A few months back this guy who was in very good financial condition faces one of the ugliest challenges in recent times. Our guy, being leading a life very well programed and principled was always on the ready not to stumble into unseen wells of despair and distress. Yes, he was well-placed when it comes to social interactions as he knew how to approach people according to their individual principles and approaches to life. He wasn’t ready to anyone’s line just because he sat with them for a cup or two of coffee. Because he treaded through life with utmost care, he has until now managed to stay on the safe side.
Now, there was this relative of him who lived life as he wanted to live it. He was one of those who practically shot up the financial ladder with astounding speed and in way which remain not only unclear but rather murky. And he didn’t shy away from letting the world know that he was one of those with more than enough financial muscle to do almost everything he wanted to do. On the other hand we’re not talking here about someone who has any social bearings that tied him with the populace. To put it in other words he was the type who, as soon as the money started flowing in, he practically turned his back not only on the larger society but even on his own relatives and closest friends. He was the type of guy who having jumped from practically rugs to riches thinks than he has been crowned and the big throne was waiting for him somewhere.
No one had any good words for him, and this couldn’t be any surprise. He had himself to blame for being shunned by the society. Well who ever said than once the good days come they were there to stay could experience the shock of their life. That isn’t how life works. If it ever worked that way at some time in history, no one is saying. (Maybe some crude souls must be hiding it from us!) The fellow, to put it briefly, isn’t the type anyone would want to sit for coffee with. In recent times for one reason another his fall from the financial high tower was the steepest and it didn’t take much time for him to hit the very bottom. The rumors, yes there are rumors in such instances otherwise they wouldn’t have been newsworthy, are he was involved in some dark activities.
He being broke isn’t about him losing his millions but virtual financial demise. So how he turns from fleshy-necked millionaire to a penniless dude who couldn’t manage his espresso. Now in a process none of his relatives know of he was practically left penniless to the extent that he had to return to those same relatives he shunned to make it through the hard times. It must have been very heartbreaking for him to knock on the doors of the very people he practically deleted from his list. To bend down as low as to seek the help of people whose lives are very modest and largely but hand–to-mouth existence. That was how he contacted the guy mention earlier. Now this guy who while not being rich in any sense he was financially comfortable lived life on a tight schedule. He never spent a single birr more than he initially plans and never pulled his hands back when the need arises to help those who genuinely needed shoulders to cry on. His relationships with his relatives, friends and the larger public was healthy and cordial. He was very careful not to let anyone to cross any of his red lines.
Now the broke fellow comes to our guy and asks him to bail him out one of one of his many debts. He was asking for a staggering sum of two hundred grand. Our guy didn’t have to think twice to answer.
“I couldn’t give you that much money.” He tells him and didn’t stop there. The man then goes down the numbers to fifty thousand birr. Probably to save himself from further repeated demands for loans and seal his case then and there our guy says, “In fact I couldn’t lend you any money.” That did it! The ‘once upon a time rich person’ accuses our guy of being a very bad person pole and threw some four-lettered obscenities. Our guy just turns his back and goes away.
Now things didn’t end there. A couple of friends of our guy come to him and ask him why he refused to lend eh man. Our guy was taken aback by the question but calmly tells the he didn’t have that much money to give away to anyone and he wouldn’t have given the man a single cent even if he had any. They ask him why. Now he was really getting offended. What is it to them whether he lends the man or not? He cools down and in no uncertain terms he says, “In the first place I don’t actually know the guy except nodding to each other bare he became rich. And what’s more have you two ever seen me lending money to anyone!” They didn’t and couldn’t have a direct answer.
“He is going around telling people you are a bad person.”
“Was that the only reason you came to me?” He caught them in the tightest corners ad getting out wasn’t easy. One them stammers, “N…no. He asked us to talk to you.”
Our guy knew that they were probably promised some money if they could make him change his mind. He, in fact, felt sorry for them because he knew they practically scratched their way through life. And also despite their meager financial means these were well disciplined young men and he perfectly understood they didn’t mean any harm to him. In fact thinking about the whole thing later on he was touched by their honesty of telling him that they were sent to convince him he surprised me with pairs of flashy sneakers for both.
Now how could this guy be a bad guy for sticking to his principles and refusing to give a single cent to someone whom he practically knew little about and someone who probably squandered his riches by spending it as if there was not going to be another sunrise!
BY EPHREM ENDALE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 29 JUNE 2025
