True Wealth

Once upon a time, there lived a very rich and wealthy man in a big town. He led a luxurious life. He always boasted about his wealth to his friends and relatives.

His son was studying in a distant city and he returned home for vacation. The rich man wanted to show off to his son how rich he was. But his son wasn't fond of any luxurious lifestyle. However, the rich man wanted to make his son realize that his lifestyle was extremely rich and that poor people suffered a lot. He planned a day's visit to the entire town to show him the life of the poor people.

The father and the son took a chariot and visited the entire town. They returned home after two days. The father was happy that his son was very quiet after seeing the poor people honouring the rich man and after witnessing the sufferings of the poor due to lack of facilities.

The rich man asked his son, "Dear boy, how was the trip? Have you enjoyed it?"

"Yes my dad, it was a great trip with you," the son replied.

"So, what did you learn from the trip?" the father asked.

The son was silent.

"Finally you have realized how the poor suffer and how they actually live," said the father.

"No father," replied the son. He added, "We have only two dogs, they have 10 dogs. We have a big pool in our garden, but they have a massive bay without any end! We have luxurious and expensive lights imported from various countries, but they have countless stars lighting their nights. We have a house on a small piece of land, but they have abundant fields that go beyond the horizon. We are protected by huge and strong walls around our property, but they bond with each other and surround themselves with their fellow beings. We have to buy food from them, but they are so rich that they can cultivate their own food."

The rich father was stunned and speechless, on hearing his son's words.

Finally the son added, "Dad, thank you so much for showing me who is rich and who is poor. Thank you for letting me understand how poor we really are!"

True wealth is not measured by money and property! True wealth is created in good friendships and compassionate relationships.

One Good Turn

Mike was an 11 years old boy. He was the only son to his parent. His father worked as a carpenter and his mother was a home maker. Although Mike's family wasn't a rich one, they lead a happy life.

Mike's school was located a mile away from his home. Mike's birthday was coming up in a week. He requested his father to buy him a bicycle, so that he can go to school in cycle and not by walk and depend on his father to drop him at school. His father also promised him to buy a bicycle so that he need not walk to school anymore. Mike felt so happy.

The birthday boy woke up happily with his mother and father wishing him with all smiles on his birthday. Mike was feeling very happy and expects that his father would gift him the bicycle. He had a beautiful gift wrapped nicely in his father's hand and surprised.

The father gifted him the parcel and Mike saw a set of books as the birthday gift from his father. Although he was a little unhappy as he did not receive the bicycle, he thanked his father.

Mike's father was depressed as he did not have enough money to buy a cycle. He promised to his son that he would soon buy him a cycle.

After a week, when he was walking on his way to his home back from school, he saw a boy riding a cycle. Mike felt that the cycle was too small for the big boy. Suddenly, the boy crashed into a post and skidded in the street. Mike rushed to him and recognized him. He was his school mate, named Sam.

Sam was injured badly and there was no one near to help him except Mike. Mike helped him stand up and provided him water. Since Sam was riding the cycle faster, his left leg and hands were severely injured. He asked him to sit in a corner and took the cycle and rushed to a nearby hospital to get help.

An ambulance came and carried Sam to the hospital. He then rushed to Sam's home and informed about the accident to his parent.

Sam and his parent thanked Mike for the timely help. Mike in turn thanked, 'It was all possible just I had Sam's cycle.' Mike also told Sam's parent, 'cycle is too small for Sam to ride and that's why he was injured.' Sam and Mike became close friends. Mike met Sam every day in hospital until he was discharged.

Sam got a new cycle and he came to know that Mike doesn't own a cycle. He gave his old cycle to Mike and with Mike's parent permission, Mike accepted the gift from Sam.

One deserves from another for their wellness.

The Monkey and the Crocodile

It was a beautiful lake surrounded by lush green grasses, beautiful trees, mountains and sweetest, tastiest jamun trees. There lived a monkey on one of the jamun trees located near the lake.

The lake also had a few crocodiles. There was one crocodile that used to collect the jamun fruits from the lake that fall from the tree.

As the crocodile visits the jamun trees every day, it became friends with Monkey. Crocodile and monkey met every day. The monkey helped crocodile by providing more and fresh jamun fruits from the tree. Their relationship continued and they became close pals.

One day, the monkey asked the crocodile to give some jamun fruits to his wife and family as the fruits were more delicious. The crocodile agreed and took a lot of jamun fruits to his wife.

His wife was so happy and surprised that she never ate so delicious fruits, so far. She inquired her husband, where he got those fruits. The crocodile told her, his friend, monkey who lives in a Jamun tree gave these for him.

The wife crocodile made a plan in her mind. She asked her husband, 'Does your friend eat these fruits every day?' The crocodile replied yes. She added, 'Oh my goodness. These are the sweetest fruits we ever ate. Imagine how delicious the monkey's heart would be if he eat these fruits daily! I need the heart of your friend. Can you please bring it for me?'

The crocodile was shocked to hear it from his wife. He replied, 'But he is my close friend. I can't do this to him.'

The wife crocodile told him, 'don't worry. You bring him here. I will then take care! Or else, you may try to push him down into the water if he doesn't know swimming!'

After a long time, the crocodile agreed to bring monkey to his wife.

The very next day, crocodile invited monkey to join them for lunch and asked for his favorite foods. Monkey happily agreed to be the guest and but worried that the monkey did not know how to swim in the lake.

Crocodile on thinking about monkey's sorrow, pleased monkey and told him, 'Don't worry. I will carry you on my back and will take you back safely too!'

The monkey accepted and crocodile rode him to his home on his back on the water. As they reached half way, the crocodile tried to push monkey down into the water. However, monkey held the crocodile tightly and did not fall. Monkey got suspicious about crocodile's act and asked him to tell the truth.

Since crocodile believed him as his good friend, he told about the conversation and the fight his wife had with him and he was taking monkey to eat his heart!

The intelligent monkey said, 'Oh my dear friend, you should have told me this earlier. I left my heart on one of the branches of the tree as I won't carry it if I travel long. If you take me back, I can give you my heart.'

Crocodile accepted and rode the monkey back to the lake. As they reached the tree where the monkey lived, the monkey climbed quickly and escaped from the crocodile.

He shouted at crocodile, 'I thought you as a good friend, but you cheated me. I will never come back and never be your friend.'

The crocodile understood his mistake and returned back home empty handed, losing a good friend indeed.

Elixir Of Happiness

Once upon a time, there were three brothers named Samuel, Timothy and Xander, who lived in a cottage by the woods. They were honest and hardworking. Every day, they would venture into the forest to fell wood. Later, they would sell it in the market where it would fetch a decent price. Thus, their life continued in this manner.

However, the brothers were always sad and morose. Even though they lived a good life, they were unhappy. Each one hankered for something or the other and would pine for it.

One day, while Samuel, Timothy and Xander were returning home from the woods carrying their bundle of logs, they saw an old haggard woman bent low with a sack on her back. As they were kind and compassionate, the brothers immediately approached the poor woman and offered to carry the sack all the way to her home. She smiled and expressed her gratefulness, while replying that the sack actually contained apples that she had collected in the forest. Samuel, Timothy and Xander took turns in carrying the sack, and at last, when they reached the woman's home, they were very tired indeed.

Now, this old woman was no ordinary person and had magical powers. Pleased with the brothers' kind and selfless nature, she asked them whether there was anything she could help them with, as a reward.

"We are not happy, and that has become our greatest cause of concern," replied Samuel. The woman asked what would make them happy. Each brother spoke of a different thing that would please him.

"A splendid mansion with plenty of servants would make me happy. There is nothing more that I would want," said Samuel.

"A big farm with lots of harvest would make me happy. Then I could be rich without having to worry," said Timothy.

"A beautiful wife would make me happy. Every day, after returning home, her sweet little face would light me up and make me forget my sorrows," said Xander.

"That is fine," said the old woman, "If these things will give you happiness, you deserve them in every respect for helping a poor helpless person like me. Go home, and each of you shall find exactly what you have wished for."

This took the brothers by surprise as they did not know about the woman's powers. Nevertheless, they took leave and returned home. But lo behold, beside their cottage, there was a huge mansion with a doorman and other servants waiting outside! They greeted Samuel and ushered him in. At some distance, a yellow farmland showed itself. A ploughman came and announced that it belonged to Timothy. Timothy gasped. Just at that moment, a beautiful maiden approached Xander and coyly said that she was his wife. The brothers were beside themselves with joy at this new turn of events. They thanked their lucky stars and adapted to their new lifestyles.

The days passed and soon a year was over. The situation was however, now different for Samuel, Timothy and Xander. Samuel had grown tired of owning the mansion. He became lazy and did not supervise his servants into taking proper care of the mansion. Timothy, who had built a decent house next to his farmland, found it burdensome to plough the fields and sow seeds from time to time. Xander too, grew used to his beautiful wife and no longer found any joy in keeping her company. In short, all of them were unhappy again.

One day, the three of them met up and decided to visit the old woman at her home. "That woman has magical powers which turned our dreams into reality. However, since we are no longer happy, we must go and seek her help now. It is she who will be able to tell us the secret to attaining happiness," said Samuel.

When they came to the old woman, she was cooking stew in a pot. Greeting her, each of the brothers recounted how he had turned unhappy again. "Please tell us how we can once more be happy," said Timothy.

Old Woman"Well," replied the old woman. "It is all in your own hands. See, when each of you made his wish and it was granted, you were happy. However, happiness never lasts without a very important thing - content. Earlier, since you were happy but never really content or satisfied, boredom and misery overcame you and you became sad again. Only if you learn to be content, can you truly enjoy the bliss of happiness."

Samuel, Timothy and Xander realized their mistake and went back home. They saw how lucky they were to have the gifts for which they had once craved. Samuel felt grateful for being the owner of a mansion and began taking good care of it. Timothy began to plough his land diligently so as to have a good harvest in time. Xander too learnt to appreciate his pretty wife's chores in the house and her devotion towards him. Remembering that happiness and content went side by side, never again did the brothers take their blessings for granted. And thus, they lived happily ever after.

Fat and Thin

Fat And Thin

by Anton Chekhov
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Time and again, Chekhov used his stories to attack and pillory the strict vertical nature of Russian society during his time. Here he is revisiting that theme in Fat and Thin, where he uses the friendship of two old classmates to draw out the lesson, using a marked change in the conversation between old friends when one of them discloses his position in life to the other.
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Two friends -- one a fat man and the other a thin man -- met at the Nikolaevsky station. The fat man had just dined in the station and his greasy lips shone like ripe cherries. He smelt of sherry and fleur d'orange. The thin man had just slipped out of the train and was laden with portmanteaus, bundles, and bandboxes. He smelt of ham and coffee grounds. A thin woman with a long chin, his wife, and a tall schoolboy with one eye screwed up came into view behind his back.

"Porfiry," cried the fat man on seeing the thin man. "Is it you? My dear fellow! How many summers, how many winters!"

"Holy saints!" cried the thin man in amazement. "Misha! The friend of my childhood! Where have you dropped from?"

The friends kissed each other three times, and gazed at each other with eyes full of tears. Both were agreeably astounded.

"My dear boy!" began the thin man after the kissing. "This is unexpected! This is a surprise! Come have a good look at me! Just as handsome as I used to be! Just as great a darling and a dandy! Good gracious me! Well, and how are you? Made your fortune? Married? I am married as you see. . . . This is my wife Luise, her maiden name was Vantsenbach . . . of the Lutheran persuasion. . . . And this is my son Nafanail, a schoolboy in the third class. This is the friend of my childhood, Nafanya. We were boys at school together!"

Nafanail thought a little and took off his cap.

"We were boys at school together," the thin man went on. "Do you remember how they used to tease you? You were nicknamed Herostratus because you burned a hole in a schoolbook with a cigarette, and I was nicknamed Ephialtes because I was fond of telling tales. Ho--ho! . . . we were children! . . . Don't be shy, Nafanya. Go nearer to him. And this is my wife, her maiden name was Vantsenbach, of the Lutheran persuasion. . . ."

Nafanail thought a little and took refuge behind his father's back.

"Well, how are you doing my friend?" the fat man asked, looking enthusiastically at his friend. "Are you in the service? What grade have you reached?"

"I am, dear boy! I have been a collegiate assessor for the last two years and I have the Stanislav. The salary is poor, but that's no great matter! The wife gives music lessons, and I go in for carving wooden cigarette cases in a private way. Capital cigarette cases! I sell them for a rouble each. If any one takes ten or more I make a reduction of course. We get along somehow. I served as a clerk, you know, and now I have been transferred here as a head clerk in the same department. I am going to serve here. And what about you? I bet you are a civil councillor by now? Eh?"

"No dear boy, go higher than that," said the fat man. "I have risen to privy councillor already . . . I have two stars."

The thin man turned pale and rigid all at once, but soon his face twisted in all directions in the broadest smile; it seemed as though sparks were flashing from his face and eyes. He squirmed, he doubled together, crumpled up. . . . His portmanteaus, bundles and cardboard boxes seemed to shrink and crumple up too. . . . His wife's long chin grew longer still; Nafanail drew himself up to attention and fastened all the buttons of his uniform.

"Your Excellency, I . . . delighted! The friend, one may say, of childhood and to have turned into such a great man! He--he!"

"Come, come!" the fat man frowned. "What's this tone for? You and I were friends as boys, and there is no need of this official obsequiousness!"

"Merciful heavens, your Excellency! What are you saying. . . ?" sniggered the thin man, wriggling more than ever. "Your Excellency's gracious attention is like refreshing manna. . . . This, your Excellency, is my son Nafanail, . . . my wife Luise, a Lutheran in a certain sense."

The fat man was about to make some protest, but the face of the thin man wore an expression of such reverence, sugariness, and mawkish respectfulness that the privy councillor was sickened. He turned away from the thin man, giving him his hand at parting.

The thin man pressed three fingers, bowed his whole body and sniggered like a Chinaman: "He--he--he!" His wife smiled. Nafanail scraped with his foot and dropped his cap. All three were agreeably overwhelmed.

Keep Your Dream Awake

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Isidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.

The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, "I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy's high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

"That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.

"He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.'

"The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?'

"The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you'll have to pay large stud fees. There's no way you could ever do it.' Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.'

"The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.' "Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all.

He stated, "You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream."

Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, "I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace." He added, "The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week." When the teacher was leaving, he said, "Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids' dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours."

Moral: Don't let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what. No Dream is too big or too small when one works hard to live it. One should always try making dreams come true no matter what.

Keep Your Dream Awake

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Isidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.

The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, "I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy's high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

"That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.

"He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.'

"The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?'

"The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you'll have to pay large stud fees. There's no way you could ever do it.' Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.'

"The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.' "Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all.

He stated, "You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream."

Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, "I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace." He added, "The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week." When the teacher was leaving, he said, "Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids' dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours."

Moral: Don't let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what. No Dream is too big or too small when one works hard to live it. One should always try making dreams come true no matter what.

Two Fishermen

There were two fishermen who where close pals. They used to catch fish together on weekends. Since they were busy in their personal work and family, they hardly spend time together. It was a Saturday and they decided to drive to a nearby pond to enjoy their day in fishing. Also, they wanted to have some feast with the fish they catch.

Both carried essential utensils, cooking accessories, ingredients and fishing equipments. They reached the pond.

They sat at a distance and started hunting for the fish. The first fisherman got a big and beautiful fish in a few minutes. He was so happy and placed the fish in the ice box to retain the freshness. He decided to cook the fish as a whole fish in the noon. He spent some more time and captured a few more fishes. He decided to make a grand meal with the fish. Also, he froze a few fishes to take it back to home.

It was almost more than an hour they were fishing. He then approached the second fisherman and asked him if he need any help. The second man said no. In a few minutes, the second fisherman captured a large fish. However, he put that back into the lake.

The first man was surprised at his act. He remained silent. The second man captured many big fishes, but he just put back all those fishes into the lake.

Very annoyed by his act, the first fisherman angrily asked him, 'Are you mad? Why do you put your fishes back into the water? They were beautiful and big!'

The second fisherman replied, 'I know they were big, but I don't have the big pan to cook the big fish! So I'm looking for a smaller fish that fits my cooking pan! The god is troubling me today.'

By hearing this, the first fisherman was surprised. He advised the second fisherman to cut the big fish into small pieces to suit in the pan and cook them properly.

Many people are just like the second fisherman. We are provided with handful of big opportunities, chances and even fortune that we many times overlook. We need to work out just the same like the big fish fit into a small pan.

Power Of Silence

Joe was an old man aged 75 years. He lived very happily and formed a beautiful family. His children grew up and moved to different cities in pursue of good career and future. He lived in a small village carrying the memories of his deceased wife. Joe had 4 grand children and they used to visit him during their holidays.

And it was the vacation time and Joe was eagerly waiting for the arrival of his grand children. He was preparing his home for the kids, cleaning the home, mowing the garden, rearranging the household items, buying the favourite foods, dresses for the children, etc. In the busy arrangements, he lost his favourite watch. old-watch

The watch was gifted by his dead wife when their first child was born. Joe treasured the watch and it became his sole companion after his wife's death.

He forgot the watch missing and was happy receiving the kids at home. It was only the next day when he was about to take bath, he remembered that the watch was missing. He saw the watch last when he was arranging things in the barn. He was shocked and very upset.

His grandchildren asked him why he was so dull and asked him what troubled him.

Joe said, 'Dear children, I lost the most precious watch I have ever had and I ever got in my life. It was gifted by your grandma and I lost it while cleaning the home! I feel like I'm missing my heart.'

Joe was on tears and the children promised him that they would search the watch for him.

One granddaughter asked 'grand pa, do you remember when you saw the watch last before it was missing?'

Joe told, 'I guess when I was cleaning the barn!'

The children decided to search for the watch in the barn. The barn was full of waste materials, books, scraps, broken furniture, etc.

The children searched for more than 2 hours with help of Joe and a servant, but could not find it. Joe was completely shattered and asked the children to stop searching as they could not find anything.

The kids were also too sad, and consoled the grandfather.

One grandson again moved to the barn, and Joe asked why he was going there again. The little boy requested others not to follow him and remain silent.

While the others were little surprised, they still followed what he said. The little boy went to the barn and sat there in silence.

The other children reached him and asked him what he was doing and the little boy asked them not to make noise.

He sat there for about 15 minutes and then rushed to his grandfather. Yes, he got the watch and happily gave it to Joe.

He was surprised and asked how he was able to find it. The little boy replied, 'I sat there without making a noise and the barn was so silent. After a few minutes, I heard the 'tick tick' sound and found the watch.

Joe hugged him and thanked the little boy.

This is the power of silence. If we stay calm, we can find the solution very easily!

Anger vs Love

A man was polishing his new car; his 4 years old daughter picked up a stone and scratched on the side of the car. In anger, the furious Man took his child’s hand hit it many times, not realizing he was using a wrench. At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures.

When the child saw her father, with painful eyes he asked ‘Dad when will my fingers grow back?’ The man was so hurt and speechless. He went back to the car and kicked it many times. Devastated by his own actions, sitting in front of the car he looked at the scratches, His daughter had written ‘LOVE YOU DAD’.

Moral: Remember, Anger and Love have no limit. Always remember that “Things are to be used and people are to be loved”. But the problem in today’s world is that “People are being used Things are being loved”.

A Tale Of Regret

There was this guy who believed very much in true love and decided to take his time to wait for his right girl to appear. He believed that there would definitely be someone special out there for him, but none came. Every year at Christmas, his ex-girlfriend would return from Vancouver to look him up. He was aware that she still held some hope of re-kindling the past romance with him. He did not wish to mislead her in any way. So he would always get one of his girl friends to pose as his steady whenever she came back. That went on for several years and each year, the guy would get a different girl to pose as his romantic interest.

So whenever the ex-girlfriend came to visit him, she would be led into believing that it was all over between her and the guy. The girl took all those rather well, often trying to casually tease him about his different girlfriends, or so, as it seemed! In fact, the girl often wept in secret whenever she saw him with another girl, but she was too proud to admit it. Still, every Christmas, she returned, hoping to re-kindle some form of romance. But each time, she returned to Vancouver feeling disappointed.
Finally she decided that she could not play that game any longer. Therefore, she confronted him and professed that after all those years, he was still the only man that she had ever loved.

Although the guy knew of her feelings for him, he was still taken back and have never expected her to react that way. He always thought that she would slowly forget about him over time and come to terms that it was all over between them. Although he was touched by her undying love for him and wanted so much to accept her again, he remembered why he rejected her in the first place-she was not the one he wanted. So he hardened his heart and turned her down cruelly. Since then, three years have passed and the girl never return anymore. They never even wrote to each other. The guy went on with his life… still searching for the one but somehow deep inside him, he missed the girl.

On the Christmas of 1995, he went to his friend’s party alone. Hey, how come all alone this year? Where are all your girlfriends? What happened to that Vancouver babe who joins you every Christmas?, asked one of his friend. He felt warm and comforted by his friend’s queries about her, still he just surged on.

Then, he came upon one of his many girlfriends whom he once requested to pose as his steady. He wanted so much to ignore her ….. not that he was impolite, but because at that moment, he just didn’t feel comfortable with those girlfriends anymore. It was almost like he was being judged by them. The girl saw him and shouted across the floor for him. Unable to avoid her, he went up to acknowledge her.

Hi… how are you? Enjoying the party? the girl asked.
Sure… yeah!, he replied.

She was slightly tipsy… must be from the whiskey on her hand. She continued, Why…? Don’t you need someone to pose as your girlfriend this year? Then he answered, No, there is no need for that anymore…

Before he can continue, he was interrupted, Oh yes! Must have found a girlfriend! You haven’t been searching for one for the past years, right? The man looked up, as if he has struck gold, his face beamed and looked directly at the drunken girl. He replied, Yes… you are right! I haven’t been looking for anyone for the past years.

With that, the man darted across the floor and out the door, leaving the lady in much bewilderment. He finally realized that he has already found his dream girl, and she was… the Vancouver girl all along! The drunken lady has said something that awoken him.

All along he has found his girl. That was why he did not bother to look further when he realized she was not coming back. It was not any specific girl he was seeking! It was perfection that he wanted, and yes… perfection! Relationship is something both parties should work on. Realizing that he had let away someone so important in his life, he decided to call her immediately. His whole mind was flooded with fear. He was afraid that she might have found someone new or no longer had the same feelings anymore… For once, he felt the fear of losing someone.
As it was Christmas eve, the line was quite hard to get through, especially an overseas call. He tried again and again, never giving up. Finally, he got through…. precisely at 1200 midnight. He confessed his love for her and the girl was moved to tears. It seemed that she never got over him! Even after so long, she was still waiting for him, never giving up.

He was so excited to meet her and to begin his new chapter of their lives. He decided to fly to Vancouver to join her. It was the happiest time of their lives! But their happy time was short-lived. Two days before he was supposed to fly to Vancouver, he received a call from her father. She had a head-on car collision with a drunken driver. She passed away after 6 hours in a coma.

The guy was devastated, as it was a complete loss. Why did fate played such cruel games with him? He cursed the heaven for taking her away from him, denying even one last look at her! How cruel he cursed! How he damned the Gods…!! How he hated himself… for taking so long to realize his mistake!! That was in 1996.

Moral: Treasure what you have… Time is too slow for those who wait, Too swift for those who fear, Too long for those who grief, Too short for those who rejoice, But for those who love… Time is Eternity. For all you out there with someone special in your heart, cherish that person, cherish every moment that you spend together that special someone, for in life, anything can happen anytime. You may painfully regret, only to realize that it is too late.

Promise Is Eternal [love story]

Ever since the beginning, the girl’s family member disagree her relationship with the boy. Saying that because of family background, if she insist of being together with the boy, she’ll suffer for her whole lifetime.

Because of the pressure applied by family members, she frequently quarrel with him. The girl does love the boy, she used to ask him, “How much do you love me?” Because the boy is not good with words, he used to make her angry. With additional comment from her parents, her mood get even worse. The boy, has become her “anger releasing target”. And the boy, just silently allowed her to continuously release her anger on him.
Later, the boy graduated from University. He plan to further study overseas but before he left. He proposed to the girl… ” I, don’t know how to say nice words but I do know that, I love you. If you agree, I am willing to take care of you, the whole life. About your family members, I will work hard to convince them and agree on us.”

“Marry me, will you?”, the girl agreed.

And her parents, looking at the effort shown by the boy, agreed with them. Finally, before the boy go oversea, they are engaged. The girl stay back in the hometown, step into the working society where as the boy continuing his study oversea. They maintained their relationship through telephone and letters. Although time is difficult to get through with, but both of them never give up.

One day, the girl left home for work as usual on her way to the bus stop, a car lose control and knock her down. As she awake from unconsciousness, she saw her parents and realize how seriously she got hurt and how fortunate of her, not to get killed.
Looking at her parents, with their faced got all wet by their tears, she tried to comfort them. But then, she found out that She can’t even spell out a word, she tried her best to make some voice but all she managed, was to breath without any voice. She’s mute. According to the doctor, the injury affected her brain, and that cause her to be mute for the rest of her life. Listening to her parents persuade, but can’t even reply with a single word, the girl collapsed. Throughout the days, others than crying silently, still it is crying.

Later, the girl discharged from hospital. Returning to her home, everything is still like before. Except that the phone ring, has turned into the worst nightmare of hers. Ring after ring, continuously stimulate her, stimulating her pain But she can’t tell the boy. She don’t want to be a burden to him, and wrote him a letter telling him that she no longer want to wait, the relationship between them ended, and even returned him the engagement ring. Facing the letters and telephone from the boy, all she can do, is to allow tears falling from her eyes.
Her father decided to move, after seeing the pain she is suffering. Hoping that she could forget everything and be happier into a new environment, the girl started to learn, slowly picking up sign language and start over again. Also telling herself to forget the boy.

One day, her best friend tell her that the boy’s back. He’s searching all around for her, she asked her best friend not to tell him about her and asked her to tell him to forget her. After that for more than a year there was no news of boy. One day her best friend tells her, that the boy is getting married soon, and passed the Wedding Card to her. She open the card sadly, but she found her name on the card.

The moment she want to ask her best friend, the boy appear in front of her. With an unfamiliar sign language, he told her ”I spent more than a year’s time, to force myself to learn sign language, in order to tell you, I have not forgot our promise, give me an opportunity, let me be your voice. I love you.”Looking at the slow sign language by the boy, and the engagement ring she gave back to him, She finally smiled.

Moral: Do not be a coward and run away whenever there is a problem, remember that every problem has a solution, never ever break someone’s heart, you may not know when it will happen to you.

Friendship and Hurt

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand “Today my best friend slapped me in the face”.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone “Today my best friend saved my life”.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?” The other friend replied “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

Moral: Do not value the things you have in your life. But value who you have in your life.

The Rope

The night fell heavy on the heights of the mountains and the man could not see anything. There was zero visibility; the moon and the stars were covered by the clouds. When he was just a few feet below the top of the mountain, he slipped and fell into the air, falling at great speed. He could see only black spots as he went down, and feel the terrible sensation of being sucked in by gravity. He kept falling, and in those moments of great fear, all the good and bad episodes of his life came to his mind. He was thinking now about how close death was getting, when all of a sudden he felt the rope tied to his waist pull him very hard. His body was hanging in the air. Only the rope was holding him. In that moment of stillness he had no choice other than to scream, "Help me God." All of a sudden, a deep voice coming from the sky answered, "What do you want me to do?" "Save me God." "Do you really think I can save you?" "Of course, I believe you can." "Then cut the rope tied to your waist." There was a moment of silence. The moment passed, and the man decided to hold on to the rope with all his strength. The rescue team says that the next day, the climber was found dead and frozen, his body hanging from a rope, and his hands holding it tight. He was only one foot away from the ground. How attached are we to our ropes? Will we let them go? Don't ever doubt God. We should have enough faith to cut the rope, if that is what God tells us to do, even when it seems to be the most foolish thing to do.

The Lazy Falcon

Once upon a time, there lived a generous and kind-hearted king. He was fond of birds and animals, and had a huge bird sanctuary in his kingdom. He disliked harming the animals and birds. He did not kill them even for meat. In appreciation of his generosity and kindness towards birds, the king was gifted two beautiful falcons by a businessman. Those two falcons were used to different climatic conditions. The king thanked the businessman and ordered the Head bird trainer to provide all the facilities to those beautiful falcons and make them feel comfortable in their country. The Head trainer took care of the birds. Gradually, the birds got adapted to the country's climate. One day, the king wanted to see the falcons fly as he had heard that one of those falcons could fly to great heights at very high speed. The bird trainer let the falcon out of the enclosure. It flew very high, very quickly, and came down to the enclosure within minutes. The king was quite surprised, and rewarded the bird trainer with a handful of gold coins. He enquired about the other falcon. The bird trainer stated with regret that the other falcon had not moved even a step from day one and had just sat on the branch. The trainer also added that he had tried everything he could but still failed to make the bird move. The king consoled him and told him that he would bring someone more experienced than him to try to train the other falcon. Soon, the king announced that he needed someone to make the falcon move and fly. Hearing this announcement, an old man reached the King's palace and assured him that he would make the bird fly like the other one. The king asked the head trainer to take the old man to the sanctuary to train the falcon. He said that he would visit them the next day to see if there was any change. The next day, the king was very surprised to see the other falcon fly like the first one to great heights in rapid speed. The king was very happy and gifted the old man a handful of gold coins. Then the king asked the old man what he had done to make the bird fly in a day. The old man simply replied, "I just cut down the branch of the tree where the falcon used to sit." Many of us are like this. We have wings to fly; we know how to fly, and where to fly. Still we sit doing nothing or doing something that makes us inferior to others. Don't sit still when you have wings to fly!

The Talking Parrot

Once, a lady wanted to but a talking parrot for herself. So she went to a pet shop owner and told him about her requirement. The shop owner said, Yes madam, I have a talking parrot. Then he showed her a parrot. The owner further said, If you pull the string on the left leg, he'll say; Hi, how are you? And if you pull the string on the right leg, he'll say; I'm fine, thank you. At this the lady asked, What if I pull both the strings? Then I would fall from this perch, you stupid lady! answered the parrot.

Always Stay Alert

Once upon a time there was a lion that grew so old that he was unable to kill any prey for his food. So, he said to himself, I must do something to stay my stomach else I will die of starvation.
He kept thinking and thinking and at last an idea clicked him. He decided to lie down in the cave pretending to be ill and then who-so-ever will come to inquire about his health, will become his prey. The old lion put his wicked plan into practice and it started working. Many of his well-wishers got killed. But evil is short lived.

One day, a fox came to visit the ailing lion. As foxes are clever by nature, the fox stood at the mouth of the cave and looked about. His sixth sense worked and he came to know the reality. So, he called out to the lion from outside and said, How are you, sir?

The lion replied, I am not feeling well at all. But why don’t you come inside?

Then the fox replied, I would love to come in, sir! But on seeing, all foot prints going to your cave and none coming out, I would be foolish enough to come in.

Saying so, the fox went to alert the other animals.

Moral: Always Keep Your Eyes Open and Stay Alert before Walking in Any Situation.

Akpos The Wise Man

Akpos got a job in a landlord's house. Once, a landlord's friend came to his house. The landlord called Akpos and asked him to bring his reading glasses. Akpos quickly went to the landlord's room and brought the reading glasses. After the friend left, the landlord called Akpos and scolded, You should have asked me which reading glasses to bring, the one from England or the one from America. It would signify how rich I am. Akpos nodded his head. Few days later, another friend of the landlord came to his house. The friend saw a lion skin and asked the landlord who had killed it. The landlord said that it was his father. The landlord then called Akpos and asked him to bring his father's photograph. At this Akpos asked, Which one sir- one of England or one of America?

Devoted Mother

A mother duck and her little ducklings were on their way to a lake one day. The ducklings were very happy following their mother and quack-quacking along the way.

All of a sudden, the mother duck saw a fox at a distance. She was frightened, and shouted, "Children, hurry to the lake. There's a fox!"

The ducklings hurried towards the lake. The mother duck wondered what to do. Then she began to walk back and forth dragging one wing on the ground.

When the fox saw her, he became happy. He said to himself, "It seems she's hurt and can't fly! I can easily catch and eat her!" He ran towards her.

The mother duck ran, leading the fox away from the lake. The fox followed her. Now he wouldn't be able to harm her ducklings. The mother duck looked towards her ducklings and saw that they had reached the lake. She was relieved, so she stopped and took a deep breath.

The fox thought that she was tired and he came closer, but the mother duck quickly spread her wings and rose up in the air. She landed in the middle of the lake and her ducklings swam to her.

The fox stared in disbelief at the mother duck and her ducklings. The mother duck had tricked him cleverly. Now he could not reach them because they were in the middle of the lake.

The Greedy Boy

Sam and Tom were identical twins. They were so identical that even their mother found it difficult to distinguish one from the other, at least during their initial days on earth.

However, they were very different from each other when it came to everything other than their appearance. Sam had no friends, while Tom was a great friendship maker. Sam loved sweets, but Tom loved spicy food and detested sweets. Sam was mommy's pet and Tom was daddy's pet. While Sam was generous and selfless, Tom was greedy and selfish!

As Sam and Tom grew up, their father wanted to share his fortune equally amongst them. However, Tom did not agree and he argued that whoever proved to be more intelligent and strong would have to get a bigger share of the wealth.

Sam agreed. Their father decided to organize a competition between the two. He asked the two sons to walk as long as they could, and return home before sunset. The wealth would be divided in proportion to the distance covered. As a rule of the competition, they were not permitted to carry a watch to keep track of the time.

The following day, Sam and Tom set out to walk. It was a rather sunny day. Sam walked slowly and steadily, while Tom broke into a sprint as he was bent on winning the race and also winning a greater portion of his father's wealth.

Sam knew that it would be ideal to walk as far as possible till noon and start for home at noon as it would take the same amount of time to walk back home. Knowing this, Sam decided to turn back for home at noon so as reach home on time.

However, Tom, with his greed to earn more wealth, did not attempt to return home even after mid-noon. He walked twice as long as Sam, and thought he would still be able to return home before sunset. He hurried back when he saw the sun turn orange. Unfortunately, he could not even make it half way home as the sun started to set. Slowly darkness engulfed his path and he had to drag his tired feet back home.

He had lost the race. Only because of his greed. Greed leads to loss.

"A Blunder" by Antov Chekhov

ILYA SERGEITCH PEPLOV and his wife Kleopatra Petrovna were standing at the door, listening greedily. On the other side in the little drawing-room a love scene was apparently taking place between two persons: their daughter Natashenka and a teacher of the district school, called Shchupkin.

"He's rising!" whispered Peplov, quivering with impatience and rubbing his hands. "Now, Kleopatra, mind; as soon as they begin talking of their feelings, take down the ikon from the wall and we'll go in and bless them. . . . We'll catch him. . . . A blessing with an ikon is sacred and binding. . . He couldn't get out of it, if he brought it into court."

On the other side of the door this was the conversation:

"Don't go on like that!" said Shchupkin, striking a match against his checked trousers. "I never wrote you any letters!"

"I like that! As though I didn't know your writing!" giggled the girl with an affected shriek, continually peeping at herself in the glass. "I knew it at once! And what a queer man you are! You are a writing master, and you write like a spider! How can you teach writing if you write so badly yourself?"

"H'm! . . . That means nothing. The great thing in writing lessons is not the hand one writes, but keeping the boys in order. You hit one on the head with a ruler, make another kneel down. . . . Besides, there's nothing in handwriting! Nekrassov was an author, but his handwriting's a disgrace, there's a specimen of it in his collected works."

"You are not Nekrassov. . . ." (A sigh). "I should love to marry an author. He'd always be writing poems to me."

"I can write you a poem, too, if you like."

"What can you write about?"

"Love -- passion -- your eyes. You'll be crazy when you read it. It would draw a tear from a stone! And if I write you a real poem, will you let me kiss your hand?"

"That's nothing much! You can kiss it now if you like."

Shchupkin jumped up, and making sheepish eyes, bent over the fat little hand that smelt of egg soap.

"Take down the ikon," Peplov whispered in a fluster, pale with excitement, and buttoning his coat as he prodded his wife with his elbow. "Come along, now!"

And without a second's delay Peplov flung open the door.

"Children," he muttered, lifting up his arms and blinking tearfully, "the Lord bless you, my children. May you live -- be fruitful -- and multiply."

"And -- and I bless you, too," the mamma brought out, crying with happiness. "May you be happy, my dear ones! Oh, you are taking from me my only treasure!" she said to Shchupkin. "Love my girl, be good to her. . . ."

Shchupkin's mouth fell open with amazement and alarm. The parents' attack was so bold and unexpected that he could not utter a single word.

"I'm in for it! I'm spliced!" he thought, going limp with horror. "It's all over with you now, my boy! There's no escape!"

And he bowed his head submissively, as though to say, "Take me, I'm vanquished."

"Ble-blessings on you," the papa went on, and he, too, shed tears. "Natashenka, my daughter, stand by his side. Kleopatra, give me the ikon."

But at this point the father suddenly left off weeping, and his face was contorted with anger.

"You ninny!" he said angrily to his wife. "You are an idiot! Is that the ikon?"

"Ach, saints alive!"

What had happened? The writing master raised himself and saw that he was saved; in her flutter the mamma had snatched from the wall the portrait of Lazhetchnikov, the author, in mistake for the ikon. Old Peplov and his wife stood disconcerted in the middle of the room, holding the portrait aloft, not knowing what to do or what to say. The writing master took advantage of the general confusion and slipped away.

A Bugler's Dilemma

"Bosco count me out"

"Shey you no hear say the man just purchase a new gun?"

"Brand new double barrel from obodo oyinbo"

These were the words spoken to challenge Bosco's declaration. The small group immediately voiced their concern about the suicide mission of attacking Chief Okoli's house.

"Make una listen, the man get money and he no dey use bank. All the money from his Onitsha trade, dey inside that his house. Once we do this one, all of us go find our level go start business." Bosco said.

"If una never tire for small small money, me don tire" he added.

I just sit at one corner of the room listening carefully without speaking a word. Whatever decision they take is fine by me. I
need money. My life cannot continue to be like this and if robbing Chief Okoli's house will solve my problem, then am game.
Our little group of Six members including Bosco who is the brain and muscle of the group started operation less than a month ago. We have done seven operations, most of which were snatching of bag using motorcycles. It has been paying off. But the money is not enough to start a good business for any of us.

Our foray into the world of stealing began when Sunday discovered his father's old guns. Although they were old, they are Awka made guns; the best locally made guns available in this part of the country. When he proposed to our group of friends that, we should contribute money to refurbish the guns so we could start hunting inside Idemili forest, we all agreed. At least it will keep us busy with the hope of getting something for our stomach. But after countless hunting expedition, we all came to a conclusion that hunting is not our calling.
So, it was with mixed feelings when Bosco announced that we use the guns to rob his uncle who is going to purchase goods in Onitsha the next morning. We opposed at first but when he told us his air-tight plans we reluctantly agreed since the money is well over one hundred thousand naira.
Our first 'Rambo-like' operation went without any problems, so was the second, and now we are planning the eighth, which
seems bigger than we could handle. Emeka and Oke stood up saying they will have no part in our suicide mission. They beckoned on me to join them and leave Bosco with his deadly plans. But I have pressing issues that requires lots of money to fix. The way my life had pan out, is not enviable and things must change. While my mates are getting married and having shops in Aba and Owerri, I am stuck in this village chasing rodents with these fools.

"Emeka abeg I go stay, man must take risk to survive. Una never even listen to wetin Bosco plan, una just begin fear." I said to the duo.

"Which kain yeye plan Bosco wan get to block pellets from a new double barrel gun? The only way I I go join una na if we get 'odechi' or 'otumopo', but as we no get, me no fit risk as am o. Person wey dey alive still get hope." He said as he dashed out of the room with his bulldog Oke tagging along.
Nonetheless, we went ahead with our plans, which will be well excuted since we dont have much people. Less members means less exposure and more money. We could also disappear quickly without fear of leaving one behind.
On the d-day, we dressed in our usual black dresscode and painted our face black. It will be a simple operation. We will enter the house through the back door that is always open according to information Bosco got from his imbecile girlfriend. We will proceed to the sitting room through the kitchen, then get Chief Okoli's only daughter to knock on her father's door. And once we have Chief, our operation is as good as done with.
Our plans was going smoothly as planned, we have gotten Chief Okoli's daughter to knock on the door, but no reply. She knocked severally without a single response from inside, Bosco decided to open the door and then our ordeal began.
The room was empty, there was nobody inside. We got confused and scared and in the situation Felix the short demon shouted on the girl to stop fooling us and take us to
her father's room. She started sobbing loudly, i held her mouth and calmed her down. She informed amid pleads not to hurt her father that he should be inside any of his wives' rooms.

As we turned to approached the door to our right, the door on the left room flung opened and Chief Okoli could be seen in
the semi-darkness clutching his gun, he shot immediately into the wall as he saw his daughter with strange men in his sitting room. We scattered, the disappearance of my fellows shocked me and for a split second I thought I would be shot until I saw a space at the back of the cupboard housing various electronic gadgets and books, I ducked behind as more shots rang out. Chief Okoli gave a hot chase to the other members while I sat, frozen in fear behind the cupboard. My legs failed to connect with my brain as the fear of a certain death crippled me. The shots and commotion woke the whole neighborhood and and men with different types of dane guns could be seen and heard in and out of the sitting room and in the compound.

Chief Okoli's power generating set had been turned on and he was recounting the events of the night to his fellow age group.
I am still here behind the cupboard, soaked in fear. Minutes turned into hours as the excitement and frenzy of the events had wiped sleep off the face of Chief Okoli's family. I was hoping they will go back to sleep as the day is still young which will facilitate my escape, but here I am, stuck in
between the Lion and a pack of Wolves.
Chief Okoli's second wife is obviously the mother of the girl we held to knock on doors, the way she pets and pats the girl,
asking her numerous questions at once, indicates she is the mother.

"They want to kill my child for me, their plans in this family will not work, they will be disgraced. Anofia!! " The second wife blurted out while consoling her daughter.
"They have sons, I have sons too, but they don't have a daughter and they want to kill my only daughter for me, their plans in this family will not work. Unless my Chi is dead" She added

"Hey woman, go inside with your daughter and stop looking for trouble. Instead of you to thank God that the hoodlums did not achieve their plans you are here blaming another person" Chief Okoli replied his second wife. But she continued her line of fire "Hey!! Nna those men are not hoodlums, Chief, those men are hired killers, they want to kill you and my daughter but my God has prevailed"
"Woman!!! I say get inside and let me rest" Chief blurted out. She dashed immediately into her room. So here I am on this Saturday morning hidden behind a cupboard of television, files and other electronic appliances. Here I am waiting looking for an opportunity to dash into the
kitchen and flying into the bush behind the compound.

According to Chief, police were on their way to come and survey and find out what truly happened. I know for sure that if and when the police arrived, I may be discovered because the police knows how to snoop where their nose doesn't belong to. I have to leave before the police come. Should I make a run for it? What if there are men with guns in the compound drinking to the successful repelling of the robbery? I was contemplating on what to do when the first wife brought food, set it down on the center table.

"Nna ayin, your food is ready and set." The first wife called out and left the sitting room. Other people in the sitting room
followed suit and the room became empty. I was about springing up when the second wife crept into the room, she looked left and right and then unfold her wrapper and brought out 'abashi'. She poured it into her husband's food and silently walked back to her room. 'Abashi' is a potent poison known
to cause deep sleep that leads to death. It is used by hunters to kill wild and big animals like elephant and rhinoceros, they find their path and then place food laced with Abashi on it.

So this woman wants to kill her husband and the first wife will be blamed for it. According to our culture, a woman guilty
of killing her husband will be banished and made an outcast (osu). The second wife wants she and her children to inherit chief's property and wealth while the first wife and her sons will languish in poverty for a crime she knows nothing of. All these I observed and thought of in my hideout behind the cupboard.

My dilemma is, should I watch the Chief eat this potent food and die while hoping that the police don't arrive while he is eating? Or should I warn the Chief about the poisoned food and hopes he recognises my gestures by letting me go? Chief Okoli holds a record for killing surrendered robbers while he was a member of the village vigilante group. Will the Chief pardon me for saving his life, or he will hand me over to the police or he will just shoot me point blank as his rifle is still with him.
<<<<<Great minds, help me to complete this story. What should our trapped robber do>>>>

Written By Segun Solomon Longe

A Bugler's Delimma

"Bosco count me out"

"Shey you no hear say the man just purchase a new gun?"

"Brand new double barrel from obodo oyinbo"

These were the words spoken to challenge Bosco's declaration. The small group immediately voiced their concern about the suicide mission of attacking Chief Okoli's house.

"Make una listen, the man get money and he no dey use bank. All the money from his Onitsha trade, dey inside that his house. Once we do this one, all of us go find our level go start business." Bosco said.

"If una never tire for small small money, me don tire" he added.

I just sit at one corner of the room listening carefully without speaking a word. Whatever decision they take is fine by me. I
need money. My life cannot continue to be like this and if robbing Chief Okoli's house will solve my problem, then am game.
Our little group of Six members including Bosco who is the brain and muscle of the group started operation less than a month ago. We have done seven operations, most of which were snatching of bag using motorcycles. It has been paying off. But the money is not enough to start a good business for any of us.

Our foray into the world of stealing began when Sunday discovered his father's old guns. Although they were old, they are Awka made guns; the best locally made guns available in this part of the country. When he proposed to our group of friends that, we should contribute money to refurbish the guns so we could start hunting inside Idemili forest, we all agreed. At least it will keep us busy with the hope of getting something for our stomach. But after countless hunting expedition, we all came to a conclusion that hunting is not our calling.
So, it was with mixed feelings when Bosco announced that we use the guns to rob his uncle who is going to purchase goods in Onitsha the next morning. We opposed at first but when he told us his air-tight plans we reluctantly agreed since the money is well over one hundred thousand naira.
Our first 'Rambo-like' operation went without any problems, so was the second, and now we are planning the eighth, which
seems bigger than we could handle. Emeka and Oke stood up saying they will have no part in our suicide mission. They beckoned on me to join them and leave Bosco with his deadly plans. But I have pressing issues that requires lots of money to fix. The way my life had pan out, is not enviable and things must change. While my mates are getting married and having shops in Aba and Owerri, I am stuck in this village chasing rodents with these fools.

"Emeka abeg I go stay, man must take risk to survive. Una never even listen to wetin Bosco plan, una just begin fear." I said to the duo.

"Which kain yeye plan Bosco wan get to block pellets from a new double barrel gun? The only way I I go join una na if we get 'odechi' or 'otumopo', but as we no get, me no fit risk as am o. Person wey dey alive still get hope." He said as he dashed out of the room with his bulldog Oke tagging along.
Nonetheless, we went ahead with our plans, which will be well excuted since we dont have much people. Less members means less exposure and more money. We could also disappear quickly without fear of leaving one behind.
On the d-day, we dressed in our usual black dresscode and painted our face black. It will be a simple operation. We will enter the house through the back door that is always open according to information Bosco got from his imbecile girlfriend. We will proceed to the sitting room through the kitchen, then get Chief Okoli's only daughter to knock on her father's door. And once we have Chief, our operation is as good as done with.
Our plans was going smoothly as planned, we have gotten Chief Okoli's daughter to knock on the door, but no reply. She knocked severally without a single response from inside, Bosco decided to open the door and then our ordeal began.
The room was empty, there was nobody inside. We got confused and scared and in the situation Felix the short demon shouted on the girl to stop fooling us and take us to
her father's room. She started sobbing loudly, i held her mouth and calmed her down. She informed amid pleads not to hurt her father that he should be inside any of his wives' rooms.

As we turned to approached the door to our right, the door on the left room flung opened and Chief Okoli could be seen in
the semi-darkness clutching his gun, he shot immediately into the wall as he saw his daughter with strange men in his sitting room. We scattered, the disappearance of my fellows shocked me and for a split second I thought I would be shot until I saw a space at the back of the cupboard housing various electronic gadgets and books, I ducked behind as more shots rang out. Chief Okoli gave a hot chase to the other members while I sat, frozen in fear behind the cupboard. My legs failed to connect with my brain as the fear of a certain death crippled me. The shots and commotion woke the whole neighborhood and and men with different types of dane guns could be seen and heard in and out of the sitting room and in the compound.

Chief Okoli's power generating set had been turned on and he was recounting the events of the night to his fellow age group.
I am still here behind the cupboard, soaked in fear. Minutes turned into hours as the excitement and frenzy of the events had wiped sleep off the face of Chief Okoli's family. I was hoping they will go back to sleep as the day is still young which will facilitate my escape, but here I am, stuck in
between the Lion and a pack of Wolves.
Chief Okoli's second wife is obviously the mother of the girl we held to knock on doors, the way she pets and pats the girl,
asking her numerous questions at once, indicates she is the mother.

"They want to kill my child for me, their plans in this family will not work, they will be disgraced. Anofia!! " The second wife blurted out while consoling her daughter.
"They have sons, I have sons too, but they don't have a daughter and they want to kill my only daughter for me, their plans in this family will not work. Unless my Chi is dead" She added

"Hey woman, go inside with your daughter and stop looking for trouble. Instead of you to thank God that the hoodlums did not achieve their plans you are here blaming another person" Chief Okoli replied his second wife. But she continued her line of fire "Hey!! Nna those men are not hoodlums, Chief, those men are hired killers, they want to kill you and my daughter but my God has prevailed"
"Woman!!! I say get inside and let me rest" Chief blurted out. She dashed immediately into her room. So here I am on this Saturday morning hidden behind a cupboard of television, files and other electronic appliances. Here I am waiting looking for an opportunity to dash into the
kitchen and flying into the bush behind the compound.

According to Chief, police were on their way to come and survey and find out what truly happened. I know for sure that if and when the police arrived, I may be discovered because the police knows how to snoop where their nose doesn't belong to. I have to leave before the police come. Should I make a run for it? What if there are men with guns in the compound drinking to the successful repelling of the robbery? I was contemplating on what to do when the first wife brought food, set it down on the center table.

"Nna ayin, your food is ready and set." The first wife called out and left the sitting room. Other people in the sitting room
followed suit and the room became empty. I was about springing up when the second wife crept into the room, she looked left and right and then unfold her wrapper and brought out 'abashi'. She poured it into her husband's food and silently walked back to her room. 'Abashi' is a potent poison known
to cause deep sleep that leads to death. It is used by hunters to kill wild and big animals like elephant and rhinoceros, they find their path and then place food laced with Abashi on it.

So this woman wants to kill her husband and the first wife will be blamed for it. According to our culture, a woman guilty
of killing her husband will be banished and made an outcast (osu). The second wife wants she and her children to inherit chief's property and wealth while the first wife and her sons will languish in poverty for a crime she knows nothing of. All these I observed and thought of in my hideout behind the cupboard.

My dilemma is, should I watch the Chief eat this potent food and die while hoping that the police don't arrive while he is eating? Or should I warn the Chief about the poisoned food and hopes he recognises my gestures by letting me go? Chief Okoli holds a record for killing surrendered robbers while he was a member of the village vigilante group. Will the Chief pardon me for saving his life, or he will hand me over to the police or he will just shoot me point blank as his rifle is still with him.
<<<<<Great minds, help me to complete this story. What should our trapped robber do>>>>

Written By Segun Solomon Longe

Hot Ice Cream Saved My Marriage.

So it's a month and two weeks from my marriage to my lovely fiancee's. Plans have been going on and a lots are being achieved. I have met my fiancée's family except her immediate younger sister and I must say that they are very hospitable and warm. My fiancee's younger sister stays in the southern part of Nigeria and I have heard quite a lot about her raunchy and fast paced life which I must admit its quite different from my girlfriend's bottled up life.

One Saturday morning, my fiancée call me to inform me that her sister is around and would like me to met her. I told her that I will make it in the afternoon before the 4:00 football match, so I will watch the Arsenal v Stoke game in their house since her dad is a staunch Arsenal supporter.

After my house chores (single guys can be clean too) I tossed on a shirt and a black trousers, got into my car headed for my fiancée's house. I branched by the supermarket to get wine (for the family dinner which I know I will be forced to wait for), box of chocolate for my fiancée's sister and ice cream for my fiancée.
I drove as fast as traffic could allow as I was running late for the match kickoff. I was still battling with the surprise Saturday traffic bottleneck when my fiancée called to inform me that they are heading out to an impromptu family meeting but her sister will be around to welcome me and am free to watch my match. They will return in the evening before 7pm.

Nothing spoil so I continue on my journey.
The match had already started before I got there. I dashed into the house, met and introduced myself. The sister welcomed me and I proceeded to watch my match. Arsenal was leading already thanks to Koscielny's goal. I was enjoying fine display of football from my darling Arsenal when I heard a scream from the living room. I quickly jumped up and dashed to the source. I opened the door to the room without knocking.

What I saw drained blood from my face. My fiancée's sister was naked except for a silky lace pant covering her woman fold. The boobs were heavenly and the tips were erect. "Come Samson, don't you wanna feel this?" she said as she squeezed her two lovely oranges. "Am gonna suck that big
prick of yours that my sister refused to tell me about. Don't be scared, am not gonna tell anyone if you are not gonna tell. I
just want your hot ice cream in me"

Immediately she mentioned ice cream, I quickly remember the one I bought for my wife and forgot in the car. "Forget the
damn ice cream, this is the real deal. Remember that you haven't had sex for six months? " my inner mind said.

I advanced towards my fiancée's sister to feel her smooth angelic skin. Then I remember that I had no condom on me
but in my cars pigeon hole. I quickly dashed out of the room, pick up my car keys and proceeded to my cars as fast as my legs could carry me. I was fidgeting with the damn pigeon hole when I heard applause and sound of people from the house. As I lifted my head, I saw my fiancée's mom and dad with my fiancée rushing to hug me.
"Congratulations my boy,
you have passed the ultimate test." said my fiancée's dad.

My thoughts were running and confused. So it was a bleeping test and I had failed woefully, although only me was aware of
that.
"I always knew you were God's choice of a husband for me" my wife said as she drown me with kisses."
Mona (her sister) told me you have hot eyes when she saw your pictures, she said you cannot a woman. Thank God you proved her wrong". As I walked backed into the house smiling like a champion, I tried not to think of what would have happened if I had Failed.

Rearranged by Segun Solomon Longe

A Foot Has No Nose

Of the many interactions I had with my mother those many years ago, one stands out with clarity. I remember the occasion when mother sent me to the main road, about twenty yards away from the homestead, to invite a passing group of seasonal work-seekers home for a meal. She instructed me to take a container along and collect dry cow dung for making a fire. I was then to prepare the meal for the group of work-seekers.

The thought of making an open fire outside at midday, cooking in a large three-legged pot in that intense heat, was sufficient to upset even an angel. I did not manage to conceal my feelings from my mother and, after serving the group, she called me to the veranda where she usually sat to attend to her sewing and knitting.

Looking straight into my eyes, she daid "Tsholofelo, why did you sulk when I requested you to prepare a meal for those poor destitute people?" Despite my attempt to deny her allegation, and using the heat of the fire and the sun as an excuse for my alleged behaviour, mother, giving me a firm look, said ""Lonao ga lo na nko" - "A foot has no nose". It means: you cannot detect what trouble may lie ahead of you.

Had I denied this group of people a meal, it may have happened that, in my travels some time in the future, I found myself at the mercy of those very individuals. As if that was not enough to shame me, mother continued: "Motho ke motho ka motho yo mongwe". The literal meaning: "A person is a person because of another person".


Source: "African Wisdom" by Ellen K. Kuzwayo

Beauty Is Within

“Can I see my baby?” the happy new mother asked.

When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears.

Time proved that the baby’s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was marred. When he rushed home from school one day and flung himself into his mother’s arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be a succession of heartbreaks. He blurted out the tragedy. “A boy, a big boy … called me a freak.”

He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. “But you might mingle with other young people,” his mother reproved him, but felt a kindness in her heart. The boy’s father had a session with the family physician. Could nothing be done? “I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears, if they could be procured,” the doctor decided.

Whereupon the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by. Then, “You are going to the hospital, Son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’s a secret,” said the father. The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged. His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of triumphs.

Later he married and entered the diplomatic service. “But I must know!” He urged his father, “Who gave so much for me? I could never do enough for him.” “I do not believe you could,” said the father, “but the agreement was that you are not to know … not yet.” The years kept their profound secret, but the day did come … one of the darkest days that a son must endure. He stood with his father over his mother’s casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal that the mother had no outer ears. “Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,” he whispered gently, “and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?”

Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart. Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but what that cannot be seen. Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what that is done but not known.

Persistence Pays

This is the story of two frogs. One frog was fat and the other skinny. One day, while searching for food, they inadvertently jumped into a vat of milk. They couldn't get out, as the sides were too slippery, so they were just swimming around.

The fat frog said to the skinny frog, "Brother frog, there's no use paddling any longer. We're just going to drown, so we might as well give up." The skinny frog replied, "Hold on brother, keep paddling. Somebody will get us out." And they continued paddling for hours.

After a while, the fat frog said, "Brother frog, there's no use. I'm becoming very tired now. I'm just going to stop paddling and drown. It's Sunday and nobody's working. We're doomed. There's no possible way out of here." But the skinny frog said, "Keep trying. Keep paddling. Something will happen, keep paddling." Another couple of hours passed.

The fat frog said, "I can't go on any longer. There's no sense in doing it because we're going to drown anyway. What's the use?" And the fat frog stopped. He gave up. And he drowned in the milk. But the skinny frog kept on paddling.

Ten minutes later, the skinny frog felt something solid beneath his feet. He had churned the milk into butter and he hopped out of the vat.

Author: Melissa D Zartman

Final Respects

One day not too long ago the employees of a large company in St. Louis, Missouri returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said: "Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym."

At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be.

The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered: "Who is this person who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he's no longer here!"

One by one the employees got closer to the coffin and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.

There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: "There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.

You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself.

Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.


"The most important relationship you can have, is the one you have with yourself."

The Mouse Trap

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" the mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said "I am so very sorry, Mr.Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house - like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many! people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness. So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember: when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another. Each of us is a vital thread in another person's tapestry.

The Golden House

The little girl lived in a small, very simple, poor house on a hill and as she grew she would play in the small garden and as she grew she was able to see over the garden fence and across the valley to a wonderful house high on the hill - and this house had golden windows, so golden and shining that the little girl would dream of how magic it would be to grow up and live in a house with golden windows instead of an ordinary house like hers.

And although she loved her parents and her family, she yearned to live in such a golden house and dreamed all day about how wonderful and exciting it must feel to live there.

When she got to an age where she gained enough skill and sensibility to go outside her garden fence, she asked her mother is she could go for a bike ride outside the gate and down the lane. After pleading with her, her mother finally allowed her to go, insisting that she kept close to the house and didn't wander too far. The day was beautiful and the little girl knew exactly where she was heading! Down the lane and across the valley, she rode her bike until she got to the gate of the golden house across on the other hill.

As she dismounted her bike and lent it against the gate post, she focused on the path that lead to the house and then on the house itself...and was so disappointed as she realised all the windows were plain and rather dirty, reflecting nothing other than the sad neglect of the house that stood derelict.

So sad she didn't go any further and turned, heart broken as she remounted her bike ... As she glanced up she saw a sight to amaze her...there across the way on her side of the valley was a little house and its windows glistened golden ...as the sun shone on her little home.

She realised that she had been living in her golden house and all the love and care she found there was what made her home the 'golden house'. Everything she dreamed was right there in front of her nose!

Compassion

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: ‘When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?’

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. ‘I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys were playing baseball. Shay asked, ‘Do you think they’ll let me play?’ Shay’s father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay’s father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, ‘We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.’

Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt . His father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father’s joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, ‘Shay, run to first! Run to first!’ Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, ‘Run to second, run to second!’ Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, ‘Shay, Shay, Shay, all the way Shay!’

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, ‘Run to third, Shay, run to third!’

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, ‘Shay, run home! Run home!’ Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

‘That day’, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, ‘the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world’.

Young Shay would never forget what it felt like to be a hero that day.

Neither would the other boys.

"The decency of any society can be measured by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens."

The King and His Thumb

An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns. After
taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it, and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual,

"This is good!" To which the king replied,

"No, this is NOT good!" and immediately
sent his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to avoid. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake, and bound him to the stake. As they came close to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious cannibals, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So the cannibals untied the king, and sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the incident that had blown off his thumb and felt sadness for his treatment of his friend. The king went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he
said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean,'This is good'? said the king.

“How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" questioned the king.

"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you." said his friend.

Elixir Of Sorrow

There is an old Chinese tale about a woman whose only son died. In her grief, she went to the holy man and asked, "What prayers, what magical incantations do you have to bring my son back to life?"

Instead of sending her away or reasoning with her, he said to her, "Fetch me a mustard seed from a home that has never known sorrow. We will use it to drive the sorrow out of your life." The woman went off at once in search of that magical mustard seed.

She came first to a splendid mansion, knocked at the door, and said, "I am looking for a home that has never known sorrow. Is this such a place? It is very important to me."

They told her, "You've certainly come to the wrong place," and began to describe all the tragic things that recently had befallen them.

The woman said to herself, "Who is better able to help these poor, unfortunate people than I, who have had misfortune of my my own?"

She stayed to comfort them, then went on in search of a home that had never known sorrow. But wherever she turned, in hotels and in other places, she found one tale after another of sadness and misfortune.

The woman became so involved in helping others cope with their sorrows that she eventually let go of her own. She would later come to understand that it was the quest to find the magical mustard seed that drove away her suffering.

The Crazy Doctor

His staff were always afraid to enter his office to discuss important issues that affected their lives, because of the negative response they would get from such encounters. He behaved like a demigod and a warlord or like someone possessed by an evil spirit.

There was also the case of the poor grandma whose jobless daughter delivered her baby through Caesarian Section and owed the hospital about N100, 000. The old woman came to the hospital to beg the virulent doctor to temper justice with mercy; that she would pay the debt. She pleaded, while on her knees, in sorrowful tears, that she was just a cleaner where she worked, that her daughter’s husband had absconded and was nowhere to be found.

Mumbusa would hear nothing of such, as he lambasted, abused and rained tirades on the old woman. “I’m not the cause of your
problem, you poverty-stricken old woman,” he began his saucy sentences. “You must definitely be out of your mind. I used multimillion of naira to establish this reputable hospital and now you start begging me unreasonably.

“I will tell the Police to arrest you for failing to pay your debts, is that understood? When you get to the Police station, you’ll explain such utter gibberish to the Police. Get out of my sight please,” he retorted.

The old woman left the presence of the doctor in tears, wondering what she would do to placate him. She was a widow and prayed that God should touch the heart of doctor, so that she wouldn’t sleep in the prison.

It was another day in the life of the inhuman doctor. A patient came to his hospital with pains in her stomach. After testing the said patient, the result showed that there were some complications and a surgery must be done on the lady. Before long, the patient was in the theatre for a peritonitis operation.

As the operation went on, the cantankerous doctor suddenly found fault again with one of the nurses, sister Agnes. With annoyance, he gave her a deafening slap and insulted her continuously. The elderly nurse protested and there was a hot argument in the theatre. The doctor talked bitterly and said he would sack the elderly nurse that same day. Still in anger, the doctor didn’t know he had committed a life-threatening error during the operation.

He didn’t know he had forgotten a scalpel in
the stomach of the patient. It was three days later when the patient was having chronic stomach pains that it was detected instantly that a surgery apparatus was forgotten in her stomach.

The patient’s lawyer took the matter up and sued Mumbusa for negligence of duty. The doctor begged the patient and pleaded for leniency and was fined N10million for such oversight and gross damage to the said patient.

The Judge gave him an option of fine or he should spend seven years in jail.
With tears in his eyes, the very boisterous doctor went down on his knees, begging the Judge not to send him to jail, promising to pay the fine. He told the court that he had learnt his lessons and would change his ways from that eventful day.
No one could believe that the hot-tempered doctor could behave like a docile and humble kid. From that day onward, Mumbusa turned a new leaf. No one is perfect and it is not good to think one is God.

Written by Segun Durowaiye