At One's Fist - Episode 3

 

(Full lights on stage. It is a sunny day. Enitan and Adio are seen on Ade's farm, clearing it for another cultivation.) 
ADIO : ( Lapses and stand up straight) 
Enitan, If you have the Opportunity to run away 
with the remaining money with our 'Oga', will 
you do it?

ENITAN : (Shocked) Adio, why did you ask that kind of a 
question? (Dazed) 
To your question, I will say NO.

ADIO : (Moves closer to Enitan) Enitan..... 
Look at you, if you get this money, you can 
even get a kiosk, buy one or two things in it 
and start selling.
You'll be comfortable rather than serving a 
master that is dying on 'I'M TRYING'...

ENITAN : Adio, you sound like a good friend. 
But Adio, Must it be in a dubious way?

ADIO : (Chuckles) 
My friend, that is what it takes to look for the 
golds. 
What do you think? 
Do you think all these prosperous, well-to-do, 
wealthy people are blessed by God?

ENITAN : Adio! Adio! Grace speaks.

ADIO : Then we should pray for grace, after our actions.

ENITAN : (Smiles) fingers are not equal, brother.

ADIO : (Growing impatient)

Don't you want to be free? Enjoy an independent life.......? The remaining money with the master is enough for you to open a kiosk outside your house, take care of your needs and your grandma's. 

ENITAN : (Smiles with relief) our instinct is to do whatever 
we want regardless of the consequences but allowing a child to eat a box of chocolates could lead to sickness. On the other hand, the discipline of eating one or two pieces a day produces an enjoyable experience for longer time

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/at-one-s-fist

. As my grandmother used to say "Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, controlling the desire". ( Adio sighs but not convinced)
Can I live with the conscience?.....

ADIO : Hum... You're right, enitan. 
(Adio lapses...and soliloquizes) I don't really think he knows what he is saying. Even to make a pleasing personality, man needs money,power and connection.Especially in our present generation, they (people) regard rich people as Omoluabi. They don't even care where he or she sees the money. I just have to steal the money and abscond to the...

ENITAN : Adio! Adio! (Pats him to regain consciousness.)

ADIO : Yes! Don't mind me, I think a way a little ****(lol)

ENITAN : (Scoffs at him)Take things easy man. Let's continue clearing before 'Oga' comes back.

(Some minutes after, a man sluggishly appear around the farmland begging for alms, looking tattered and rough.) 

OLD MAN : (In a pitiful voice) Please.... help me, I'm hungry. 

ADIO : Old man, we're equally famished here.
We only have this little money to eat.
My Apon be po re, bread and akara girl will soon be here.

ENITAN : Adio! You don't have to talk like that. (Adio moves back) Baba, why are you out by this time of the day?

OLD MAN : My son, there is nothing to eat, no one is willing to help a man blind in one eye out, an old man in tattered cloth that stinks, and that is why I decided that begging for alms is the only thing I can do.

ENITAN : It's okay, old one. (collects his share from the money with Adio and give it to the old man) Baba. 
I will go hungry today but all In the name of love, I can't 
let you die of hunger, please, manage the little that I 
have. (Gives the old man his clothes) Baba, please change your cloth when you get home. (Adio on the other hand is looking at Enitan and Making jest of him).

OLD MAN : God will bless you, son.

ENITAN : Amen. Please, just find something to eat.

OLD MAN : One more thing son, (pauses) Dust yourself off and get back into the mainstream, put dreams together, don't forget to be patient and be prayerful in any situation you find yourself. ( Enitan nods as a sign of approval) Dear son, honest and truth will put you in a positive state of mind. Thank you (Enitan gives a loud sigh as the man walks away.)

ADIO : Eh, dude. Don't be bored with the old cargo's talk.We know them very well... "Ebi n pa won, won o ri nkan je." 

ENITAN : Okay (Gives a fake smile and walk quietly to other end of the farm to sit).

*** In another place ***

(The Old man meets Ade on the way to Ade's farm)

OLD MAN : (Ade walks past the old man and greets him sharply) 
Young man.
Please come.

ADE : ( Moves closer) Old one, what can I do for you?

OLD MAN : I can see you are eager to get somewhere.

ADE : Yes Baba.

OLD MAN : Son , Once you have faith, prayerful , If you had a gold , the size of your fist, you could probably own your own realm.

ADE : Old one... My own realm... ( Solilaquizes.) 
But Baba! ( By the time he regained consciousness, The old man is already gone.Old one ! Old one !

* * * Illusive : The Old man's voice echoed in his mind, pray to God for the right path......
(Ade seems not to understand what is going on, picks his sandals and run until he fades out.)

(LIGHTS OUT)