The Burning Wick

Chapter 4. Humility In Buckets, Kindness In Laundry

With birds chirping on a fog laden ember morning, The sound was sweet like it called for names finely nested in citrus fragrance bright morning. Charles, the first child of the Okonji's, had grown into a man in his early twenties. He is now in his final year in the University but yet his broad shoulders still carry smaller frames than the weight of hard reality that fogged him into a man prematurely.

At 11:00 am on a Thursday morning, Charles Okonji resumed his laundry and car wash duty spot which he was able to secure from his agric produce leverage to make extra cash to meet ends need. He had just finished his routine of farm produce sourcing activities. He made a great deal from grain stock delivery from Abakaliki that morning and chose to resume at his laundry and car wash outfit.

Charles on ground of trust was employed to manage this business by Alhaji Hamzat Adamu, The business went well because Charles had learned faster than his age under circumstantial pressure. Adebayo, Musa, Kate, Eric all worked under him.. The ember season was the peak for business as many returned from the mega cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Kano. The money never stopped coming in. “Ohhh my goodness, who has all these clothes,” Charles quizzed Kate on entering the laundry store section, Kate the sales rep replied, “They are from Mr Nduka, and Mr Henry along with our other regular customers”

Charles would join his subordinate to operate the laundry machine used despite him being their superior but the youngest amongst the staff, he blended in with humility such that you would hardly know he was their superior at the place of work. If not properly introduced or addressed, you would mistake him for an inexperienced underage far too young for his duties. “Oga Charles, he be like say, na you go wash Mr Nduka clothes today o,” said Musa and still continued, “The ones I washed yesterday was more than enough to break my waist” That was Musa talking “Ahhh ahh” Charles laughed off the sarcasm with a warm smile. “Ok, let me have them with those clothes with special colors,” said Charles.

They had five standard commercial purpose washing machines in the outlet and all were at full throttle working at maximum capacity, Charles dutiful sorted out the fabrics that matches and fed some of them into the laundry machine after mixing the right amount of detergent and water, in a very short time, five badges were already done dry and ready for ironing with the support of the other functional staff.

Charles attempted the last set of clothes but as he was checking one of the pockets, he saw 18 units of $100 notes in one of the pockets. Charles was smart enough to understand a bit of social psychology and decided to snap the picture of the clothes and the money at the same time for reference and evidence. While keeping the money to himself.

He reached out to Kate, the sales rep, to inquire who owns those clothes, Kate checked the reference book and was able to confirm the name as Mr Nduka. Charles refused to open up to the rest of his colleagues what he saw for fear of a potential planned robbery especially to avoid a misaligned story built up over the money he discovered. Charles personally placed a call across to Mr Nduka to summon him.

Mr Nduka came, and in the presence of Kate while Charles quietly recorded their conversation with his mobile phone voice recorder because of the sensitive nature of the case should it escalate to involve the police. Charles related the case to Mr Nduka, “A wonderful afternoon to you sir; I enjoined my subordinate this morning and found an 18 units of $100 dollar note in one of your clothes pockets.” Mr Nduka, was shocked, with his mouth wide open while he held his jaw from falling further, “He replied, " Since the past four days I brought this clothes, I have been looking everywhere in the house in search of this money,” said Mr Nduka. Charles felt a big relief that he had solved a problem with a spark of honesty..

He had demonstrated this many times so to him it is nothing new, but this time was like something much bigger. Charles made a brief acknowledgement note of the item recovered from Mr Nduka pocket and now surely returned to him. The note was dated, signed by Mr Nduka and Kate as a witness then Charles also signed. Charles released the money to him and Mr Nduka embraced him passionately as he saved him from a serious business loss.

As if evil blossomed out of kindness, The burning wick flickered a sign that read danger lay in wait like the ambush of a tiger..

Charles went to the car wash section to oversee the progress and attempted to support Eric and Adebayo,

“Oga Charles, my man, we heard you saw dollars and returned the dollar, na wa for you o.” said Adebayo. Charles replied, “Honesty is a name money cannot buy, if you lose it, then you have lost a treasure, why would you like to hold back what is not yours, especially if you have a conscience?” Eric replied, “Charles, see you o, you are truly a pastor in the making but have needs, bills, parents and siblings even if you don't have a wife and kids yet, you will always have need for money, unlike Adebayo and myself with wives and children, we are all here to work for money my brother. So the money you returned, you found it, you did not steal it,” replied Eric. “You are right that we are here to work for money but not here to steal," Eric replied with a soft and friendly sarcasm encased with a smile. He reminded them he had values that cannot be compromised and are not negotiable

Everyone made enough money for that day plus extra tips from some generous car wash customers.. Charles stopped by in the busy night market on his way home and he bought soup things to include goat meat, and fresh catfish with barbecue for his parents and siblings to have a night full of sufficiency forgetting the harrowing days they always have to skip meals due to lack and wants.

As if Kindness has returned 2 days after with a different music. Mr Nduka came back the next day with a police officer, “Mr Charles Okonji you are needed for questioning at the police station.” Charles asked, Officer, hope everything is fine?, Mr Nduka interrupted, I would appreciate if you corporate with the police for an investigation at the station as my total money missing is $4,000 US dollars and not just #1,800 dollars he should please cooperate with them for an investigation as the money he lost all together was 40 units of $100 US dollar as against the assumed 18 units of $100 US dollars..

But he maintained his commendation for his $1,800 recovered from the supposed $4,000 dollars in total. Immediately Charles placed a call through to Alhaji Hamzat Adamu and briefed him on the matter as he was off for a statement at the police station. He followed Mr Nduka and gave his statement but was not detailed because of the professionality and intelligence he employed on the crisis from the onset coupled with the fact that he offered to be instrumental in the course of their investigation.

The police came to the office and insisted to access the security CCTV cameras and in the course of the investigation, Musa face was seen removing some amount of US dollars notes from one of Mr Nduka’s pocket a day before and the investigation resolved Musa had made away with the remaining $2,200 dollars (22 units of USA $100 ). Musa had refused to show face at work for the past two days, since the case ensued. Only to discover that Musa was already in transit to Adamawa, his home town. He was later tracked down using his mobile phone number and a total of $2,100 dollars was recovered from him. He had already spent $100 US dollars in less than 48 hours. He was later arranged in court and made to face the law while Charles' name was vindicated.

Mr Nduka later extended a more generous hand of business partnership with Charles having demonstrated an exceptional conduct at putting integrity first above selfish interests.

As if, “The Burning Wick,” Smiled, it went on like laurel dancing to a name different yet real and true.