DIARY OF A BROKE NIGERIAN GIRL.

DIARY OF A BROKE NIGERIAN GIRL.

I know I have some Foreign readers, so please bear with me as this is a typical Nigerian story..

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If we could decide our faith, I will prefer to be born into the family of Steve Jobs. Big eye abi? Why not choose the likes of dangote and otedola ? But I'm a Nigerian girl, so if it's not flowing in excess it is not enough. Well, I'm not broke because I was born into a poor family we are middle class. I am broke because as a typical Nigerian girl I'm never satisfied and No I'm not stingy.

My name is Ese, which means Gift. But I was gifted with hustle. Hustling to beat my insatiable need.

I leave in a world of fantasy in my head, but for real I hustle to make ends meet.

The hustle began after secondary school. I was bored to death after my Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), no phone to browse with, was managing one Etisalat promo phone and PHCN (Power Holding Company Nigeria)?  They were not helping matters. And even if there is light, what's there to watch? My parents blessed me and my siblings with over 150 preaching channels, oh yes we must make heaven that was their goal, if you don't want to watch you can go and die literally, and at a point I wished I'll die.

So I told popcy (Dad) I wanted to work, and don't think it was just boredom that pushed me to make that decision. There were several reasons, wanted to get a new phone, wanted to get clothes I had an upcoming party organized by past graduate of my secondary school and if I was attending which I planned to, I wanted to appear big. They must know levels have change. This is my reasons.

So Ese, why do you want to work? That was my father talking.

I can't give him all those reasons na. Then I gave a reason that came back to hunt me. Dad, I want to help support the family. He laughed and that point I looked like a fool. Then he became serious and smiled. He was proud of the fact that his 15 year old daughter was thinking like and adult, only if he knew.

He came back one day from work and told me to get ready I have an interview the next day I was so Happy for the first few minutes until my old man told me it's a school. Seriously? How will I make the money I needed. Okay my target is a 100k and I had two months to make that money before the party. I couldn't argue with my old man went for the interview and I was employed. Sounds wonderful right? especially to my parents and maybe to some of you reading this, but to me, it was a no no.

"Miss Ese, you will be assisting the lady in the creche class" said the headmaster..."and we will be paying you 5 thousand Naira".

I nearly ran mad. That would do nothing for me. What is 5k abeg? You see why it was a no no? Told my parents about the so called good news and they were happy, they started preaching to me how money shouldn't be my focus. damn!! That was my sunglass. And how gaining experience should be my goal. Has experience ever paid the bills?

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Like a reluctant bride I decked up on Monday morning as a teacher, I faithfully performed my job and little by little my dream of going to the party faded away. Received my first salary at the

end of the month and it finished that same day. Remember, I said I wanted to support the family? It came back to hunt me. By this time, all hope of going to that party was gone.

Then God visited me on a Wednesday. Did I say God? May be a Devil with angelic wings.

It was way pass 2pm and I was still in school with a child that the parents were yet to come for. This was over working for 5k I felt like strangling the child at that point. I was frustrated, a friend called earlier, telling me how she had bought her shoes and other things and the then "boyfriend jacket" that was in fashion. You see why I felt like strangling the child? I couldn't just contain my frustration.

"Hello Miss!..I looked up to see who called me. I was stunned, it was a man, a fine man he had a perfectly arranged beard, white eyes. Damn!  He was perfectly perfect.

"I'm so sorry miss for coming this late to pick my girl

" I just nodded, was yet to find my voice. Wait!! Is he the father of the girl? He looked young to be the father but was way older than me I could guess. I was ogling a married man. Lord have mercy.

"Her mother must really be mad now" Mr Fine Man was still talking and I just nodded.

Lifting his baby girl up. He turned to me," you don't talk?"

"Uncle, she talks" said the little girl.

"you are her uncle? " Yes, he replied." I thought you are the father"

He gave a throaty laughter, yeah!! And I liked it. "Nah, she's my sister's daughter"

"I can drop you off, where are you headed"? he asked,  I told him and followed him. Few minutes into our journey, he started. I am Frank and you are? "Ese" I replied.

"You look really not good. Hope you are okay? "

I smiled, remembered my conversation with my friend earlier and the smile disappeared and until now, I don't know why I poured out my heart to him maybe my frustration led me to. I told him everything, everything disturbing me, the party and the no money part. He listened with rapt attention despite he was driving, could see it in his face. He didn't say anything all through even when I was done, yet I felt good that I had talked to someone. Stopping in front of my house. He gave me his number and asked me to call him. I called him later that night and we arranged to meet up after my working hours in school. We went to an eatery, I was so hungry at that time, so you could guess how I treated the food.

"How old are you? " Okay, I never expected that question. I never wanted him to look at me like a child so I lied."I'm 16" I saw his eyes lit up with interest. At that point, I never knew why.

"you are just perfect" he said smiling. My little brain saw that as a compliment only If I knew.

After spending some time in the eatery. He drove me home. I was about getting out of the car then he called me back, "Here, that's 20k" I nearly ran mad, "Happy madness"  this time. I said thank you countless time and he laughed. Will I see you tomorrow?  Definitely I said. If every hanging out with him will give me 20k I don't mind doing it every day.

He came to pick me up like the previous day and this time we didn't go to an eatery, we went to his office,he was the regional manager of a popular noodles company, this information I found out when I marched into the building. "How are you"? He asked when we were settled in his office. "Broke"  I answered. The truth is I am always broke and forget that 20k, I still need 30k more and if it's not 50k or overflowing I am broke!!  True fact! He looked at me with wide eyed. You see why I say you are just perfect? I smiled, but this time trying to understand what's so perfect in what I have said. "would you like to take anything? "he asked. "No, thanks". Are you sure? "yes", Alright. 

Staring at me in what I'll call a demonic way which sent shivers down my spine. You know you could make a 100k in one week? My eyes almost popped out my sockets, now that's what I call overflowing. And yet I knew within me I'll still be "Broke".

How sir? I asked. Just call me Frank . This guy is far older than me, even if I have a weakness for money in an overflowing rate, I respect people a lot and in Nigeria calling someone who is far older than you by his first name is a sign of disrespect. I rolled my eyes. "How will it happen, Frank"? I asked. 

It's not something out of the ordinary, I know you are smart. I nodded like an agama and he was impressed then he continued.... "A friend of mine will hosting a party tomorrow and when you come I'll give you the full details". By now my head was already booting, why can't he give me the details now? And who is this friend? I do not attend parties except birthday parties of close relatives or someone I know personally. So I asked? Is it a birthday party? He gave me a mocking look which reeked of i-forgot-you-are-teen-and-only-know-about-birthdays. I felt embarrassed really. No, it's not a birthday party, it's just a party for big guys and girls like you. I swallowed, allowing all to sink in.

What time? It's by 10 pm. No way!  How is that going to happen? I cannot leave my house by that time. But what can a broke girl do? I can't go out by that time. 

You are a big girl, you know what to do. And again I nodded but like a controlled robot this time.

I was ready to do anything to make sure I attend the party.

Then it hit me. sir, sorry frank, I don't have party wears. He stared absent-mindedly for a while then he said, "no problem, will take you shopping now". This guy is just too good. I smiled feeling Happy like I just won a lottery. Give me a minute let me tidy up things with the staff. I nodded and he left.

God makes a way, were there seems to be no way, that song came to my mind immediately and I started humming to it. God indeed makes a way, when I thought all hope was lost. Was still lost in my thought when I heard the beeping of a phone. I sighted the Samsung phone lying on the table. I picked it up and admired it, still admiring the phone, it beeped again signalling a message. It's wrong to pry into someone's privacy I know but I saw my self opening the message.

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"How far, Frank the meat don set? "

So he knows how to cook?

I decided to check previous messages that left my mouth hanging for a long time.

" O boy, I just met one fresh meat today for baby's school. I must sign that register. The child is a desperado "

"Congrats bro, my own never complete o. How long will it take to submit her? "

I was already sweating, I scrolled through, but Frank did not reply. Only saw another message from the unknown friend," The party don set. Signing of register na tomorrow " Father Lord!! I dropped the phone and was visibly panting. "Are you okay?"

" I turned to see Mr frank standing by the door. "I am fine" I answered. "Okay, let's go". All through our ride to the boutique I was gentle like a dove and silent. He kept ranting about things I can't remember and smiling perhaps thinking he will succeed to sign this register tomorrow . "Idiot"! I cursed under my breath on remembering him calling me a desperado in that message. I tried to contain myself. After the shopping, he dropped me off at home. "See you tomorrow by 9pm". I nodded nonchalantly. 

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I just wondered and I still do, what would have happened if I had attended. I blocked his number. And acted like I never knew him any time he came to the school to pick his niece. I'm not still at lost, I got 20k and new clothes and most especially a "boyfriend jacket" but yet I was left "Broke".

I am not a desperado and that was an insult to me. Well, I know longer admire the Steve Jobs kind of family. Because the fear of ritualists and rapists gave me wisdom. I could still manage the Warren Buffet kind of family and no I still can't prefer the Dangote kind of family. Because I'm that girl that believes in my cup overflowing.

I am still that Nigerian girl with insatiable needs that is BROKE.

                              BY

                                   Shalom Daniels

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