Time

I remember that day like yesterday 
Even i didn't know how vivid the 
memory was until today 
I was working with a media firm in 2011 
It was one of those private media outfits 
run by people who supply media content 
to TV stations 
We were working with a private producer 
for a tv show on the housing industry 
It was a poor paying job 
A prominent Nigerian of Northern origin 
had been invited to an event by one of 
the notable cement manufacturing 
companies 
It was a must "cover" event 
I had to be at the venue with my 
cameraman and the independent 
producer of the show 
Suddenly I felt that thing that we all 
feel when someone was talking about 
us in an unkind way 
It was very strong 
I looked around and saw them 
A guy and a lady 
The guy was my wife's colleague at her 
own media outfit 
He was telling the lady beside him 
something in whispers
and they were both laughing mockingly 
I had to look at my dressing to be sure 
I wasn't covered in shit 
What i was wearing wasn't expensive 
but it was neat 
I became very self-conscious as if i 
should just disappear 
We were all inside the blue roof of LTV 
It was not a very good day
After the event, the lady approached me 
She greeted me and said "I was told 
you are so and so's husband" 
She said it in a very mocking tone, 
as if "Wow, you were the one she 
settled for" 
It was an insult but one of those thinly 
veiled insults that you cannot do 
anything about
When i got home i told my wife about it 
I told her i don't know the lady but i 
didn't like the fact that her colleagues 
treated me with so much disdain 
We were all journalists at the time but 
they were working for a well known 
and better paying outfit 
They were right at the top of the 
food chain 
I was earning 30K a month where i 
was working at the time 
About 1/6th of my wife's earnings 
Of course, it made it seem as if i was 
less of a man to the shallow-minded 
It affected my confidence a little 
I remember dodging assignments 
where I will most likely meet
that particular guy that used me 
to wipe the floor of his vanity 
Thank God for "time" 
It came and slowly did its thing 
Today I was at a supermarket doing 
some shopping for Christmas 
The same lady approached me 
The one that laughed me to scorn 
that day in 2011 
She needed a letter of recommendation
 to work at a firm 
She needed it urgently and was on 
her way to plead with a senior colleague 
to write it for her when she saw me 
alighting from my car in front of the 
supermarket 
She followed me into the supermarket 
and asked me to please write it for her 
She desperately needed the job 
I listened to her and told her to get 
into my car i drove her to the office 
where she was seeking employment 
and told the MD she is a friend of mind 
She was given the job 
I congratulated her and turned to leave 
She said "Brother Gbenga, You don't 
know what i have gone through in 
the past 11 months. 
Thank God i met you today 
Thank you for helping me out 
I will like to apologize for what I and 
so and so did that day at LTV 
I know you must have forgotten but it 
stayed with me 
I have never met you before that day but 
I know we should have done better 
I asked so and so if he knows who you 
were because we have had cases of 
fake journalists at several events before 
that day 
He said he did and went on to say some 
unflattering things about you. 
We were just being silly 
I just wanted you to know i am sorry
about it. I laughed and said it doesn't 
matter 
And yes, it didn't 
Nobody in his or her right mind will 
mock me now 
The Holy Spirit has made me an 
adornment for his glory