Jeff's life to a difficult track when he lost his father who was custom officer and had died in line coduty when a smuggler's bullet claime him. Sunday's uncles came around an pretended to be nice to jeff and his family. They showed support for his mother until they were able to lay their hands on the documents of the house and cars. They took them and sold everything.
Life become very difficult for jeff when his father had died, he was about to write his secondary school final year examination but he was too grief-stricken to do so. By the time he had elected to write the examination the following year, his mother could not pay and afford it . He went to meet his uncles who had stolen his inheritance for help. They refused to help him, telling him that he ought to have worked and saved money to pay for his examinations.
They had hurt him and he had sworn to work hard in life and be successful so that his uncles would be sorry for all they had done to him and his family.
now Jeff lived with his mother and his sisters in a small room apartment in a slum. His mother had tried her hands on selling bean cakes but the venture had encountered problem when the place where she fried the bean cakes was cleared and a building got being erected there. It was a tough time for the fatherless family.
Jeff decided that he would go out and work as his uncles had said to him. He wanted to be able to pay for his examination the coming year. He must work hard and find a way to go to school and get an education so that he would become somebody in life.
He got a job as a sales boy in a big shop that sold almost everything. It was owned by a man named Mr Kevin . The shop owner had quickly found favour in the boy because jeff proved to be very honest. He and his daughter had planned that the girl whom at the time jeff did not know was Mr. Obi's daughter should talk to jeff about short- changing the boss replacing sold goods with their own good so they could pocket the money. Jeff had been alarmed and had refused to be part of that.
The girl had tried to corrupt his mind to steal from the shop but he had refused even when Mr. Kevin did not pay his salary. Then, Mr. Kevin had congratulated him and paid him. He promised to reward the boy by ensuring that he took the responsibility of sending him to further his education. Jeff work diligently at shop and whenever the boss came and looked at the books, he always commended the boy and said he was proud of his honesty. Jeff on his part was determined to remain honest and never did anything that would soil his reputation.
When it was time for him to register for the examinations as external student, Mr. Kevin paid for it and Jeff was very happy. In fact, his mother went to thank the man in his shop.
"Your son is a good and honest boy and he deserves to be appreciated and encouraged, "Mr. Kevin said.
Jeff studies hard while he kept the shop. He wanted to do well so that Mr. Kevin would not be disappointed besides, his mates were now in higher institution and he was determined to get there too especially now that he had a willing sponsor.
"I am happy that you have passed your examinations. I understand you have bought your matriculation examination form. I trust you will do well", Mr. Kevin said to him when Jeff had brought his results to him.
"I think at this point , I need to employ another hands so that you can face your studies and concentrate ", the man said. "But I am still around. I have to write the matriculation entrance examination and then get admission and that may take as long as three months if not more", jeff said.
The man smiled. "I know but even at that, we need another hand. I will put a sign post outside for vacancy. We need a honest person. You remember what my daughter did to you when you first came, you will do same to whoever we employ next. We have to be convinced of their honesty before we employ because it is easy to steal from a big shop and takes long for it to be detected, " Mr. Jeff said
"Yes sir," jeff responded.
Thank for reading.
To be continuing in my next article.💙💙💙