Chapter two
913 Words
The unusually hot sun beat down on the people below mercilessly... nothing could escape it's ferocious heat accompanied by sweat and grime.
Desmond stood by the side of the road, he wore a long, confused and tired face, he was dressed in a blue shirt and a black trouser along with a black blazer tied around his waist and he held in his hand a brown envelope with which he constantly fanned himself.
From opposite the road, he could hear the loud banging of the latest hip hop music from a barbershop, many people were sprawled all over the road in some activity or the other. Getting tired of standing he decided to take a bike and head over to the new factory in town, he had heard that they were currently employing, whatever the results, he would begin the long trek home under the blazing sun.
Sighing he sighted a bike and stopped it ..
"Frank & Co", He said loosening the blazer from around his waist and slipping it on.
"one hundred Naira please," The bike man said.
"What?, I only have seventy Naira," he protested.
"Okay, get on then," The bike man said motioning him to get on.
Desmond nodded as he got on and they drove off.
___________
A few minutes later Desmond was seated in a tastefully furnished office with a semi large mahogany table in between him and a burly man dressed In a bright blue coat.
"Mr. Desmond?" The burly man who appeared to be the manager called.
"Sir?" Desmond answered.
"You are quite good for the job...."
"Thank you sir," Desmond said smiling widely.
"Yes, but ehh......you see, the company is only employing fresh graduates, mainly within three years bracket," The manager said expressionless.
"I don't understand Sir" Desmond replied perplexed. He had a sinking feeling he would not get the job.
"What am saying Mr. Desmond Williams is that, according to your credentials, you graduated some six years ago, which is far behind...and at this rate, am sorry I can't help you". The manager said handing him back his papers.
Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was his tiredness, maybe even something else, but suddenly as Desmond heard those words he felt anger rising inside him, hot and heavy on his chest that he did not realize when he began shouting.
"That is a lie sir, an unbelievable excuse...what do you mean by that.
"Mr. Man watch your tone!" The manager said. "Now please leave." he added standing up clearly displeased. But Desmond was not done yet.
"I will not leave this place until you explain to me why you have refused to employ my services!" He stated angrily standing up.
"Get out now or I will have to call security on you!" The manager boomed red in the face.
"Call them, in fact call Mopol, call SARS if you want, I'm not leaving this place!" He shouted back indignant.
"Security please come and remove this mad man from here!". The manager said into a phone he had already picked up. In less than a minute, two heavily built men came into the office, they grabbed Desmond roughly by the shoulders amidst his protests and then dragged him out of the building and pushed him outside. flinging his envelope after him, they bolted the huge steel gates.
Desmond stood up from the ground, he sighed and picked up his envelope. dusting his body, he looked up at the large office building, sighing again he shook his head as he walked off..
"What sort of life is this..." he mused as he walked. "Is it not better if I just die and rest..."
His goals and ambitions were all null and void now, hardly was he ever successful in anything he did. He was beginning to fear that he would remain like this forever, and he hated that feeling.
He was rounding a corner when he saw a man in front of him, his very appearance screamed thief and sensing danger he tried to retrace his steps but another man appeared behind him blocking his way.
"Where you are you going bro?" The first man asked drawing close, his eyes bloodshot.
"I was just passing, I didn't mean to trouble you," Desmond answered gulping.
"No wahala, just empty your pockets". The second man replied, his breathe stank of alcohol and c******s.
"Ehn?" Desmond asked confused.
"Are You deaf!!?" The first man shouted in a gruff voice bringing out a wickedly sharp knife from his belt.
"Erm...erm..I...I" Desmond stuttered.
"Ogbeni empty your pockets jor!" The second man retorted cutting him short with a resounding slap.
Okay, sorry sorry" Desmond muttered, his eyes red as he frantically upended all his pockets dropping the contents in the ground.
"Jesus... Alaye wetin be this?". The second man asked picking up a Two hundred Naira note.
"It's all I have.. " Desmond replied breathing heavily.
"What are you even doing in Lagos?" the First man asked perplexed.
"No... nothing...I mean...I'm still looking for job.." He stammered.
"See as you miserable... looking for job," the Second man said.
"Take this your stupid money and get out of here!" He added angrily throwing the money to him.
"Tha...thank you, thank you". He muttered as he picked up the money and his envelope and ran for his life, apparently all thoughts of dying had left him.
"See am," muttered the first man, "bad market" He added as he watched Desmond run away.
- Writer
