Fourty One!
By YoungLawd, DaTeacher
(Based on a true story...events,dates and names have been either modified or fabricated for thorough confidentiality)
Part 3
Alpha stared at the paper trying so hard to keep his nerves checked...inwardly however, a swarm of memories was forcing its way to his mind's eye
(Flashback 4 weeks ago)
Phone rings
Alpha picks it up...
On the other side he hears a voice, a familiar voice, he swallows the excitement he could feel creeping up
'Alpha darling!' The female voice calls 'how are you doing dear?'
Although she is way older than him, he couldnt help feeling some degree of affection for her.
'Yes aunty i am fine. I just woke up however' he answered while waiting expectantly
'Big boss you are....' (she laughs) 'I know you applied for internship at the pharmacy, Lab or Labour Ward a week ago, you and your friend, umm.. the cashier Mr Dam however is taking his leave next tomorrow and as you have experience in his type of work, i suggested your name to the secretary and she consented to have you step in. Would you like to replace the cashier for 30days and get paid at the end of it?'
Alpha could not believe his prayers have been answered (well not completely because it was the two of them, him and his friend).
How can he help his friend get some work and possibly get paid as well
Difficult times... the corona pandemic and all that
'Are you there darling?' The voice interrupted...
He suddenly had an inspiration
'Yes aunty that would be lovely...as you well know, it had been my friend and I who applied. We are both second year nursing students and this practical aspect would help greatly but as i am selected for the Cashier's replacement, can my friend also work at the Lab maybe yunno..please'
He held his breath and the sweet voice hastily answered
'Yes Yes Alpha that's no problem but he wouldn't be paid because we have alot of interns already alright'
Alpha knew his friend would appreciate it so he thanked her and quickly dialed his number...
'Likkle boy!' (Clicking his tongue) 'get up and thank the Lord' Alpha laughed
'Ma geeee!' Ken replied evidently just from sleeping 'always fam always. What's popping?'
Alpha relayed the whole story to him and as expected, Ken took it well and was ready.
The next day, Alpha decided to go to the clinic taking Ken with him so as familiarize himself with the Hospital Manager Application right after making his 'peace giving tour' to the pharmacy where his mentor works, the antenatal room where a wonderful older woman works, a great help indeed she has been as she used to give Alpha cash every end of week for support, lastly the Lab where he introduced Ken to the Technician who also used to be of great help to Alpha when he worked there first.
All was settled except that when he reached the Cashier's office for his training, Mr Dam told him that he owed the clinic D5000 which he would pay back at the end of month.
He begged Alpha to keep it between them and that all he needs to do is take D5000 from every new day's sale and add it to the previous day's before taking the money to the Accountant's office for auditing.
Alpha accepted...
He also informed him that, money can't be kept in the safe for more than 3 day's sales and he also gave him the key to the safe but not for the cash box.
Mr Dam reassured Alpha that the Junior Accountant, Mr Bah would help him through any difficulty.
Alpha took the one key Mr Dam gave him for the office and another smaller one for the safe before Mr Dam left apparently letting Alpha complete the day
A week after their appointment...
Office phone rings at 13:47pm
'Hello Fam you there?' Ken's voice spoke
'Yeah come over' Alpha replied
He hung up and clicked his way through the day's total cash on the system and counted the money he has in the cash box.
As always, there was surplus.
Smiling, he separated the surplus from the actual cash and with some rubber bands and a blank paper, he labeled,wrapped and kept the cash in the safe
Making a mental note to remove D4400 to add to the one for yesterday
Alpha marveled at how inteligent he really was that he could beat the system and that he could actually take as much as he wanted but somehow, his conscience made him take little
He hoped that Mr Dam might be happy that he has cut the money he should pay back from D5000 to D4400.
Things were going well now for him and his friends
They went home with atleast D200 each and for some crazy moments, Alpha actually wanted to be a cashier.
Two weeks gone by
His conscience grew weary of him and now Alpha raised his bar higher
He deliberately took up to D1000 which he again split into two with his friend
Sometimes he doesnt know how the surplus reaches that amount but he always made sure he counted thoroughly
He made sure he helped Mr Dam also
From D4400 now his debt was just D2500 that's where he decided to draw the line
'He can pay for himself now' Alpha explained to his friends one evening as they went to the beach
To talk about work seemed really interesting and somehow they didnt feel it was a big problem for them to take the surplus
'A goat eats where it is tied' is the African saying that keeps his mind relaxed after having a good laugh at it
During one of their 'bromance', Alpha related to them how very 'far back' his family and the clinic go
'From my primary school days guys' he was saying
'My dad made friends with all of them their and even after he passed off, they continued giving us free health care service so really i am always happy to be there because it's also the place where i got inspired to become a nurse after completing high school...i wanna work for them after college yunno..they're..they're like family'
He sipped some water to calm himself as he was becoming emotional now
Coincidentally, Family by Popcaan played
They laughed and each chorused in his bizzare manly voice
End of flashback
Alpha sat up straighter and felt his heart pumping hot blood through his vessels
Surely they realise i can't pay for this even though i accept that it was negligence but i would tell them to check the cctv before this becomes final
'Dont the cctv cameras work' he blurted out
Alpha didnt know what it was but they all looked at each other before the Accountant, Mr Kort, spoke 'Alpha the cctv might not be in working condition and this isn't going to get any better if you start implicating others is it? Your office, the Cashier's office, has only one key so' he added with a smug appearing on his square face.
Mr Bah nodded fervently and added 'it happens in the banks also. A fellow cashier comes in to another's cubicle, steals and shuts up about it'
'Yes yes!' The MD began his tale too. 'We had a cashier here once Lamo. That boy stole D30000 but his family paid it back for him after the police arrested him. Initially he was telling everyone who listened that he was innocent but later on...' (he laughed) 'he confessed'
Alpha wasnt stupid.
He knew all these where what they were, Tales, Tales of the Caribbean you might add.
The time for being calm has elapsed 'if you dont check the cctv Mr Kort, i am paying back nothing!' Alpha spoke with emotion and walked out of the office
He definitely felt emotional
The place he considered home
He cant cry!
'My tears are precious and little therefore i would save them for another painful loss(death) or important welcome(birth)'
He crossed the reception hall where he mumbled greetings to the cleaners who out of curiosity, sat there to hear of the situation
As soon as he sat in his office fumbling with a piece of paper, one of the cleaners entered the office and came straight to talk to him
'Heh' she exclaimed hands akimbo looking right at him 'this is serious Al. Asepe was telling us what she heard happened..' she punctuated each bit of sentence with tiny pauses apparently waiting for him to explain but he felt no obligation to at that moment
He didnt care of what he was known as, the respectful shy young man.
'I know a marabout. He is a very accomplished sorcerer too. If you want i can make him prepare something so that we would know who took this cash. To free your name ofcourse' she quickly added as Alpha made to stare at her
'I don't believe in those things aunty' Alpha answered
'Yes yes but still arent you scared of what might happen if this goes to the higher administrative department?' She asked conspiratorially
'No' Alpha answered truthfully 'i did not take the money and...' at that moment his phone rang and he picked it up
'Hello Alpha!' It was Mr Dam, the Cashier on leave. 'I heard what happened. What are they saying?'
Alpha was happy that he called and he summarized what was written in the letter and at the corner of his eye, he saw the cleaner sneak out(probably going to relate this new piece of news)
'Hmm that's terrible. You see how terrible this place is boy? How can they expect u to repay this money? But dont worry i have a marabout who would take care of all this. I shall call by 6pm today okay..' he hung up before Alpha could reply
He also doesnt trust me
The cleaners too dont
Who else?
Panic built inside of him as his mind played a weird scene for him
There he was in a speed boat with a bag full of cash and his little brother while back on land, his face was on every news and his name on every lip
Thief
Thief
Thief
Part 4 coming up
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