THE HUSTLE

I have a 9-5 job.
Ok, that’s not entirely true.
Let’s call it an 8 to whenever-i’m-able-to- sneak -out-which-is -usually-6pm-or-when-the-boss-decides-your-overtime-is -overtime-enough.
But basically, it’s a 9 – 5.
My day begins with waking up by 4am as soon as my alarm rings.
Gosh, i’ve always wanted to say that! That i wake up by 4am on or before the alarm goes off but no, that’s not the case.
My typical day starts with my alarm going off by 5am, 5:10, 5:20, 5:30, 5:40, 5:50, 6:00, 6:10.
By 6:20, i’m tossing and wondering:
Do i really need to get up?
Can’t we all just sleep in as much as we want?
What if i don’t want to work?
The time by now is 6:30am.
I sit up, trying to understand where i am. I remember i’m in my house, it’s weekday and yes i really should get to work.
I brush my teeth, bath, dress up all the while hoping that the dress is in good shape. That no button or thread has come undone.
I get to work in time.
The usual: administrative duties, staff welfare, HR stuff.
If it’s a Monday, Wednesday or Friday it means i’d have to close early in time for my private home lessons.
I dash to my student’s house.
He’s eating.
I have to wait till he’s done.
6:20, he’s ready. 6:25, he’s bringing out his books, looking for his pencil, pen, eraser, ruler, everything.
Finally, we are ready.
Or so i think. Till i check the books he gave me and realise those aren’t his books.
“Paul, who has these books?”
“My friend.”
“Where are yours”?
“I forgot them in the school.”
“Wait. You left your books in school and came back with your friends books? Can you explain…”
My day at the office has been hectic .I’m tired. I’m hungry.
Whenever i’m hungry, everything sounds and looks like Mathematics( Maths is a haaaaarrrrd subject.I once heard a guy say one of his hobbies is solving mathematical equations and i'm like , "Shoot me,already!") to me even English.
No, i can’t understand any explanation now.
“You know what? Let’s use your friend’s book”.
In the next 1 hour 30 minutes, i’m done with the class.
I get home by 8pm, chat on Facebook, eat, chat, check for what to wear the next day,chat.
I check if any of the friends i ‘Whatsapped’ about the beauty products i sell has finally decided on any.
I discover that one says she needs the lotion i used as my DP.
She asks me what it does.
“What”? I say.
“The small tube, what does it do”?
“Oh,yea, the small tube…”
Typing…
Typing…
I stare at the picture and suddenly realise i don’t even know what the product does.
Aren’t they all supposed to make you fairer and more beautiful?That’s what they all do,right?
I’m tired and i need to sleep.
But i mentally add one more item to my to-do list: ‘Girl, read up on what you’re hustling about!!!Jeez!’
I sleep off.
Dreaming about my crush, how our hustles finally paid off and we lived happily ever after.