WHEN HARD WORK BECAME AN INSULT
801 Words
PART TWO
WHEN HARD WORK BECAME AN INSULT
In Kawira Town, it did not happen suddenly.
No announcement was made.
No siren was blown.
But one thing became clear: hard work was no longer fashionable.
1. The New Language of the Youths
Words shape the mind.
Soon, new words filled the mouths of students at Kawira Community Secondary School.
“Hustle” no longer meant effort; it meant sharp practice.
“Connection” no longer meant relationship; it meant who you know that can bend rules.
“Skill” was a word of mockery.
“Patience” became an insult.
If a student said he wanted to learn welding or carpentry, laughter followed him like a shadow.
“So you want to suffer like old people?”
“You want to smell of wood and sweat forever?”
The youths laughed, but the laughter was empty.
2. Rashid’s Shame
One afternoon, Rashid followed his father to the workshop.
Musa was fixing a broken wardrobe. Sweat dropped from his forehead. His hands moved with confidence and calm.
A group of Rashid’s classmates passed by.
One of them shouted,
“Rashid! So you are now carpenter’s boy?”
They laughed.
Rashid felt something burn inside him—not shame for mocking his father, but shame for being associated with hard work.
That evening, he refused to return to the workshop.
“Papa, I have assignments,” he lied.
But he sat with his phone instead.
3. The Quiet Son Who Watched
Sadiq noticed everything.
He still followed his father, still learned measurements, still asked questions. But he also noticed that his younger brothers were drifting.
One night, Sadiq asked Rashid gently:
“What is wrong with learning a skill?”
Rashid scoffed.
“Brother, wake up. Skills are for those without connections.”
Sadiq said nothing.
But silence, when ignored, becomes regret.
4. School Without Direction
At school, teachers complained, but their voices were weak.
Workshops were empty. Laboratories gathered dust. Agricultural tools rusted under the sun.
Students passed exams through cramming, leakages, and miracles.
No one asked what they could do with their knowledge.
They only asked:
“Will this bring money fast?”
5. Khalil Learns to Laugh at Effort
Khalil, the youngest, watched Rashid closely.
Children imitate what they admire.
When Khalil saw Rashid mocking effort, he learned quickly.
He began to laugh at classmates who struggled honestly. He avoided chores. He hated farm work.
“This is not my future,” he said, though he did not know what his future was.
6. Zainab’s Loneliness
Zainab was different.
She took school seriously. She helped her mother. She admired her father.
But goodness became lonely.
Girls at school laughed at her simplicity.
“You behave like a village woman,” they said.
“Who will notice you like that?”
Zainab cried quietly at night but did not change.
Integrity is often unpopular before it becomes rare.
7. The City Stories
Rashid’s phone was now his teacher.
Every night, stories came from the city:
Boys who “blew” overnight
Girls who “made it” through unknown means
Flashy photos, no explanations
Nobody showed the struggle behind the pictures.
Nobody showed the prison cells.
Nobody showed the graves.
Rashid swallowed everything.
8. The Day Musa Was Mocked
One afternoon, Musa returned home earlier than usual.
His workshop had been quiet. Customers now wanted cheap, fast furniture—no quality, no patience.
He sighed.
At home, Rashid joked carelessly:
“Papa, this your work is stressful. Why not find something modern?”
The words hit Musa like a slap.
He did not shout.
He only said softly:
“My son, do not laugh at the road that fed you.”
But Rashid had already stopped listening.
9. The Mother’s Fear
Amina noticed changes.
Food tasted the same, but the house felt different.
Laughter sounded forced.
Eyes avoided responsibility.
One night, she told Musa:
“Something is wrong with our children.”
Musa nodded.
“Yes,” he said, “they are beginning to despise effort.”
10. The Turning Point Approaches
A man arrived in Kawira Town.
They called him Uncle Victor.
He wore good clothes. He spoke sweetly. He asked no questions but offered advice.
Youths gathered around him like flies to honey.
He said things like:
“School is a scam.”
“Hard work is outdated.”
“Smart people don’t suffer.”
Rashid listened closely.
So did Khalil.
And in that listening, the foundation of the Demba family began to c***k.
11. Ending of Part Two
The house was still standing.
The parents were still alive.
The children were still home.
But values were slipping.
Hard work had become an insult.
Skills had become shameful.
Quick money had become a god.
And gods always demand sacrifice.
- Writer
