Tammy was everyone’s favorite in the organization.

A young university graduate who had just secured an enviable position as the personal assistant to the Director of Operations, it was as though that office was divinely chosen for her, not just for her own gains but for the sake of the director’s sanity. 

Paul Arisa, the director, was a highly irritable grey-haired man in his 50s. It was always a wonder to the employees how he rose to that position, especially since his interpersonal skills were not worth emulating. He raised his voice at the slightest provocation, he nagged continuously, and he was difficult to please but any time he was overcome by one or more of these negative human traits, Tammy was his soother. Everyone in the company knew and whenever they felt the tension, you will hear someone whisper across the office hall towards Tammy’s workspace, 

“David, it’s time to play the music for Saul.” 

It was an office joke, culled from the biblical story of David and King Saul, when David was called to play some music for Saul to help him deal with the evil spirits that constantly took over his emotions; Tammy being David and Mr Arisa, Saul. 

“Tammy, make sure you take D-O with you whenever you decide to leave this company, please. Nobody can calm him down like you do. I do not know how you do it, honestly, because you do not even say a word when you show up in his office. Just one look at the you and the demons start bowing, one after the other.”

Tammy burst out laughing. Those words came from Jamike, her colleague. He was a regular victim of D-O’s shouting sessions.

“I do not know if I can ever do anything to please that man. He constantly finds faults in everything I do. The other day when we hosted the meeting for Crobb’s Bank, I walked into the hall without my tie. D-O almost ripped the rest of my clothes off my body. I had taken the tie off because we were lifting some heavy bags into the hall. He said that was not enough reason for me to ‘undress’ ”, Jamike said sacarstically. 

Then he continued. “Can you imagine? Please, who, in their right senses, will have a tie on while lifting a heavy load? 

Tammy laughed again. “I hope I don’t get into his trouble one day. You know, as they say, it is the one who is loved most that gets the worst punishment”, she said to Jamike. “I cannot imagine being yelled out the way he does to you or madam Eucharia. He has no respect for grey hair.”

Madam Eucharia was one of the event managers in the company. Without a proper formal education, she had risen through the ranks, starting off 15 years ago as a cleaner. The office grapevine has it that the reason behind her promotions was because of her stature. Madam Eucharia, though in her mid 50s, had the physique of a runway model and since the company preferred not to outsource their concierge and server jobs, the only way they could stop her from quitting after working as a cleaner for 10 years, was to promote her. That way, she can take up concierge roles, especially whenever they had to host any event. 

“Madam Eucharia is obviously not a young girl and she works really well, always smiling, never complaining, yet D-O would yell at her carelessly and in our presence. If I were in her shoes eh….”

As Tammy wante to release the threat words hanging from her lips, Jamike snapped. 

“Oh please don’t even go there. You are a younger version of Madam Eukay. You will not do anything! You are only lucky D-O likes you. Just pray that you never offend him.”

Again, Tammy tried to defend her ability to put D-O in his place, but they were interrupted by Madam Eukay’s noisy footsteps walking down the hall into her office. They were unique. 

“Jamike, if you’re in there, please come over to my office. I need help with final preparations for Saturday’s event.” 

“Yes ma”, he replied and turned to Tammy, 

“duty calls. D-O may be evil, but I do not have another job yet so let me focus on this one and give it my best. We will chat later. You still owe me some gist o, remember?”

He winked at her. She stuck her tongue out in response. Tammy and Jamike had a good work relationship; they both understood each other, worked well together, so much that sometimes, Madam Eucharia would tease and call them “office husband and wife” or “my office twins”.

Tammy strolled back into her cubicle. She also had some paperwork to complete for Saturday’s event. It was going to be a big one – a car and furniture show. As usual, she was expected to take up a concierge role alongside Madam Eucharia, Jamike and some of the operations staff. Tammy loved those events. It was an opportunity for her to meet people and hang out with her colleagues outside the office environment, especially during breaks or lunch time. Madam Eukay always had something humorous to say, something to tease or joke about. 

As she cleared her desk for the day, she decided to plan her weekend on paper. It was a Friday and since the event was going to take place the next weekend, she knew she had a lot to do before that day. 

“Laundry, get my hair and nails done, run some errands for mom, pick up gift for Mickie’s birthday, church on Sunday…..whew! We will see how this goes. My hair and hails are top priority though. I cannot afford to show up for next week’s event looking like this.” 

She tried to look through the glass that separated her cubicle from D-O’s office, to catch a glimpse of her hair. 

“Naaaaa! I have to fix you tomorrow”, she said, talking to her hair. She laughed. “Isn’t it strange the kind of weird things we do when we are alone? Imagine talking to my hair. If I had a husband, I will be talking to him about my hair instead. Hmmmn. One would think that all these events we have hosted so far this year would fetch me a man, but no. It is the same thing every time. They walk up to me, chat, take my number and it ends there, not even a follow-up call. Anyway, a fine girl is always a fine girl!”

She swung her hair to the side, pouting her lips and striking a pose. 

Tammy was a go-easy, fun-loving lady. She knew just how to keep her spirit high and she was careful not to give in to life’s unnecessary demands and pressure. She found humour in almost anything, she laughed at herself a lot and always looked for every opportunity to spread her joy and happiness around. To her, life was meant to be enjoyed, not endured. 

The weekend went by so quickly and by 9pm, Tammy was completely worn out from all the errands and activities. One thing was not accomplished though – her hair and nails. So much happened that she did not plan for and she could not get her hair done. 

“Tam-Tam, u no do your hair again. Wetin happen?” That was Rashida, one of the ladies at the customer service desk. 

“My sister, I just taya. After all my noise last week abi? I no see road this weekend o. E be like say na wig I go use arrange myself on Saturday.” 

They both laughed. 

‘This office is fun though.” Tammy thought to herself as she walked to her desk. “D-O is the odd-one-out.” She giggled. 

Saturday was finally here, and the venue was buzzing with tastefully dressed people, loud music and food. As usual, everyone from the office consciously avoided D-O, except Tammy. No one wanted to be a victim of his wrath in public. Though there was so much excitement in the air, Tammy was quite uncomfortable in her wig and high-heeled shoes. The weather was hot, the concierge uniform didn’t give her well-chiselled body the freedom it deserved. She decided to loosen the wig strap a little bit, while muttering to herself in the typical Nigerian way, 

“abeg I cannot come and kill myself because I want to look good o! It’s almost lunch time anyway. Maybe I will find a hidden spot where I can take it off completely for a few minutes to get some relief. Na wa sef!” 

Her plans failed…or maybe they worked, though faster than she planned. 

As soon as it was time for lunch, she ran off to the usual spot to meet up with Jamike, Madam Eucharia and a few other members of the operations staff. She picked up her lunch pack, sat down to gobble it all up so that he can quickly find a safe spot to take her wig off. As she sat to eat, Madam Eucharia and Jamike joined her. In her usual way, Madam Eucharia made a funny, sacarstic comment about one of the car vendors she met. Tammy was sitting on the top part of a bench that was shaped in the form of a church pew. She flung her head backwards as she laughed out loud at Madam Eukay’s funny story. 

Then it happened.

Suddenly she felt some weird relief on her head. It felt as if someone had untied a tight scarf and placed a fan directly over her head. That was when she realised that her wig had fallen, and she did not have a wig-cap on! Underneath the wig was her messy hair. She did not have enough time over the weekend to put her hair in cornrows. The lunchroom went quiet as some starred at her, waiting for her next reaction while others looked away pretending as though they did not just witness the epic downfall of Tammy’s slay-wig. As if that was not enough, D-O was also standing there, watching. He was probably thinking of what to say to his darling Tammy for ‘undressing’ before the end of the event. 

Tammy could feel the eyes on her and so she had to think of a way to defuse the tensed moment. She started laughing hysterically and calling out to Madam Eucharia. 

“Ewoooooo!!!! Madam Eukay, help me oooo! Please replace my wig on my head o! Help me ooo!”

The silence was broken. Everyone burst into laughter as Tammy struggled to get off the top of the bench while Madam Eukay quickly reached to the floor, grabbed the wig and made an attempt to fix it back on Tammy’s head, in the midst of the struggle. D-O tried to restrain himself from joining in the laughter, but he could not. He had to give in after a few minutes. 

Tammy stayed back after the event to tidy up and ensure nothing was left behind. It was the usual routine after every event, especially if the venue was offsite. She also had Madan Eukay and Jamike to help her out but there was one more person who was hanging around even he should have left. As she continued picking and packing up bags for the office, she heard a voice behind her.

“You are so natural.” 

She turned. It was one of the car vendors, the same fellow who was hanging around after the other participants had left. 

“I’m Jeremy. I already know your name because I asked your colleague over there”, he pointed at Jamike. “I hope you don’t mind, Tammy. I saw you in the lunchroom; you know, the drama with your wig and all. The way you handled the situation blew me away and I decided I have to know you, get to meet you and if it’s possible, take you out on a date. I hope I’m not being too forward. If I am, I apologize…but I would really love to hang out with you….please?”

Tammy didn’t see that coming! She brushed her right palm over her hair as she tried to adjust to this conversation initiated by someone she had never met over an incidence she felt was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to her. The feeling on her palm felt odd so she brushed through again and realized she had taken off the wig for the day. 

She looked at Jeremy. she giggled. He responded with laughter. She joined in. 

“Ok. Deal. Here is my number. It was a pleasure meeting you, Jeremy.”

Tammy resumed for work on Monday morning with two expectations; a session with D-O and a request for an update on Jeremy from Jamike. She was right. As soon as she walked in, Jamike stood in her way. 

“Ehe, how far? He asked me for your name and I told him so in case he came to you feeling like a star, just know i did the ground work.”

Tammy smiled. 

“I know you did. He told me already. Some how he sounds like a great guy. We chatted for a few hours yesterday. If this one works, Jay, I owe you one.”

“I know it will work. I don alreadi peruse the guy wella na, you wan try? I can’t drop your name for any scaliwag!” 

“I trust you bro. Thank you for always having my back. You be beta pesin.”

“Anytime girl, anytime. I have to run now. Duty calls. We’ll chat during lunch, yes?

‘Sure.” They did the fist-bump greeting and parted ways. 

“Good morning, D-O”, she said as she opened the door to his office. 

“Tammy, what was that at the event on Saturday?”

“I’m sorry sir. It was a mistake. I promise it won’t happen again…..”

She was already pouring out the apology she rehearsed on her way to work when D-O cut in. 

“I’m not angry with you, Tammy. I mean I was when I saw what had happened but the way you handled it and created some humour out of it is quite commendable. That was a bold one. If you display the same attitude to whatever life throws at you, you will do well.”

“Ah! Thank you sir! I wasn’t expecting this from you, honestly.” 

“I know. I learnt something from you on Saturday. Life is not so hard. I have always known this, but you made it clearer through your actions. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome sir! Wow! This a good way to start the week after a beautiful weekend! 

“Really? Beautiful weekend? Tell me more.”

“Sir, someone asked for my phone number……”

“That’s ok Tammy! Please tell me about when it finally works out! Have a good day!”

“Yes sir. Ok sir!”

She chuckled and left his office.