Mother’s Choice

Episode 9

Mrs Johnson POV
When my son left for London, i missed him very much, his sister Esther made sure i smiled and cheerful.

i went to work one monday morning and my boss sent for me on getting to his office, he gave me an envelope i was curious to know what is it content so i tore it open right there in his office and i felt my blood hot, tears escape my eyes

Me: sir you can do this to me

He just pointed at the door for me to leave, up till now i don’t know what made him sack me just like that

i came back home and cried to sleep i didn’t know that victoria Dorathy’s daughter came to visit, so Esther told her that i was sacked,
Dorathy came the next day, i felt a little relief because she is good in cheering people up that I new right from our university days
Dora: you’re gonna seat here and cry like a teddy?
i chuckle

Me: does teddy cry??
i ask her she laughed hard and gave me a friendly punch, i fake a groan she laughed again but she stopped abruptly

Dora: you’re a Degree holder in Business administrative, why not start a small business?

i looked at her closely, that how i react when i hear or see something surprising that i haven’t heard or seen before or in a long time

She nodded seeing the expression on my face and my reaction

Me: i think you’re right Dora
i stared thoughtful into the space

Me: what business do you think will be ok?

Dora: you like fashion! I’m thinking you should start a small shop where you deal on women outfit and accessories
i gave her a puzzle look

Me: you know that is urge

Dora: i know someone who can help with the goods and when you’re done selling them you return the cash

Me: where is he?

Dora: sorry not a he but a she, she’s in Lagos
That was how i start the business with the help of Dorathy and my little saving
It been two years and we haven’t heard from Jerry i was worried that some has happened to him, i kept praying that God should keep him alive for me, the first time i and Dorathy visited Lagos on the business i bought a small phone

My shop start growing, my daughter Esther help in making it grow, when she return from school she’ll joined me there

Till one fateful Saturday a foreign number called my phone, i was busy with a customer so i didn’t pick it at once, i pick it on the third beep

Me: hello

i heard a voice that was familiar to me even in my dream

Jerry: mum is that you?

Me: Jesus Jerry?

Esther who was attending to a customer ran in on hearing me yell Jerry’s name

Esther: mummy is that Jerry?
i didn’t hear her the first time so she repeat herself

Me: yes! yes!! is your brother, how are you Jerry? How is London? When are you coming to Nigeria? Are you done with studies?

Esther: easy mummy on him na
i heard his sister said that but i wasn’t paying attention to her, heard Jerry chuckled

Jerry: i’m fine mum, how is grandma? And my sister?

Me: your grandmother wasn’t fine since we didn’t hear from you but as soon as we get home i tell her maybe she’ll be fine
i laugh and Esther snatch the phone from me and start her own questions

i went and apologize to the customer she left behind, i attend to her she later left
i return to the call with Jerry, i told him how things was, my new business and he told me how things was too with him on his first year in school, and how he came out best and a company he was working for, as part time

That was how we kept in contact for some months before

He upgrade my business to a boutique this big and wonderful female, kids and male clothing and shoes also both male and female accessories

Two years later he sent a urge some of money and a architectural building plan for me to start building his firm for me, still he didn’t visit Nigeria, he told me that white couldn’t let him go because of his level of intelligence and knowledge about computer and new technologies

So the firm was set for installation of some gadgets, i didn’t have much time on my boutique, he told me he’s going to arrive Nigeria in three weeks time so i was too busy to put everything in place befor he arrives
When i went to the boutique the next day my secretary said i have and application letter, i just wave at her to drop it on the table, she did and left

i open the envelope and went through the letter then i called my secretary in through the intercom

Me: Grace put a call to this lady tell her to come and start work on monday

Grace: okay ma, I’ll do that now ma
She left and i took my flat screen television remote on switch on the TV to watch is going on in different section of the boutique
i switch from one section to another till lean on my desk and slept off

Jerry’s POV
Things wasn’t moving smoothly when i got to London in the first year i only focus on my studies which made my grade a course to make my lecturers smile at me

The second year things start working out, one of the things was getting my own apartment, i kept thinking about my family especial my kid sister
i didn’t know how to connect to them as i didn’t know how to get my aunt’s cellphone number, on the second year i met Samantha from USA, we became friends she made me go into a relationship with her, i tried to experience LOVE but it was difficult for me, she help me with a Job in a company her uncle work, to fix fault in any computer or gadget

The end of the second year i got my mum’s number through a friend who can trace anything in any part of the world

When i called she was so happy to hear my voice, me on the other hand was excited, i thought it’s not going to work but Peter assured me

We talked for a long time she told me of a business she start with my aunt’s(AuntyDora) and grandma’s help, i spoke to my sister too she sound funny than before, i asked of aunty Maggie and my Cousins
When i drop the call i thought it best i upgrade the business for my mum cause i was thinking of what I’ll establish for her, she made it easier, i told my friend Peter he ask me to wait till the next year so we could get everything we need and ship them down to my mother

Samantha succeeded in making me fell in love with her, i began planning a future with her, one fateful day she sent me a text asking me to meet me in a restaurant, on getting there her eyes were red, when she stood up and hug me tight

Sam: i’m sorry Jerry

i became confused why she was apologizing on what i new nothing about

Me: it’s okay!

Sam:i have a fiance, I’m sorry our parent got us betrothed, he came back from Germany yesterday that was how i got to know

i stared at her like a zombie for along time that she was calling my name but i didn’t hear her, she wave on my face before i regained myself, i didn’t know when tears escape my eye, she clean it off using her bare thumb and place a kiss on my lips

Me: is this a good bye kiss

i asked her in a shaky voice, she hug me again

Sam: i love you Jerry Johnson
When she disengaged she gave me a credit card

Me: i don’t need your money Samantha

Sam: no Jerry use this for your mom’s business upgrading okay
She kiss me again and left, i got home devastated, a message from her came to my phone containing the credit card pin, “why now that i start experiencing Love” i cried for day thank God for Peter who cheer me up
i latered move on but it’s wasn’t easy, the third year came and toward the end of the year i send every thing both with goods for the upgradement of the business to my mother, she prayed for me for an hour and thirty minutes, grandma added her own but not long,

The fourth year i graduate and went for another 1year extra training in computers and technologies producing company

On the sixth year i start working on a software firm there in London that was how i start planning to set up my own computer empire in Nigeria