BURGUNDY.
Episode 5.
Written by Amah
The next day I drove down to the sto-re to see the sales attendant.
I did not meet her. I describe-d her to her colleagues and i was told she was sacked last month.
I called one of the sales attendant outside to my car.
” Why… what was her offence? I asked, not that I was really concerned but I wanted to know if she duped or manipulated another victim into buying a wrong thing.
” Is a long story sir but let me to cut it short. The reason why she was sacked is because she left her duty post in search of a p@rticular shoe polish for one customer in other sto-res. Is a Burgundy colour polish and we don’t have that p@rticular one here. When my madam found out, she sacked her and ever since then I haven’t heard of her. plea-se sir, I have to get back to work. My madam must not catch me interacting with a customer freely during working hours.
I brou-ght out some cash and hand over to her, she collected it and thanked me.
She quic-kly ran back inside immediately she sighted her madam coming.
I drove off with mix feeling.
It was obvious I’m the customer that got the girl into trouble and she was sacked
I don’t know if I should pity the sales attendant that was sacked because of me or to pity myself because I may not get to the root of my missing polish.
I went home and while I l@yin my be-d that night I couldn’t sleep.
I was stuck with this guilt that refuses to go away after discovering that the sales attendant who helped me did so at her own risk.
She put her job in line, risking her source of living for my polish.
Why didn’t she mention it to me. Why was she calm and acted all cool when she wasn’t fine.
Why will I even accuse her for the disappearance of my polish after she strive to get it for me.
I felt stupid to have even imagined that she may know why my shoe polish got missing.
Even if she was a witch with ability to appear and disappear she would have taken more than the polish.
She may even hurt me in the process but she is not a witch but ordinary girl with a charming smile, who was kind enough to help me when I urgently nee-ded help.
Since the polish can not develop legs and run away from the house, is either someb©dy took it or is still in this house, maybe hidden somewhere.
Ireti can not steal, she is too big for such. Ireti has everything, she is a clas-sic lady, she is beautiful, has a car, live comfortably and well pampered. why will she even steal a polish and leave the shoe.
It doesn’t even make s-en-se at all.
I try to think less and catch some sleep but when I couldn’t I decided to picked up my phone and started browsing.
I checked WhatsApp, scroll down to the sales attendant, and began to check her displ@ypicture.
She looks so ordinary but had a certain air around her. She appears calm, I wanted to say hello but st©pped myself from doing that.
She may even be angry at me for ma-king her lose her job so is better I let her be.
I felt stupid again watching her picture continueosly.
I quic-kly closed it and move to Something else until I finally sle-pt off.
Within the week I get to meet with Ireti.
She also comes over during weekends and will leave a large mess for me to clean.
Ireti has gotten into my head and I have fallen for her beauty, clas-s and shape. Whenever she comes I made sure my wardrobe remains lock.
I can’t allow her getting in there and scattering my things.
On severally occasions I try wearing my shoe but I couldn’t because I nee-d to brush it up so that it can shine out.
I forgot about the missing polish, I wish I know where that sales attendant bought it, I would have driven down to get it myself.
And that was what prompt me to call her one day.
She picked up after the second ring.
I cleared my voice trying to sound serious with her.
” Hello sir..
She said at the other end. I was happy for no reason after hearing her voice, maybe because I thought she will delete my contact after what happened.
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” … hello … good evening sir.
She greeted again. her voice was so clear and tingles in my ear that I began to wish I will remain on phone talking with her.
” Yes, are you the sales attendant that works in a super sto-re… who i s£nt to help me with a shoe polish months ago?
I asked, pretending not to remember her.
“Yes…yes sir. I’m the one but I’m not working there anymore.
I try not to show any concern or even let her know that I was alre-ady aware.
” Okay. I lost the polish you got and haven’t seen it up till now. It disappeared suddenly which made me wonder if you are behind the disappearance…
She was caught off guard and sound so pissed at the other end.
” Excuse me sir, how do you mean by that?
She said quietly, I can re-ad sadness in her voice.
I swallowed ha-rd and continued.
” Never mind. I nee-d same type of polish. Can you describe the place you got it or should I s£nd money to you to help me get it?
” I will describe the place for you sir. Is actually far but you will get it there. Is one of the biggest shoe place. They import their polish so you can always go there and get your stuffs.
She describe-d it but I didn’t want her to leave yet. I like the sound of her voice and was re-ady to listen to it all day.
She later added.
” …Sir, I’m searching for job. I can do any type of legal job as far as it pays me at the end of the month. Both cleaner, sales repres£ntative, a nanny, a Chef or office as-sistant. Any job sir, I’m re-ady to do it. Since I lost my job I have not been able to secure one with a good salary. So, plea-se sir, if you see any vacancy, even if is in your office side don’t hesitate to let me know and God will bless you.
That guilt feeling crowded my mind again. She was supposed to cursed me, insult me and remind me of how I made her lose her job but she didn’t. Maybe because I never bother to ask.
She was cool and acted so innocent.
I don’t have vacancy in my office. I Only have three staffs in my company.
And I never bother to check for vacancy before. Even if I see one I will not put interest because is irrelevant.
But because of the attendant I will ask around for her.
After the conversation she thanked me and I ended the call.
Ireti later c@m£ the following weekend. Whenever I’m with Ireti nothing else matters to me.
I try to satisfy my woman to the best of my ability even though she still complains and call me names but I take it as compliment.
After ireti left, the house was scattered. She was getting comfortable with leaving my house messed up. Creating work for me to do.
I was tired of doing chores. Ireti said I should get a maid.
And that’s what I will do.
I will look for a decent, ha-rd working maid to help me with the house chores and to make sure the house is in perfect order. The house keeper will be cleaning Ireti’s mess instead of me doing it all the time.
I smile at the suggestion and began searching online for a help and that was when I remembered her.
The sales attendant nee-ded a job and I got one right here.
But I have double mind calling her.
I don’t know if is okay to call her and offer her the job of taking care of my entire house. I will pay her a good salary and She will also live in my house and go home only weekend if she wants to.
I held the phone in my hand thinking of my next move and wondering if is a good idea to have the sales attendant un-der my roof.
Episode 6.
I summoned courage and called the girl.
“Can you work as a cleaner and a cook for me?
I asked her, she was silent and later said.
” Sir, do you mean like a maid?
She must have hated the word “maid” which means servant. That was my guess though but I decided to upgrade the job description for her, to make it sound better.
” Not precisely a maid. I mean like a housekeeper, a chef and having a total affair of my house. Is that okay by you?
” Ofcurse sir, is very okay but I nee-d to know how much salary you are willing to pay?
I told her the amount and she went quiet.
And later said.
” Are you serious sir,? Wow… Yes I’m re-ady to resume anytime you want me to start.
” How about saving you the stress of transporting to and fro everyday by letting you live in my house, you can pick your day off within the week or during the weekends….
She screamed excitedly into my ear.
” Oh my God. Is this for real? I’m so grateful sir. Thank you so much sir. I won’t disappoint in my duties.
I ended the call and s£nt her my house address and the day she will resume. I also asked her to bring her curriculum vitae while coming. That will enable me to know who I’m dealing with.
She c@m£ the following week with a bag containing few of her things. She handed her CV to me, I kept it on the center table with the hope to check it later.
I showed her the room she will be slee-ping which was a visitor’s room.
I took her round the house and showed her different things and how to carefully handle some of the s-en-sitive household appliances.
She looks so excited throu-gh out the introduction. I even introduce her to Musa, the gate man.
I asked her to make a chart for weekly food.
As I turn to leave, she called my attention.
” Excuse me sir, plea-se pardon my question. Are you married or do you have kids..?
I looked back at her and went quiet, wondering why she will even asked that.
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” Did you see children’s stuffs in this house? Why did you ask…
She breathed de-eply, Cl@p her hands together. She felt uneasy and it was written all over her.
” I’m really sorry sir, plea-se don’t be offended. The house settings looks more like a family house. Is well furnished, equipped with different things. Like the aquarium in the living room…is beautiful and I haven’t seen such before. Everything is really beautiful in here and that was what prompted my question. But let me get back to work, I’m sorry for asking sir.
She went back drawing a chart on an A4 paper.
I cleared my throat and she looked up at me and quic-kly look away.
” I’m not married and do not have kids yet but my woman comes around once in a while. Whenever she comes make sure you attend to her and do whatever she ask of you. I know she can be over demanding but do all you can to plea-se her.
“Alright sir, I will do exactly that. Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity.
I nodded and as I try to walk away i quic-kly remembered that I don’t know her name. I haven’t even open her CV to check her details.
“What’s your name?
“Sandra… that’s my name sir. Everything you nee-d to know about me is in my CV.
I quietly nodded and walked away.
Ireti comes most Saturdays and whenever she comes she sleep over and leave the following day.
When Ireti c@m£ and saw Sandra she wasn’t happy.
” Why will you employ a mature girl as a maid. You could have gotten a boy not a girl…
“C’mon Ireti, she is my housekeeper not a maid. Why the discrimination? gender doesn’t matter to me all that matters is that she does the job she is employed to do.
” Okay, fine… whatever. I don’t really care. Just don’t cheat on me with a common maid…
Ireti said annoying me with the way she sounded.
” What! why will you even imagine that I will do such… what do I nee-d in another woman when I have it all in you. You are very beautiful, you are clas-sic chic and so smart. What else will I be searching for?
“I’m happy to hear you say that…I know I can trust you.
Ireti said resigning from the conversation.
Sandra was active in her duty. She cleaned, washed, iron, go to the market to buy food stuffs and she was a good cook.
I did not bother about the mess Ireti was always creating because Sandra was good with her duty.
Sandra serves Ireti all she demands and does all she was asked to do.
Sandra never takes offence in Ireti’s ill treatment to her. She ignored and try not to disappoint me in her duty.
I woke up one early morning to a serious shout in the house. I checked the time it was 4am
I flew out of be-d and rushed to where the noise was coming from which was Sandra’s be-droom.
Ireti was the one screaming down curses on her. Sandra’s b©dy was dripping we-t with water
” What is happening here?
I asked looking at Ireti’s angry face.
“Can you imagine this fool, this lazy house girl? I woke up and felt like taking fried plantain with egg sauce. I called her to wake up and prepare the food for me and she said okay. Is over thirty minutes, I thought the food was re-ady only for me to come out and meet her slee-ping again. I decided to wake her up with a bucket of water since she is too lazy to get up and make my food.
I was totally pissed with Ireti.
But I decided not to scold her in front of Sandra.
I lead her into my room
” Baby, you poured her a bucket of water Just to wake her up? Why will you do such? Sandra sle-pt late where she was busy cleaning and washing up all the messed up house which you accvmulated in the afternoon. After the day work the least she deserves is a quiet night rest. Why will you still go to wake her up by 3am to make food for you… that’s unfair. Is totally wrong.
Ireti bec@m£ so angry and started acting violence.
” How dare you support that lazy fool instead of me. She is a maid and should be re-ady to serve at any point in time. You stand here and defend her lazy as-s? Mart at the first sunlight I will leave here. I can’t tolerate this embarras-sment coming from you…
I try to calm her down but she refused to be calm.
I move to the kitchen and saw Sandra, she has changed up her we-t cloth and was frying plantain for Ireti.
She turned and saw me.
” I’m sorry sir, i didn’t even know when I sle-pt back after she woke me. I shouldn’t have because I signed for this job to make sure madam Ireti is always satisfied. I failed in my duty to her and I apologize…
She said with a tired looking eyes.
How can she even be apologizing after Ireti bath her with water in her sleep? It saddens me but here she was trying to serve Ireti despite what she did to her.
I began to wonder what kind of soft and patient heart Sandra posses.
She was really a rare human with exces kindness.
I couldn’t utter a word. I went back in.
This wasn’t the first time Ireti was been so harsh to Sandra who will still apologize at every shout.
Ireti left angrily that early morning even without tou-ching the plantain and egg sauce that she woke Sandra up for. She didn’t t©uçh the food and left.
I know she will go on one week of keeping malice with me before coming to her s-en-ses.
That afternoon, on a Sunday after Ireti left I saw Sandra slee-ping in the kitchen.
I guess her mattress was su-cked with the water Ireti poured on her while she was asleep which made her to come to the kitchen to sleep.
I try to t©uçh her but withdraw my hands. I took a de-ep breath before gently tou-ching her but she didn’t wake up.
I called out her name twice and she woke up, and stood apologising again for slee-ping in the kitchen.
My house had three be-droom with a big sitting room. So I asked her to go and sleep in the second master be-droom which was connected to my room.
She hesitated and said instead she will go and sleep in her room like that.
I insisted because I know her be-d was still we-t and she can’t sleep in it or she will catch a flu.
It took time before she agreed to go.
I watch her walk past me and I quic-kly st©p her.
” Sandra, I’m… sorry about what my woman did to you. Her actions shouldn’t be justified and I’m glad you didn’t respond all throu-gh her outbur-st of anger. She doesn’t know better, My woman grew up in the means of maids answering to her every nee-d. Don’t hate her for any reason, it wasn’t her fault ma-king you sleep by midnight or waking you up by 3am to cook for her, is her up bringing. do all you can to plea-se her whenever she is around…
She responded with “alright sir” before leaving.
I took another de-ep breath wondering what was wrong with me.
Sandra is very special and I’m beginning to have soft sp©t for her.
Ireti is my woman, I cherish her beauty, her clas-s and her high league but Sandra is specially different and filled with kindness.
I drove out that evening for some fresh air and to clear my head while Sandra sleeps in another master be-droom connected to mine.
I thought of Ireti, she is still not taking my calls which was her usual way. She will come around after one week.
I wish I know exactly where Ireti lives I could have gone down to see her.
I have try to get to know where she lives but she told me that her Papi do not like visitors and time will come when she will introduce me to him.
I didn’t push or argue but I’m beginning to wish I actually knows where she lives so that I can also go and see her and meet her Papi.
She was planning on ma-king my type of shoe for her Papi’s upcoming birthday.
Which she said I will be invited to the big birthday p@rty when the time comes and I will get to meet her Papi. is something that I look forward to.
I drove round before going back home. Sandra was sitting by the gate with Musa when I drove in.
Musa was telling her a story and she was laughing.
She quic-kly went inside as I drove in. I called Musa asking him what they were talking about.
” Oga, small madam say make i tellam story of my people for North… so, as i dey tellam, she come they laugh. Oga, small madam na better woman pas-s big madam…
I hushed Musa to shut up and go back to his duty Post.
I went inside, Sandra was setting dinner for me on the dinning.
” Did you rest well?
I asked her, she smile and said.
” Yes, I did but couldn’t sleep for long in that big be-d. I’m grateful sir.
She had a warm liveliness around her.
I smile and sat on the table to eat.
She ha-rd ly stay close whenever I’m on the dining.
” Have you eaten, if not bring your food to the dining.
She hesitated before bringing her food to the dining.
She was shy but she has to get comfortable with my pres£nce.
As we eat in silence, I lifted my eyes from my food and stared at her while she was eating. She felt my gaze and looked up at me before standing up from the table with the excuse to get something from the kitchen.
I was done eaten, I stood and went to my room to rest for the night.
As I l@yon my be-d there wasn’t only one thought, one person that crowded my mind. I just couldn’t think of something else except this special person.
To be continued