Hushed Echoes

He got up and moved away from under the bridge, he trekked for a long time and it seemed as if it longer he walked the more distant the bus station became, he passed through a house and saw a notice pasted on the outside wall, he stopped to read.

He read aloud: “A washerman is needed here. Apply in person. ” He decided quickly to give it a trial since that was a means some money for his transportation if he could work and save for about three months.

He decided that was a better idea Instead of begging, the outcome of which he was not sure of, he moved forward and knocked at the gate of the building where he saw the advertisement.

“Who is there?” asked the gateman.

“somebody.” replied marco.

“Who is somebody? Or the person doesn’t have a name?” the gateman retorted and came over to open the gate.

“Yes! Who are you?”

“I just saw a notice here saying the owner is looking for washerman, so i want come apply”

” Are you a washerman?”

Marco ran his finger tip over the collar of his shirt and sneezed.

“Yes”

“So, fine man like is a washerman. Anyways, my boss is not at house now, but he will be back soon, just sit and wait for him.”

“Okay, thank you very much” marco said.

The gateman took another look at him and discovered that he had a bag with him.

“Why are you carrying this kind bag about, is it not work you are looking for? Why then even when you are not sure of getting the job you are already with your bag?”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Please my brother, it is a long story, do you have anything i can eat? Iam very hungry” asked marco.

“You are very lucky, I was about to eat when you knocked on the gate. Sit let’s eat together.”

The gateman brought a bowl of food and placed it in front of Marco, then, he went to get some water for him to wash his hands.

When they finished eating, marco was so grateful to the gateman.

“Thank you very much my brother, you save my life, if not I would have fainted with this kind of hunger”

” Don’t worry, just pray that my boss give you the work”

Marcolay on the bare floor to relax his body, his legs were already weak after trekking that long distance, as he lay the only thing that occupied his mind was how he was going to secure the job, In spite of the fact that he had little experience about laundry, he was rest assured that was indeed the easiest work anybody could do, since it did not require any special skills.

All that was essential was for him to wash the clothes clean and iron them properly, and this would eventually provide him with the money for his transportation back home after three months of service, Instead of going to beg for favour at the bus station which may eventually add to his already compounded problems.

The washerman job would save him the stress, his thought was cut story by the blaring of a car horn and indeed that was no other person than the boss.

The gate man rushed immediately to get the gate open, and slowly the man drove directly into the garage.

“Boss, welcome” the gateman greeted after opening the driver’s door for the man to come out.

“How are you?” the man asked.

“Fine Sir. Excuse sir, the washerman you are looking for has been waiting for you.” The gateman pointed towards his lodge.

“Call him to come.”the boss told him.

“Okay sir” the gateman, said and he rushed to call marco.

Marco had seen the man while he drove into the compound, he had wanted to go put immediately but he suddenly felt that might not be the right manner to approach him.

He was however very happy when the gateman came to call him and so he followed him to where the man was standing.

“Good evening sir.” Marco greeted.

“Evening! How are you?”

“I am fine Sir.”

“Are you a washerman?”

“Yes sir”

“How many years experience do you have?”

“Actually, I have never worked as washerman before sir, I Just want to start. I believe that i can do it very well.”

“Now, Tell me, what have you been doing since?”

Marco took a deep breath. “I haven’t found any, that is why am opting for this.”

“And you think you can fit into this job perfectly?”

“Very well sir.”

“All right. I will give you the job and you will be entitled to five thousand cedis every month” the man declared, trying to adjust his specs.

“Make it six thousand cedis sir, please.” Marco said solemnly.

“I can’t pay anything above that. So, you either take it or you leave it” the man snapped.

“Okay sir, I accept it”

The man lowered his eyes and looked at him squarely. “Listen to me attentively, there is one thing you have to know, if you destroy any of my clothes I will hand you over to the police because my clothes are very expensive. Your salary for one year can not buy any of the clothes. You understand?”

“Yes sir . I will be careful” marco replied.

“Where do you stay?” he inquired.

“I don’t have an accommodation sir” he replied.

“Then you can put up with my security man for the time being.”

“Thank you so much Sir”

“So, before I leave for work tomorrow morning, I will leave everything you are to wash with you. Moreover, you have to iron everything as soon as they are dried up. Okay?

” All right sir.”

The man ordered him to go back to the security lodge until the following day, marco was filled with delight that at last he had something that would earn him some money.

“So what , has he given you the job?” the gateman asked.

“Yes”

“You see, i told you that my boss would give you the work, but you have to be very careful, boss doesn’t joke with him clothes, he is very strict, If you spoil his clothes, he will deal with you brutally, If you see what he did to the former washerman, because he burnt his clothes while ironing, my boss got him arrested and Locked up in prison. My boss is wicked but if he is satisfied with your work he will reward you, that is why i don’t joke with my work”

” That’s all right, he just told me that and i think I would be very careful with him.”

“I trust you” the gateman remarked with laughter.

They chatted all through the evening, Marco so much enjoyed his company that he told him the story of his life.