Story

The Village Gardner

*Episode 7*

I started the work with all the strength i have in my body. Within three days, i was through with the work, with the help of Tochi.
The following day, i went to collect my money from chief simon. I knocked at his glass door as usuall, they open the door but this time around it was isabella that open the door.
ISABELLA; hi tobe, come in.
I went inside their large sitting room. She orderd me to sit down, I sat down.
ISABELLA; you are a very hard working guy, really strong. Within three days you have cleared the whole compound.(she said).
ME; thank you.
ISABELLA; please make your self comfortable let me tell my dad that you are hear. She left. I was looking around the sitting room, when chief simon entered the sitting room but without her daughter..i stood up and greet him.
CHIEF SIMON; you came for your money right.
ME; yes sir.
C.SIMON; i must say you are a very strong and hard working, within few days you have already clear the whole compound….he shook my hand.
ME; Thank you sir.(i said smiling).
How much is your money, he asked. Sir my money is five thousand naira, but anything that your heart asked you to give me, is okay by me.
C.SIMON; Are you serious?
ME; Yes sir, am serious..
C.SIMON; i like your spirit.
ME; thank you sir. He handed me a small envelope.
C.SIMON; that is 12 thousand naira. Just take it. You deserve it. I like strong and hard working young boys like you.
ME; (wow i’m twelve thousand naira richer).thank you sir, may almighty God bless you.
C.SIMON; so what is your name again and how old are you.
ME; my name is Tobechukwu and i’m twenty five years old, sir.
C.SIMON; what about your parent and your education.
ME; my parents died when i was 10 years old and my grand mother who i am leaving with was unable to sponsored me in school, so i dropped at ss1.
C.SIMON; is a pity my dear, but do you wish to work.
ME; yes sir, if i see any work that will give me money ofcourse i will work.
C.SIMON; okay, i want you to come to the city.
ME; you want me to come to the city?.me city.
C.SIMON; yes, i want you to be the gardner in my house at city. I will be paying you monthly.
ME; but sir, what is gardner?. I don’t understand.
C.SIMON; lols, you mean you don’t know what is gardner.
ME; sir, i wish i know.
C.SIMON; ok i will tell you. A gardner is a person or someone like you that care or cultivate a garden’s law.
ME; ooh sir, you are going too far. Please break it down for me to understand.
C.SIMON; ooh God, you still have a long way to go. Don’t worry if you are interested. I will take you to the city and teach you the work of a gardner. Then you can start.
ME; sir i am interested to do the job. But sir how about my grand mother. How is she going to cope without me. You know she is old and please sir how much will you be paying me.
C.SIMON; i will be paying you 25 thousand naira.montly and as for your grandmother, you should find a helper that will be helping her to do some house choir, maybe ones in a month you can come and visit them. How did you see it.
ME; you are right sir. I will do just that. when are we leaving?.
C.SIMON; in three days time. But Isabella will be going tomorrow because of her school.
ME; okay sir. Thank you sir, can i go now so that i can be preparing for the journey gradually.(i said happily, finally this is an opportunity for meto go the cityand start a new life am tired of village life. I will save enough money which will be enough for me to pay my Tochi’s bride price, Yes!
C.SIMON; ofcourse you can go. See you later.
I looked for Isabella to bade her good bye, but i did’nt see her. Then I went home happily. I was like, God has finally answerd my prayers to go to the city. How will my life in the city be, is it going to be different from the life in the village? well only time will tell.
On my way, i branched at Uche’s house to break the news for him. He was happy with me and at the same time sad. He was sad that he was going to miss me and my company. I gave him some of the money that chief gave me and left his house and again i branched at Tochi’s house to tell her about the news.
ME; Tobaby m. You are looking good and happy today.
TOCHI; yes o, am very very happy.
ME; why are you happy nah.
TOCHI; because am geting married very soon. with you.(smiling).
ME; me too, am happy. How many children do you want to born if we finally get married.
TOCHI; erm, erm, 10 or 11.
ME.(Surprised). Jesus. God forbid.
TOCHI; why are you shouting Jesus. Is 11 too small.
ME; heeh.(this girl want to kill me. you and who will born 10.) see Tochi, ten is too much. We will born like five or six.
TOCHI; okay, if you said so.
ME; erm tobaby, I have something to tell you. I will be going to the city in three days time.
TOCHI; city, which city na. Do you know any body in the city. Please don’t go any city o, I don’t want anything to happen to you.
ME; come on. Tobaby, am not a small boy na. I want to go and do better work, so that i can raise enough money to pay your bride prize, okay. Chief simon said he will help me with a job.
TOCHI; (started crying) so you want to leave me and go to the city abi. You want to be following city girls.abi.

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ToBeContinued.