LOYALTY OR SLAVERY by lucky lebari

LOYALTY OR SLAVERY

On the 11th of December, 1987, I was thrown into absolute be wilderment. I thought I was evincing allegiance, commitment and loyalty as a Christian...there I go again. The word "loyalty". That's my dilemma. I thought I have blacklisted this word. It was all my fault anyway because I had a myopic understanding of it, and when such is the case, abuse is inevitable.

My name is Lebari Lucky. I am a Christian married to the most beautiful lass in the world. She is a missus indeed. Three beautiful kids are added to my name. As a Christian, I have been taught that it is required of me to be found faithful, and this cuts across all facets of life. I held it at high esteem regardless of what others do or say. I believe this made me feel I was a good Christian. My appetency for loyalty was indeed at the extreme even to the very detriment of my family and cronies.

My boss, Mr Cosmos, an old chubby dark skinned man in his mid 70s always appraise me in the presence of other staff. In fact, it became a mantra because a day will not pass by without his appraisal. Yes of course, my head got swollen or am I no longer a human?

Mr Loyalty became my nick name. Although I was losing friends but I held on to a misunderstood an misapplied scripture that says "a good name is better than precious ointment."

The 11th day of December cracked open with a slight quarrel between my wife and me. Maybe it was not really a quarrel, she was just voicing out her displeasure. She complained of my lack of time with her and the family. She lamented with tears, "Dear, you dear your boss more than God. You regard your job more than your family. You have even lost your respect. This madness has to stop!" It was then I realized she has been deeply hurt but I was not moved an inch, thanks to the defence mechanism I had built, which was; "a good name is better than precious ointment". I veered off to the office that fateful day with mixed feelings as her voice kept on ringing in my heart. It was a battle of thought.

My boss sent for me immediately I got to the office. As usual I immediately rushed through my routine prayer and left for his office. "Mr Lucky, please you may have your seat", he said with a furious countenance. "I am disappointed in you", he continued " Mr Henry, the HRM has been relieved of his Job and you are supposed to be the next as the unexpected accomplice". It was at that moment it dawned on me that I had been cajoled to append my signature on a falsified document bearing his name. But why on earth was I the planned victim? Where did I get it wrong? Instead of relieving me of my job, he tampered justice with mercy by handing me an indefinite suspension letter.

At this stage, after his rage, he left me with a message as a sage for this age. I knew then I have been in a cage. He said, "Mr Lucky, never let your LOYALTY become SLAVERY. Know when to let go and never compromise on self respect." This apathegm was the panacea to my disguisedness of slavery. In my next world, if given the opportunity to start again, I will draw the thin line between loyalty and slavery.

Lucky, Lebari
OS/19b/1272
Course of study: Computer Science
School attended: University of Port Harcourt