By Omoruyi Uwuigiaren
ldsomoruyi@yahoo.ca
I went into the
printing press and I have to tell you that it was the best press I have ever
seen in my life. It was beautiful. There were customers. There was help on the
floor. One of the staff approached me. He greeted, “Good evening sir.” Smile
paraded his face.
“Good evening, young
man,” I replied, beaming with confidence. “Where is your boss? I came for my
books. Are they ready?”
He shifted his weight
to one leg. He smiled and threw out a question, “Are you Mr. Robert?”
“Yes!” I nodded
affirmatively.
“My boss is not in the
office but he left a note for you!” He handed the letter over to me and moved to
one side.
Without wasting time, I
browsed through the piece. In a couple of minutes, I was done. I let go a
mighty heave, raised my head and turned to the young man. “Thank you, I got the
message. Where are the books?”
“They are over there,”
he pointed to a corner in the press. “Please, follow me.” We walked to the
corner where the books were neatly packed.
I considered myself the happiest visitor. My
first book was finally printed and they are now within my reach. Beautiful
prints and my world has become an intriguing place. It was the best any first
time author could ever ask for.
I was starting a new
life altogether. Every turn taught me a lesson. I was richer in wisdom but I
could not tell if my new endeavour would turn to be a gold mine that I could be
mining forever. My passion was great. It was taller than the pair of legs that
carried me.
Some of the valuable lessons will certainly stay
with me forever. If I do not make them applicable to my everyday life, I will
be a loser and it might haunt me for the rest of my life. We ought not to look
back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors and for profiting
by dearly bought experience.
The process of getting
the book published was turbulent. I met folks who challenged me. They hit me
hard and I almost gave up. It was obvious that it was up to me if anything remarkable
would happen. If I were not forthcoming with money as quickly as possible, my
job would be thrown out of the window. I was a man hunted by bandits who are all
demanding for his neck at the same time and guns pointed at his head. They made
me tough.
Most people want their
lives to keep improving, yet they value peace and stability at the same time.
People often forget that you cannot improve and still stay the same. Growth
means change. Change requires challenging the status quo. I had stumbled on a path that I would be glad
to see where it would lead me.
The printer had done
his job. The books were glossy and neat. Not everyone will be this meticulous
given the short time given to deliver. My life was a festival. The young man
joined me and we packed the books. We moved all of them to my car outside. After
the excruciating exercise of arranging the books in the boot of my car, I was
exhausted. I thanked the young man and he walked back into the office.
I dusted my clothes
and got the car keys from my chest pocket. My rickety legs carried me to the
driver’s seat where I settled into the car and fastened the seat belt. My eyes
travelled quickly about to see if everything was in place. The books had
settled in nicely in the boot, and there was no stone left unturned, so I
ignited the engine and drove off.
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| Omoruyi Uwuigiaren |
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