I came to be wooed.
It was that simple, and yet it wasn't. It was often implied and sometimes said, that I was the most powerful person in the company. The way I see it, I had the most dangerous job in the building, but they were too busy mistaking responsibility for power to see it.
I had several nicknames: 'oga trigger', 'aburo Chineke' 'commander of the empire'. Grand sounding names that scared me, reminding me of a saying in my village - grand titles are used to kill a dog.
Today, my suitor was a kid of about 19 or 20 years, and his suit hung awkwardly on his shoulders, the way mine did about a decade ago. Oh, it actually belonged to my roomie; but I digress.
For his age and despite the shadows underneath his eyes, he was bold; and young eyes met mine as he introduced himself. David Nwankwo.
He eased quickly into his presentation, confident without sounding arrogant, passionate yet wary of sounding too optimistic, articulate and calm yet with the trepidation of a boy asking a really hot girl out on a date.
He made me smile.
His presentation was simple and straightfoward, but lacking in one or 2 details and I told him so. Something about this boy brought out the patience in me, and patience was a virtue this job had stripped me of.
'Who are your parents?'
'My father is dead. My mother is a trader - Mrs. Irene Nwankwo'.
'Did you have any help putting this together?'
'Yes sir. The ideas are mine, but my brother helped me make the presentation and practice my delivery'.
'What does your brother do?'
'He's a cleaner at Above & Beyond advertising agency.'
Curious.
'What school are you in? What course?'
'Lagos State University. Mechanical Engineering. I'm in my 2nd year sir.'
I asked him about student union politics, the weather, global economy at length. After 15 mins, he interjected my inquisition with a question of his own.
'Do you think my idea is worth backing sir?'
A hint of impatience, or you could call it focus. Depends on what colour of shades you're wearing.
'I want to see a scenario analysis of its execution, using a local government or a whole state. Then run the numbers again based on the obtainable costs as against ball park figures and present it to me again. How long will you need? 2 weeks? One month?'
'One week sir'.
Over-confident or naïve? We'd see.
'One week then, David. Make a new appointment with my secretary before you leave.'
I want to have a son like that, I thought to myself as I watched him leave. He had more smarts and guts in his pinkie than some of my colleagues did.
I was irritable already. Getting the company to back this boy had just become personal.
-------------------------------------------------------
David was too young when my husband passed. His brother Chidi only had vague memories of him. I think back to that period find that there are a few things to be grateful for: he died quickly - no long protracted illness or unending pain. Secondly, he left a will. Everything else was one big fight after the other. You see, the moment his people heard that he'd been crushed by a trailer at the dockyard where he worked, they swooped down on his property like the vultures and hawks that they are. My husband's people are no good. I shall say no more.
I would love to smile and say that the boys gave me no trouble. They did.
The saddest days of my life since my husband's passing were watching Chidi sentenced to jail for stealing, and the day David came home covered in blood after a street fight. I heard someone died in that fight, but the police never came for David - they said they had arrested the culprit.
But here I am, and I can smile about who my sons are now. Chidi, determined to help me put his brother through school, got a job as soon as he was released from his 2-year term. David is in school, and I have watched him struggle and fight to tame his temper. And I thank my God for answering my prayers.
Here he comes now, looking like the polished young men who come to buy belts and shirts from me. David had an interview today, with an 'investment banker'. Na wa. So there are jobs like that now? Not long ago you were either a banker or an investor. Hmm. As long as David gets the support, wetin consain me?
It was that simple, and yet it wasn't. It was often implied and sometimes said, that I was the most powerful person in the company. The way I see it, I had the most dangerous job in the building, but they were too busy mistaking responsibility for power to see it.
I had several nicknames: 'oga trigger', 'aburo Chineke' 'commander of the empire'. Grand sounding names that scared me, reminding me of a saying in my village - grand titles are used to kill a dog.
Today, my suitor was a kid of about 19 or 20 years, and his suit hung awkwardly on his shoulders, the way mine did about a decade ago. Oh, it actually belonged to my roomie; but I digress.
For his age and despite the shadows underneath his eyes, he was bold; and young eyes met mine as he introduced himself. David Nwankwo.
He eased quickly into his presentation, confident without sounding arrogant, passionate yet wary of sounding too optimistic, articulate and calm yet with the trepidation of a boy asking a really hot girl out on a date.
He made me smile.
His presentation was simple and straightfoward, but lacking in one or 2 details and I told him so. Something about this boy brought out the patience in me, and patience was a virtue this job had stripped me of.
'Who are your parents?'
'My father is dead. My mother is a trader - Mrs. Irene Nwankwo'.
'Did you have any help putting this together?'
'Yes sir. The ideas are mine, but my brother helped me make the presentation and practice my delivery'.
'What does your brother do?'
'He's a cleaner at Above & Beyond advertising agency.'
Curious.
'What school are you in? What course?'
'Lagos State University. Mechanical Engineering. I'm in my 2nd year sir.'
I asked him about student union politics, the weather, global economy at length. After 15 mins, he interjected my inquisition with a question of his own.
'Do you think my idea is worth backing sir?'
A hint of impatience, or you could call it focus. Depends on what colour of shades you're wearing.
'I want to see a scenario analysis of its execution, using a local government or a whole state. Then run the numbers again based on the obtainable costs as against ball park figures and present it to me again. How long will you need? 2 weeks? One month?'
'One week sir'.
Over-confident or naïve? We'd see.
'One week then, David. Make a new appointment with my secretary before you leave.'
I want to have a son like that, I thought to myself as I watched him leave. He had more smarts and guts in his pinkie than some of my colleagues did.
I was irritable already. Getting the company to back this boy had just become personal.
-------------------------------------------------------
David was too young when my husband passed. His brother Chidi only had vague memories of him. I think back to that period find that there are a few things to be grateful for: he died quickly - no long protracted illness or unending pain. Secondly, he left a will. Everything else was one big fight after the other. You see, the moment his people heard that he'd been crushed by a trailer at the dockyard where he worked, they swooped down on his property like the vultures and hawks that they are. My husband's people are no good. I shall say no more.
I would love to smile and say that the boys gave me no trouble. They did.
The saddest days of my life since my husband's passing were watching Chidi sentenced to jail for stealing, and the day David came home covered in blood after a street fight. I heard someone died in that fight, but the police never came for David - they said they had arrested the culprit.
But here I am, and I can smile about who my sons are now. Chidi, determined to help me put his brother through school, got a job as soon as he was released from his 2-year term. David is in school, and I have watched him struggle and fight to tame his temper. And I thank my God for answering my prayers.
Here he comes now, looking like the polished young men who come to buy belts and shirts from me. David had an interview today, with an 'investment banker'. Na wa. So there are jobs like that now? Not long ago you were either a banker or an investor. Hmm. As long as David gets the support, wetin consain me?
