Some years ago, I was alone in the shop where I work as a sales representative. I sell phone accessories and printed airtime. Whenever my boss gave me a certain amount of airtime in the morning, I will record it, and will be alone till evening. He will come around when I'm about to close to do the account.
One fateful day, I was listening to music on my small android phone, enjoying the cool afternoon. Then, someone knocked on the door. I opened thinking he wanted to buy airtime but he said he's not buying anything but came to introduce me to something that will earn me more than my salary. He introduced himself as "Mr. Lucky star", but I don't even mind, I was eager to win.
The environment was quiet and no one is coming to get airtime too. It was past 2pm. My boss would not come around at such hour as he will be busy distributing recharge cards to his retail customers. The freedom gave me more focus and readiness to engage too. I crossed my leg like the cash madam. I was already calculating how i will spend the money if i should win up to a million Naira. Yea, i had big dreams.
I was excited, adjusting myself into my plastic chair expectantly. I watched closely as he brought out some packs of cards. It contained figures painted in different colours. Then, he shuffled and reshuffled the cards thrice and asked me to pick one.
My sister, any number you pick here and the colour. I will show you what price you get from my books here. He explained, showing me a notebook filled with colours and words I don't know yet.The ticket to play is just ₦300 naira, he further stated.
The amount is affordable anyways, "I thought" so I paid him and we start playing the game. The first one I picked, when we checked the prize it was null. I loose. Its just the beginning, i guess. I didn't bother, so I decided to continued but he said the second attempt will increase twice the amount of the first attempt and that's the progress for each game played.
I was lucky the second time I tried I won ₦600. It was really fun but I did not hesitate to gamble it off again. You should play with bigger amount to get bigger price, you would have won now if you had played with bigger money, said Mr. lucky star. At this stage i was already feeling uncomfortable because he looks suspicious by his actions and words but I throw cautions to the wind because i want to believe the game is sure and legit.
Unfortunately, I gave him ₦2000 to win ₦30,000 but I lost, I tried again with ₦4000, I lose too. It was this time I realised that I have been spending out of my purse. I had used part of my sales money too.
Yet, this man keeps encouraging me to continue. I am no longer interested, please leave, I'm no longer playing,"I said angrily"
He was still adamant thinking I will continue with that manipulations but I shouted so he left in a hurry. It was then I realised that I've spent more than I could afford. Infact, I don't know what to tell my boss in the evening.
Fear gripped me, i was upset and also angry. The fact that the money i won, i still put it back into the game was annoying. I just gambled, i whispered.
If you talked about gambling i always blame people who engages in it. Gambling waste money than anything else in this world to me so i detested it no knowing i will be a victim one day.
However, I later went to a woman whose shop is beside mine to borrow some funds to cover up for my loss. When i got home that day i began to blame my foolishness, i remembered the man is not well dressed, he had mouth odours too, the cards are all rough and dirty abd his shoes are like an old farm boot. Nothing he wores speaks lucky as he had claimed.
I wondered why on earth i had falling for this simple tricks when the appearance alone throws multiple cautions at me. I hid the experience from my family because if my dad should hear it, I'm in soup. My dad hate it when we don't act smart. I knew i will be in for serious talks if i should talk about it.
I really regretted my actions that day. I
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2w. Eee,