Advantage
Episode 3
My supervisor asked me to give a receipt to
a secretary in the admin office. I got to the
admin office but the secretary’s seat was
empty. I waited for few minutes before she
c@m£. I handed over the receipt to her
stating who s£nt me. She appreciated it.
I opened the exit/entry door to the admin
office when I met a familiar face about to
enter the office.
Me: Good morning ma
Woman: Good morning, my dear.
The look on her face showed she was trying
to remember where she might have seen
me. Well, I didn’t let her think too long
before helping out.
Me: I helped mummy locating….
Woman: Yes! Galacious, right?
She Interrupted.
Me: Yes ma
Woman: What a name! I’m Mrs. Williams.
What are you doing here?
Me: I work here, ma
Mrs. Williams: Oh! Really?
Me: Yes ma
Mrs. Williams: Ok. Hmm, when do you
close?
Me: 5 ma.
Mrs. Williams: Good. Why don’t you st©p by
tomorrow after work at my house? We nee-d
to talk.
Me: Hope no problem ma?
Mrs. Williams: At all, dear. Grandma would
be glad to see you, and I also have things
to discuss with you.
Me: Ok ma.
Mrs. Williams: Take care and be careful.
Me: Ok ma thank you ma.
I wondered why Mrs Williams would want to
see me at her house. Probably to have a
drink as an appreciation for the as-sistance I
rendered to her mother. I wasn’t expecting a
reward for what I did. Albeit I have been
curious on how the inside of the Mrs
Williams house would look like. I had to
wait till Tuesday evening to figure that out.
It was past six in the evening later that
day. I was in the parlour watching TV. Mom
went for a church program with my Ayo. I
heard a knock on the door.
Me: who’s there?
Voice: Udenme
Udenme? What could she be looking for?
Ayo is not at home. I thought.
I ba-rely opened the door. My right hand
was on the door and the other on the wall.
Me: hi
Udenme: hello
Me: Ayo is not in
Udenme: I know.
Me: oh ok.
Udenme: won’t you ask me to come in?
Me: oh sorry. plea-se come in…… and have a
seat
I opened the door a bit wi-der and held the
door while she walked in and took her seat.
Me: what should I offer you?
Udenme: Really? Someb©dy is becoming
hospitable.
Me: Well, don’t blame me. Almost all our
visitors are mom’s. I don’t really have
friends that visit.
Udenme: not even your girlfriend?
Me: Na na. Don’t have one.
Udenme: Really?
Me: yeah
Udenme: well, then I will like fufu with afang
okazi vegetable soup with……
Me: huh?
Udenme: yea. I’m not done yet.
Me: I’m sorry we don’t have that.
Udenme: I know you won’t, but since you
asked what you can offer Instead of telling
me what you have and I’ll choose which
one I prefer.
Me: ok ma. We have….
Udenme: don’t bother.
Me: you sure?
Udenme: of course I’m sure. I live next door,
if I nee-d something I can get In the house.
Me: alright then.
I sat down. There was silence for awhile
before she continued the conversation.
Udenme: You know I haven’t spent a week
yet and I’m alre-ady missing Calabar
seriously
Me: Well that’s Inevitable, where you have
been for…..
Udenme: Since I was born.
Me: You can imagine. I’m sure Grace and
my sister have been keeping you company
Udenme: Yea. You know isn’t It awkward
how close your mom and my sister are.
I chuckled
Me: my mom is very tolerant. I took after
her.
She chuckled.
Udenme: It goes both ways.
I heard mom’s voice. She was exchanging
plea-santries with one of neighbours.
Udenme: Isn’t that your mom?
Me: Yea. She’s early tonight.
Udenme: Ok. Lemme take my leave then.
Me: c’mon she’s not going to complain
Udenme: don’t be so sure, she might not in
my pres£nce. You know I’m not my 12 years
old sister.
Me: hmmm
Udenme: Na so. Thanks for the company.
Me: Anytime
Udenme: So I can check in around 1 am?
We both chuckled.
Me: Well, I’m cool with that.
Udenme: I hear. Later.
Me: Ok then.
I helped with the door, while she stepped
out. Several thoughts filled my mind. Is she
hitting on me? Or perhaps she just felt like
talking to someone? Whatever it was, time
would tell.
Advantage
Episode 4
I knocked Mrs Williams’ gate and a man,
which obviously was the security man,
opened.
‘’Good evening Sir’’ I greeted with a little
bow. ‘’Evening my son’’ He responded.
‘’Madam asked me to come’’, I quic-kly
explained myself. ‘’Ok, wait here. I’ll be
right back’’ He said and shut the gate.
Few minutes later he was back.
‘’oya come’’ he instructed and led me In.
The second I got in the Air-conditioned
nearly blew me off my feet. The parlour was
mas-sive with large paintings on the wall.
There was a picture of Mrs Williams, a man,
which I as-sumed was Chief Williams, and
their children (two females and a male).
One of the ladies in the picture looked
familiar. I could swear I’ve seen that face
before. Wait a minute! It was Princess. I
could not believe my eyes. I wouldn’t nee-d
Chinenye to get to her after all. I thought.
‘’That’s my family picture’’ a voice
whispered from behind. I turned around and
it was Mrs. Williams.
‘’I thought as much. Good evening Ma.’’
I greeted with a little bow. ‘’Evening my
dear’’, she responded. ‘’That’s me, my
husband……your boss’’ she narrated
pointing at the picture frame and smiled
after the last word. I nodded and smiled
too.
She continued, ‘’right here is our son, Kola.
Here Is Tola and the princess of the house,
Bola.
‘’Wow! It’s not just the house that’s
beautiful, the people living in it are as well’’
‘’Thank you, dear’’
‘’plea-se have your seat’’. She offered and
sat on one the sofas. I gladly accepted the
offer and sat on the opposite one. She
called out a name and a lady c@m£ to the
parlour.
Looking at my direction Mrs Williams said
‘’She’s here to get you whatever you want’’.
Whatever? I’ve never been that lucky.
‘’water will do’’ I ordered. The lady left to
get the water.
‘’How is mummy? I asked referring to her
mum—–Princess’ Grandma. ‘Mummy is
fine. She went out with Princess. They
should be back very soon’’
‘’okay’’
The lady brou-ght Eva table water with a
glas-s cu-p in a tray. She placed it on a
table. Just in front of me.
‘’Thank you’’ I said to her. ‘’you can go
back to your room. I will call you if I nee-d
you’’. ‘‘Okay, ma’’ she responded to Mrs.
Williams and left the parlour.
‘So Galacious, since when have you been
working at the factory?’’
‘’After my WAEC, ma. Trying to gather some
funds to ease the bill off my mum when I
get admitted.’’
‘’That’s so thoughtful of you. How much do
you think you can gather from your
earnings at the steel company, and how
long will it take to gather enough for your
years In school?’’
A car horned and we could hear the sound
of gate opening.
‘’Actually ma, I don’t really know how much
that will be enough throu-gh my years in
school, but I believe what I will gather
within these few months at the factory
should suffice for my first
semester….covering the school fees,
accommodation and feeding. I can also
work at the end of each semester.’’ I
answered.
”Nice! You have really planned it all out.
Well, do you know why am asking these
questions?”
‘’Not really ma’’
‘’Hello everyone!’’ Grandma greeted
cheerfully, standing at the door way. ‘’Hello
mummy’’ ’’You’re welcome ma’’,
myself and Mrs Williams responded
simultaneously.
‘’Where is my …..’’ Mrs Williams was about
to ask a question but couldn’t complete the
s£ntence before she was interrupted.
‘’Right here mum’’, Princess walked into the
room, sat on the cushion beside her
mum and side hvgged her. ‘How was it?’’
Mrs. Williams asked her daughter. ‘’ superb
mum’’ she responded
cheerfully.’’ ‘’Good. You will gist me later
when I’m throu-gh with my guest’’.
Princess nodded and stood to her
feet. ‘‘Hello’’ Princess waved at me as
she made her way out of parlour. ‘‘Hi,’’
I responded with a smile. ‘’Galacious, this is
my daughter Princess you saw in the
picture.’’ Mrs. Williams Introduced. I
nodded.
Grandma and Princess left us.
Mrs Williams explained how she was willing
to support me throu-gh my school. She
advised me to st©p the factory work and
also request to meet my mom for further
discussions. I agreed. Who wouldn’t?
It wasn’t the academic discussion that was
on my mind that moment, I could not just
get Mrs Williams’ daughter out of my head.
Did Princess even recognize me? I asked
myself.
Her mom must have noticed I was lost in
thought when she asked ‘’Galacious, are
you still here?’’ while I was sitting opposite
her. ‘Yes ma.’’
‘’Call me tomorrow. Let me know what she
thinks.’’ ‘’Thank you, ma.’’
‘’Okay dear. Good night’’ Mrs Williams
ended the discussion and headed for the
stairs.
I was about to turn and take my leave when
I heard Grandma’s voice. ‘My son, I heard
you’re leaving without eating?’ ‘I’m sorry
ma, maybe next time. I’m running late’’
‘’Okay, dear. plea-se extend my greetings to
your mum.’’ ‘‘I will ma.’’