ONCE UPON A TIME.................................
The moon was full again, after about a month of serious rain in the
evergreen rain forest. The youngsters always looked forward to the new
moon because it was a special time to socialize with friends at an
elder's house, to listen to stories that taught wisdom, common sense and
morals.
The venue for to night's event was at Efe, the snail's house, which was at
the middle of the kingdom. Youngsters came from around to hear what
the aged Efe had to say. Believe it or not, other elders and parents were
often there to emphasize important points the little ones needed to
mature. It was not pass the time it took one to blink, Efe's house was
filled like a thousand ants on a loaf of old bread. Then, Efe took his
place on his host chair, and as he glanced at the multitude in his
presence, he greeted "My friends, I greet you all. Parents and children, I
salute and I welcome you all." and they all responded " Thank you and
we greet you too." After everything had quieted down, Efe broke the one
minute and a half silence as he began the main entertainment of the day.
" It was not too long ago, probably about the time most of your
grandparents were in their early teens, there lived two Kings and one
crown. One of them was a king for real because he had the crown and
the other was called king because to his social class, he was an
inventor. The king was Edugie, the lion. He was a famous, rich and
powerful lion, who could buy the entire world with the cost of his
breakfast. The clothes he wore when put in fire would not burn. His
palace was half the kingdom and we heard that it was three times as big
under the ground. It was because of this god forsaken basta...., please
forgive my language. My children, as I was saying, it was because of this
lion that some animals gave up the kingdom's god and began to worship
him. When ever he stumbles, every one would leave what they have been
doing and run to hold him from falling and the lion too will act as if he is
out of control. Now, on the other hand was Usi the goat. Apart from the
leaves he put together to call his house, He had less than nothing. Any
time he had enough to eat or called a meal, he ate so much to last him
two weeks, then he then runs home and sit in one spot not to quicken
the digestion. My father told me that he only saw Usi wear one dress in
his lifetime and that the dress was so long, he was not sure if he ever
had any underwear on. He also told me that Usi's house was so large
that if you were to lie down at one end of his house and row over, you
would have passed the other end by a distance three times the size of
the house. Even in the place of worship, when ever Usi came, they
quickly dragged him outside because they where ashamed that his
poverty might turn their god away. When ever he stumbles, People
quickly push him down, then those without foot mat and handkerchief
would quickly come and use his only dress for what ever purpose they
desired."
"One day all the rich, wealthy and famous came together and Edo the
leopard with his kind heart suggested that they do something or maybe
start a program to help the poor ones out of their miserable standard of
living. He also suggested that good roads, food and adequate water
supply should be provided in poor areas. As he said this Edugie gave an
arrogant loud laugh and said "I will not believe anyone is poor in this
mighty kingdom until I see someone feeding from the trash can and
moreover if anyone is poor, he is poor because he was meant to die
poor." At this, a lot of people applauded and decided not to give one-
eight of a penny, but few gave and it reached the poor. It was because of
Edo's idea that more than half the kingdom was angry with him,
especially Edugie and Usi. Edugie was angry with Edo and his idea
because the richest in the land was king and if he should give a little to
the poor, then Ike the tiger or Oka the elephant might become the richest
and have the crown. So maybe that jealous Edo was trying to dethrone
him cleverly. Now, although Usi was poor and mocked by the upper
class, a lot of the poor gave him maximum respect. In fact, he was
called king because he was very creative and was the master inventor of
his time. It was because he was poor that he would turn what others call
useless and have thrown away into something cheap and very useful and
it was as effective as those with golden handles for the wealthy. So when
Edo's money got to him, he angrily refused to take it because he thought
that Edo -one of the upper class- was trying to give him a piece of cake
to make him feel rich. So that he would not be as creative as he should
be."
"Life went on, The rich got richer and did everything they could to get
richer and of course the poor were very rich, since they had everything
the greedy rich ones left behind, which was approximately one-
nineteenth of nothing. It was not too long, Edugie died. At his funeral, A
lot of the upper class came in their two million dollar suits. It was clear
that they were competing for the most well dressed Individual, Some of
them, just bought their most expensive cars the previous night to the
funeral. Even the cow that eats grass had golden canines (special teeth
for cutting flesh). Edugie's casket was golden and was carried around the
kingdom -all by itself in a golden plane that sits a thousand passengers
-before coming to the funeral site. When the funeral service was over,
The same people who were his friends that attended the funeral, those
who worshiped him and those who ran to hold him whenever he
stumbles said amongst themselves and in their hearts " Now that the old
fool is dead, who will arise to be king and how are we going to steal
some of his wealth before someone get to it before us"?
"Two weeks later, Usi also passed away. At his funeral a lot of poor
individuals came to see their king buried. Some of them came with signs
like " Poverty is the father of invention", "King of Poverty" and "May you
own a dime of you own in the next life". This they did not to mock him
but it was out of genuine love and blessing for their fellow animal of
poverty. Each of them wore their most expensive piece of cloth round
their waist as they carried his body to be buried. As they got to the site
to lay his body, they stopped to put their resources together and buy
land to lay their friend in. After they put their resources together, they
found out that their money was only enough to buy land to put only his
nose in. So they decided to carry him else where for cheaper rate. At
this, the tortoise and other grumbled that he was too heavy and that his
head (tortoise) is now finding it difficult to come out of the shell due to
his weight. Instead of carrying him else where, they gave him to the
wolves for supper after a general consensus. So the wolves prayed for
them all and took him (usi's body) home to spent the night with them on
their dinning table." "My beloved children, There are three lessons to be
learned from my tale. First, It is very good to help people when you can
but you have to be prepared for the shock, that those you are trying very
hard to help might not appreciate it and that in trying to help, you may
be taking away from others. This will end up turning against you as in
the case of Edugie and Usi with Edo.
Secondly, Whatever you do, do it very well because you believe in it and
not to please others and displease yourself . Believe it or not, they might
hail you in your presence but only God knows what they really think of
you as in the case of Edugie after his burial. Lastly, Nobody knows his or
her friend. We are born and we socialize but who really cares about you,
apart from your immediate family. As in the case of Usi being feed to
the wolves by his so called friends for dinner." After he finished his
story, everyone present thanked him and he thanked them back and sent
them home with greetings, blessings and well wishes for their loved
ones.
