Call Of Duty

He paused his scolding halfway probably surprised to see me walk into his office, I had been skillfully and successfully avoiding all form of errands especially morning errands from this office for the past few weeks.

He looked down at the mass of paperwork on my hands while replying my greeting simultaneously, as his eyes shifted down to the considerable stack of paperwork I cradled in my hands, Chidi's voice wavered as he sought refuge in his excuse,

"Sorry, sir, i needed to get my laptop first from the interns office..." His discomfort was palpable, and I could sense the tension in the room.

Without missing a beat, I endorsed his excuse, filling in the blanks with a brief explanation. I had also "needed to fetch my laptop" from the interns' office before making our way here, I clarified. Chidi's shaky apology managed to break through the awkward silence, and I observed with some satisfaction as Mr. Thomson's reprimand faltered. His attention shifted from berating Chidi to focus on me, and the surprise mingled with a hint of appreciation was evident in his expression.

A moment of quiet settled in the room, disrupted only by the occasional murmur of voices from fellow employees and the ceaseless clicking of keyboards. It became apparent that this unexpected intervention had set a different course for Chidi's morning. A sense of accomplishment swelled within me; the small action had had a more significant impact than I had initially imagined.

Mr. Thomson acknowledged my presence and the weighty workload I had shouldered, a recognition I welcomed with a friendly smile. My readiness to assist Chidi in this unexpected encounter had shifted the dynamics of the office, fostering an aura of collaboration. The tone for an intriguing day had been set, and I was ready to embrace it.

Amid the bustling atmosphere of the admin office, the ever-present clicking of keyboards, and Mr. Thomson's continued focus on some of the pile of documents already registered, the approaching staff meeting loomed on the horizon. The anticipation in the room grew palpable, and the reverberation of keyboards became more pronounced as the meeting's commencement neared.

All the while, my phone lay dormant on the desk, where it had vibrated previously on several occasions. My calculated decision to ignore the notifications was not without intention; I was invested in my work and fully aware that the message likely originated from Siri. There was a story unfolding in the digital realm, but for the moment, I was content to keep it on pause.

Then, my phone rang, I recognized the caller as Engr David. Swiftly, I answered the call, my voice warm and composed.

"Hello? Good morning, sir."

Engr David's voice came thundering from the other end of the line, clearly agitated, and I could feel the waves of frustration washing over me.

"Daniel! Where are you? Why are you not in the office by this time? Didn't you get my texts?" Engr David's tone remained stern, demanding an explanation.

His outburst threatened to provoke a similar response within me, but I chose the path of patience and restraint. I refrained from reminding him that I had indeed been in the office earlier than he had, and instead, I replied with a polite explanation.

"Oh, no, sir. I'm at the admin office," I stated, keeping my voice even.

"Leave there and gear up! We'll be departing for the field in five minutes. Head straight to the truck, we would not be attending today's staff meeting so we can avoid the morning traffic before it builds up," he instructed.

Turning my attention to Chidi, who had been observing nearby, probably curious as to who was dragging my attention from helping him finish this task completely. I deftly relayed the message. "Chidi, I'm going out for fieldwork. You can manage the remaining tasks here," I said, effectively delegating the remains of the duties i had previously shouldered.

With that settled, I excused myself from the administrative office, having reduced the workload I had initially taken on by a significant 79%. I proceeded to the changing room to gear up for the fieldwork, which had become an integral part of my internship.

I donned a green helmet that contrasted with my reflective vest and matching safety boots. Black leather gloves completed the outfit, giving me the appearance of a seasoned professional ready to face the challenges ahead. Then i sat down on a bench close to the locker i removed my PPE from, preparing my mind and body for the discomfort i was about to embrace, i had to brace myself with deep breaths.

The back sit of the agency's sturdy Hilux truck became my trusty companion during these journeys, even though its less-than-ideal comfort for someone of my towering height, measuring in at 6'7, road trips through cities with notorious infrastructure problems was also a constant source of discomfort. The major roads often resembled obstacle courses, further intensifying the challenge. Regardless, the fieldwork was a thrilling aspect of my internship that allowed me to gain hands-on experience and test my problem-solving skills.

These tasks, with their mix of excitement and frustration, provided invaluable insights into the complexities of the agency's operations. They were essential experiences that served to broaden my understanding of the agency and the electrical industry, and they prepared me for what lay ahead in the story of my career.

As I ventured out of the technical department domain to the truck, I was ready to confront the challenges and surprises that awaited, embracing them as opportunities for growth and learning. The story of the fieldwork adventure(s) was one that had numerous chapters yet to be written, both figuratively and of course, literally.