Memories 3

' Mommy, there is this new company in the city. I saw it one day while coming back from school '. She paused as though to recollect something. ' — it's more like a group of companies, with its branches in the 36 states of the federation. They deal in textile production, breweries, building materials, and other things, I cannot place my hand on right now. They have more than a hundred staff. My friend and some of my colleagues were posted there for their industrial training and there a number of them were asked to work after rounding up their training. Mommy, please let me work there. I learned they receive more than 100, 000 naira salary every month. The least pay is about 30,000 naira. Mommy, the money will help us a lot We could get a bigger shop, one in the town, a big one where we could buy in bulk and no petty goods. We could make a good sum of money '.

After her words, Olivia had expected her mother to speak, but the woman with gray hairs growing at the edges looked at her with eyes narrowing. Her words had touched her in a way. To know that her daughter was willing ever ready to support the family financially was something.

She had used up her savings and even borrowed loans just to see her children go through the higher institution ad out. Edward had graduated about a year earlier and Olivia was in her second year. They both were making her proud. She had done her best to live independently of her family and her husband's. Though she was poor, she was content. She had trained them on her own and now hearing that Olivia was willing to help the family made her happy but in a way sad.

Her children were not meant to work while they were under her roof, while she was still the one taking care of them. They were meant to work for themselves only, to make money for their future, and not to handle her responsibilities. Catering for the family was her duty and her obligation.

Pressing her lids together and distorting her face, she pleaded more, gaining a burst of laughter from her mother. Olivia opened her eyes to see her mother's forefinger at the tip of her nose. A light poke was what she received next. ' Fine then '. She stated. ' As long as you keep the large part of the money for yourselves, it is fine. I won't be needing the money from you dear. Just take care of yourself and save the rest. You must still eat my food and take provisions with you when you are going to school, okay? '.

Olivia blinked at her mother's words. She was elated, happy, joyful, and glad, the feelings were indescribable. Her mother had just granted a request that meant a lot to her. She could work, and send money to her mother for her upkeep. She could pay her fess without her mother's support and get to save for herself too. The joy. And the house she had promised to build for her mother, she could at long last build it. They would leave this marketplace and get a bigger store. Her mother would sell both fresh and stale foods. They could employ workers for the farm, get bigger land for it and get machines that would process the harvested products. She could not but only stare at her mother speechless.

' Olivia '. Her mother called in concern. ' Are you okay?. Is anything the matter?. Baby, is anything the problem? Olivia..... '.

And before she could ask again Olivia jumped and hugged her.