Mr Dieko hurried out of his duplex that morning at the exact time that the first bite of gala was making its way down to Femi's stomach. He couldn't even wait for his driver to arrive before he jumped into his venza and zoomed off. He couldn't afford to be late for the business meeting.
As he drove down to the venue, he reminisced on his days of humble beginnings. He owned a shoe manufacturing company that specialized in building of school sandals and shoes, casual women footwear and boots. He built the company from scratch with his sweat and blood. He was looking towards venturing into corporate footwears for males and females, thereby enlarging his coast. This was the reason he rushed out of the house that morning, as he had set up a meeting with a very renowned shoemaker, who would train and work with about ten of his workers at a fee. His fees were exorbitant, and he was pretty demanding and rude, but it was a necessary price to pay. He didn't want to portray the image of an unserious business man to him on a first day.
The roadside orange seller had just finished selling her peeled oranges, which was a rare Peat on a tuesday morning. She was overjoyed and rushed to cross the road to the other side, so as to purchase another bag for sales. She rushed into the oncoming traffic. Before she realized it, it was too late.
A popular juju beat from king Sunny Ade blasted out from the skeletal bus' radio. The driver slowly bobbed his head up and down to the beat. He looked sideways at the women in skimpy clothings and admired one in particular. He turned his head back to the road and saw the girl, a second too late. He swerved and tried to avoid hitting her.
Mr Dieko saw the girl too and swerved to the bus' lane in order to avoid hitting her. As he saw the oncoming bus, he swerved back into the left lane. The oncoming bus bumped the girl with its side and she went airborne. She landed with a thud on Mr Dieko's hood and she rolled to the ground. He braked abruptly to avoid driving over her. At that point, humanity prevailed over him. He jumped out of the car and saw her in the pothole, covered with bruises. She lifted up a hand and then passed out.
Everybody aboard the bus alighted, as a large crowd had already gathered at the scene. Immediately the bus driver saw that the girl had passed out, he bolted for his vehicle and disappeared, thinking that the girl was dead. The crowd quickly dispersed for pear of police "wahala". Femi ran to the girl's side and checked for her pulse. "She's not dead!" He exclaimed. "Really? Thank God. Please lend me a hand" Femi and Mr Dieko lifted the girl and dropped her carefully on the car's backseat. Femi could not but notice the car's posh interior. He jumped in beside Mr Diekola and they drove to the hospital.
She was wheeled into the accident and emergency department of the hospital. They both stood, pacing up and down the hospital's pristine halls.
"She's awake now" A Nurse in pink scrubs said.
"Can we see her?" Femi asked.
"Of course." she replied with a beautiful smile.
Her bruises were already covered in bandages and plaster. She attempted to lift her head as she saw the Nurse approaching with the two of them. The Nurse then introduced them.
"Thank you Sir" she said with a small smile. "I'm sorry I didn't look well before crossing, ..." She rambled on.
"Calm down. We thank God for keeping you safe." He interrupted. "What is your name?" He asked.
"Now please excuse me gentlemen. Would you please go to the visitor's room?" The Nurse interrupted. "She needs to rest" she continued.
"No problem Nurse" they both replied.
"Please do not leave the premises for now, we would still need some information from you" she concluded. She then turned back to manipulate the drips going into Rita's veins.
Femi and Mr Dieko walked out quietly. Only at that point did Femi remember his appointment.
"Oh Jesus, Lord. God!!! I'm in so much trouble" Femi exclaimed with his mouth ajar. "Ihave an interview on the island by 9am.
Mr Dieko gave him a puzzled look and checked his watch. "This is 10:20am"
"Why today? God, what is happening?" He put his hands on his head for the third time that morning.
"I have an appointment too for 10am. It seems as if we're both in the same dilemma." He sighed and leaned back on the chair.
"What kind of job are you looking for?" He asked with a curious look on his face.
"An executive job, an administrative job... Anything just to put food on the table" He replied.
"Really, that's serious, jobs like that are hard to come by, in this town and by extension in this country"
"I know, right?" He said with a dejected look.
"Why don't you start up something? I myself am an advocate of youths setting themselves up instead of those white collar jobs." He asked him.
"I like it too, but money doesn't come forth quickly. Besides, people look down on us."
"Hmmn, that's a low blow.considering the fact that I'm an entrepreneur myself." He said while stroking his beards.
"Oh! I'm sorry Sir, I didn't know it sounded that way." He then said after a pause. "Take a look at me Sir, during our SAED -Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development program in my service year. I opted for shoe making"
At the mention of "shoe making", his interest was piqued and his demeanour changed." You can make shoes?"
"Yes Sir." Femi replied. "I even got a medal for the best art and craft design when we were asked to display them then. But afterwards. I was called a shoemaker and they made jest of me till I left camp, despite the fact that I made shoes for most of them without collecting a dime." He said with a sad face.
"What kind of shoes can you make?"
"I can make both male and female shoes and bags" He answered.
"Well, that's great then." He said after some thoughts "Would you like to accompany me to my factory after we get this over with?"
"What! You make shoes?" He said with a look of astonishment.
"Yes I do." He replied with a look of pride. "Let's go test your ability." He said with a small smile.
"But...ha..whh..." He stammered. "You don't know me from Adam, except for about one hour ago." He managed to say.
The next morning saw him at his face-me-i-slap-you apartment with a company van to pack his few possessions. His neighbours stood in clusters to discuss the new development. The woman de-husking melons on the verandah the previous day particularly gave him the evil eye. He handed over the keys of the apartment to the landlady and strode out of the premises to the waiting van.
FLASH BACK He sat at the huge work table and measured precisely to the inch of the shoe model he was asked to make. Sweat trickled down his back as he cut and smoothened the edges of the leather. He carved, folded and padded it until it Fit the model he was given.
Mr Dieko sat at the opposite end of the room behind a one-way glass, watching him make the shoe, step by step. He recognized talent when he saw one. He had his secretary draft a copy of a contract for Femi before the day ran out. He had found what he was looking for. He rose and shook hands with him.
As the company driver drove him through the same route he took while half walking, half running the previous day, he could only say that "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Isaiah 43:19 (KIV) "Behold, I will do a new thing now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."
Nice write up bro keep it up 💪