Certain things happen in our lives, they either shape us up or destroy our confidence. We may not be able to stop these things from happening, but, we have the ability to choose how we react. Last week Sunday, my maid, Eno, told me she had to leave urgently... that her mum was ill and on her death bed. This news was not strange to me. For many people who have maids in Nigeria, when most of them want to leave, they always have a compelling story. What baffles me most is how they use serious issues like illness and death to make up their stories.
Eno started working with me earlier this year. When she arrived I discovered that she had a bad case of gastritis so I paid for a health plan for her. Her other benefits included weekly airtime to call her family, toiletries, free feeding and accommodation, salon visits once in three weeks apart from her monthly salary. Then the health plan... I think I treated her like a DIVA... my friends cringed when they heard about how much I paid for her maintenance... but hey, I was just trying to make my maid feel comfortable and motivate her to work hard...
I was not surprised at all, considering the fact that she had been acting strange for a few weeks prior to her announcement. Eno, is indeed a 'drama queen'. The manner in which she announced her 'Mums' illness was nollywood worthy. I had just returned from an evening stroll with my husband and I met her in the kitchen looking downcast, sweating profusely. 'Aunty, my mummy no well, and dem call me from village say she say she wan see me' she said followed by a heavy sigh... 'My sister wan talk to you, she say she go call my phone now now' she continued. 'Eiyah, sorry dear, what exactly is wrong with her'? I asked. 'I no know oh, them say she neva open eye, or talk since wednesday' Eno responded. So we waited for her sister's call.
Five minutes later, Eno barged into my room handing the phone over to me... I overlooked her apparent lack of manners and collected the phone from her... ' Hello, this na Eno sister, sorry oh, but our mama dey very sick, and she dey cry say she wan see Eno' She blurted... Trying to supress the sarcasm in me, I replied " Sorry oh, eno has already told me. But I thought she said she has been unable to talk and move for the past three days' I asked, mustering all the calmness I could find... 'Ehn! as she dey weak like dat, na only Eno name she dey call... please just release her for 5 days, I promise you she will come back before weekend'! Eno's sister responded. I had probably rolled my eyes like 100 times in my head to this Eno's story but I was quick to ask one more question, ' Have you taken her to the hospital?' I asked... 'Yes Ma. Doctor say na STROKE and DIABETES dey worry her, and she dey COMA. Infact we don carry her from Uyo to bayelsa and dem dey treat her for bayelsa now'. Eno's sister replied... Oh wow!!! 'Sorry, God go heal her, make una take am easy, Eno will come as soon as possible'...
So I walked over to Eno, and asked her calmly, ' Would you like to leave first thing tomorrow morning'?... You should have seen the dread on Eno's face...'Ehm... Aunty, make I go on Tuesday, I neva wash my cloth' Eno replied... 'Wash ke, your Mother is sick and you are thinking of washing??? I will drop you off at the park first thing tomorrow morning Eno'. I said turning away...' No aunty, make I wash my cloth, wash the children cloth before I travel' Eno blurted... Somewhere in Eno's mind, I don't think she expected our drama to go in that direction. I guess she was deceived by my innocent face...
Tuesday morning, she was off to the park with her baggage, my children told Eno goodbye. And me... I just patiently waited for the agent I contacted the day before to bring the new maid. Its been 8 days since Eno left, she has not called and I have not bothered her... God brought me a new person who works even harder and shows more gratitude than Eno ever did... A friend of mine encouraged me saying " Just believe that you will always get a better deal and pray in that direction" .. I did just that and I am a pretty happy woman...
I want to encourage someone who has just faced a bout or series of disappointments... Hold on, believe that you will get the best, trust in God to take care of you and lead you in the right path...DO NOT GIVE UP!
I will jist you more soon...
