Grace & Robbie (Chapter 4)

Grace & Robbie

CHAPTER 4

During My Trial Days

I woke up the next day by 4:30 AM, being curious about what to do before dressing up for work. I went outside the large compound and thought of sweeping it. I equally looked at my boss's car and realize that it was dirty as well. Hmmm! Which one will I do first now? If I wash the car first, I might not meet up with sweeping the large dirty compound, and if I am to sweep the compound, I might not see clearly. I reasoned with myself knowing fully that if I should do the two morning Job before my boss and wife awake, they will recommend me of it and will equally generate quicker love for staying with them. I concluded on washing my boss's car first because he will drive to the warehouse with it. Just as I was still washing the car, the back door of the building opens and slammed back. Someone is coming, I said to myself. Good morning Sir, Grace greeted me as if she has urgent information to pass to me. Morning Grace, hope you slept well, I asked. yes Sir!. She responded, took a mob Stick with her, and went back inside. I continue washing the car but my mind was still clinging to my sight at Grace. Her nightwear was so tempting. Why can't I concentrate on my duty? Hmmm, this girl will land me in trouble ooo if I don't control my emotions. I cautioned myself and quickly rinse the car after washing it. I checked the time again and it was 5:30 already. I collected the broom and began to sweep. After a while, I heard my name from my boss's wife calling me for morning prayers. So I left the compound half swept and went for the prayers. Immediately after the prayers, I continued my sweepings. I finished it and dressed up for work. My boss came out from the house and smiled on seeing the compound neatly swept with his car well washed. Robbie, come and take this key and start going to the warehouse. My boss said throwing the key from the point he was standing. I caught the keys on my palms and set out for work.

On my way, I thought about Grace and her siblings coming to the warehouse-like yesterday's own. So I started planning what to discuss with her and how I will get her attention. I arrived at the warehouse, opened it, and swept it. I began to arrange the materials scattered around by customers on the previous day. In a short time, my boss and his wife arrived. They were amazed at my nice attitude to work. Have any customers come yet? My boss asked. No Sir!, I replied and continued with what I was doing. After the arrangements, I sat for a while, then a customer came to the warehouse and started scattering the materials I arranged earlier in the name of searching for the material he wants to buy. I got annoyed within myself. "Look at how this man is scattering where I just arrange now, mtcheeew! what kind of nonsense is this,? This is not what I will be doing here ooo, or else I will quit this apprenticeship." I said in my mind while eying the customer with hatred unknown to him. How much are you selling this black material? The man asked my boss. It's six hundred naira, Sir. My boss responded to him and they both started negotiating on the price. I watched and listened to them carefully to see how the transactions will take place. At last, the man bought one thousand, five hundred yards of the materials which were sold to him at six hundred naira and when I calculated his money, I was shocked at the amount I saw. Jesus!, Nine hundred thousand naira? Hmmm!. Only one customer bought materials of this huge amount, this is almost one million naira naa. I reasoned with myself. The man packaged his materials and called a barrow man that took it to his shop in the market. I rearranged the scattered materials with happiness and move to My seat and sat down.

Other customers started trooping into our warehouse, buying in large quantities as well as scattering the materials but it didn't bother me anymore because of the huge money involved in it. So this is why my boss is excessively rich? I can't wait to be like him someday after my settlement, I said to myself with conviction. We sold to many customers, yet the goods in our warehouse remain as if no sales were made. Around 3 pm, I had my lunch, likewise my boss and his wife. But this work is stressful to me, how can someone be dragging this material every time every day just because of money, my waist is even paining me mtcheeew!... Just look at the time someone is eating an afternoon meal. I kept on complaining within myself and thinking about the stress in it. Only one day, I have started complaining. Well, I believe am not going to be the only apprentice here. My boss has to get more persons to serve with me ooo. I concluded my thoughts and waited for Grace and those kids to come again, but no sign of their appearance. The worst is that Solomon didn't come as well. It was only me my boss and his wife. The day started becoming boring to me, customers are no longer coming to the warehouse. After a while, I became dizzy from the stress and slept off while sitting on the long bench outside. My boss called me two times before I woke up and answered. So you are sleeping? My boss asked me. I kept silent with my head downward in disappointment to him. Very soon it will become part of you okay?. My boss encourage me and left. Am still on my one-month trial and this work is hard like this to me, am I sure I will make it?. I don't even know how many years am going to stay here after my trial. My mind started troubling me. I began to have a double mind concerning my work because of a day experience. We close for the day and went back home, together with my boss's car. Grace opened the gate and we came in. I sighted her with Her bikini dress and smiled at her, she looked at me and smiled back. After dinner, she came to carry the plate as usual. I didn't see you today at the warehouse, what happened?. I asked politely. We couldn't make it because of home chores, and I did alot of washing today. Also, Uncle Ugochukwu went out in his car, she replied to me. Okay, but why do you care to know? She asked. I paused for a while, she stood waiting for my response. My day was stressful and at the same time boring, I thought you would have come to keep me company. I replied her. Eyiyaaa!, Don't worry we will come tomorrow. She said. But don't be offended if I ask you this. Are you the daughter of my boss's 4th son or are you a maiden to his wife? I asked. Am a maid to them. Grace replied. But The way you take proper care of these kids draws My attention a lot. Well, keep it up. I said to her, she thanked me and Left. My heart was overwhelmed with happiness because we are getting used to each other. I left the small parlor down to my room. Let me call Chinaza, I haven't spoken with her since today and she hasn't called me or flash me today. I hope she is ok? I picked up my phone and dialed her number. It wasn't reachable, I became worried. I called her sister's number and she picked it up at once.

Me: Hello chiamaka...

Chiamaka: Hi... Good evening sir.

Me: Evening dear, how are you?

Chiamaka: Am fine and you?

Me: Am good, how about your elder sister?

Chiamaka: She's fine. I know you worried about her.

Me: Yes dear, I haven't spoken with her today and her phone is not reachable.

Chiamaka: her phone battery is dead, she's charging it.

Me: okay give her a phone let me speak with her.

Chiamaka handed her phone to Chinaza her elder sister. I and chinaza talked for more than an hour before ending our conversation.

The fact is this, I love chinaza and am not willing to end our relationship unless she declined herself or doesn't want to continue with me. Seeing Grace didn't make me turn from chinaza. But I also hope that chinaza has this training that Grace has. Grace always challenges me with her personality. Comparing her with chinaza will be unbalanced because I haven't been with chinaza closely like Grace to know her home attitude more especially towards house chores and her siblings. Those things matter a lot to me it's the only character that gets my attention from a lady. I slept off that night peacefully and woke up the next day. Do the same morning duty as yesterday's own, move to the warehouse, do my usual work, and came back. Days passed by, the warehouse work became part of me. No more complaining within me anymore. My friendship with Grace continues to increase but under limited. My intention with Chinaza is to settle down after my services in my boss's place, while my intention on Grace is just casual friendship.

The holiday season ended, Grace and her Aunty's kids went back to Lagos where they live, for their academics, but their father, Grace's Uncle (boss) stayed behind because of his new work. I was left alone with Esther, my boss's brother's daughter who was leaving in the house already before I came to serve my boss.

NB: You might be surprised while I have not said anything about Esther since the story began. Well, Grace has left and the house is now becoming boring and Esther is about to play a role in the story.

Don't Misunderstand the name Chinazor from Chinaza. Chinazor is the name of Grace's Aunty (madam), while Chinaza is my ex-girlfriend and Chiamaka is her sister.

Uncle Ugochukwu is my boss's second son, he was the person that brought Grace and the kids including his wife to the warehouse at my arrival. Uncle Okechukwu is the 4th son of my boss, the one that married Grace's Aunty. He was working in a company in Lagos before he came down to Aba to work under his father's business and afterward becomes an importer on his own. He's the one that always drives us home each day we close up for work.

I guess I have explained the names I mentioned in this chapter.

Things are getting wired, will I ever see Grace again?, What even cause the brake up between me and chinaza?

Remember it's an adventurer story. Just relax and Wait for the next chapter...

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