STEPS

The walk to Maitama was not something anyone could undertake after Mrs Festus the bread seller had explain to her about the distance. It was a 2 hours, 8 minutes walk on foot and 20 minutes by car. Jenny further realized that she would have to part with some of her most treasured cash.

Taking a taxi as directed by the couple from Jabi taxi spot, the journey towards maitama began. It was an hour journey due to the traffic on the road. The traffic was caused by the current repairs on the road and she enjoyed the sight seeing. She had eaten a bit of the bread and malt given to her by Mr Festus that morning, hence she was not hungry.

She thanked the old man and his wife before leaving and prayed for heaven to show them kindness as they have shown her even though she was a stranger. The couple sounded a loud "Amen" and kept smiling at her as they bade her goodbye.

Although Jenny was alone, she was nonetheless glad that she undertook this journey for her future and the future of her family.

As the taxi driver dropped her off at the Maitama Fruit market, she wondered what next to do. She needed a strategy if she was going to get a job or even a meager work. The entire surrounding was clean, quiet and beautiful. It was unlike the village as the aura of urban privileged life oozed around.

Closing her eyes for a bit as she would always do whenever she was confused, Jenny said a little prayer. She asked that the Lord will send her someone who needs her services and she vowed to give all herself and her strength to the betterment of the person or organisation.

Having said the prayer in faith, she trusted that the Lord will hear her. Hence, she walked towards the banana shop and bought some bananas. They looked so inviting and the price was fortunately very fair. The seller was a foreigner, probably from India and Jenny was showed a lounge to seat and eat if she wanted to. Gladly, she appreciated the seller for the offer and quickly took it. Sitting down, she watched her surrounding keenly.

That was when she saw a lot of school students who just closed from school since this was a Thursday. She could not tell where the school was located but it was sure to be close.The time was 3pm and they dispersed in small groups chatting and laughing. They were mostly foreign kids, not Nigerians as their appearance gave them away. The black children amongst them was not so much.

Oh she smiled! she wish she would be made a head or even a house mistress of any of the schools but she knew she only had a limited teachers qualification to apply for such position in the city.

Even though she had the experience to do more than most tutors, she doubted if the organisation would even look her way. Some of the kids walked towards exotic cars with drivers while others chatted as they walk towards the beautiful duplexes that surrounded the environment.

While munching on the banana, Jenny watched a beautiful lady wearing a red suit walked past the banana stand, angry. She was having a phone conversation and she sounded very frustrated.

Feeling bold and audacious, Jenny tried to listen to the call even though it was wrong to eavesdrop. While she listened, part of the woman's conversation was "I can't get someone to do that today. let's make it Monday".

Taking her life in a hand,Jenny approach the woman smiling as she would always do.

"Good afternoon ma! May i be of service to you ma?"

"Excuse me my friend. I do not want to buy anything you're selling" The woman replied rudely walking away.

" I am not a seller ma'am. I'm a teacher. I came in search of a good job. I was told there were needs for teachers in the area." The lady paused, turned and gazed at Jenny.

"You speak very well but I don't think there is a job vacancy around. I am sorry"

"I could do anything ma'am. I just really need to make a living for myself.I could be a home lesson teacher, a nanny, a cleaner, a cook. Whatever you would need as a domestic staff for a household or a school or an organisation." Jenny ranted, almost pleading.

The woman was perplexed. She has never heard an educated person beg for work rather than money.

"I'm so sorry. I am a manager of Human resource organization and right now. We are fully staffed. I could help you with some money. Just how much do you need?"

"Oh thank you ma. That's so kind of you. But a job is what I desire. Am grateful for the audience ma'am." With that, Jenny turned away, slowly walking back to the fruit stand.

"Please wait" Jenny turned almost immediately.

"I have never met anyone as captivating as you are. Miss?

"Jennifer Uchenna ma'am. You can call me Jenny"

"My name is Regina Tunde and I have a job but its a very difficult one."

"What is it ma'am? I am willing to learn the ropes and be of service"

"You said you could teach and be a Nanny right?"

"Yes ma!"

"But how do I know you are not a criminal, a swindler or even a kidnapper.?"

Reaching into her bag, Jenny brought out her Credentials.

"These are very valuable to me ma'am. They are my original certificate and my curriculum vitae inclusive. I will never be of wrong behavior when you have what it takes to trace me down to my family house in Agbor".

Glancing at the documents, Regina seemed impressed.

"You are a secondary school teacher?"

"Yes ma'am from Delta state"

"Oh...oh it's okay. You can do away with the ma'am and call me Regina. I just need a nanny for a 12-year-old and a nanny who can cook as well. Do you consider yourself able to perform such a task.?"

"Definitely ma.I would consider myself fortunate for such work."

"What kind of dishes could you make?" She asked as they began to walk together towards the carparks.

"I am quite vast as I took courses in cooking from the foreigner's who frequented our college. So I can make continental dishes as well as pastries and intercontinental dishes."

"Say no more Jenny. Let's go to my car. The sun is too hot."

Jenny followed Regina towards her car and was glad to hop in whilst she turned on the air condition. In seconds, the entire car was cool and Jenny relaxed.

"I do not know you very well. So how do i vet your references?"

"I do not have a phone to call them but the numbers written there are their active phone numbers." Jenny responded.

"Besides like i said, i am not one to make a mess of things and put you in trouble. So, to also allay your fears, you can have me sign a bond document to you stipulating a trial period, my commitment and even with holding my pay ma'am. Am sorry Regina." Jenny muttered.

"You seem so genuine. I like the way you talk and you are so different. Are you sure you really want to be a Nanny?"

Jenny nodded while smiling.

"Are you married?"

"No ma. For someone so beautiful, determined and well spoken, you must have a man.Your CV says you are 23."

"Yes i am. i am single and I have no plans for marital relationship yet."

"Then you have yourself a temporal job with one of my clients. They patronize my agency and its really tough to disappoint them because they are high paying clients"

"I do understand. Its important to please your clients to get more business."

"Exactly Jenny. So what I would do first is to take you to the hospital to run some test. He requires that his Nanny needs to be disease free and I support him. Its just that the child eh. She is a 12 year old girl and she is a very disturbed child." Regina complained

Jenny laughed out loud and Regina wondered why.

"I am so serious. It is not a laughing matter. Will it be too much for you to handle?"

"There are no disturbed children. All you have are socially maladjusted children or children who needs attention"

"You are really vast with the knowledge of children." Regina complimented.

"Yes ma'am. I try to be. I will do my best to make your customers satisfied and in total praise of your service." Jenny assured her.

"I like to hear these reassuring words and the energy from you. I like it. Thank you so much for doing this." With that, Regina drove out of the carpark. Jenny assumed she was heading towards the Hospital.

Jenny had learnt to be honest, kind, very helping, brave and audacious from her father and it has always paid off. This was one of such situation.

"I do not have money to be able to afford a medical test for now. Do you think maybe you could take it out of the salary?"

"Oh never mind. Do not bother yourself. Its not part of your responsibility. It's part of the deal.I would pay for the medical services. Where do you live in town?"

Jenny thought about lying but decided against it.

"To be honest ma, I have no relation in Abuja. I actually slept at an old church premises yesterday when I arrived. A kind old man offered me the security house to sleep".

"Wow! I am so sorry about that. Okay since that is the case, ....well I have a guest house, you could stay there tonight. Tomorrow Friday morning, we will approach the family. Is that okay?"

"That is so wonderful ma. Its beautiful news to my ears. I am most grateful"

"You are welcome. You are so beautiful and well mannered Jenny. Its so rare to see your type this days" complimented Regina.

Soon they arrived at the Shefford family clinic. It was a private clinic operated by a British man named Mr Brown.

The Following test was carried out on Jenny. Malaria test, HIV test, hepatitis test, High blood pressure check, Random Blood sugar test and skin infection test.

Regina informed Jenny that the reason for the test was for her employer to see that she was fit and healthy enough for the job. Jenny understood quite well hence she did not protest as she was poked by needles.

As promised, Regina took her to the guest house after the test and she was offered a room. It was small but very comfortable. She saw the toiletries laid out on the table in the room and remembered that she had not taken her bath. As she got up to head to the bathroom, a knock on the door made her pause. A staff in the guest house brought a plate of hot jollof rice heavily dished in a ceramic plate, with a Maggi cube size of fried beef on the top. The tray also contained a 1 litre plastic bottle of cold water.

Jenny was grateful for the food. She had forgotten about the bread in her bag as she wolfed down the rice. It was so delicious.

Suddenly she remembered Mrs Chioma her stepmother. Jenny missed the woman so much. She wondered how she was coping with her 6 younger ones. Mrs Chioma had always treated Jenny right, loving and caring for her like her own child. She had made Jenny in charge of her siblings and whatever Jenny said was the law in the house.

She had trusted Jenny to make plans of their meals, their business and even their outfit for sunday morning masses. Jenny brought the cassava home while Chioma turned it into garri, starch and other edible cassava products.

Immediately, she began to cry, she cried aloud so hard and begged God to take care of her family, as she vowed to work so hard in order to bring money to the household. She fell asleep while crying and stumbled to the bed rather than the bathroom.

When she woke up it was 7pm, she ate up the rest of the remaining rice and gulped more water. She went into the bathroom, took her bath, brushed and had a change of clothing. Even though she was not having body odour, she had been uncomfortable since the previous night.

By 8pm, Mrs Regina visited with a very long questionnaire for her to fill. She also ordered a plate of chips, fish and vegetable salad.The woman was amazed at how intelligently Jenny scrutinized and filled the documents. Once again feeling pleased. She thanked Jenny for being a solution to her immediate problem..

However Jenny knew that Regina was the answer to her prayer and she remembered her vow to give her very best self in service to the family. At bed time, she prayed for the new family and her family back home. She asked God for strength and wisdom to succeed.

20 minutes away from Maitaima phase 1 was an erotic scene taking place that night in a fortune five hundred fin tech company. The CEO Michael Oladokun 37 years of age, light in complexion with heavy beard dripping from his chin to his jaw.

In his office on the 10th floor, he was seated with his pants down and a beauty knelt down in front of him servicing him with her mouth. Michael liked Thursdays because Betty was available by a call away. She doesn't ask questions and she was good at her trade; which was taking him deep till he hits the back of her throat. She was punctual and smells so good. She had not given him any reason to be angry and she was always appreciative of the 50,000 naira he gives her every Thursday.

He wished he could get a better Nanny than the last idiot who resigned. A 30 years old woman who smelled liked rotten fish. She resigned because his daughter kept rejecting her meals and the way she spoke. The other Nanny couldn't even read the newspaper or TV captions and one of them had the guts to say his daughter uses curse words! "Fuck!!!!!" If she wants to cuss, she can cuss the fuck out of anybody!!

Stephanie may be a little bit demanding but she was his princess and they were both grieving from the death of Laura his wife and her mother three years ago. He hated how the various idiot nanny's quit without even waiting to hire a new one to replace their sorry ass.

He had called that idiot Regina, the human resource agency to find him a replacement and she said Monday. What incompetence!! Anyways they have a cleaner in the house and they can order take outs till Monday. He hoped the replacement was not an idiot.

All he wanted to do was to enjoy himself and loosen up all the tension of the week and as Betty sucked harder, he knew he was close, She liked to swallow and show him his spunk shot every time he released. This was no different as he struggled, jerking and growling deeply into her mouth. Showing him a mouthful, she swallowed and licked her lips!

Good girl!

Girls should be obedient and not idiots! He thought!