馃幎 Money doesn't buy you happiness, money doesn't buy you love. Money don't fill this emptiness, but I want all the money in the world鈥攚hen I first listened to this song by Teni, I was quick to judge after hearing the first two lines, but listening to the end made me realize that I and the singer are on the same page about money because it is one of the things that makes life very enjoyable. Unlike Teni, I don't want all the money in the world, but I want to live as comfortably as possible. I don't want to lack anything or be cheated because I am broke in this kind of society we are building today.
My Igbo friend always told me that money stops all nonsense, but I don't attach much meaning to his words. I know money is capable of so many things, and there are levels to it, but I haven't seen the influence of money wielded physically until sometimes in 2022.
So, my boss got a job, and it happened to be during the holidays. I was excited about the job when she mentioned how much was involved and joined the team immediately to make some money for myself. It was a naming ceremony of one of the royals in my place.
According to the story, the guy lives in Abuja, but his family tradition demands that the naming ceremony of every first child in the family must happen in the father's house, so the man came home just for the event. The family isn't just famous but wealthy, and the party would be strictly by invitation. My boss got three invitations due to her relationship with the family and shared them among us while she took one for herself. Her job was just to make small chops while the servers, who were hired by the family, would do the serving.
After preparing the chops, we didn't have any work to do there other than just flexing. I saw it as an opportunity to enjoy myself, and we did a great job with my boss. We started very early in the morning of the event day and did the supplies before noon. Immediately, we arrived at the event for the delivery and saw their preparation, I didn't believe people could spend so much money on a naming ceremony.
I grew up believing that a naming ceremony is usually a small event, but that day, I realized that some rules, ideas, and beliefs only apply to the poor because, if not, why would a family kill four cows just for a naming ceremony? I have been to weddings, and I doubt if they killed more than two cows. Naming ceremonies used to be fish, and even when meat is used, it doesn't take long before they tell you that the meat has finished.
We met the servers, made our supplies, and I went home to have a makeover because I didn't want to look like a party crasher. I went home to freshen up, checked the bottom of my clothes box for a nice dress, and did all the others just to look good. I stepped out to join the other apprentices, and everyone was hailing me, saying I might end up looking more beautiful than the people celebrating.
We went back to the event, informed my boss, and she said she had arrived there earlier. We arrived there too, looking stunning, and even though we had the invitation card, the bouncer denied us entry into the canopy where the event was happening. I heard one of them saying that we must have found it somewhere, and it was really embarrassing.
I called my boss, but she didn't pick up at that moment. While we waited, I saw young people arrive in jeeps and fancy cars. They looked beautiful despite not having excessive makeup or jewelry; they were smelling of class and money. I was about to go home when my boss picked up and apologized for not picking up earlier; her phone was on silent. She came to take us in, and I felt like disappearing inside the tent. Mere looking at me, you can tell that "shishi no dey my hand."
That day, I saw the proper definition of class and promised myself to make it in life because it's when you don't have money that you will be putting too much effort into looking good. When you are rich, anyway you look screams money and class. When you appear classy, you will be respected, and even bouncers won't be bouncing you out. Anyway, I am more mature now, and even if I don't have money yet, I have class.
