Dedicated to leyuxynab
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It was not until the next day that Obiageli found out she had been offered the job.

She had gone to the canteen the next morning reluctantly to fulfil all righteousness only to be given the job. She was asked to resume the following day and she expressed her gratitude.

Obiageli found out then that there were two other girls working in the canteen only that they were on evening shift as there were more customers in the evening.

Obiageli was to work with the girl she had seen the previous day; her name Obiageli had found to be Chinaza; they were both full time workers so they had to work from morning down to night.

Chinaza was a jovial lady with a beautiful diastema. It was for her joviality Obiageli bonded with her more than she did with the ladies on evening shift: Adaobi and Florence.

She did speak to Adaobi sometimes though they had different preferences.

However, Florence was one to keep to herself and making conversation with her was fruitless. She could barely make up a sentence without stuttering and she found it difficult to flow in a discussion.

For this reason, she was the least spoken to person in the canteen. It didn't even help that she left the canteen immediately it was closing hour.

Chinaza and Obiageli on the other hand had similar interests hence the bonding.

Obiageli didn't hesitate to inform Chinaza about her urgent need of an apartment and just like she had been waiting to hear such news, Chinaza informed her about one she saw while visiting her sister.

The only issue according to her was that it was quite a distance from the canteen and it required a bus. Obiageli bit her fingers as she thought of what to do.

The hotel was only a mile from the canteen and she had always walked. Getting an apartment which was distanced from the canteen was a bad idea. However, time was running out and she needed to act fast.

Obiageli came to a conclusion to accept the apartment since the fare from the canteen to the apartment was not too expensive. It was quite affordable.

Chinaza had taken her to the apartment to meet with the landlord on a Saturday. Weekends were their resting days; Florence and Adaobi worked full time on weekends.

The rent was very affordable and Obiageli quickly paid. Alas, her entire savings was almost exhausted but she was glad she was fully settled. She decided to write a letter to her mother:

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25, Samantha street,
Aninri,
Enugu state.
27th May, 1982

Dear Mama,

I'm sorry for not writing to you for this long. I wanted to fully settle down before I do so.

How have you been mama and how has the family been faring? I hope Nkem isn't giving you much problem- actually, Uzodinma should be the one answering this question. What about Okonkwo? Has he repaired the radio Nkem broke?

Mama, I have gotten a job and an apartment here in Enugu. Enugu is truly a mega city and I love every bit of it - the úgwú aspects exempted. You know how much I hate hills.

Can you believe that the climate is mostly humid here? It rains quite heavily and almost every time. In spite of this, I finally get a chance to visit the tallest building in Enugu: the African Continental bank. I will go there with Jideze.

I love my new colleagues, mama. I have even made a close friend. Her name is Chinaza and I hope you two meet soon. You'll like her.

Working at the canteen has its fun too though I still want to work as a sales girl. My boss likes me so much and I wonder why. I guess I'm a lovable child after all.

Mama, I know you worry about me and I want to tell you that I am alright and doing fine. I'm a fully grown woman and I know how to take care of myself. I won't make the wrong choice so stop worrying mama, you have Nkem to worry about.

I miss you so much mama. I miss the whole family. Extend my greetings to everyone mama. Tell everyone I missed them especially Uzodinma . I hope to hear from you soon mama.

Your daughter,
Obiageli.

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Just few days of working at the canteen, Obiageli had known the regular customers of the canteen.

Among them were the factory workers. Obiageli never knew there was a factory few metres away from the canteen and its workers made the canteen their temporary abode.

They spent their two hours break at the canteen each day and Chinaza was a very good friend of theirs. She stayed at the same table with them chatting and discussing loudly.

Adaobi who was to resume by four in the afternoon resumed as early as two in order to spend time with her boyfriend before he left for the factory.

The factory workers who ate at the canteen were just six in number. Three were elderly while the remaining three were quite her age.

Chinaza had introduced her to them a week of her resumption. One whom Obiageli knew as Pa Nonso had asked for her name and had introduced himself to her.

Some other workers introduced themselves too. However, the last of the workers who was the youngest had been engrossed in his food and had not looked at her despite the fact she sat at the table with Chinaza.

Chinaza had informed them that she was new in Enugu and they had told her some beautiful things about Enugu and what she was in for.

They had wanted to know why she left her state for another. Obiageli deemed it unwise to tell them the main reason.

They were just people she met recently and so she couldn't reveal such important thing to them. She had only told Chinaza the main reason she had come and as usual had been strongly opposed for her decision.

Chinaza had informed her that it would be very difficult to find her sweetheart. In fact, Chinaza had scared her by saying she might never find him. However, Obiageli's resolve was much stronger and she knew that destiny could not be defeated.

She had answered their question by telling them she wanted to change her environment instead. The youngest worker had looked up then and had made eye contact with her. He had smiled a little and looked away.

Though he had a beautiful smile, Obiageli barely noticed. Her mind was filled with Jideze and she fantasied that he would walk into the canteen that instance.

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I could easily scrap out this letter but then, this story is called Letters Days. What then would it be without letters?