Short story: A good deed pays off
In the town of Nyamedoom lived a man called Dumre. The town was known to be inhabited by hardworking and diligent farmers. Dumre had a younger sister name Akos.
Their parents were among the richest people in the town. Unfortunately for them, thieves broke into their house, stole huge sums of money and in the process shot their parents when they attempted to call for help.
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Dumre and Akos were made orphans as a result, but by then Dumre was of age. He, therefore, took care of Akos and administered her part of their parent’s property for her until she was old enough to do so herself.
When Akos came of age, she asked Dumre for her share of the property. At that time, Agya Dumre, as was his new name, had become selfish.
He wanted to keep everything to himself. For that reason, anytime Akos brought up the issue of her inheritance, he plunged into an argument with her. That continued for a long time until one day, after one heated argument, Agya Dumre threw his sister out of the house, built by their parents.
She pleaded with her brother but he had no pity for her.
With nowhere to go, Akos combed the whole town until she found one abandoned wooden structure at the outskirts of the town where she stayed. Without any money, she tried to find something to do.
She started washing people’s clothes for a living, and at that same time worked on her farm. Soon she was able to get enough to feed herself and buy all that she needed.
One day while she was on her way to farm, Akos saw a wounded old woman crying for for help. Akos had pity on her and gave her all the assistance she needed, and even offered to take her home.
At the old woman’s house, she offered to give Akos some money but Akos refused, saying that her kindness was not for sale. In return, the old woman blessed Akos and asked Akos to visit her often.
Soon, the old woman’s prophesy came true and Akos’ farm expanded into a big commercial one. By now, she was exporting some of the produce from the farm outside the country and was earning so much money.
But that time, Agya Dumre had become penniless. He had spent all the money his father left them on women and big parties. He had sold almost all the properties his parents left them except the house he was leaving in.
Even that was in the process of being taken away from him because he had used it as a guarantee for a bank loan he could not pay.
Seeing that he was in the process of losing everything, he went to his sister, pleaded for forgiveness and asked for her assistance.
Initially, Akos did not want to listen to his pleas but upon persistent advice by the old woman she once helped, she forgave him.
This story teaches us all not to be selfish or greedy, otherwise when we fall in trouble there will be no one to help us. We should also learn to ask for forgiveness when we realise we have done something wrong.
Gladys Abachey,
Accra.
