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A letter to my folks By Pearl Ashia
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Hello again everyone, How are y'all doing once again? Common, cheer up! it couldn't be that bad? Moi, i couldn't be better and you know why? I just got me a new job.
Though the pay is as bad as you can think of, you can be sure it doesn't fall below the national minimum wage. But the good thing is, i sure can pay my bills and put dinner on my table and save something little for when our folks from Ghana start bugging me with money issues. My gosh! They are such scavengers! They stay home and enjoy some good sunshine and refreshing breeze whilst we waste away and toil in the chill for them.
The other day a distant cousin of mine rang me asking for money. And guess what annoyed me most? He was very specific. He needed £200 towards his engagement. Do beggers have choices? I have never in my life heard such nonsense! And you know what i said to him? I told him, if you cannot foot the bill of your own bloody engagement, son, you are certainly not ready to be a husband! After someone's paid for your engagement whose responsibility would it be to cater for you and your wife and kids as they come?
I have learnt a good lesson so far so good and that is to put myself first.Everyone cares about themselves don't they? YES, THEY DO! Don't get me wrong people. That ain't selfishness. Would you stick a needle in your own flesh? I don't think so. We are here so our people back home can have a life. Most of us have become the breadwinners for our folks back home and a few of us have lifted the burden of breadwinners back home.
Whatever the case is, put yourself first. And i mean put yourself, your spouse and your kids first. SAVE for when you can't work any more. If anyone will listen, y'all who sponge money off the government in your youth, think again. Get your ass off the couch and go to the Jobcentre. Tell them to put you off the dole and get yourself a J-O-B! Work for the night is coming. We are Africans; we don't belong here. British or not British,one day when you are wearing dentures, some thick glasses and pulling your wheeled shopping bag behind you, you will miss home. You will wish you were in Africa where you could ask anyone's kid to run an errand for you and where you will be taken care of you till you pass on.
Which one do you choose? A little humble abode in our sunny motherland plus good soulfood or the icy care home where you cannot get to chat with anyone and to add to injury, where you will be served some yucky jacket wearing potato with beans. Stone me! Which of our dishes wears a jacket? Folks, put yourselves first. Do your bit for the folks
back home. Support them 'cause we are family. But don't try to impress them. What is the point, anyway.
When you think the calls are being frequent and they are on and on about money, I have got so many spare SIM cards. JUST CHANGE YOUR CHIP. PERIOD! Catch you later people. Be good and stay out of trouble's way. Like i always tell my mates, DON'T GET ON A BUS WITHOUT A PASS.
Pearl writes.
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