HiveComb

I stood , with my hands on my waist, staring at my boss with confusion. I wasn't sure I heard her right.

“Start with washing those plates and when you're done, Do the water leaf* She had said in a commanding tone before walking out of the shop.

“Was I in the wrong place?” I asked myself again.

It was 8am in the morning. I walked down to the big fashion house downtown, excited for my first day at work. There was a lot I looked forward to learning. Fashion has always been of great interest to me. So when my Parents finally agreed to the request of enrolling me at the big fashion house downtown to learn sewing and designs I was beyond elated. My parents had finalized everything regarding the enrollment. They had paid the necessary fees and bills required. I was to start this Monday.

“Oh! If only I knew what fate had installed for me.

“There you are, Welcome to Dee’s home of fashion and design” she had said with a warm smile as I stepped inside.

She ushered me in, showed me where to drop my bags and belongings and said to me,

“Start with washing those plates and when you're done, Do the water leaf”

I blinked thrice, scrunching my eyebrows in confusion.

“Pardon?” I said

She turned to me and gave me a look that left no room for argument or questions before walking out of the shop.

I looked around the shop to see some of my fellow colleagues actively doing some other task very different from the job description I came for.

Deciding to just obey first, I went on ahead doing the task she had asked me to do.

“My dear, if you want to learn anything useful and graduate here just become a fool and do whatever she asks of you.” One of the senior colleagues there said to me

The following days that followed, I worked slowly, and silently observing how things were done. I came to realize that Madam Dee’s style was different. It wasn't something I would approve of. If I had known earlier I wouldn't be there. But I was there already and there was nothing I could do. Madam Dee, abused the privilege she had, having lots of girls under her control to teach and guide made her feel she could do whatever she wanted. She turned us into her personal slaves or errand girls.

I swallowed my pride, and chose to ignore the errands if that meant I would learn the work well. I watched what happened to stubborn girls who refused to do as she said, or gave her a hard time. She intentionally avoided teaching them the basics and intricate things they needed to learn. Whenever she wanted to cut a piece of material or teach us some lessons. She would send those ones away on an errand.

I chose to become a fool if it meant getting what I want. So I succumbed to her every request, even the ridiculous ones. Sometimes I went to the market for her, washed her plates, did some of her laundry, babysat her kids, and so on. It was hard, having to do all that. But in time, I gained her favour. While others would hurry to go home, I stayed later, till she closed the shop. And I discovered that, it was in that period she would normally cut her fabrics she was to sew the next day. She would teach me some techniques and tips that most of the others barely knew.

Within a span of six months, I was already so good at sewing. Customers began preferring my work to most of my other colleagues. My Boss began to give me more work to handle above all others. I honed my skills, searched for better ways to be improved and did it differently. I would hover around my Madam whenever she was sewing, talking with her, helping her out with even the most mundane task. Meanwhile, I was subtly watching her, observing her she sewed, her techniques, the way she did everything.

While others grumbled at the errands and insignificant tasks they were sent on or asked to do. I embraced them with a smile. I decided to become a fool for her, if it was what it would take to learn the skill I was so passionate about acquiring.

“How are you so good at sewing, when madam barely teaches us anything?” One of my colleagues asked me one morning.

“Well, my honest advice for you all is, If you really want to learn this work. You’ll have to follow your boss like a fool” I replied.

They laughed at my statement.

But that was my secret. If only they knew all the stress I had to endure.

A year later I graduated being the best in Dee’s fashion house and I couldn't be more proud of myself. Being a fool for a while was really worth it.