Tales of A Single Mum

Episode Ten

...I spoke to an old schoolmate of mine. Her name is Heaven. She had just started a business, and she needed someone to help sell off the clothes that she had just brought in from America. Being a marketer at a company selling energy light bulbs, I didn’t make a lot of money as my income depended solely on how many light bulbs I sold. I knew I needed multiple sources of income if I was going to successfully take care of my two kids and my mom who had left her job to come and be a nanny to them.

This seemed like a great opportunity for me to get some much-needed extra cash and so I told heaven that I would gladly help her sell off her wares. This trade was not new to me. While I was still living in Uzoma’s house, I had grown a successful business selling clothes from the UK and Dubai that were sent to me by friends living there. My business at the time had stopped because my suppliers/friends couldn’t keep up with the fluctuating exchange rate in the country.

I left Itoki by train enroute Lagos to go meet Heaven at her house. It took three hours to get there. When she saw me, she was very pleasant and we spent some time chatting about our university days after which she brought out the items for sale. There were two huge boxes of dresses, shoes, handbags and female jewellery. We discussed pricing and I hauled the boxes back home by train.

The next morning, I made rounds to all the banks in the area to introduce myself and display the items. Some people were interested while others were not. It was a very difficult task because I was a new face and I wasn’t the only vendor. There were ladies and men everywhere with clothes to sell. Some of them were already familiar with the bankers and the office managers. However, I sucked it up and stuck it out and slowly I got a few orders. I sent the money I had made to Heaven.

Then the pressure started. A week later, Heaven would call me every day to ask how many items I had sold and how much money I had made. I had to keep explaining that it would take a while for them to get used to me, trust the quality of my merchandise and most of all drop their present suppliers to patronise me. Erm about the merchandise. I had a problem. The jewellery was beginning to fade and the bags that were supposed to be genuine leather were peeling and scaling. That’s when the cat claws came out!

One afternoon after making rounds and selling very little, heaven sent me a message saying that I should bring them all back to Lekki. Huh? Which Lekki? The one on Lagos or another one around here? I was totally shocked and upset. It tried to pacify here and ask her to give me more time to sell off everything. The thought of taking everything back to Lagos was almost unbearable to me. She wasn’t hearing it and told me she had decided not to sell anymore. I picked up the phone and called her.

“Hi Heaven, I’m sorry its taking a long while. I need some time”

“Well I need them back as soon as possible. I’ve decided to give them to my sister. You’re taking too long” Excuse me? I thought.

“Okay” I said. Trying to compose myself. When I have a little time I will bring them back to you.

“When you have a little time? What do you mean by that Mags? When you were looking for money to eat and you came to take my things to sell you had time abi? Now to return them you don’t have time.” I felt like I had been slapped!

HOOOOOOOOOOLD It right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ve been more than polite to this B*&^@CH! Like take it a thousand steps back sweetheart! You can take these large boxes with all the fake ass stuff inside and shove them up your rusty behind!

“Thanks for all your help Heaven but no thanks. I’m not a pauper and I will survive without your hand outs. I will not take any insults from you. Oh and guess what? They’re not buying your stuff because they’re fake okay, so I’ll gladly return your ratchet, Mushin bought bags and shoes WHEN I have time to bring them, goodbye!” She rang back but I didn’t pick up the phone.

Later that week I hired a taxi and took them to a mutual friend’s house that was closer to where I live and sent her a message to pick them up there.

I guess it’s back to light bulbs in the meantime. I would walk around selling a million light bulbs till my feet are sore before I would let another woman put me down like that. I’ve got my pride, money or not.

Hey, Perseverance is one of my strongest traits so I’m made for greatness.

I know something better would come along. I just know! Watch me take the world Mushin diva!

Namaste!