I Hello Inner Blockers.
Trust it's a good day at your side?
Welcome to my blog.
Have you ever had to do something that is morally demanding, like lying just to save yourself or someone else?
Yeah, this is my story.
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I was raised in a religious home, by not so religious people though. As a kid, I was told never to tell lies because “lying isn't good and would take you to hell”, and yeah, “because God hates lies.” I was always made to recite and memorize a lot of verses of the Bible—something I didn't really consider as necessary because it was mentally draining for me. I was quite the unusual child amongst my siblings. Maybe because I was the last born. While they were very obedient, I was always questioning orders. Many times, my Dad would wonder where I came from. “ Are you sure this boy is my child?” he would ask my Mom, rhetorically.
It's not that I was rebellious. On the contrary, I imbibed most of the values I was taught and many times I’d stood my ground in compromising situations, and my Dad had been proud on different occasions. It was my stubbornness he just couldn't find appealing, and I know that was because I was defying his orders most.
Lying is no big deal, I eventually figured out. Adults tell lies a lot but punish kids for doing the same. I mean, if lying aint good as they teach, why then do they lie themselves? Isn't that hypocritic?
Well I don't blame adults, because I became one too and understood why: sometimes you gotta lie to save your ass, or someone else’s.
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My boss is a no nonsense lady. Tall, slim and fair skinned. She has a way of walking that introduces her presence, and she speaks with a mixture of Nigerian and British accent that sounds funny to me. We call her Ironness as in “lioness”. Due to her strict routines and rigid attitude, she'd fired a lot of people who couldn't cope working with her. The office always looked like a graveyard whenever she was around. Nobody talks to anybody —everyone just minds their business.
It was a logistics and haulage firm, so I had applied as office manager. But weeks after the interview I was called to start work as an assistant —office assistant. I was to “directly and indirectly” work with the boss. I didn't even know what that meant. It was about three days after I assumed duty that I was briefed. The manager was fired, and the boss wasn't in any haste to employ a new manager. That was why my position was rendered “assistant office manager”. Meaning, I was going to be working as both acting manager and assistant manager proper. The main manager was the boss. “What kind of job description is this?” I had queried. “Are they going to pay me for both jobs?” — those questions were taken rhetorically, cos no one answered.
My First Encounter with Ironness
It was raining on Tuesday morning. Where I live is always flooded when it rains, so I was held up at home. I wanted the water to subside before leaving for work. Normally, it doesn't take up to twenty minutes, but for whatever reason the water wouldn't subside quickly. I lost patience and decided to fold up the hem of my trousers, take off my shoes and walk through the flooding water. Coupled with other transportation issues on the way, I arrived at work very late.
On arrival at the office, everyone’s face was stern, and cold as stone —Ironness was in the building. No one even responded to my greetings and that wasn't a good sign. I entered the office, went over to my desk and sat down and closed my eyes for a few minutes to calm my nerves. Then I heard footsteps, typical of a lady in heels—koi koi koi koi
I opened my eyes and behold– Ironness!
“Are you sleeping on duty?” She asked, coldly.
“No Ma. I..I was just..erm..” I stuttered.
“You came to work late and still had the comfort of sleeping?” She had a sweet voice that sounded like terror.
“I'm sorry Ma, it was raining. My area is usually flooded…and I had to walk in the water so I could even be here on time. Moreover, it’s difficult finding a cab on a rainy morning.” I explained.
“Excuses” She blurted out and walked away.
Honestly, she must have either been in a good mood or was convinced by my excuse because I was expecting a harsh verbal query.
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The Lie
Few minutes later, she handed some files for me to sort out, which I left for later in the day. I had some inventory I was working on that I couldn't finish up the previous day due to the volume of items that was delivered. While at it, one of the security guards came, and informed me that Ironness called for my attention. Immediately, I remembered I didn't sort out those files. I rushed inside like a cat chasing a mouse. On arriving at my desk, Ironness was already there.
“Why are you not on the seat?” She asked, flipping through one of the files.
“I was…erm..I went to erm… I went to inspect the deliveries of last weekend Ma,” I stuttered, trembling with fear.
She closed the file and perused my face, then asked in a British accent, “Have you sorted these files?
“Ma? Erm… Yes Ma.”
“When did you have the time?” She asked, looking rather impressed. But I was confused.
“Ma?”
“I gave you these files about twenty-five minutes ago, which I know you can't sort them out, not even in two hours. So when did you have the time?”
At this point, I didn't know what to say. I just decided that I had already lied, so I had to save my ass, if I was to keep my job.
“It didn't take time Ma. I figured out a way to sort them Ma.”
“Mhm. Take them to my table.” She ordered.
As I carried those files, my heart was pounding really hard and loud. I contemplated using a few minutes to look them up in her office, but the idea vanished as I heard footsteps behind me. I quickly placed the files on her table and went out. I waited restlessly for an outburst but none came. Minutes passed, then hours, but there was still nothing. So I thought, maybe she wasn't working on the files after all. A quick idea came to my mind — to sort the files anytime she leaves the office. And true to it, she came out of her office a few minutes later and announced that she was going out for a meeting which would have sent me to represent her but she would rather go in person. She also hinted that she might not be coming back to the office.
I heaved a heavy sigh of relief. Now I got a chance to really save myself before the following morning.
I quickly dropped her bag and laptop in her car, and made sure she drove off. I rushed quickly back into the building, and went straight to her office. I carried off the files from the table and placed them on another smaller table to begin sorting them. Just then, I realized that I had already sorted those files some time ago, I just didn't recognize them.
I laughed quietly at myself. So I lied to save my ass but it turned out to be true—I had sorted those files already. I laughed again.
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Thank you for reading.
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
Loved reading this, you told such a great story about the crazy day you had! 😂
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed it.
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