The following morning by 4:30am, Michael was woken up by Uche, one of the boys.
When he got up, he wanted to complain but noticed he was the only one still in bed sleeping.
Uche gave him a broom to sweep the house and the surroundings, he grudgingly collected the broom.
He went out and saw that everyone was awake except the kids.
Uche went outside to continue washing Chief's cars and the other boy was fetching water from the big tank outside to the house for everyone to use.
The maid was in the kitchen preparing their breakfast.
Chief and his wife were busy with some entries on the invoice books.
Michael greeted Chief and his wife and went back and started sweeping the house.
Two hours later, they were all done with their chores and had eaten their breakfast. The boys prepared and left with Chief for the shop.
The maid took the kids to where their school bus would come and pick them up.
Chief's wife was mostly at home. She takes care of Chief's business when he's out of town. Michael was so excited as they left for the shop as that was his first day.
The boys were unrestrained with Chief. They talked about the happenings in the market the previous days.
Michael glanced through the window in awe.
It was like an adventure to him.
"Why was I even angry when Mama begged me to come to the city? See big big houses, fine fine cars everywhere see beautiful ladies and men well dressed and it's not like I'm dreaming," he thought.
He didn't join the conversation in the car with chief and the other boys because his mind was far away.
Others cared less about him.
When they got to the market, Michael was stunned.
The market alone was bigger than his village. It's made up of large space partitioned into shops.
Even though it was still morning, people were coming in their numbers.
The noise was gradually increasing. Horns of cars and buses, people exchanging pleasantries and reverberating rumble noise from the roller metal shutter doors of shops filled the atmosphere.
The shops in the market were big and stocked with varieties of items such as clothing, jewellery, household items, and so much more.
Everyone was busy arranging their items and waiting for prospective buyers.
When they got to the chief's shop, Uche opened it. It was larger than other shops that Michael had seen earlier.
Chief's shop was about three of those shops put together and was filled with different sizes and varieties of electronics.
"Chief Chief!!," one of Chief's shop neighbours hailed him on sighting him.
"Odogwu, how far."
"Fine."
The boys then greeted him.
"Chief you bring a new boy."
"Yes, he is one of us now."
"Ok. Welcome nna."
Michael thanked him.
The man and chief continued talking.
Michael was feeding his eyes with the contents of Chief's shop, he then turned to Uche.
"Is it only Chief that owns this shop?"
"Yes, any problem?"
"No."
"This man is very rich and still very humble. What was I even doing in the village all this while? This must be a golden opportunity for me," so I can take very good care of my mother and to make her proud he thought and grinned a little.
I'm
VINCENT
Son of a nobody