“Wake up, sleeping head,” I heard from Dreamland, like a sound coming from the gong.
I grinned as I shook my head and hissed, looking at the person who woke me up from this beautiful sleep.
“ It never tey wey I sleep,” I murmured to my friend and roommate, Verolina
“ Na you dey find money na,” she replied, raising her brows, and continued with a wink.
“ How you come take balance your account yesterday? Today na pay day, oo?” she concluded, looking at me one-sided.
“Babe, daily shortage na normal thing in my daily work na; it is the fourth month, and I just don't know how the manager dey do his account,” I replied, rushing off to freshen up to meet up with her.
“ Na you no want to tell me the problem you get with the manager,
It seems it was the same thing you have everywhere you go.
I suspected he likes you,” she whispered, and I looked back at her for a split second.
It is another day as an attendant in this famous eatery called Foody-doo, as I face the same activities, attending to customers who come as usual.
We arrived at the eatery at 7:00am, before the doors were opened to the customers. As part of my daily routine, I signed the attendance register and joined the other workers in preparing for the day.
“ You are late today, Cynthia,” the manager chuckled, smiling sheepishly and looking at me from head to toe.
I struggled with my words, although he was not the first person to look at me in such a way, so I ruminated without replying.
The cleaners were just sweeping and mopping the floor while the kitchen staff were preparing breakfast, as the tables and chairs were being arranged neatly and the counter was being cleaned by others.
By any means, it was not yet 8:00 am, so I was not late, but I just kept quiet, knowing that saying anything would make matters worse, so he left after so much staring.
The morning progressed, and the eatery became busier, and at noon, it was almost full, while by evening, the crowd gradually reduced.
We cleaned the tables, washed the dishes, and arranged the chairs, and at the closing time, the manager checked the day’s activities and made sure everything was in order.
“ You also have a shortage today, Cynthia. What happened?” he asked, opening his bulging dark eyes, gleaming and concentrating toward my direction.
“ I made sure I was very careful with my sales,” I replied immediately because it was now getting out of hand.
“ Are you saying I am lying?” he replied with a shout, and he also frowned his face then he hissed.
“ I never said such a thing,” I replied sharply, knowing that it is a pay day and he wanted me to go home without expecting pay, as I had a few months ago.
“Your shortage supersedes your salary,
You have been careless from the beginning of the month,” he stated, his eyes on the system’s screen.
You can go, but don't expect anything too much from your salary,” he concluded.
“ Why?” I asked, and he stopped operating the system on the desk in front of him. He stood up and gave me a daring gaze before saying, “Please leave”
I left angrily and met Verolina outside, who was busy laughing at me.
“ Give this man what he wants,” Verolina said.
“ What is that, if I may ask?” I replied.
“ Your love,” she said.
“ So, because I turned him down, was that the reason why he has been frustrating me?” I replied, looking at Verolina, who couldn't stop laughing.
“ Will this behavior make me change my mind?” I asked, and she replied with a native saying: The insects that target the fresh leaves have no fault; it is the leaves which look too fresh and beautiful that attract ed it,” Verolina said.
“ So it is a crime to look good,” I asked.
“ Yes, it is in this part of the world,” she replied, and as we got to the apartment, Verolina’s phone beeped, and she smiled. “ Cynthia, they don't pay,” she said, smiling and winking in her usual way.
I took my phone and saw: “Oops, Cynthia, I am sorry to inform you, but your appointment has been terminated without pay.” I looked at Verolina, who couldn't believe her eyes either after reading my message.
“ How will you cope?” she asked.
“ I don't know, but I know one thing: all is well,” I replied, and we ate the fast food we brought from the workplace and slept.
The next morning, I woke up earlier and checked my phone to see that I had made millions on my online investment.
I saved my hand across my face to confirm that the stake I made two nights ago had risen to 1000%.
I smiled, knowing that the habit of waking up at 4:30am to get prepared for work, which was a normal daily pattern, had changed.
And for the opportunity gained to be the boss of myself, I will make sure I never put myself in a position in which people will want to take advantage of me again.
“Grim, the alarm Verolina has set brings me back to the present as she wakes up.
“ Morning, Cynthia,” she complimented.
“ Morning, Veronica,” I answered with a smile.
“ You have started this online stuff again,” she started, rubbing her eyes, and continued.
“ When will it pay?” she concluded as she remembered I had just been sacked yesterday night.
I looked at her concerned face, which was full of worry.
“ Don't worry, it has paid,” I replied, and she jumped up in disbelief.
“ When you come back, I will show you how it works,” I said, and she said, “ Now you can go to hell, manager”
“ Don't go tell him that and get sacked “ I replied, and we both laughed.
Although the last normal day was full of frustration, it changed abruptly with full of positive significance.