13. Job hunting

With my soiled feet

I walk down the streets of Lagos

In a bid to live the way I want

Seeking to give my life a meaning

On a quest to be among the highs

Tired of being beneath;

And treated like trash.

It was Friday. I had been given a week to find a suitable job.

I had started my job hunting on Monday and today was Friday, but I still hadn't gotten anything reasonable to do.

I was freaking tired and felt hopeless.

I had walked from place to place, trying to get the job of a waitress, a sales girl, a caregiver or a clerk.

Amsey had assisted me in writing series of application letters but I didn't have a certificate to prove that I attended and completed secondary school, which was a necessity to get a job.

Amsey had asked for my secondary school certificate and I had simply responded: "You remember my house got burnt? All I had got burnt along with it."

What was I to do now?

By the way, people were so rude in Lagos and always in a hurry.

You will ask for directions and they'll just mumble something inaudible to you and go about their work, some will even ignore you.

No one had time to help someone else in Lagos. Everyone was hustling for themselves and their families.

Who had time to show you the way to a plaza? No! Who had the time to listen to all your whining?

The only people willing to give directions were majorly the market women who would only do that if you buy something from them.

Life in Lagos was all about give and take.

Even in getting a job.

Three security guards have refused to let me into their organization without me giving them my number.

You can imagine! A whole me; security guards.

I've suffered!

Amsey had just been laughing when I told him.

What more could the annoying soul of a human being do??

"Very funny." I had told him.

In case you're wondering if I gave them my number; Of course, I didn't.

A beauty queen like me.

Don't even dare to belittle me!

I couldn't stoop that low because of a job. Besides, Amsey could get me a job if I failed at getting one by tomorrow.

He had said we were going to his Church together on Sunday.

He had not been to church in two weeks and he was already feeling so bad.

I wonder how I should feel knowing I'd not been to any church in over a year. Note that sarcasm.

My feet were dusty and I needed to wash off the dirt. I was so tired and weak and my throat felt so dry. Sweat trickled down my forehead and I wiped it with my white handkerchief which was now brown from cleaning my sweat.

I walked under the hot scorching sun as I searched for a shade where I could relax for a little while before calling my job hunting quits for today.

In my present condition, I didn't mind accepting the job offer from Amsey. It would hurt my pride but I couldn't do this same routine anymore.

Wake up, do chores, brush and bath and start walking under the sun in search of a job.

I simply couldn't continue living in that manner.

No wonder people went into fraud, rituals and other illegal businesses when a job wasn't forthcoming. Not that I'm justifying illegal practices but It wasn't easy job hunting at all.

I needed a place to rest.

I'd get a bottle of chilled soft drink to cool my sore throat and a sachet of water to wash my feet and feel in a much better condition, at least.

Thanks to Amsey for the little change he gave to me everyday.

He said he had hustled before.

I'm sure he knew it was no easy task and that's why he had wanted to get me a job by himself and that's why he gave me a little amount of money everyday to see myself through.

On the first day, I had refused collecting a dime from him but I had nearly collapsed after 2½ hours of treading under the hot sun.

A woman was kind enough to give me a sachet of cold water and I had almost immediately hurried home after I drank it.

P.S: Not everyone was bad in Lagos.

Be sure enough to know that Amsey had ridiculed me the very moment I got home.

He was able to judge from my appearance and frustrated look that things didn't go well.

He went on singing that he had told me so and rubbing my sad countenance in my face.

Trust him to later give me the house address in case I got lost. He was damn overprotective, Gosh!!

I bumped into someone and when I looked up, I saw a girl who gave me a sweet smile with her beautiful diastema.

"Rita!" I screamed.

"Oh my goodness! Cassie!!" She screamed and gave me a tight hug.

"You can let me go now." I said as I was almost strangled by the tight hug she gave me.

"I can't believe it's you, Cassie." She squealed.

"Me neither, Rita." I said, with a warm smile.

"You look so beautiful." She said.

"Stop lying. With this my dusty and shabby appearance, you're saying I look beautiful." I said, feigning disbelief.

"You sure do look dusty but no one can deny the fact that you look beautiful and well dressed." She argued.

"If you say so." I gave in.

Of course, I looked beautiful.

I've always been beautiful and I don't need to boast about it. Every guy I know has had an eye for me, except Amsey; of course.

Was that one even a human being?

"You look different, Cassie. You're dressed so nicely." She complimented me.

"Thanks a lot." I smiled at her.

"I have to apologise." She said.

"For what?" I asked.

"I thought you were lying that you had an uncle here but you actually look pretty good to me, even better than you looked before." She said.

I heaved a sigh. "It's fine, Rita. Really, it is." I said.

She looked really sad. "I have been feeling bad for the past two weeks since we met. I felt I ought to have collected your number, instead of leaving you there on the road, even though I thought you had no one to go to." She said.

"It's not a problem." I said.

"But why didn't you even give me a call?" She asked, looking unsure.

"A lot of things have been going on. Besides, my guardian treats me like a child. I can't go anywhere and I felt it was useless if I just spoke with you without getting a chance to even see you. I'm sorry." I explained.

"It's fine. Well, fate has brought us together and I'm so glad I could meet with you again. I care about you, Cassie." She said, with her ever beautiful smile.

"Gross." I said.

"What's gross?" She asked, looking confused.

"Your statement. You sounded so cheesy and that's gross." I said.

She gave me an annoyed glance.

"No offence." I muttered.

"None taken." She said, smiling.

I eyed her for a moment.

"Why are you so jealous of my smile?" She asked, grinning.

"I'm not jealous." I disagreed.

"Yes, you are." She said, still smiling.

"You people with diastema just overdo it. You smile all the time which is weird and gross." I said.

"Said by a jealous somebody. What's that person's name again? Oh! I remember. Cassie." She smirked.

"Think whatever you want. I'm not jealous. Dorrrrh." I defended.

"Whatever." She said, ending the discussion but still not agreeing that I wasn't jealous.

"So where are you off to?" She asked.

"I need a cold drink. I want to get a bottle in that restaurant and also relax there." I said, pointing over to the shop.

"Yeah. You look really thirsty. Let's go." She said, pulling my hand.

We started walking.

"So what are you doing here?" She asked.

"Job hunting." I replied.

"Thought your uncle doesn't let you go anywhere." She said.

I felt like laughing out loud. Amsey, my uncle? Jeez, that sounded funny as hell.

"Well, I sorta talked him into letting me get a job on my own." I said.

"That's great." She said.

"So how's your exam preparations going?" I asked.

"All good." She simply responded.

I had a feeling all wasn't well with her just the same way I had the same feeling about Amsey but I wasn't the type to probe into people's lives.

If I needed to know anything, she'd tell me, so I let it slide.

We got to the restaurant and I ordered for two bottles of chilled soft drinks; a bottle of Fanta for myself and a bottle of Pepsi for her.

"Awwwn. You remembered my favourite." She said, as she collected hers with a smile.

"How could I possibly forget?" I responded, smiling back at her.

It was when we were on our way to Lagos that she disclosed how much she loved Pepsi in our chit-chat and I remembered so here's another fact you should know about me; I have a long-term memory.

"So have you gotten a job yet?" She asked.

"Not at all. I've searched in vain." I said, as I took a long sip of my drink.

"I'm sure employees will be disturbing you." She said, laughing hard.

"How did you know?" I asked. "And they're all old shameless men. Can you even imagine?" I questioned.

"I can. I've been in your shoes so I understand." She responded with a chuckle.

"That's not all. Rita, even security guards asked me for my number." I told her.

She laughed hard.

"I've never been so humiliated in my entire life." I told her.

"Eyahhh. Sorry, my dear." She said, still laughing.

I gave her a frustrated look. "It's not funny so stop laughing or else- - -" I reprimanded her.

"Or else what?" She said as she laughed more, sticking out her tongue at me.

"You're annoying." I told her, feigning anger.

"Sorry." She said.

"Leave me alone." I said, looking at her sadly.

"My love, don't be annoyed, please." She pleaded sarcastically.

"You're not my friend again." I said, childishly.

"You're my friend." She said as she hugged me tightly.

"Leave me ohh." I said, still whining.

She burst into laughter. "Shakara girl."

"Thank you." I responded.

After we were done with our drinks, I paid the fee of #200 and I went to their restroom to rinse my feet.

I later came out and we walked along the road.

"My aunt owns a restaurant just down the road and she needs a sales girl." Rita said suddenly.

"Really?" I inquired.

"Yeah."

"I'm willing to work there." I said.

"I knew you would, so I'm gonna go over to the restaurant and tell my aunt about you. I've been the one assisting her since her former sales girl moved back to her village and it's affecting my studies." She explained.

"Thank you so much. You're always there for me. You're like an angel sent to me. I'm grateful, Rita. Thanks for always being there for me." I said, expressing my gratitude in the best way I could.

"You're welcome, dear." She said, smiling broadly.

"Just give me your number so I can give you a call and give you the feedback." She said, handing over her Android phone to me.

I punched in my digits and handed the phone to her.

When I got to the tricycle park, I hugged her and we exchanged goodbyes and I boarded a tricycle which took me home.

Rita was Heavensent, I owe her and Amsey everything.

Without her, I wouldn't have been able to think of coming to Lagos and I'd have never met Amsey who helped me out of my predicament.

I think it was our destiny to meet. It was fate, it was God's will and I was grateful to him concerning everything.

I met Amsey when I got home around 4:00 pm. He was sitted on the couch with whom I recognized from the day we both went to his Cafe as Ken.

They were both engrossed in a game.

"Good day." I greeted, announcing my presence.

They just waved their hands and continued their game.

What did they ever see in play stations?

I was eager to announce my luck in getting a job today, not that the job had already been given to me but I had faith the job would be mine.

I went into the bedroom, removed my clothes; went into the bathroom and stepped into the cold shower, scrubbing my skin and reminiscing over what had happened today.

I felt good having my bath and getting rid of the stench the sweat had given me.

I felt refreshed and cool after having my bath.

I stepped out of the bathroom with water dripping all over my body, clad in only my white towel with my long wet hair that touched my back.

Who I saw made me tremble.

"When did you come in?" I inquired.

"I'm.... I'm sorry." Amsey stuttered.

I stared at him ferociously.

I expected him to walk away but instead, he came closer.

My heartbeat increased and I felt tensed.

Was that lust I saw lurking around his eyes?

He smacked his lips.

He came closer till our noses touched.

I could have easily gone back to the bathroom and shut the door but I didn't.

I wanted him, I wanted the feel of his skin against mine.

I wanted him so bad.

He grabbed my waist and my eyes closed swiftly as I yearned for his kiss.

Couldn't he do it already?

I was feeling impatient.

"Cas!" I heard my name.

My eyes flung open.

Amsey entered into the bedroom where I was sitting in a simple gown combing my hair and daydreaming.

I had actually imagined kissing Amsey?

Gosh! What the hell was wrong with me?

"When did you come in?" He asked.

"A while ago." I responded, not looking at him.

I felt quite embarrassed, even though the almost kissing thing didn't happen in reality.

"How come you didn't say hi?" He asked.

"Well, I greeted but you were pretty much engrossed in your game." I responded with a smirk.

"Ohh." He said.

"Yeah." I responded in the same tone.

"Guess what!" I squealed.

"You got a job." He responded.

"How did you know?" I asked.

"It's written all over you." He shrugged.

"You're such a joy killer." I accused.

He laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment. Congratulations on your new found job though." He said.

"Thank you." I said, smiling.

"You're always welcome. But tell me, how did it happen?" He asked.

"I'll tell you later but first of all, I have to prepare something for us to eat. I don't know about you but I'm famished." I said.

"No problem. We can always talk about it." He said.

I responded with a smile.

And he smiled back.