The Irony Of Life(18) 😔😔

THE IRONY OF LIFE (18)😔😔

Duration: 4mins

Oreoluwa counted himself lucky and was grateful for the favors that came his way at different points in time. But there was none like the chance to keep working for Mrs. Penelope now that the initial contract is on hold. 

It felt like a golden opportunity considering that he had lavished all he earned and was broke to the bone. Thereon, he decided to spend his income wisely. 

Even though he knew Mrs. Penelope would have informed Thaddy of the current state of things, it was only proper the man heard it directly from him, being his guarantor. 

At the factory that Thursday night, he was surprised to learn that Thaddy was knowing for the first time. His sudden shadowy countenance was evident of his shock. Such delicate matter could slip anyone's mind, not Mrs. Penelope who was a stickler for propriety. 

Thaddy was not a man given to lasting anger, his face soon brightened up as before.

“Alright Kiddo. Have you thought of it? Is that what you want?”

How Funny?

Is that a rhetorical question?

Who wouldn’t jump at an offer to keep making the usual income?

“Yes.”

“Okay.” “Just that Penelope can be…,” Thaddy said after a  moment’s pause, stopped midsentence.

“Can be?”

“Never mind. You have made your decision. I will keep giving you my support on the condition that you remain well-behaved, cautious and avoid calling attention to yourself. Okay?”

“Okay”

Oreoluwa left Thaddy's office that night, Joyous, not knowing what he was in for.

By 9a.m. on Saturday, on his way to Mrs. Penelope’s house, all through the journey in the bus, he was in a world of his own. 

As though he was going to start a new job, in his mind, he had worked, received the day’s pay and was busy breaking it down into budget. 

He added the $70 left from last time's $120 to today’s, put $150 into savings; not to be touched for any reason. The remaining $40 would go into recharging his line, transport fare and any petty need that may arise.

He soon arrived at his destination. He and Mrs. Penelope had exchanged greetings and he was off to work, whistling a song of thanksgiving along when she brought him to a  halt.

“Wait.”

Oreoluwa thought she had a chore to assign different from last time’s.

“We need to talk,” she added.

Talk?

That sounded odd.

Short of the greetings, they hardly talked. 

While he worked around the house, she was often upstairs in her bedroom. She descended after his working hours were over, to inspect, pay him for a satisfactory job, and parade her enhanced, half-naked body in the process. As though saying, 'do you like what you see?'

Oreoluwa’s thought ran here and there, wondering what it was she wanted to talk about. 

He recalled Thaddy was going to tell him something but stopped midsentence.

Could it have to do with that?

Mrs.Penelope soon put him out of his mystery with words beyond his widest guess. Armed with a pin, she burst his bubbles.

“Ore, I won’t be paying you the same amount agreed in your suspended job contract. Considering there isn’t much to do around here like before, I would be paying $70.”

That got Oreoluwa looking like deflated tyres as he took a seat as though contemplating if to accept the offer or not.

“I thought you pay per hour?”

“Yes. Your 3working hours still stands. Just that unlike before, the $40 per hour will now be $20. Is that okay by you?”

Oreoluwa was about answering in the affirmative when Mrs. Penelope suddenly spoke again, this time with lit up face looking like she’s just made a new discovery.

“Wait a minute, did I say $70? I meant to say $60.”

What?

Oh no!

Oreoluwa wanted to Beat himself for not simply agreeing to the $70.

Mrs. Penelope had intentionally gone further to cut the pay. At that point, she thought he would toss the offer in her face and walk out the door. 

Anyone could, but not Oreoluwa. it didn’t take him time to think it through and came to the conclusion that 'half bread is better than none.'

As Mrs. Penelope watched the poor, helpless young man get to work, she was glad her plans were working out.

                              ***

Steve had become as though he lived in the house, he spent a greater part of his day there, and never failed to spend the night, barely giving Jamani a time alone with Vivian. 

Oreoluwa tried capitalizing on Jamani's frustration, mentioned Fatima asking of him in the midst of their discussions, and as opportunity presented itself. But that wasn’t working. 

Many times, he offered his phone so he could at least say 'hi' to Fatima, but he simply ignored. 

Oreoluwa felt he was losing it. If he couldn’t as little as get him to speak with his Ex, what could he do to bring them together?

Fatima had an idea. If Oreoluwa would just get Jamani to show up at MAC she would fall on her knees before him, plead that he forgave her of whatever wrong she might have done, and take her back. 

Seeing her one-on-one in such state would likely break his resolve. 

That sounded nice to Oreoluwa. But getting Jamani to go to Mame Restaurant would be an Herculean task.

He began racking his brain on how he would go about it.

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To be continued same time, next week. Hope you enjoyed the read? Please leave a comment.