The curse of interns

                       
                                                   

For anybody that has ever been in an internship, you would know the curse of interns. The curse of interns is a stressful, painful and most times demeaning curse. It involves laying down your own work, in order to perform the curses. The curses might turn out to be blessing sometimes, if you have a good sender, that is. But sometimes, it could be bad for you, very bad indeed.

Now after saying all of that, I guess
any former or present intern would know what I’m talking about. It’s plain and simple; the curse of interns is being made a messenger. As an intern, you get sent on errands so much that you start to wonder-Am I an intern or a messenger? If you are not careful, you develop an identity crisis. I exaggerate. But then, I think I’m right. In some companies, you don’t even get to do a real ‘job’, you just get sent on errands, sensible and ridiculous ones. I mean, just imagine one of the grand baas (bosses) at the office sent me to the bank on the 30^{th of} June, in that mad rush. When he told me he was sending me to the bank, something in me died and refused to wake up. I exaggerate yet again. But seriously, my face practically dropped like Sean Kingston’s former bae (that one that wasn’t setting the dancefloor on fire). He however explained that he had already done his BVN and all he wanted was to transfer the number to his other account. He had filled the form, signed et al, all I had to do was hustle my way through the crowd of angry and frustrated Lagosians who had been standing on an almost nonexistent queue since probably before the bank opened, and then I was to purchase some things for him on the way back. That actually went smoothly, I did not encounter any serious problem except getting into the bank as bank security officials had turned to demi gods on that day. And I eventually got to ‘keep the change’.

It’s not my story I want to share though. It is that of a colleague of mine. I met Joy (not real name) in the company and she put me through a lot of things, which helped me catch up fast. She was already the main errand girl before I became her partner and co-errand personnel. She was sent to do everything, from purchasing recharge card to buying food, from making withdrawals to sending money, from paying DSTV bills to picking children from school, alongside several things she does. I do hope you see Joy as the hardworking person I’m trying to painting her to be. Two days ago, I got to the office and met her fuming, hissing and mumbling. On asking for the problem, she explained that one grand baas had accused her of stealing his money. This grand baas sent her food every day, not just for him but also for three other baas’. And like the way of the world, news travel fast, so people from other departments were already asking Joy about the rumour that she stole something. The thing is, Joy usually had to board a bus to where she buys the food and of course she takes out her transport fare from the money she’s given. This baas however reported to our personal baas that Joy was a thief, claiming that she usually finds a way of taking out of the money he gives her. Joy was soo angry. She went on and on about what she goes through to get the food, and how sometimes the transport fare would not be sufficient and she would have to add her own money, about how stingy the man was and how he never said ‘keep the change’ like some other baas.  She swore that the next time he sends her, she would refuse to go. Fast forward four hours and Joy was writing the usual list of what to buy and how much. I laughed inside me and winked at her. Two minutes later Joy and I were on the bus to go get food. The grand baas had told me to follow her so I would know the food place too. This wasn’t the first time I had been told to follow Joy but I had always wriggled my way out of it. Now, I know the food place, and I hope I do not become a thief.