The end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof says the holy book. The end of meat is bone, the end of sex is pregnancy, the end of a new cloth is kitchen rag. But the end of a thing is still better than its beginning, right?
At least John believed so when he rose up from the bed this morning. He hoped to find work in the market today. He prayed that good customers will see him but the wicked eyes of the area boys will miss him. He did not waste time daydreaming, no time to waste in the city of hustlers.
As he quickly does rub and shine with the bowl of water in the window and as he set his face boldly to today's destiny, the sun on his back and stark hope in his stomach, John has only one end in mind: to find food today.
Work starts at dawn, tick says the clock, helter skelter is the market dance. Up and down the music of the market place jives. To and fro everyone in the market tap dance to the rhythm of commerce and profit. And at the back of every mind, buyer and seller, is one simple end: to see food today.
John our proud brother is not afraid of work as long as the end justifies the means. He is not ashamed to call himself executive alaaru. After all, it is what you are gifted at that you boast about. There is no shame in a honest means of livelihood. From Dugbe Alawo to Agbeni, from Ogunpa to Alesinloye, from Bere to Oja Oba, from Iwo Road to Bodija market, the train of John's hustle is always on the move. It is John's praise on the tongue of every serious market seller. So John will find work if he's ready. And at the end of the day, he'll get food today.
You see, John is not an ambitious man, he only wants a peaceful life. Work to do, a place to sleep, health to hustle, protection from bad energy, and of course food to eat. But John is also smart. He has been doing daily ajo with Bewaji since January. He wants to buy keke napep, he wants to gradually climb up the ladder of social status. By December he'll collect his ajo and borrow the balance to buy the keke and he'll start work immediately. I told you John is not afraid of work.
Not that he wants to show off his good fortune or he wants to get a wife or build house. No, not yet. It is the matter of good food and rest of mind that is driving our man, John.
Afterall, if you build all the houses and marry all the pretty girls, what is the end of everything? Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity, says the holy book.
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