My First Hustle

It was around July 2015 when I just finished writing my senior secondary school certificate examination. I knew fully well my mom's financial capacity wasn't enough for me to further my education or learn a trade at the moment. And been in that same house with me, my 3 siblings and my grandmother under my mum's care would be much load on my poor window mother, so I wasn't comfortable staying in that house anymore.

One day I just decided, I call my mum told her want to go and visit one of my paternal aunt, after saying that I saw the confusion and surprise on her face, she asked Utibe-obong why? Will you even recognize her if you see her? Do you know your way there? The sincere answer to all the questions she asked was negative(No). The next question from her was "then how come this decision? after it's been 3years since your father passed away you've never ask to meet any of his relative, then why now?

My reason was because I didn't want to be a burden to my mum anymore. I wanted to meet my relatives and let them know how far my mum has been able to do by seeing through my Secondary education level. Hoping to get every positive help from.

After plenty questions from mum and answer from me, she reported me to grandma but grandma told her to let me go of which she gave me directions and I went.

As a teenager I was happy at my arrival and the reception I was given. After having a talk with my aunt and expecting her to give me the positive help I desires, my aunt response to me, in her words "I'm really glad you tried and finish secondary school, now that you have finish secondary school go and look work o". I was slightly disappointed at her words. I said aunty I got no one to help get any work and I told her my desire of learning a trade if since getting into the university would too much to ask for. She said she liked the idea of desiring to learn a trade but how much do I have? I was tongue tied at the moment thinking how a teen who just finished writing waec would have money. She said if I don't have money to start learning what I wanted to learn at the moment I should come work in her husband's factory, she'll help me save my salary for 1 year and 6months. I was desperate of leaving my mum's care to start a life of mine so I agreed.

As teenager who have been properly advice and scoolded by mum and grandmum, I didn't want to bring them shame or disappoint them in anyway. I went to stay with my aunt and was working in her husband's factory were he used to deal on Cement, Wholesale of Drink and Chair, table and canopy rentals. The man (My aunt's husband) was a good man who cared so much about me but my cousin chooses to make it uncomfortable for me. She'll wake me up by 4am to go fetch water, I'll ask why she'll wake me up by such hour, she said I would be going to work so I have to do the chores first before leaving. After fetching water sweet outside the compound and wash my boss car before leaving to the warehouse. When I return from work I'll come meet dozens of plates waiting for me in the kitchen to be washed.

At first I wasn't comfortable with all of that but within a short period time I saw that what my cousin doing reason based known to her was latter turning out for my good. Those things made my Aunt and her husband started to show me care, to them I was very hard working, I start getting incentive from on a regular basis and whenever I wanted to go visit my mum they'll give me a special package for my mum. But when my cousin saw that those things she was was getting me favours she changed and stopped waking early as she used to, after my boss noticed I've not finishing the house chores early he ask me not to change the zeal I started with and encouraged go on with that might of which I continued.

Uptil date I couldn't tell why cousin seems to act questionably towards me, but her attitude got me favours. Then I used to feel bad when shen she wakes me so early to do chores and still come home to meet plates to be washed, but today I am happy because those have made this strong that I'm been able to work from 6am to 12am 6 days a week.

It may be hurting at the moment but see it as your training period, when you graduate you'll understand that you needed these days to be strong.

Goldie_writes.