Five Cartons Of Bread.

Going to Saheed’s shop on a Monday morning is usually hectic. On Monday mornings, other wholesalers like my mum go to his shop to buy biscuits because that’s what he deals in. I was already rumbling and thumping my feet onthe floor when my mum asked me to go get biscuits at Saheed’s shop.

I wasn’t even there yet when I already saw a long queue at his shop. That ruined my mood totally because I knew I will spend nothing less than one hour at Saheed’s shop. I stepped forward to join the queue but immediately he sighted me, he gave me the permission to enter his store to take the goods I want to buy.
I was extremely happy because I was only going there to get five cartons of bread and if I was to join the queue, it may take him more than ten minutes to attend to someone so I’m happy he made me skip the line.

Abojode, you can come and carry the goods you want inside the shop and make your calculations by yourself, I felt relieved after Saheed told me to go in and get my goods. I felt honored as well because no one enters Saheed’s shop.

Since that was my first time entering his shop, I had to humble myself and made all what I was doing in the shop visible to avoid complaints or stories like accusing me wrongly of theft.
I carried the goods gently outside the shop.

You should calculate the normal price time five, he said to me.
As for me, I only wanted to be straight forward so he was going to know that I calculated it well and right.

Image

So that’s three thousand and hundred Naira times five, right?, I asked Saheed. He winked his eyes at me but I wasn’t getting it. I even thought something entered his eyes so I asked him the same question again.
I was expecting Saheed to give me a response of either yes or no but one woman on the queue screamed from the back.

Thank God I caught Saheed red handed today. I heard that you are very selective and there are sone customers whom you sell cheaper goods to, she screamed. Yet, I didn’t understand what was going on. I wondered why Saheed frowned at me and even shook his head.
I hadn’t done anything wrong. All I asked him was a simple question which deserves an answer.

No wonder. I wasn’t sure what I heard at first. This means you sell a carton of bread to her for three thousand and hundred Naira whereas, you sell it to us at three thousand, two hundred Naira, I was shocked. Saheed never told me that he sells goods to us at cheaper price.
All I did was just being neutral and truthful so that he can trust me some other time.

You women should calm down. This lady and her mum have been my customers and they buy more in bulk than you all so you all can’t be compared, Saheed jokingly said but those women weren’t taking it lightly or funny with him. Some of them even went so far by leaving the queue and threatening that they won’t patronize Saheed again.

Image

I knew Saheed was really angry at me but I didn’t know the gravity of what I had done. I was just being truthful and so maybe anyone can serve as a witness incase there may be an argument about the money I calculated but look at where it led to.

I had already planned to leave Saheed’s place early but I was not able to leave. If I do, there will be no one to clear the mess which I had created so I stood there till they finished buying their goods.

Did you see what that cost me? I had to sell the goods to them at cheaper price, he said to me. Out of pity and guilt, I begged Saheed but was felt so embarrassed that I caused that.

I got home to tell my mummy what happened at Saheed’s shop. She also didn’t know about the cheap price that he sells goods to us.
She went to his shop when no one was there to beg on my behalf.

Till now, Saheed and I are not really cool and he never allowed me to enter his shop again. Is it a crime to be truthful? I asked myself but life doesn’t revolve around Saheed.
I still patronize him but we never get to talk like before.