I was the last of the nation service personnel to get here. When I got here, the first person I met was Rebecca. She knew the organization very well because according to her, she did internships here on different occasions before the national service. We became instant friends and started moving together.

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One morning we were in the office when a woman walked in. She had this air of authority around her that made it feel like she owned the place. Everyone around started sitting well and getting busy once they saw her coming in. I turned to Becky and asked, “Who is this one too?” She answered, “You don’t want to know her. You can mess around with everyone but not Madam Gifty. She’s the wife of the business owner. The director’s wife.”

I’d heard of her in the corridors and I’d learned that both husband and wife managed the business, but I didn’t think she wielded that kind of power that made people behave once they saw her coming. When she settled, the HR took me to meet her and she smiled broadly; “Penelope, I’ve heard of you. I hope you’re enjoying your stay so far?”

I nodded respectfully and added, “Yes Ma. Everything is well around here.” She dismissed us and said she was going to talk to me later.

Later, I was told I was going to report to her directly. I begged the HR to put me somewhere else. She laughed and said, “Oh she’s not a tiger. You’ll love her.”

Another day, the director entered the office. Young and graceful. If you were not told, you wouldn’t know Madam Gifty was his wife. He looked too young to have such a graceful wife. I kept my opinions to myself but Becky told me, “Don’t get close to him no matter what. If you want to be in the good books of your madam, don’t be seen talking to her husband.”

I kept that advice very well and did my best to avoid him. He too is a very jovial man. He played with everyone and made light jokes to reduce tension in the room. His wife isn’t like that. She’s very kind and accommodating but always strict to business. She would only smile with you when she’s interacting with you. She doesn’t go around making people laugh like her husband does.

Becky closed late often so I always had to leave her behind. She was also the first to come to work every morning because she lives not too far from the office. I felt she was doing a lot so she would be maintained after the service so I decided to learn from her.

One morning, I came to the office very early and saw the car of the director. I called Becky. I wanted to know if she was inside the office already. If she wasn’t, I would have waited for her outside so I wouldn’t be the only one inside the office with the director. I called several times but Becky didn’t pick up. I decided to go in regardless.

While opening the door, I saw the director coming from the washroom. The washroom is directly opposite the main door and the director’s office is on the left side of the washroom. So we met in the corridor and I greeted him and went straight to my cubicle. I saw Becky’s bag and her laptop on her table. That meant she was around. A few seconds after I’d sat down, her phone started ringing on her table. I stretched my neck to see who was calling and it was “Boss” calling.

I said in my head, “Where did this girl go that she left her phone behind?” I was even trying to step out to see if I would see her and then I saw her coming from the same washroom the director had exited a few minutes ago. I was like “Wait, what’s happening here? When did she enter that I didn’t see her?”

She saw me and smiled. I asked, “Where have you been? I’ve been calling your phone saaa.” She answered, “I’ve been in the washroom. I’m having a tummy upset.”

A few minutes later, the boss walked past our cubicle and looked through the glass and made a weird face. Throughout the day, Becky was restless. She was busy texting on her phone and would look my way and then continue. She had a call and went out to receive it and came back trying to explain away her mood.

I was also busy putting things together and hoping they aligned with what I witnessed in the morning. Becky had told me she would do everything within her power to be maintained after service so I asked myself, “Is that one of the things within her power she said she would do?”

I brushed that incident aside until not long ago, I came to the office on a Sunday to use the office internet. I got to the office around 8am, entered the building and Becky was seated at the edge of the director’s table while he was seated in his chair talking. His car wasn’t outside. I swear if I saw his car, I wouldn’t have gone inside.

Becky quickly changed position but I pretended I didn’t see them and entered our office. Her bag was there and her phone too. I called her phone just so she would know I called when I saw her bag.

She came back from the office looking guilty. I said, “I saw your bag and was calling to find out where you were. You also came to steal internet, right?” She smiled and said, “You know I live just around here so I come here often.”

I pretended so hard I was even surprised at myself.

The director’s wife is a good person and very professional. She likes people but not in a personal way. If you do your work well, she would praise you and even give you more to do. I think I like her so what Becky is doing with her husband is breaking my heart. It’s either I talk about it or I keep quiet. I chose the latter but my spirit won’t rest. Anytime I see them, my heart tells me I’m committing a sin by keeping quiet.

Marriage Through the Eyes of Millennials and Gen-Z

I have two options; talk to Becky herself and let her know I know what’s going on or talk to Madam Gifty about what Becky is doing with her husband, which I think is far-fetched.

I also want to be maintained here after service so I’m working so hard. It will pain my heart to see Becky maintained while I’m let go not because I didn’t work hard but because Becky scratched the director’s itch. So I’m asking, which way should I go? Who do I talk to, Becky or Gifty?

—Pene

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