Akan had walked under the scorching sun from NEPA LINE down to AKA ROAD by UBA bank that hot Monday afternoon in search of a job. A first class graduate from Akwa Ibom State University that studied Mass Communication, after graduating had been frustrated with lack of jobs in the state.
With no connection to boast of, every attempt to secure a job by Akan was like heading towards a dead end.
From one office to the other, stories of "sorry! We don't have vacancies" was what Akan got as a reply.
For five years after graduation, Akan has been walking the street of Uyo and other places he was told to go and nothing was left of the sole of his cover shoe.
After due consideration and several unsuccessful attempts to secure a job, Akan made up his mind to make do with any available funds to start up a business.
The best business he thought of was a Photography business since he had had a pre-knowlegde of photography back in school.
Akan thought of the best location to set up his business so as to have better patronage.
After doing proper feasibility study of his business, Akan decided to take his photography studio to the bee hive of human activities, Abak road just by Uyo Plaza.
He got his business started and within about two weeks, clients started patronizing his photography studio.
On some occasions family will visit to take a family photographs and have what to call memories, and other times individuals, or friends will trip in for memories too.
Akan was the boss here. He wasn't walking up and down looking for who to boss him around. He was a fulfilled person who derived joy in helping people create the best memories of themselves.
Next to Akan's photography studio was a funeral home. Akan in his small studio creating fond memories of others and the funeral home next door robbing people off memories.
On a Sunday evening, a wealthy old man who Akan later got to know as Dr. Brown visited his studio with his two sons and three daughters to take a family photography. Setting up his equipment, Akan asked them to wait and the family waited patiently.
He asked the old man to sit on the sofa with his first son and the last daughter, while the rest stood behind, and the wealthy man and his family did according to how they were instructed.
He took shots of them, adjusting the family during the photo session to give the best memories.
Afterwas he got paid for the service rendered and asked the family to come for framed picture the next evening when it was ready.
******
The following morning, Akan was already in his office tidying up some jobs that owners would have picked up that morning when he had a knock on the door.
He opened the door only to meet the family of Dr. Brown, the wealthy man with teary eyes.
He enquired to know what was wrong and he was told that the wealthy man had passed away while in his sleep.
The family told him they came to make arrangements for his burial with the funeral home and they thank him for creating one last memory of their father.
Akan stood there motionless with a broken heart. He never thought that such a healthy and wealthy man was to passed away that night.
He was worried that he wasn't wealthy and lack job but a wealthy man with money and good health had kicked the bucket the previous night.
NOTE:
Life goes off like a candle.
Create fond memories of you while walking alive for it may be the last thing it is remembered of you.
Live a life of purpose by affecting people around you positively.
Life is shorter than what we think.
****inspire by Sizwe Banzi Is Dead by Athol Fugard******
✍ Patrick Ekong
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