There was a man in the Ukporo community whose name was Enamidem - meaning your'e doing yourself.
Enamidem was a poor beggar in the community who had a heart of gold, people really loved him because aside from being very kind to people, he always sang at funerals and other events in the village and was a shoe cobbler. Every day, in the morning, he always leaves the house with his son Nduwehemo which when translated means “I have not offend them.” His son was a very brilliant boy that everybody that wanted to lea in the class wanted to be his friends. This endeared him to the teacher who most time calls him out to come and explain some things to them.
However, there was a boy called Ebuka who was very lazy, he doesn’t do his take home and gives money to others to help him copy his note as well as do his take home. His mother was very rich and because she valued her business more than her family, she had no time for the boy. Ebuka told his mother about the boy who was brilliant in the class and his mother thought that he would make the boy to come and live in their house so that he would be teaching his son both I class and at home.
On the faithful day, Oni Ebuka picked up her son and Abasinduahe from school and they headed to Enamidem’s shop to seek his consent, Enamidem welcome her although he couldn’t see her. He agreed to the deal saying that it would help reduce his stress and expenses. While going , she gave so0e money to Enamidem who instead of thanking her said “Anam etimkpo mmeh idiok anam ano idem” meaning who does good or evil does it for himself** This made the woman very upset. ”How can I help this man and the thank you he has to say is that nasty comment?” Thank you would have been enough. She thought within herself.
Would you blame the poor beggar? Of course no because that is what he says to everyone that comes to his shop. When greeted goodmorning, he responds with “Anam etimkpo mmeh idiok anam ano idem” The community people never really understood the meaning of the beggars’ comment until the day that the wicked woman brought a snake and tucked it into the beggar’s bag where people always put alms like sweets, biscuits and cookies.
As fate would have it, Ebuka, the wicked woman’s son returned to school earlier and decided to visit the poor beggar to listen to some stories as well as eat some of the beggars sweets. Unfortunately for him, while he tucked his hand in, a snake that was in the bag stung the boy, he did not survive the sting from the snake because of its deadly poison. Ebuka’s mum was really angry and sorry that he chosed to pay the prize by losing his son. He leant a bitter lesson of her life and had a better understanding of what the beggar meant when he said that “Anam etimkpo mmeh idiok anam ano idem”
Indeed, the evil that men do lives after them. Thank you very much for stopping by to read.
