Chapter 7 Life in the city

Mom took a while before she emerged with a pack of something which she hid behind her. "What's that mommy?" I asked in excitement.

"Well, well," she said. "It's a special thing I saved for a long time to buy for you. Hope you like it?" She brought forth her hands and I nearly passed out at what I saw. My mouth hung open before I jumped excitedly. It was an iPhone, I never dreamt of this all my life. I took the pack and looked more closely. "IPhone 11 Pro Max," I repeated after reading it. I was so happy.

"Thank you mom, I really appreciate it. I'm so grateful." I couldn't count the number of times I said that because I was truly happy. Wondering where mom got the money from, I recalled she told me she had saved for a long time. I believed it because she wouldn't get the money to buy me such an expensive gift at once. That made me feel special, if they couldn't buy themselves an expensive android but got one for me, it meant I was special to them.

"I added some percentage to get you that." Dad said with a little jealousy, I knew he wanted me to show gratitude to him also. "Thanks darling dad," I jumped and hugged round his neck. "You're welcome sweetie," he replied with a kiss.

"Let's settle down for lunch." Mom was now setting the table, she was done cooking.

"Our last lunch." I dragged the statement with unhappiness showing on my face. It was really sad to leave now I was getting more and more bonded in love with my family.

"I've told you not to worry girl, it's for good." My dad assured me, with this my spirit got boosted. "Thanks dad."

We sat down to eat, and my three young siblings came and joined us. They giggled at seeing the delicacy mom prepared for us, turkey soup with dough. Vegetables and stew were added. Such food was a rarity in our home, mom prepared it as a sendforth for me. I hurriedly ate it, feeling my time wasting away as I lingered, reluctant to go have my own life.

Soon we were done with the meal, I stood up thanked mom and dad for everything, I kissed my siblings goodbye. Rolling my luggage, with my new phone inside it, I left home. "Use the phone to enhance your new business," mom shouted as I walked through the narrow lane that led out of the small detached house. "Design with it baby, I love you." Dad added after mom.

"We all love you, be a good girl out there." Mom and dad chorused, I think my younger siblings also joined. I turned around to gesture a kiss and waved. "Love you too. I'll make you proud."

The road was busy as it was noon, so I stopped a taxi and boarded it. "Lours Street," I said.

Lours street was like many kilometers away, a one-hour, thirty minutes drive with no traffic or obstacles on the way. I arrived there just as expected, the road was free.

With my luggage, I strolled slowly down the street, it was filled with busy people going up and down. Some others were busy with their businesses, it was really a settlement for low-born, a commercial area as well. I looked around checking if I could find anyone to ask where I could get an accommodation. No one seemed to be paying attention to me. I wasn't discouraged either.

I continued until I found a woman selling some artifacts just like what I desired to do. She seemed quite friendly which moved me to try her out. "Hello there," she called thinking I was interested in her wares. "No," I shook my head. "I need some accommodation, I have money to pay. New here, can you help me?"

"Well, I can. Would you love to live in my house? Living alone and needing some companionship."

"No," I smiled. "I need to live alone. Have been living under my parents for years now, and I just want to start practicing the act of living alone. Can we be friends? I need some assistance here."

"Sure girl, I'll be friends with you."

"Thanks so much," I moved closer and hugged her. She hugged me tightly. "Another mother-figure," I said in my mind.

"We will get you a house today, how many rooms do you need?"

"One, am I large enough to live in more rooms?" My joke aroused laughter in my new friend and the young lady she referred to who would join her to find me a house for me.

"When are we going? Sorry to disturb your business." I didn't want anyone to feel as if I was forcing them to do something for my needs at their own expense.

"Not now baby, if you can wait a little while. I'm waiting for a certain customer to come pick his products."

"I will wait." She brought out a stool and offered it to me. I sat down on it, "Thank you," I muttered. My new friend was actually friendly and kind. "What's your name?"

"Laura and yours?"

"Ava."

"From where?"

"My hometown in the village."

"Ooh, you're coming from the village?"

"Yes." I wondered what she meant but I suspected it was not a mockery because of the nice way she said it. "You really need to be smart and careful here, some of the homeless around are fraudsters and thieves. They do that for a living."

"Really, I hope it's actually safe here?" My mind went back to the robbery incident my parents suffered from seven years ago where all their savings were gone in one night, when some armed robbers came around our environment. I feared such a thing happening to me here, my savings were the last and if such left me, I would be left with nothing.

"Sure, you don't really need to be afraid. Not really armed but they play on your intelligence, that's why you need to be smart and smart you should be all the time. Know when someone is tricking you and when they are telling the truth."

"Ooh, I get you now. Thanks for the info."

"Ok, once the customer comes and picks his wares I will take you to an agent I know. There are free houses where I live and you need to pass through the agent to meet the landlord."

"Hope we will see him at this time?"

"Yeah. He works from home, so you'd find him anytime you go to his house."

"Alright, that's better."

Five hours later, a middle-aged man approached Laura and she handed some portraits and a bouquet of sweet-scented roses to him. He handed her twenty euros and she thanked him.

After he left, Laura packed her things. "Are you closing business now, it's still day?"

"Yes darling, I have a date by three. After I show you to the agent, come Linn." She gestured and her friend followed. We strolled some meters into a field that was shaded with trees, for a while we were out of the sun's burning scorch. "The rooms are really okay, you would love them." I smiled in reaction. We moved on.

After a few minutes, we arrived at a small bungalow situated in the center of the environment, it stood alone. "Is that the agent's house?"

"Yes." Laura walked ahead of us. She met with the agent, and I was presented with a variety of rooms to which I chose one. That was the best for me, it was painted baby pink and white inside while the outside was plain white. These two colors were my favorites, especially pink, which was the first favorite color. I felt calm and settled as I walked around investigating my new house. "I really love it," I said to myself.

Laura, Linn and the landlord were glad as I loved this particular one. "How much is this?" I prayed it would just be within my budget, I didn't wish a high cost to make me leave this nice settlement.

"Eighty euros per year, approximately seven euros a month."

It was just as I expected. "Perfect!" I screamed, smiling.

"Are you ready to pay now or you're with advance payment?"

"Don't worry, I have the total payment with me." I took out eighty euros from my bag and handed it over to the landlord, there he wrote a receipt for me and the issue of accommodation was settled at least for a year.

Furnishing, buying some household items and clothes for myself were left. Laura persuaded Linn to assist me do that. It was a successful one.

"I need to learn this act from you Laura, this' what I want to do." I informed my new friend, going to stay with her and provide assistance in selling her wares was the best thing I could do in preparation for my intended business. Laura was okay with my request, she helped me with the useful information I needed.

"Can you draw and paint or do you want to learn it as a beginner?"

"No Laura, I just need more knowledge on the marketing aspect. Designs was my add-up course in high school. I have produced a lot of portraits but I left them behind at home so they would use them in remembering me. It's just there to decorate the whole house." Laura gave me a warm smile at my confidence.

"Good one though, the marketing aspect is not really hard. You just need to be smart and able to persuade customers to choose your products over others. With these two qualities, you're good to go."

I felt a bit relaxed on hearing this. "You can start your business tomorrow."

"So soon?" I was amazed. I imagined the idea of beginning a full life three days after arriving in my new area of residence.

"Yes, as long as you know how to produce nice portraits already. Nothing much." She gestured with her hands. When I started my short apprenticeship with her, I realized I had not much to do. While she persuaded potential customers and made some compromises, I was picking all the necessary facts I would need in my own business.

I started with the sales of flowers then used it to get customers for portraits. Lours Street was really a commercial street, there was nothing you would sell which would not attract patronage. On my first day, I had about twenty-one customers coming to buy flowers and an amount of ten euros to call profit. I had started on a good note, more good things I believed were coming my way.

I made a post about my artistic skills on my social media channels in the evening as I finished dinner. I felt moved to do this because I wanted to attract more clients especially for portraits. "I'm interested," a comment notification popped on my screen. My heart leaped for joy. It's my first customer!

"Was he waiting for me?" I wondered. I clicked on his profile pic. A handsome young man in black suit looking like a wealthy CEO came up. He's so charming that I forgot the actual reason that prompted me to make the post. Laughing at my foolishness, I brushed away the crush I started feeling for this cute stranger.

No, such a man wouldn't love me, he's for models and actresses. I'm an ordinary, unsophisticated poor girl. Even though I dream of getting the attention and heart of a hot and wealthy guy, I believe this' an illusion.

"What do you need Sir?" I rapidly asked, I can't let inner feelings stand in the way of selling my products. Instead of hoping to have him as mine, I ought to feel privileged having him as a client. By the mere look of his profile pic, he's a VIP, one that can boost my business.

"Why call me sir?" He typed back immediately.

"That's how I address male customers," I lied. The main reason I called him Sir is because he deserves to be addressed as one.

"Well, okay. Where is your business located so I can come there tomorrow. Your samples are really captivating, I love them." I smile to myself as he makes this compliment.

"Thanks. 16 Lours Street in front of the Mike Lawson's Paint Store. I actually painted them a year ago in high school."

"Oh, you just graduated? I will track my way there tomorrow. You're really beautiful."

Oh God! Did he care to look at my profile, is he feeling the same crush I have for him? No, no, no, this' too soon. I can't stop blushing.

"Thanks," I immediately typed and clicked send. Taking some minutes to reply would make him think I'm blushing or thinking about what he just said.

"Anyway till tomorrow. I have some business proposals to attend to today. See you tomorrow." The thought of him being a CEO comes up again, you could detect them from a mere analysis of their appearance though I don't always judge by appearances.

"Alright." I added a smiley face accompanied by a handshake emoji to make it look more professional.

He went offline as the green notification light signifying active status on top of his profile goes off. I feel prompted to check up more than his profile picture, perhaps I'd know much about him from here.