Can you imagine how it feels to be paid 1.5 million dollars ? , the joy, the pride and the confidence it would bring to you?, That was exactly how I felt the day I earned my first money, only that it wasn't 1.5 million dollars but one thousand,five hundred naira.It was really funny how I became lofty and how I always swaggered in my neighborhood, even my siblings and parents could tell something had happened.
It was many years back, I was a very young teenager who was still totally cared for by his parents and who hadn't worked or earned anything for himself before.
One Sunday on my way to church, I was stopped by a man that stays in our neighborhood, he admired the way I was dressed, he said I looked good and he would want me to work with him. I was part of my church choir so I always dressed corporately, if you must know , I wore a plain white shirts well tucked into a black trousers, a black socks and a pair of shiny black shoes. I remember my mum even said I looked like a bank manager.
When he gave me the job offer, I thought he was bluffing , I felt I was still very young and couldn't really do so much. I jokingly enquired what job he was into and how I could fit in. He said he was a caterer and he needed smart and good looking boys who could work as corporate waiters for him. He said I would be perfect for the job and should join him next Saturday in his next outing.
I thought so much about it, I also told my parents and they encouraged me to take the offer.
Although I was excited that I would be working for my own money, I still had the fear of the unknown, I think it was due to the fact that I hadn't worked anywhere before and couldn't really predict how things could possibly play out.
I finally agreed to the job offer. It was a day job and we were to be paid 1500 naira as wages. Although it wasn't so much, but for a young child like me who didn't really have any responsibility and who had parents that took care of his every need, the money was huge.
I was told to dress the same way I was dressed to church when he saw me, - in black trousers and white shirts, I was also given a red bowtie to wear.
The job was an easy and exciting one only that I got knocked by one of the impatient guests in the occasion because I hadn't served her food yet.
At the end of the occasion, I was paid my wages of 1500 naira. I went home feeling like I was made, like I was now equals with my dad. Although the money only lasted for a few days, I really enjoyed how it made me feel, I became bold and confident, I felt like a rich boss .
I really can't tell how I spent all the money, I only remember that I stocked my room with junks and no longer cared for the food my mum made.
It is such a nice memory, I just laugh whenever I remember how such little amount of money made me feel and act so proudly.