rachealfst:
CRYSTAL

I couldn’t wait for weekend to come, cos my work load for the week was something else. The new innovations made had to be implemented. I was hopping from NAFDAC to SON to FDA just to get approval on the new products.

At last it was Saturday, I didn’t wake up until 9:30am in the morning. My mum never helped me with my personal chores, despite the fact that she’s always home before 4:00pm. She doesn’t prepare breakfast and dinner. She will rather wait for me to come in the evening to cook for the both of us. We have no maid, no cook only the gateman who also clean the compound during the week while Mum and I joined him for the cleaning on Saturdays. I’m also responsible for his feeding too.

The sales girls at the supermarket often offer to help my mum but she always tell them not to bother that Crystal will do it. She had only one child and she want to make her independent. She is strict, principled, spiritual and loving at the same time. Trust me growing up wasn’t funny. She never spare the rod.
I went to the laundry room to do my laundry, I loaded my used clothes into the washing machine. I went back to my room. Cleaned my room and wash my bathroom and toilet until it’s sparkling clean. When I was through I went to the kitchen to make breakfast but luckily for me, mum made breakfast for me. I think she did that because of the stressful week I had.

After having breakfast, I went back to my room and had another round of sleep. I made sure I didn’t bring any office work home that very weekend. I needed a good rest.
By 4pm I dress up in summer print chiffon midi gown and wore a ankle strap sandals. I wanted to carry a beach bag but I changed my mind. I just took my purse and phone and left my room. I went downstairs and use the connecting door that linked from the compound into the supermarket.
“Hi girls” I said from behind and they looked at the back door.

“Aunty Crystal” They chorused. “Good evening ma”
Good evening” I replied them and asked after their well being.
I went to my mum’s desk and sat with her. She asked if I have enough rest and I told her I did and I feel refreshed.

I excused myself to check out the pharmaceutical store using the adjoining door that I linked the two stores together. That’s my own responsibility since that is my field. I checked out sales, the stocks and every other thing the s drew my attention too.
_____________Toyin Taiwo
“Hi girls”

“Good evening ma”

“Crystal, at last you showed up. I thought you won’t come downstairs at all” Richard our pharmacist said.

“A good evening to you too” I countered.

“Good evening” He smiled.

“I had a stressed packed week. So I needed that rest” I informed.

“Huh….hope you rest well upstairs?”

“Yes I did, thanks. How are you going and how’s the stores?”

“I’m good and the store is doing well.

“Good to hear”

“Where’s Anty nurse” I asked.

“She’s in the inner room, she’s attending to someone”

“Ok, then”

One of the sales attendant walk up to me and submitted the list of unavailable drugs.
“Why are you giving me a hand written list, I remembered I corrected you the last time. There’s system here in the store, how many minutes will it take to type and print it out”

“I’m sorry ma, we’ve been very busy during the week”
“Really, maybe I’ll tell Mummy to employ one more staff, since your hands are full this days”

"Thank you ma” the two sales attendant replied happily.

“Bring the list. I'll tell my secretary to type it. I’ll submit it at the company’s warehouse on Monday. The drugs will be supplied latest by Tuesday” I informed.

“Alright ma. Please ma I’d like to ask a question. I ask Mr Richard if he can produce drugs since he’s a pharmacist but he said he wasn’t train to produce drugs. Why is that” She asked.

“He’s right. Pharmacist are highly trained to evaluate medication use; prepare and dispense medications and educate patients about those medications. Those who produce drugs are Pharmaceutical scientist. They are expertly trained to discover, develop, test and manufacture new medications” I explained.

“Now I get it, thank you ma. So you produce drugs?”
I smiled at the inquisitive sale rep. “It takes a team to produce drugs with long term research and I’m part of the team” I addressed.

“Now I understand, thanks”

“You’re welcome. Richard, I’ll see you some other time”

“Are you going out?”

“Yes”

“Ok enjoy your evening”

“You too, later”

I went back to the supermarket. I sat beside mum and told her I was going out with Zite.
“I thought he’s fiance is around”

“She left this morning”

“Oookay… because I still saw her yesterday. She came to the pharmacy”

(Car horns) “Mummy that would be Zite, bye….see you later. Kisses”

“Bye, have fun” She replied.

“I will, mum please make dinner for me” I winked.

“I don’t blame you, shebi I made breakfast, now you want dinner”

“You better eat out or else you are on your own” She said

“Mummy!”

“Just go troublesome girl”

I waved at her and the girls and left.

____________________Toyin Taiwo