DARKEST DAWN 4

DARKEST DAWN

A story written by Oche Jeremiah.

EPISODE 4

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I was to resume duty the following day which was a Thursday. You can’t imagine my happiness and delightedness. I was the happiest. It was as if I just got married or won a jack pot. I had to dress in the best way possible because I know from experience that first impression matters a lot.

After dressing, I checked myself in the mirror. Wow. I was looking so cute. My first impression on my first day at work must and should be superb.

The joy was written all over me. I arrived work 7:12am. I was the first apart from the security officer who sleeps there.

By 7:30, staffs began arriving. I was to pick my employment letter from the secretary's desk by 7:45am. I anticipated.

By 7:45, I went to her desk to pick up the letter. Her attitude and reaction was something else. "What can I do for you please" she asked.

That sounds so insulting considering the fact it was just yesterday I came for my interview and it seems she’s already forgotten me so soon.

I was taken aback by that question but I thought probably she has forgotten because of the customers they've had to deal with the previous day.

I told her I came for my employment letter so I can resume work that morning.

I was surprised and shocked to the bones when she looked at me and said "I'm sorry, there is no employment letter for you"

You're joking right??? Come on ma, the boss asked me to collect my employment letter this morning and immediately resume work. Please give it to me. Stop pulling my legs please. It’s not a good thing at all.

She was adamant and said I should please leave before the boss comes. “There is no employment for you in this firm” came her strong reply.

I thought I was dreaming. I wish I could just wake up from this slumber. Lord, this is not happening.

I was already sweating when the manager walked in.

He was furious when he saw me. He ordered I leave the firm's premises that same minute or he would call the security on me and probably hand me over to the police for trespassing.

No explanations, no elucidations, no talking, no talking to me about nothing at all. He just asked me to leave.

I tried to talk to the boss but he threatened to call the security on me. This is strange. I picked up my bag and left the firm. As I left, I saw the boss going into his office. I wanted to follow him but a security man was already there with me. He held me and said "Mr., don't do anything foolish. Just go out now"

I was heartbroken.

I was forlorn and distraught.

I was despondent and miserable at this point.

I felt like dying. Why did they raise my hopes and just dashed them like that???

What have I don’t to deserve this kind of treatment from them?

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Seriously, at the interview I had with him, I've come to like Anthony already. He performed well. He had all we needed to move our software department forward. I even told him to return the following day to resume work after collecting his employment letter which I typed myself and forwarded to my secretary. I was happy and jubilant that I’ve seen someone from my constituency that will make my heart warm and that we can even gist together sometimes.

I had to act very fast. I had to rethink giving him employment in my firm, but something happened along the line.

I had a terrific and terrifying dream the previous night where someone came to me and said "the fire and the smoke are life's extinguishers. You can't survive the choking of the smoke, neither can you survive the heat of the flame of the fire. Anthony will burn your firm. He will choke life out of it if you allow him. You must chase him away otherwise, YOU ARE RUINED!!!!"

I woke up with a shout. Those were the words the faceless man I saw in my dream told me. I will be ruined if I employed Anthony. That was strange. It looked so real. I was sweating profusely while my wife was asking me what the problem is.

I shared the dream with my wife and after praying, she suggested I chase him away. That the dream I saw was a revelation about the so called person I have employed. I saw sense in her suggestion because it truly pointed to it. I had to call my secretary very early that morning not to give the letter to him as I have told her the previous day. Rather, I asked her to chase him away from the firm as soon as possible. I don't want my firm to crash. I have to be careful. Probably, that was why I had such a revelation.

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After my ordeal at the firm, I quickly ran to my pastor’s office. I explained everything that befell me that morning. The disappointments, the harassment, the embarrassment, the disgrace and shame I was put through. My hopes raised high and eventually dashed like you would break a clay pot. I was really depressed already.

He heard me like a Father and encouraged me to continue praying. He encouraged me with soul lifting words that my breakthrough was near and that God will intervene in my matter in such a profound way.

To be frank, all he was saying just fell on deaf ears. I was too confused and upset that I could not pay rapt attention to what he was saying. This was the tenth attempt. I’ve been called by so many firms for employment but after successful interviews, it will look like I’ve gotten the job but then a shocker awaits me as I try to resume. It’s either I was fired the very first day or chased away that I have nothing to offer. What is wrong with my life was my greatest question that I seriously sought answers for.

I didn't even know when tears began flowing already from my eyes. I was so heartbroken. I was so discouraged. I was so disappointed with my ordeals.

How can I finish school as one of the best and yet I am struggling like I was some helpless illiterate with nothing to offer. My life just kept playing in my mind. The pain of not been able to fend for myself or my family was driving me crazy. I can't even call home. What will I tell them I've been doing in town without finding a job? My other siblings who finished after me are all established already and here I am wallowing.

Pastor sensed I wasn't talking and I wasn't paying attention again. My face was just up thinking anyhow when he touched me and said "Bro Anthony, if God could help David in his moment of challenge, He will surely help you".

I just staggered and stood up, ready to go home, accepting my fate.

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Bro Anthony is a strong Christian. I've been his pastor for over 5 years now. He's one of the seasoned brethren in the church. He was a graduate with a marketable course. Each time I look at how cheerful he is on a normal day, I can't help but appreciate God's goodness upon his life. His life has been a season of bitter experiences. From job hunting to job disappointments. He's been practically running from pillar to post. After I got the call from him the previous day that he has been employed by a computer firm, I was so happy. We planned meeting that day but when the good news came, our joy just overflowed that I forgot our appointment. He was to resume today to start officially and collect his employment letter when he was thrown out without any vital explanation. If he had done something wrong, it would have been best to tell him so he could amend his ways but he was not told anything at all. That’s wickedness.

He came by my office so shattered. I've never seen a man cry the way he did. It was like a child was crying in my front. It's so clear the brother is already frustrated. He has prayed, cried, quoted scriptures but nothing has come out of it. I believe so strongly that God will wipe his tears in a way that will shock everyone. I am so confident and as his pastor, I want to get some brethren so we can start serious prayers for him because I can sense the hand of the enemies in all this.

What became of Brother Anthony?

How did it go for him?

Was he able to overcome what was overcoming him?

What will be his next line of action after this major disappointment he has experienced?

Find answers to this in DARKEST DAWN EPISODE 5.

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