On a certain day, in search of a driving job, I met Mr. Azike, the primary contact I was recommended to at Enugu. I was happy that I had finally met a well-known person from my home town. "Life can be good again," I muttered to myself. After exchanging greetings, "Where is the letter?" he asked. I was perplexed as I could not access it.
To my surprise, he abandoned me to the tin air at that stadium, and we never met again. I sat down there for a long time thinking about what life has to provide for folks who have nobody to call for assistance. At that minute, I got a flash point—"my son, our God will always be with you as you go." That was my mom's counsel when I had to separate from her in 1957.
Courage came back. My strength was refreshed. I know my mum was praying for me. I remember God was with me. I pressed forth in my hunt for a job for daily bread. On a particularly nice morning at roughly 8:45 am, I observed an opening for an experienced driver. Remember, I had no experience, not even an hour as I had just attended a driving school with my certificate.
A pleasant morning, indeed. I marched immediately to the manager's office and stated to the gentleman claiming to be the manager, "Good morning sir, I am here for the job." Speaking in a foreign dialect, he added, "No more employment, and is that why you came into my office like that?" I gazed at my strange countenance. "I need the job, sir," I said. At that point, I was terribly hungry, and my eyes were as red as one who came out of a fire.
I left the job and found myself in an uncompleted building beside a market square. I can't believe this. I'm hunting for something to eat. They say an angry person is a hungry man. This is when I met a crew of wheelbarrow bushers. I was wondering how this person could earn # 2 (about $4) at the moment. Enquiring how to purchase a wheelbarrow, I was pointed to a person who owned dozens of them. After the whole setup, I took one and worked for that day. When I spotted some modest change, I was almost tempted to return the next day.
I am on a mission, I told myself. Be bold and never settle for less. I collected my certificate and walked up in quest of the great day, which I had never gotten before the civil war broke out.