put myself together yet but I think I am ready ma.”
  “You need to go home and resume on Monday.”
  “Please ma. If I don’t start today, I might not be ready by Monday. Don’t expect the best from me today but please allow me to stay.”
                Mrs Biodun looked at her for a while and said, “You can stay. One more mistake and you will have to go home.”
  “Ok ma,” Mabel said. “Thank you.”
  “You can go now.”
                Mabel left the office, looking sober. As she walked back to her work station, she was the colleagues who were gossiping about her in the restroom earlier. She noticed a scornful look on their face which they tried to hide when their eyes met hers. That was when she made up her mind not to give them any reason to laugh at her. She braced up. When she got to her seat, Ephraim came to her.
  “Mabelina,” he teased her.
  “Mmm,” Mabel gave a throaty response.
  “Are you sure you are ok?”
  “I am.”               
  “You have never forgotten your password before.”
  “Such things happen once in a while.”
  “Not to you. You are too meticulous to do that. Infact you inspire me to be flawless.”
  “My brother, I don’t know what happened o.”
  “Are you ready to resume work? After…” he began to say and stopped.
Mabel looked up at him with tears forming in her eyes.
  “Grab a seat and sit beside me,” she told him.
                He did.
  “I noticed no one wants to ask me what happened,” she said.
  “Ehhmm,” Ephraim said, scratching his beard.
  “Eehhm what?”
He looked towards Mrs Biodun’s office and said, “Madam said we should not ask you anything. If we do, we could get suspended or fired.”
  “Why? You have the right to know.”
  “She said it is too soon. That we might remind you what you are trying to forget.”
  “That’s thoughtful of her. But before the day runs out, I will tell those who care to know. I better get it off my chest here once and for all and also correct the wrong impressions some people may have.”
  “If you say so. I just hope you don’t put us in trouble with Madam B.”
She raised her voice a bit and said, “If you want to hear gist about what happened, let me see your hand.”
Her colleagues raised their hands to shoulder level, looking around to make sure Mrs Biodun was not coming.
  “Ok. After work then.”
  “Mabel it may not be necessary yet o,” one of her colleagues said.
                Few others supported.
  “It is better you know the truth; and the earlier, the better. I don’t have anything to hide from you people na.”
                They agreed.
  “But meanwhile,” Ephraim said. “I still think you need to take the rest of the week off. We will not mind covering for you until you are ready to work.”
  “I can handle this ok,” Mabel said.
  “You know the sensitivity of your work. Any little mistake will have terrible ripple effect.”
  “I know. I can do it.”
                He held Mabel’s hand, squeezed it gently and said, “Of all the staff here, you are one of the strongest, but there are times when even the strongest need to be taken care of.”

(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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FED UP [LXXI]

(continued...)


Mabel left. She was feeling pressed so she went to the restroom. On getting to the door, she heard two ladies inside the restroom, talking in hushed tones. She stood still and eavesdropped, and heard the gossip of her life.
  “After cheating on her boyfriend and going away on vacation for 3 days,” one said. “Mabel has the face to come here smiling.”
  “Don’t mind her,” the other replied. “It is Madam B who is covering her.”
  “Her evil will soon catch up with her.”
                They said some other terrible things about Mabel. When Mabel could not listen anymore, she quietly walked away from the restroom and just stood in the hallway to Mrs Biodun’s office, waiting for Mrs Biodun to be finish up with the client. She made sure she had a good view of whoever comes out of the restroom. Some minutes later, the ladies who were gossiping walked out. She was shocked to see that they were among the closest friends she had in the office. They were taken aback when they saw her standing there. They forced smiles and came towards her. They told her how glad they were to see her back to work. She acknowledged them, looking from one person to the other with a straight face. When they noticed that she was not responding as they expected, they excused themselves and went back to their work posts. Mabel watched them walk away. One of them whispered something to the other and the other shrugged. They looked back at her but she quickly looked away so their eyes would not meet.
  “Hmmm people sef,” she said and clicked her finger. “They smile in front of you and stab you in the back.”
                After waiting for a while, Mrs Biodun’s door opened and the woman walked out.
  “Have a nice day ma,” Mabel said to her.
  “Thank you my daughter,” the woman said with a huge smile on her face and stood in between Mabel and Mrs Biodun’s door.
                She stood for some seconds, admiring Mabel until Mabel got uneasy.
  “Ma is there a problem?” Mabel asked her.
  “No problem my dear,” the woman replied. “You just look so much like my daughter.”
  “Oh. Thanks ma.”
                The woman walked away but kept looking back at Mabel. Mabel smiled and entered Mrs. Biodun’s office with a smile on her face.
  “Please sit,” Mrs Biodun said to Mabel.
  “Thank you ma,” Mabel replied and sat.
  “You have a new admirer o,” Mrs Biodun said, smiling.
  “Who?” Mabel asked, looking around.
  “The woman that just left.”
  “Really? Does she know me before now?”
  “I don’t think so. The first time you entered and left, she lost focus on what we were discussing before you entered and started asking about you.”
  “What did you tell her?”
  “I told her only the good things about you.”
  “Thank you for hiding the bad side of me.”
  “You will pay me.”
They laughed.
  “She really fell in love with you,” Mrs. Biodun continued.
  “Did she tell you why?” Mabel asked.
  “No. She asked for your number but I declined because I don’t know what it was all about.”
  “Ok ma. Time will tell.”
                Mrs Biodun leaned forward and touched her chin.
  “You are looking fresher,” she said. “I guess you are getting over the heartbreak.”
  “I am trying my best o,” Mabel said. “I will not kill myself na.”
  “Is there any man worth dying for?”
  “No one o. Not even your husband.”
                Mrs Biodun leaned back on her seat and swiveled for a while.
  “I may die for my husband o,” she said with a grin. “That man is an Angel sent from God.”
  “If you die, he will marry another woman and move on. Chikina.”
  “Well, that’s true.”
                Mabel leaned forward and asked her, “Ma I noticed that no one has asked me anything about what happened.”
  “What is their business?”
  “Something tells me you have a hand in that.”
  “Must you know everything?” Mrs Biodun asked, smiling. “So what has happened since the last time we spoke?”
                Mabel told her everything she could remember.
  “You mean Kemi is still disturbing you?” she asked when Mabel got to the SMS Kemi sent with Segun’s phone.
  “As at then, yes,” Mabel answered.
  “If she tries anything funny again, let me know.”
  “I will.”
                Mabel continued with the narration while Mrs Biodun listened with rapt attention. After a while, someone knocked on the door.
  “Come in,” Mrs Biodun said.
                One of the staff came in and Mrs Biodun asked him to give her some time. He went out.
 “Let me leave you to attend to other matters,” Mabel said.
  “No,” Mrs Biodun said. “Finish the story.”
  “I have said everything. That is how things are now.”
  “Ok. Like your pastor’s wife said, let him be and put yourself together.”
  “That is what I am doing now.”
  “That’s good. Are you ready for work?”
  “Yes ma.”
  “Are you sure?”
  “Yes ma. I am.”
  “You know the demands of your work. It requires utmost concentration. The slightest mistake can mess up a lot of work.”
  “I know ma.”
  “Ok. Let me call Ephraim to brief you on what has been happening so far.”
  “Ok ma.”
She used the intercom to call Ephraim, the staff who was holding brief while Mabel was absent. Some seconds later, Ephraim came into the office. He greeted Mabel again.
  “Please put Mabel up to speed on what has been happening since the last time she came to work,” Mrs. Biodun told him.
  “Ok ma,” he said, turned to Mabel and said, “Mabel please come with me.”
  “No,” Mrs Biodun said. “Tell her here. I want to know what exactly has happened in her absence.”
  “Ok ma. Let me get some documents she needs to see.”
  “Please hurry,” Mrs Biodun said.
                He left. Almost immediately, the staff that came earlier knocked and entered. He told Mrs Biodun why he came, got instructions from her and then left. Mrs. Biodun went back to working on her computer as they waited for Ephraim to come. Few minutes later, he came in with some files.
  “Keep them here,” Mrs Biodun said pointing at a free part of her table.
                He kept them and took some time explaining everything to Mabel. He answered questions from them and cleared their doubts on some issues. When he was done, Mrs Biodun asked Mabel whether she could take over the work load available.
  “It is not an issue ma,” Mabel replied.
  “Ok. Go to your work station then.”
  “Ok ma.”
She turned to Ephraim and asked, “Is anyone occupying her work station?”
  “No ma. We just use her table from time to time. No one is there now.”
  “Ok.”

                Mabel followed Ephraim to her work station. She exchanged pleasantries some more. From the side of her eye, she noticed that some of the staffs were stealing glances at her. She sat down, kept her bag and booted her computer. Then she tried to log in but was told ‘access denied’.
(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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