When your joy becomes the reason for my sadness

I have been working for Mr. Ayo as sales assistance at his head office in the market for over two years. Mr. ayo was a vehicle spare part contractor who offered me a job months after I had lost my dad.

My boss was the perfect example of a gentleman. Not only does he regularly buys me lunch at work, he also gives me money for my transport back home daily.

Three months ago, he had volunteered to pay the rent at the house where I, my mother and three sibling siblings lived.

It came to me as a big surprise when Mr. Ayo gave me the complete sum and told me I could pay him back in the next fifty years if I wanted to. Lol.

He even "apologized” that he would have loved to move my family to a bigger apartment, but his budget was quite limited at the moment. Of course, Mother couldn't stop thanking him for all that he does. In fact, there was hardly any morning before leaving for work that mom wouldn't ask me to send her regards to Mr. Ayo. This young man of 40 meant more than a boss to me. I see him as an elder brother, an uncle I never had.

Oh yes, after my father, I have never seen a man as kind and generous as My boss

I would be exactly twenty years old three months from now. More than half of my high schoolmates were already students at various universities. Three years ago, when I had completed my high school education, was also the same year my father died. No need to mention that my family had been devastated by the irreparable loss. And just like 70% of families in the country, my dad was the sole breadwinner. I thought my future looked bleaked at the time. I had to pause my dreams of going to college and get a job to support my mother and three siblings, who were still tender at the time.

All thanks to God almighty for giving me the most caring boss in the world. I was able to save at least 90% of my monthly salary since I don't have to buy lunch, neither do I have to spend on transportation. From my savings, I set up a small business for our mother. She prepares and sells a popular local delicacy (akara) at a busy motor Park, and she has been making good profits from her business.

So, food was never a problem in family again. It doesn't matter if we ate mummy's akara three times a day, so long as we had something to eat.

With what I and my mother had saved from the job and business, we now had enough money to take care of the educational needs for both myself and my younger sister who would also be completing her high school in a few months. At least the money could cover a year's expenses.

Then the unexpected happened.....

One evening, while I was getting ready to lock up for the day, My boss rushed into the shop in a very excited manner. He kept jumping up and down and thanking God!

Honestly, I have never seen him so happy before, and I was delighted that something good have happened, and I began to jump too even before he could tell me what the excitement was all about. This was because I knew whatever good that comes to him would also rub off on me and whatever evil befalls him would also affect me too, since he was my benefactor.

“My dear, God has finally answered my prayers!”

Mr. Ayo screamed in an elated voice. I couldn't wait anymore,, and I pleaded with him to just spill it.

I couldn't believe my ears when my boss told me that his papers were ready, and he would be leaving the country for good the following month.

But Unfortunately this was not the kind of “good news” I had expected, and I suddenly felt sad even though I managed to maintain my smiling face.

Mr. Ayo had informed me in the past that he was processing his Visa and would always tell me to include him in his prayers so that the processes would be successful. But I honestly didn't pray for that to happen. As a matter of fact, his idea of relocating to another country terrified me.

He had told me several times that he was already tired of Nigeria, and he wants to “run away”. He said that there was no way he would go far in life or reach his full potentials if he doesn't travel to Europe. But I reminded him that there were numerous young men in the country who had never travelled abroad but were doing great.

" You don't have to live in a foreign land before you become successful”. I would say.

But Mr Ayo had always replied, " you wouldn't understand my dear”.

Don't get me wrong, at least I was happy that his greatest wish had finally come true. But deep down, I wasn't comfortable at all and i felt like crying.

Of course I was going to miss him more than anyone else, but that wasn't the main reason why I felt terrible. Without telling me, I already knew that my Job at his office would come to an end very soon. Even though I didn't know his next move yet, I don't need a prophet to reveal to me that he would sell off whatever he owns in the country before leaving, neither would he take me along to Austria to continue working for him.

Just yesterday, my mother and I had a long talk about the future. I had suggested, and she had agreed that even after I start attending college in the next session, I would still continue my work at the office but on a part-time basis just so that we could still save money for the subsequent academic year. I knew that Mr Ayo would have agreed to this idea, since he was the kindest man. But now, that sort of arrangement wouldn't be possible anymore.

I watched as my boss ran out of the office to inform the other traders about his good fortune. With a heavy heart, I collapsed on my seat behind the table and tried as much as I could to convince myself that my future is not as bleak as it seems. After all, my boss hadn't packed his bags yet. I would remain here until the day he finally leaves. Anything could happen before or after that day. Hopefully, something good…

Thanks for reading.

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