"Thought you were supposed to be promoted last year with me and others? What happend?" Isah, my dad's friend, asked him after church service and right in front of us, making my dad feel some kind of way with his facial expression.
"I submitted everything they asked for at the office, but still my name did not come out on the promotion list. I will be submitting again this year, and hopefully this year's case is different because every other person that was due has gotten their promotion." My dad responded
"I wish you the best of luck, my friend. By God's grace, this year will not pass you by." Isah responded as he started his car and zoomed off.
My dad has been due for promotion, which has been delayed for over a year, which is not supposed to be so, and it was a cause for worry because people were starting to talk and turn him into an object of mockery. Sometimes we don't even know who genuinely cares about him not getting promoted and those trying to make mockery of the situation. It caused my dad to worry and started doing everything possible to secure his promotion and make sure it does not pass him by again, because if it does, people will talk even more.
He ensured he did everything as instructed and as expected of him as we wait for the promotion list to be out, and promotion only takes place annually (once a year) except in cases of a special promotion, which is very rare and can happen once in a while. This simply means if you miss it, you will have to wait until the following year to try again, which simply means if he misses it again, people will have enough time to make mockery and jest of him. If he missed it for one year and they talked this much, what more when he misses his chance again? We were at home when a colleague found out the promotion list was out before my dad did and called to break the news. It was heartbreaking news for the whole family, as it spoiled the moment.
"Hello, Chucks, I am at home. What is going on.?" My dad asked
"Is it like you have not heard of the recent happening? Promotion list is out." Chucks responded and went silent afterwards, and immediately my dad's countenance changed.
"So? Talk to me, Chucks. Don't just keep quiet." My dad pleaded.
"It's like you have bad luck chasing you around, because why would every other person who was due for promotion get promoted and you got nothing? Now another list is out and your name is still not on the list." Chucks responded
"Something is wrong somewhere; please take a picture of the list and send it to me on WhatsApp. Let me see for myself, and first thing tomorrow morning I will be at the office." My dad responded with a faint voice.
The moment he hung up, he left the sitting room to his bedroom and did not come out of the bedroom again, but we could clearly hear him lamenting and talking to himself and asking himself questions, "Where did I go wrong? Who did I offend?" These questions caused a lot of sadness, and silence hit the whole house immediately as everyone just kept looking at each other, but no one said a word until mom decided to break.
"You guys can go to your room now." My mom said to arrest the silence and awkwardness that hit the room after dad's call.
Even as kids, we could clearly see that things were not going well. Dad waiting for a year again before he can actually try again was a cause to worry. People will get to talk and ask questions, and those questions and people talking are what he really wanted to avoid, but since it happened the way it did, he had to make up his mind to tolerate whatever they throw at him. My dad even talked about applying for a transfer just to avoid people talking, but mom talked to him, and we moved with our lives, while waiting for that time of the year where the promotion portal opens, but fortunately for my family we had a feeling of joy and enjoyment before then.
Months later we came back from school that day and found my mom on her knees singing and moving the upper part of her body, everything about her mood screamed joy and happiness.
"I wonder what is making her really happy, it has been long since we had such a joyous moment in this house." My brother said as we passed and tried not to distract or interrupt her joyous moment.
"Your dad just called from the office; his name came out on a special promotion list." Mom said as she got back to singing and waving her hands
Immediately joy filled the room and the entire house, everyone had a reason to smile and had joy.
the promotion was long overdue, but then our promotion can only be delayed, we will get it someday as long as we keep praying and believing... nice story