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