Val Diary Series

Episode 2

continues from previous episode

“concerning something to keep you busy. Do you plan getting a job or simply intend managing the few things your dad left behind?” mum asked curiously, while i breathed deeply and shrugged. A technical question it was and i knew quite well she was expecting the very best answer from me.
“c’mon mum you know a baby can manage Dad’s things from anywhere. Moreover you are doing a good job handling the properties yourself. I don’t plan being idle for a minute. I will try my luck searching for a good job around with the help of our family friends but if i fail to get any, maybe we will take a big risk in building up a brand new business by investing the few things we have. Moreover 2015 isn’t far away, with dad’s name, venturing into politics won’t be much a problem to me” i answered quietly. She nodded and stood up.

“Nigeria is quiet a hard country but i believe you will succeed and make the family proud. Adaora equally isn’t coming into the family empty handed. Her money plus yours will go a long way to push us up. You know with your dad’s death, the money that came into the family through politics died with him” she added.

“yea i know all that mum. Don’t worry i will make you proud” i assured her with a smile…. She breathed deeply, smiled at me and left. Just that moment my phone rang and it was Adaora calling.

“hey baby what’s up?” i greeted happily. I really wasn’t expecting her call because since she left the country, i did most of the calling.

“i’m cool dear, you are finally home huh?” she asked with her usual lively tone.
“yea i’m home but it’s kinda empty without you. Mum just left my room now” i said with a sweet voice.

“yea i actually tried calling her phone but she didn’t answer before i called you. So what’s up” she asked.

“i’m not cool. It’s kind of unfortunate that you aren’t here with us. The vacation we planned, all the things we planned doing, everything is now on hold. I hope i won’t die of grief before you return” i sulked.

“c’mon Val, nothing is killing you. It pains me a lot that i’m here without you. It’s just this terrible illness that ruined everything. Please don’t just hurt my feelings with your words. You know i’m still not very strong” she equally sulked, leaving me with no choice than to fill her head with .sweet romantic words.

“you know what Val??, i will be back when you least expect. Maybe tomorrow, next week, next month. I’ll surprise you” she promised before kissing me good night. I soon slept, dreaming about her….

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Two days later, Frank showed up, looking very serious and down. I quickly felt for my dear friend. I very much knew what was disturbing him.

Since February he finished his national service which was four months ago, he was was yet to get a job and he totally wasn’t cool with it. However I equally was part of his problem by denying him the manageable Job my friend Madam Tessy offered him sometime back. I felt guilty seeing the Lively Frank looking so downcast and empty.

“guy i just ran away from home. I don’t just know what to do, where next to go or how to continue living without any job. I even tried venturing into music but guess what?. To record a track costs fifteen thousand Naira. Nothing is easy here bro, and i can’t just continue living with my parents. I even had to call Madam Tessy once again for help. I called her” he poured out as i welcomed him at the gate…

“what?, you called Tessy?” i repeated with Shock while he nodded.

“bros i’m sorry but i had to. I don’t think you understand what living without money means. It makes your body a devil’s workshop. I can’t continue leaving and waiting for work while more youths graduate every three months to flood the already saturated labour market. I called her because i got no choice anymore” he poured out seriously. I scratched my head and shrugged, of course i had no right to stop him from doing whatever pleases him but then the Tessy i very much knew, wasn’t going to do anything for him without getting me involved. Moreover the last job she offered Frank was turned down rudely without even a mere thank you from me nor from him.