Chapter 5: Shattered Triumphs

Abeni stared in disbelief at the message lighting up her phone: "Congratulations Abeni Oni, You have gotten the job!"

A squeal escaped her lips before she could contain herself. She had done it! All her hard work had paid off. This job would change everything - no more struggling paycheck to paycheck. She could finally help her mom get better care for her sister Ada.

Abeni's finger hovered over her best friend's contact. She couldn't wait to share the exciting news. But before she could make the call, her phone started ringing. It was her mother.

"Ma-" Abeni began cheerfully before her mother cut her off.

"Abeni, are you okay?" Her mother's voice was tight with fear.

Confused, Abeni replied "Yes, I'm fine! What's wrong?"

Her mother responded in Yoruba "Baba re ni..." {It's your father...}

Abeni's heart sank. "What has he done this time?" she asked warily.

"It's about his debts..." her mother began. "I got a call at the care home this afternoon..."

"Who called? Are you okay?" Abeni felt her joy vanishing, replaced by that familiar anger and stress her father always caused.

{I’m fne} "Mo wa dada," her mother assured. "I don't know who called. I hung up quickly. But it seemed like they wanted to talk to you."

Abeni groaned loudly. Her father had given out her number and dragged her into his financial mess yet again. She prayed it wasn't a huge amount this time.

"Mama, ignore any more calls," Abeni said. "I'll handle this. Just focus on caring for yourself and Ada."

After assuring her mother again, Abeni ended the call and slumped onto her bed, exhaling deeply. Her father had tainted this proud moment. She felt the familiar mix of anger, resentment and worry swirling inside. But she was determined not to let him ruin her celebration. Pushing thoughts of him aside, she picked up her phone again and dialled her best friends, ready to share the good news.

Abeni woke up, today was her first day working at the Haven bakery, and she couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. After quickly dressing in her uniform, she grabbed her bag and hurried out the door. As she walked down the busy street, it was cold, but the sun was out, shining. It almost seemed like a good omen for her first day at work.

She arrived at the bakery a few minutes early, and her boss, Mark, was already there, busily setting up the displays. Then she saw Emily and Sarah, the people she had met last week at the job interview. They both smiled warmly at her and came over to introduce themselves again. Emily showed her around the shop, explaining the different types of bread and pastries they sold, and where everything was kept. Abeni found herself liking Emily more and more; she was so friendly and helpful.

As the morning went on, Abeni started to feel more comfortable in her new environment. She helped customers find what they were looking for, and even made a few recommendations for their breakfast. The morning flew by, and before she knew it, it was already lunchtime. Emily took her to the backroom where they could eat their meal together. They chatted about their families, their hobbies, and their hopes for the future. It was nice to have someone to talk to, and Abeni felt grateful that Emily had taken her under her wing.

After lunch, business started to pick up again, and Abeni found herself juggling several customers at once. She managed to keep everything under control, and Emily was always there to lend a helping hand when needed. Then, around 3:30, a customer approached her register with an angry expression on his face.

"Excuse me!" said the angry customer, tnrowing his receipt at Abeni. "This isn't what I ordered!" Abeni looked at the receipt, then back at the customer, her heart starting to race. She took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. "I'm sorry you're having an issue with your order, sir," she said, "but I followed the instructions on the receipt exactly as it was given to me. Perhaps you could speak with the manager about this?"

The customer huffed and pointed a finger at her. "It was her fault!" he exclaimed, gesturing toward Emily, who was busy helping another customer. Emily glanced over, looking confused. "Excuse me?" she said, walking over to the angry man.

"People like her shouldn't be working here!" the customer snarled, looking directly at Abeni. Emily's eyes widened, her expression turning shocked and angry. "I'm sorry, sir," she said, her voice shaking with anger, "but that is absolutely unacceptable. You are free to leave the store and take your complaints elsewhere, but you will not speak to my employee in such a disrespectful manner. Now, please leave."

The man huffed, threw a few coins on the counter, and stormed out of the store. Emily turned to face Abeni, her expression softening slightly. "I'm so sorry about that," she said, putting a hand on Abeni's shoulder. "That man had no right to speak to you like that."

Abeni shrugged off Emily's hand and smiled weakly. "It's okay," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

Emily gave her a knowing look and led her back to the counter. "Listen," she said, lowering her voice, "that guy was out of line, and he's not worth getting worked up over. You did a great job today, and everyone here respects you. You're a part of the team now, and we've all got your back."

Abeni smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Thanks, Emily," she said gratefully. "I appreciate that."

The rest of the day went smoothly, yet Abeni's mood was still ruined. When it was 5pm and time for her to leave, she thanked Emily for everything and promised to see her tomorrow. As she walked out of the bakery, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. She was proud of herself for doing well on her first day and grateful for Emily's support, but the encounter with the angry customer still lingered in her mind.

Abeni ordered an uber, eager to get home and relax after her long day. As she waited for the car to arrive, she couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment despite the rude customer.

The uber arrived, and Abeni climbed inside, giving the driver her address. As they drove through the city, she looked out the window, taking in the sights and sounds. She was finally happy.