Kind Muscular Lady Missed Interview To Help An Old Woman, Unaware She Is The CEO’s Mother

These beggars will not leave this place. Every single morning they are here blocking the entrance.  Just pass her and mind your business. We did not come here to count beggars.  Chai. See her shoulders. Which one of us is competing with that? I have already lost.  Lower your voice.

 She can hear you and she looks like she can carry you. Good morning.  Please, do they collect the letters outside or do we submit them  upstairs?  Upstairs,  20th floor,  but the door closes at 8, so do not leave this queue.  Thank you. I have been looking for work for 8 months now. I am not leaving here.  Everybody standing here is fighting for the same three openings on that floor.

Head of facility security. 450,000 a month. I need this job.  We all need it. My own l has been folded in my bag since January. [snorts]  That old woman by the wall. Look at her chest.  She’s not breathing well at all.  Please do not start. If you leave this line, you will lose your place. Stay here.

 How much for the sache water? Give me two and one a giga bread if you have  water is 50 naira each bread 200 altogether 300 naira auntie no discount take 500 keep the change my brother I do not need it back this morning auntie 500 bless you I will remember your face I swear to God  mama good morning  take this daughter.

 Sit properly and drink it slowly. Do not rush it.  My daughter, I am fine. Go back to your line before they close that door on you.  The door is not going anywhere. Drink first. When did you last eat something, mama?  Yesterday afternoon. But I am not hungry. I only sat down because my legs were shaking.

 You again. I warned you on Friday. This is not a motor park. It is an office. Do you know how much this building costs? Clients drive in here and see you sitting there. I am  not begging anybody. I sat down because I was tired. I will stand up now. Then stand up. I have said the same thing to you three times in two weeks.

 Ma. Mosa, come outside now. Am I the one who will carry her by myself?  Madam, I am watching the queue.  If I leave this door, these people will rush inside.  So, I should stand here and beg her. Fine, I will move her my own way.  This coffee is very hot. I am counting to three. One, two.  Are you standing up,  my daughter? Do you know who I am? Ask yourself that question before you do it. I know exactly who you are.

 You are the woman who is making my morning difficult.  Are you mad? Do you know who? Remove your hand from me now.  Madam, she is somebody’s mother. Whatever she has done, hot coffee is not the answer.  Leave my hand. Ma, are you blind? A woman is assaulting me in front of you. Ah,  it poured on her.

 Auntie, that thing is hot. Go and wash it right now.  It is only a blouse. It will dry.  Mama, hold my arm and let us move.  You put your hand on a senior staff member. You have just finished yourself this morning.  I came here for an interview at 8. Do what  you want. I am not fighting you. an interview. You  so you are one of the applicants standing on my steps this morning?  Yes. Head of facility security.

 My name is Amaka Ez and my letter is here.  Amaka. I have your name now. Thank you very much for making this very easy.  Everybody listen.  The doors open now and close at 8. Whoever is outside stays outside.  Auntie, come now. Forget the woman. Leave her there. It is  2 minutes to 8.  Go inside my daughter.

 Please do not lose your own life because of an old woman.  Mama, if I leave you here and something happens, no job will make me sleep tonight. Eight months without work  and you are throwing it away for somebody you do not know.  I know you cannot stand.  That is enough. Put your arm around my neck. Hold tight.  She is really leaving.

 450,000 naira  and she is walking away.  Let her go. Musa, close that door. 8:00 is 8:00  in this company. What is your name again my daughter? Say it slowly so that I will remember it.  Amaka, do not worry about my name. Mama, worry about sitting down and drinking that water.  Amma,  right inside my head or I will not forget this morning for the rest of my life.

Sit back.  Put your back on the wood.  Do not talk yet. Just breathe in and out.  I am trying. My chest has been doing this since yesterday night. It comes and goes.  Small sips.  Not one time.  If you rush it, you will start coughing again. Mama,  you have done enough. Now go back to that building.

 Maybe they have not started inside.  They have started  and I am not moving until your hand stops shaking like this.  What is inside that building that made you stand outside since morning?  Tell me the truth.  A job. Head of facility security. 19 cameras, two gates, 40 staff under one person.

 And you can do that work or you were going there to try your luck like others.  I can do it. I ran security at a warehouse in Apapa for 3 years. Mama,  then why are you looking for work? 3 years is not a small thing at all.  The warehouse closed in November. 40 of us  went home the same day with 2 months salary.  That was 8 months ago.

What have you been eating since November, my daughter?  Anything. I carry cement at building sites. 11 interviews since November. 11 times they said no.  11. What reason did they give you? Somebody must have told you something to your face. Two of them said, “I am not presentable.” One said, “The client will be afraid of me.

” Afraid of you? You that carried an old woman you have never seen in your life.  We have 11 candidates on this list. Only nine walked in. Who are the two missing?  One did not show up at all. The second one was outside but she caused a disturbance.  Disturbance at the entrance of this building. What exactly happened outside this morning? Vivian,  she put her hand on me in front of Tay applicant applicants.

 She grabbed me by the wrist. Grabbed you  over what?  A person does not just hold a stranger’s hand for nothing. Over a beggar  that has been sitting at our entrance for two weeks disturbing everybody. I am writing it in my report today. Amaka is a disqualified aggressive conduct at the entrance.  Fine.  Send the report to the 22nd floor before closing.

 The CEO reads everything himself.  You did not answer me. Why this particular job? You have been looking for 8 months.  Because of the money, mama. 450,000. Nobody else has offered me that.  Money for what? You are one person.  One person does not need that kind of money.  My mother  kidney failure both sides.

 Dialysis two times a week. 80,000 each time.  Two times a week. That is 160,000 every seven days. My daughter,  yes, we have missed three sessions already. The last one was on Thursday last week. What did the doctor say will happen if she misses the next one?  Tell me plainly.   He said Friday.  If she does not come on Friday, he cannot promise me anything after.

 Friday. Today is Tuesday. So, you have 3 days to find 160,000.  3 days.  And I just spent my last 500 naira on water and bread. Your last 500,  that was your transfer money going home. Why did you not say? If I told you you would not have drunk it, then it will be wasted money.  Mama, your phone is ringing inside your bag.

 Somebody has been calling you since morning. It is nobody important. Let them call.  I am not ready to go home yet. You have somebody at home. All this time I thought you were sleeping outside somewhere.  I have a son. He is a big man now.  Very big and very busy.  A big man. And his mother is sitting on the ground outside a bank at 7.  He did not send me there.

 I went by myself because I wanted to see something.  See what? I’m a old woman does not sit and hug her to see something.  I wanted to see what people do when they think you have nothing to give them.  Now stand up and go back to that building. Beg them. 2 minutes is all you need. They locked the door in front of me.

 Ma,  that one took my name and everything. So because of one woman with a coffee  cup Your mother will not do diialysis on Friday.  You are right. Even if they shout at me, shouting has never killed anybody before today.  Good. And do not tell them anything about me. Just ask for your own two  minutes.

 Why? If I tell them I was helping a sick woman, maybe they will understand me. If you use me to get that job, you did not help me. You bought something. Then I will not mention you.  Sit here.  Do not move until I come back. Mama,  it is me. Bring the car in one hour. Not now.  And do not tell my son anything.  Interview is closed.

 8:00 was the time. Madame Viviian said nobody else should enter. Please open small.  I am on the list. My name is there. Amaka is I know your name. Everybody inside knows your name now.  That is exactly your problem, madam. 2 minutes. Let me climb to the 20th floor and talk to them for 2 minutes.

 I cannot. If I open this door for you, I will be outside here tomorrow morning.  1 minute. Then give me 1 minute and I will never come back to this place. Madam, step back from the glass. I am calling my colleague. Do not make it worse.  You are still here. After everything this morning, you came back to knock on my door.

 Madam, I am not here to fight. I came to apologize and to ask for 2 minutes.  Apologize for what exactly? Say it loud so these people at the gate can hear you. I am sorry that I held your hand this morning. It was wrong. Please forgive me. And the old woman. Are you sorry for embarrassing a senior staff member over a beggar? No, madam.

 I am sorry for my hand. I am not sorry for the old woman. Then we have nothing to discuss. Your file is closed. Your name is already written down.  Madam, please. My mother is sick. I am not doing this for myself. I swear  everybody’s mother is sick.  Nine people sat in that room today and all of them have problems.

 Take her off the property.  If she comes back here tomorrow, call the  police station.  Mama. Mama, where are you? I told you to sit down and not move anywhere.  My brother, the old woman that was sitting here,  did you see where she went?  Auntie, a black jeep came. Very big one. Two men came down and entered with her.

 A black jeep? Are you sure it is the same woman? The one in brown rapper? Same woman. They were greeting her like somebody big. One man was carrying her bag. So she has people.  Thank God at least one person’s problem was solved  this morning.  Auntie take collect your 400 change. I have been holding it since morning.

 I said keep it. A man does not collect back what has left his hand.  Then how will you go home?  Auntie, your face is telling me something is wrong.  I will trek. It is not far. 7 kilometers is nothing. I have done worse.  Auntie Bara, enter now. Ren is beefing you. 200 N only. Enter.  I do not have it.

 Go ahead, my brother. I will use my leg today. You do not have 200 naira.  Auntie, this rain will not stop till evening.  Then it will beat me till evening.  Rain has never stopped to anybody from getting home.  Amaka, is that you?  Why are you dripping water on the floor like that, my child?  Rain caught me at yaba.

 Mama, do not worry. I will mop it now. Now  yaba, you trade from yaba in this rain. What happened to your transport money? Amaka,  I dropped it somewhere.  It is nothing. How is your body since this morning, mama?  My body is my body.  I have been praying since 6:00.  How did the interview go?  It went well, mama.

 Three men and one woman asked me questions for almost 30 minutes.  30 minutes?  What did they ask you? Tell me everything from the beginning, my daughter. They asked about the warehouse in Apapa. They said they will call me before Friday. Before Friday,  God has done it.  I told you God will not let us down.  Amaka, turn and look at my face.

 Why are you talking to me from the wall?  Sorry mama, I am removing this wet blouse. Sleep small. I will make tea for you.  Amaka,  I have been watching you standing here for 20 minutes.  What is worrying you?  Nothing. I am only taking air. The room is hot since the rain stopped. taking air with your face wet.

 Amaka, I have known you since you was 15. The interview did not happen. I am busy.  I stopped to help somebody and I lost it.  You lost 450,000 naira because you stopped to help somebody.  Yes. And I would do the same thing again tomorrow which is why I am crying.  Your mother must go to hospital on Friday.

 Do you have anything left to sell?  One thing, National Weightlifting 2014 bronze.  I have never allowed anybody to touch it.  A medal cannot do diialysis. Maka  carry it to the market tomorrow morning early.  Two days left. Tomorrow I sell this and then I go and carry cement at Iloju. Sir, I have brought her.  She refused to enter the car until almost 5:00 this evening.

 5:00 Sunday, I have been calling you since 5 8 this morning,  sir. She switched off her phone. When she switched it on, she told me to wait. Wait, where? My mother has a heart condition and you left her on the road all day.  Leave the boy alone. He did what I told him.  Shout at me, not at him.  Sunday, go home.

Come back tomorrow at 7:00. We will talk about this another time.  Mommy, look at your feet.  Look at this rapper. Where did you go dressed  like this?  I went out. I am 71 years old. I do not need permission to leave a house.  You had a hospital appointment at 10:00.  Dr.

 Bellow called me twice looking for you.  I will see Dr. Bellow tomorrow.  Today I had somewhere more important than his office.  More important than your own heart?  Mommy, please tell me where you were this morning. I was sitting on the ground  in front of your office building from 7:00  in front of Okono Holdings  on the ground.  Mommy, why would you do such a thing?  Sit down first.

 If you stand up while I am talking, I will not finish.  Do you remember the compound in Ajigun? One tap for 11 families and I sold Peppa.  I remember everything. Mommy, why are we talking about AJ Goule by 9:00 at night?  Because I wore that same rapper for 6 years and people look through me every day.

Now you have a building with glass and marble and I wanted to see one thing.  See what you could have called me and I would have shown you anything you want. If I come as your mother, everybody will smile. I wanted to come as Agnodi.  So you sat on the ground outside my company to test my staff.

 For how long?  This is the third time.  Two weeks now. Nobody has ever asked me if I ate.  Two weeks.  My own staff walked past my mother for two weeks and said nothing. Walking past is not the problem, my son. This morning, somebody did more than walk past.  What did somebody do?  Mommy,  look at my face and tell me exactly what happened.

 A woman came down the steps with hot coffee. She told me to move. I could not stand. She counted to three. One, two. Then she lifted that cup above my head. Chitty,  she poured her coffee on you.  Mommy, are you telling me somebody poured coffee on you?  No, it did not touch me. A girl came from the queue and held her hand.

 Which girl? Was she staff? Mommy, tell me who this girl is and I will find her.  She was not staff. She came for an interview at 8:00 in your building. The coffee poured on her chest dead.  She did not shout.  She carried me away.  Carried you away to where? And the interview  she came for, what happened to it?  She missed it.

The doors closed while she  was carrying me to a bench outside.  She missed the interview for a woman she had never seen before in her life. And she bought me water and bread with her last 500 naira then tked home.   What is her name? [singing]  Mommy give me her name and I will call the office now.

 Amaka.   That is all she gave me. I asked twice and she only said amaka.  Amaka.  Do you know how  many people call Maka walked into that building this morning? Mommy,  then look for the one with a coffee stain on  a blue blouse. She is not small.  Not small. How?  Mommy, describe her properly for me.

What did the woman actually look like?  Very tall. Shoulders like a man that offloads trailers. She lifted me like a pillow. And her mother is on diialysis. She must find 160,000 by Friday.  By Friday. Mommy, it is Tuesday night. That is 3 days from this moment.  Sir, your driver dropped this from the office.

 The days reports from human resources department.  Leave it there.  Mommy, sit down and eat something. I will start looking tomorrow morning.  Do not only look for the girl, Chidi. Look at the building you have built. Chaka, it is me.  Are you awake?  I know it is Liz late. I just closed. Tell mommy the money will come on Friday.

 Tell her not to open the shop tomorrow. No, nothing happened. Something small happened at work today, but I handled it very well. A woman was sitting on the ground at our entrance. Beggars  chaka every single morning. You do not understand. I am the only person from Ojuleba on that whole floor. Everybody there went to school abroad.

If I  make one mistake, I am back in that shop. So when they look at that entrance, they must see marble, not somebody’s mother sitting down.  Incident report. Tuesday, entrance disturbance during scheduled interviews for head of facility security position. Candidate Amaka Ez disqualified  aggressive conduct at the entrance.

Physically assaulted a senior staff member. You are still awake. It is past 10.  What are you reading with that kind of face?  Mommy, the girl has a surname. It is written here in my own company’s report.  Written by who? Read it to me. Who wrote a report about that girl tonight?  The same woman with the coffee.

 She wrote that the girl assaulted her at the entrance.  Assaulted. She caught her wrist to stop hot coffee from landing on my head. I know that because she told me. Tomorrow morning I will hear it from a camera. Sir, this is camera 4, main entrance. Time stamp is 7:52 this morning.  Stop there.  Go back 10 seconds and play it again slowly. I want to see her hand, sir.

 See it. She only held the wrist. She did not push. She did not swing. The coffee went on her.  She released the hand herself.  Nobody separated them at all.  Correct. And she turned her back. Watch what she does for the next four minutes.  Play the part where the doors close.  I want to see your face at that moment.

 Sir, she looked at that door. She saw it was open. Then she carried the woman. Copy it.  Put it on the screen in my office first thing tomorrow morning before 8.  Good morning, sir. I got the message that you want to see me before 9.  Sit down. I read your report last night, the one about the entrance disturbance yesterday.

 Yes, sir. I wrote it immediately because I felt it was a serious security matter. Explain it to me in your own words. Start from when you came down the steps.  There is a beggar woman that has been sitting at our entrance for 2 weeks. I asked her politely to move. She refused.  So I raised my voice small. That is all.

 You raised your voice. And what was inside your right hand while you were raising it?  My coffee, sir. I was holding my coffee,  but I never got touched that woman at all. You never touched her  because a candidate stopped you. Is that what happened or not?  Sir, that candidate grabbed me  in front of everybody.

 That is why I disqualified her. [singing]  Look at the screen.  Camera 4, main entrance, 7:52 yesterday  morning. Watch your hand.  That cup is above her head. Nobody grabbed you.  Somebody cut your wrist, Vivian. 19 cameras in that building. Should I bring another angle or should I stop here?  Now, I want to ask you one question.

 Who  exactly do you think that woman is?  Sir, I do not know her.  She is just a woman that sits at our gate.  Her name is Enetio Conqu. She sold Peppa in Aigon for 6 years to train me.  That That is my mother sitting on the ground  in front of the building I built.  Sir, I swear I did not know.

 Please, sir, I did not know who she was.  That is the problem. Vivian, you did it because you thought she was nobody. Now bring  me her file. Amaka, application form, phone number, address, everything you collected. Vivian,  I said bring me the file. Why are you sitting down and in the floor?  So disqualified candidates are removed the same day.

 It is the normal procedure in my department.  Removed.  Meaning what exactly?  Did you throw a human being’s file inside a dust bin yesterday?  I shredded it, sir. Yesterday evening before I closed her form and her covering letter. So there is no address, no phone number, no way for me to reach that woman.  Sir, the agency that shortlisted her may still have her number in their own system.

   Then you will call that agency this morning and you will do it standing outside.  Outside, sir, please. My mother is not working.  I send money home every single Friday.  The woman you shredded also has a mother. Hers is on diialysis until Friday.  Musa,  walk her out  of this building.

 Same way you walked somebody out yesterday morning.  Musa, yesterday a woman knocked on that glass door. Tell me the truth about it, sir. She knocked at 8:42. She begged me for 2 minutes. I refused her. She did not shout. She did not push. Two men walked her off the property quietly. Did she leave any number, a paper, a name, any place at all to find her? Nothing, sir.

 She just walked down the steps. She did not even look back one time.  200 applicants, no photographs, no file at all, and  two days before that woman’s mother dies. Good morning. I want to sell this. It is bronze national competition 2014. Bronze  auntie. This is not gold. This one is netta with snow color on top.

 I know it is not gold but it is heavy. Weigh it and tell me something. 12,000. That is my last price. Nobody buys sports metal in this market. Auntie 12,000.  I lifted 105 kg for this thing in Abuja. Auntie, I am buying metal. I am not buying Abuja. 15,000 and that is final.  15,000. Count it.  And do not melt it today in case I come back.

 Auntie, everybody says that nobody has ever come back for anything in 22 years. 160,000 by Friday.  I have 15.  I need 145 more.  Good afternoon. I am looking for work. Anything today? Offloading, mixing, carrying, anything.  We are not taking women here. The bags are 50 kg each. Go to the other side. 50 kg. Give me one bag.

 If I drop it, I will leave without saying anything.  Okay, you can walk today and I am paying you 3,000, not five. 3,000. These men are collecting five. I am carrying the same bag as them. They are men. You should be grateful I even allowed you to stand on this site.  3,000. Fine. Give me the work. My mother does not care whose money it is.

 See this woman two bags asks. Where has she been since all this time?  Vivian, I need your staff identity card  and the office phone. Sir asked me to collect it. Take it. 9 years I gave  this company. 9 years in Gazian. One morning finished me. Did you call the agency like he asked?  He has been asking me since 2:00.

I called them three times. The number they have for her is switched off since Tuesday. Switched off. Is that all? Did they say anything else about that woman at all? They said the number belongs to a business center somewhere in Baraga. That is all. Baraga is very big. Did they give a street, a landmark, anything he can work with? Nothing.

 Ang Goi, tell him something for me before I go home this evening. Tell him I am not the only person in that building who walked past his mother.  Amaka, they have not called you. It is Thursday evening. Did they not say before Friday? Tomorrow is still Friday. Mama, big companies do their own things at their own time.

 Where did you go this morning? Your body is smelling of cement since yesterday. Amaka,  I went to greet a friend at Ilju.  Mama,  do not worry yourself about me.  Amaka,  where is your medal?  That nail has been carrying that  medal for 11 years.  I moved it, mama. I put it inside my bag so that dust will not spoil it.

 Bring it. Let me see it now. Amaka, bring that medal and put it in my hand. You sold it. Amaka, you sold the only thing you have ever worn in your life. It was metal, mama. 15,000 NRA of metal. Your machine does not accept metal.  Mama. Mama. Look at me. I am busy. Are you busy? COME OUT HERE NOW. COME NOW.

 She is stable for now. But the doctor says she must start diialysis tonight, not tomorrow.   Tonight? They told us Friday. The doctor said Friday when we came last week.  That was last week. Her potassium is very high tonight. We cannot wait until tomorrow.  Okay,  start it.

 Whatever it is, start it now and I will bring the money.  Madam, we cannot start without a deposit. 80,000 naira before they connect the machine.  15 from the medal, 3,000 from yesterday, three from today, 21,000 naira.  21. Adam, the deposit is 80. You are short by 59,000 naira tonight. I will bring it by morning. I swear on my mother’s life, I will bring it.

 Madam, I am not the one refusing you. Do you have any family you can call?  There is nobody. It has been me and her since my father died in 2009.  Then start calling anybody. Church, neighbors, your old workplace. 59,000 before 6:00.  Amaka, sleep more now. You have been canned that same money since 9 tonight. If I count it again, maybe it will become 80. That is what I am doing.

 I have 4,000 at home. In the morning, I will bring it. That is all I have.  It is midnight already. Tomorrow morning, we start from the entrance and we ask everybody there, every hawker, every conductor, every gate man on that whole street.  Somebody there saw where she went. Sir, it is 5 minutes past 6.

 The street is still empty. Nobody has opened yet.  Then we wait here until they open. Sunday, park the car and come and help us.  Sir, we have asked 11 people since yesterday evening. [music and singing] Nobody knows that woman at all. Then we will ask the 12th person and the 13th Sunday. I am not going anywhere.

Ma, please stay inside the car. Sir will be very angry if you stand in this cold. I sat on this ground for 2 weeks. Standing on it for 1 hour will not kill me.  Mommy, go back inside. We have people asking questions. Let us handle it, please.  You are asking the wrong question. You are asking who saw her leave that morning.

 What is the right question, mommy? Tell me and I will ask it right now. Ask who sold her something. She bought water and bread for me that morning.   But from where? Mommy, there is no shop on this street that opens before 8.  Not a shop.  A boy with a tray on his head. He was standing at that corner.

 A hawker. Sir, hawkers come out before 6. They are usually the first people here.  Sunday. Go to the corner now. Bring every hawker you see. I will pay them.  And Chitty, one more thing. She gave that boy 500 and refused her change.  She refused her change. And the same morning she had no transport money to go home.

 That is why he will remember her. Nobody forget somebody that dashes them fork.  I did not do anything. I am only selling water. Please, I have license.  Nobody’s arresting you. I want to ask you about Tuesday morning before 8:00.  Tuesday morning. Okay, sir. I was here from 5 like every other day. [singing and music]  A very tall woman bought what and bread from you. She gave you 500 naira.

Auntie.  Sir, I know that auntie. She told me to keep the 400 change. You know her? Do you know her name? Do you know where that woman lives? Her name? No, sir. But I have seen her two times this week carrying cement. Carrying cement where?  Speak slowly and tell me exactly where you saw her carrying cement.

 Iupu sir the new building near the bridge I cousin is working on that same site  sir Ilupe juice is 25 minutes from here if we leave before the traffic builds  enter the car  you will show us the place Sunday start the engine now  good morning I am looking for a woman that walked on this site here. A woman on this site women here the bags are heavy.

 Very tall woman. Big shoulders. She would have been carrying two bags at the same time.  Two bags at once. Ah that auntie she work Wednesday and Thursday both full days here. She did not come this morning. Yesterday night something happened. Her mother entered hospital. Which hospital?  Do you have her address? Do you have a phone number for her? No number.

 I wrote her address in my book before I paid her on Wednesday.  Amaka Ez 14 Idoro Street Bara. How much did you pay her per day? 3,000. Sir, the men collect five. But you know how it is with women. She carried two bags for 3,000. You will pay her the difference before Monday. Sir, the car cannot enter.

 The street is too narrow. We have to trek from here.  Good morning. Is anybody inside there? I am looking for Amaka.  Amaka is please open the door.   Who are you?  Amaka is not here. Are you from the landlord or what?  Not from landlord.  Ma, please. Where is she now? It is very urgent.  Her mother collapsed yesterday night around 8.

They carried her to the general hospital 9:00.  Muzzi, call the hospital now. Tell them whatever that woman owes this company.  Mommy, that is her. Look at the chair  by the wall. That is the woman.  I know it is her. Stand back, Chitty. Let me be the one to wake her.  Nurse, please.

 Is it my mother? Has something happened? I have the money coming now. It is not the nurse, my daughter. Look at my face properly. Look at me well.  Mama. Mama from the bench. Ah, mama. Look at you. Look at how you are dressed.  I have been looking for you since Tuesday night. Three days, my daughter. Three whole days.  Amaka, this man standing behind me is my only son. His name is Chidi Okono.

Okono. Okono. Like the building. Mama, please tell me it is that building.  It is that building. Okono Holings. That is my son’s company. Amaka, that is his name.  Mama, you sat on that ground. Your son owns  the whole building and you sat outside.  I sat there three times in two weeks and only one person asked if I ate.

 Madam, my name is Chidio Cono. I  have been looking for you since Tuesday night.  Looking for me? Sir, your own woman told your gate man to call police if I return.  I know.  I watched the camera 11 times.  I know what happened on those steps.  Then you know I held her hand.  If holding a hand is assault, I did it.

 You caught a cup above my mother’s head. Nobody in that building has called it assault since. Site is settled. Deposit and the outstanding. They are connecting her machine in 10 minutes.  Settled by who?  Madam who settled it?  Nobody asked me anything. Who paid that money?  The company paid it. 240,000 covering the next four weeks completely.

 Take it back, sir. Please take that money back. I did not come here for money. Take it back.  Madam, your mother is inside that ward. The machine is being connected. I know where my mother is. I have been sitting outside that door since 9:00. But I did not sit on that bench so that somebody would pay me for it.

 Amaka, listen to me. If your mother dies today, will your pride carry  her body?  Then it is a loan. Write it down as a loan, sir. I will pay it back. Pay it back with what?  You are carrying cement for 3,000 naira a day. Then give me work, not charity, sir. Give me the interview I came for on Tuesday.

That is the only thing you asked me for since I walked into this corridor.  3:00 this afternoon,  20th floor.  Come with the same letter you brought on Tuesday.  Ma, please ma, I have been standing here since 12:00 waiting for you. [singing]  Ma, I am begging you. Talk to your son for me. 9 years I served this company.

You stood over me with hot coffee. Do you remember counting? One. Two. I remember it. Ma, I did not know who you were. If I had known. I swear I would never. That is your whole problem, my daughter. You were waiting to know who somebody is first. Ma, please. My mother is not working. Today is Friday and I have nothing to send.

 I’m sorry for your mother.  I’m not sorry for you. Goi, let us go.  Miss Ez, sit down.  Tell us about your last position and why you left that place.  Warehouse security. Apapa 3 years. 19 staff under me. The company closed in November. Everybody left. This role manages an annual security budget of 90 million naira.  Have you handled budgets?  No madam, I have never handled 90 million naira.

 I will not sit here and lie.  You understand that is a serious gap for this position at this level. Mrs. Z,  I understand.  I can learn a budget. Give me six months on one person. to teach me.  One last question.  What would you do if a staff  member abused a stranger at our entrance?  I would stop the staff member first.

Then I  would sit with the person on the ground. Sit with them.  Miss Ezie, your job would be to remove them from the premises.  Sir, if a person is on the ground, the first question is whether they can stand. IBC takes  4,000.  You  brought it to the hospital before anybody else did.  Am I keeping it? Your mother is still in the hospital.

Where will you get money  now? The site owner paid me the difference. 4,000 naira for Wednesday and Thursday, both days.  Where did you go, Amaka? You left here in the morning without telling anybody anything.  Market  the man had  not melted it 22,000 to buy it back but he kept it  11 years that nail carried it do not remove that thing again in your life  madam good morning ma I did not know that morning please madam I did not know [singing] Musa, you told me the truth that day.

 You said you would lose your own job.  From today, the door opens at 8 and it does not close on anybody outside.  Auntie, do not mind him.  These people sit here every morning.  Just enter. Madam, please.  Papa. Good  morning. Have you eaten anything this morning?  Do not stand up. Sit down.

 My daughter, I’m not begging.  My son walks in a cage. I came to find him.  Two water and one bread for papa. And every morning from today, come and find me.