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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