The Harvest Of Hardship - S01 E22

Story 1 month ago

The Harvest Of Hardship - S01 E22

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 22

The sky was still dark when Tobi’s alarm clock began to ring. It was five o’clock in the morning. For many years, Tobi had hated that sound. In his old life, he would reach out his hand and smash the clock to make it stop. Then he would go back to sleep for three more hours. But today was different. Today was his first day as a janitor. He remembered what Seyi had told him. He remembered that he was a rock that needed to be carved. If he wanted to become a beautiful statue, he had to wake up and face the hammer.

Tobi stood up quickly. His body felt heavy, but his mind felt sharp. He did not have a fancy breakfast. He just drank some water and put on his old clothes. He walked out of the tiny room in the slum. The air was cool and the streets were quiet. As he walked toward the big blue building, he felt a little bit of fear. He knew that the day would be hard. He knew that his hands were soft and his back was not used to bending. But he kept walking. He did not turn back.

When he arrived at the gate, the big security guard was waiting. The guard looked at his watch. You are early, young man, the guard said. That is a good sign. Most people who work here for the first time try to sneak in late. Go to the basement. Mr. Benson is waiting for you.

Tobi went down to the basement. It was a place full of pipes and the smell of soap. Mr. Benson was a short man with a very serious face. He gave Tobi a green uniform. The uniform was a bit tight, but it was clean. He also gave Tobi a heavy bucket and a long mop.

This is your world now, Mr. Benson said. You will start with the lobby. I want every inch of that floor to be so clean that the flies will slip when they try to land. Do not stop until I tell you. If I see a single spot of dirt, you will start all over again.

Tobi took the mop. He went up to the lobby. The lobby was huge. It had tall glass walls and a high ceiling. The floor was made of white stone. Tobi began to work. At first, it seemed easy. He pushed the mop back and forth. But after one hour, his arms began to feel like lead. His back began to ache with a sharp pain. He had never used his muscles like this before.

By the second hour, his hands began to hurt. He looked at his palms and saw red marks. They were blisters. The skin was starting to bubble because of the friction of the wooden mop handle. The soapy water felt like fire when it touched the blisters. Tobi wanted to drop the mop and cry. He wanted to go home and lie on his mat.

While he was working, other people began to arrive for work. They were the office workers. They were wearing beautiful suits and carrying leather bags. Some of them recognized Tobi. They knew he was a university graduate. They knew he was the boy who used to act like a prince.

Look at that, one man whispered to his friend. Isn't that Tobi? The one who was bragging about his degree last month? Now he is cleaning our shoes. What a shame.

Tobi heard them. He felt his face turn hot with embarrassment. He wanted to hide. He wanted to tell them that he was better than this. But then, he remembered Seyi’s words. He remembered that he was starting at the bottom to build a strong foundation. He bit his lip and ignored the laughter. He pushed the mop harder. He focused on the floor. He did not look at their faces. He only looked at the dirt.

As the day went on, the work became even more brutal. He had to clean the toilets. He had to scrub the walls. He had to empty the heavy trash cans. His uniform was soaked with sweat. He felt like his bones were going to break. But a strange thing started to happen. The more his body hurt, the more his heart felt strong. He realized that he was actually doing something. He was not just waiting for a miracle. He was creating his own life with his own hands.

He began to take pride in the work. He didn't just mop the floor; he polished it. He made sure that the edges of the room were just as clean as the middle. He wanted the lobby to be the most beautiful place in the city. He spent three hours just on the main entrance.

When he was finished, the lobby floors began to shine like mirrors. You could see the reflection of the clouds in the white stone.

Seyi arrived at the office at eight o'clock. He saw Tobi working in the corner. Seyi did not go over to talk to him. He did not want to make it look like he was giving Tobi special treatment. But Seyi watched him from the corner of his eye. He saw the blisters on Tobi’s hands. He saw the sweat on his forehead. He saw that Tobi was not looking at his phone. He was looking at the floor. Seyi felt a small sense of hope. Maybe the carving was working.

Tobi did not leave when the clock hit five. He stayed until six. He stayed until seven. He wanted to make sure that the office was perfect for the next day. He wanted to be the first one there and the last one to leave, just like Seyi.

One afternoon, a few days later, the big doors of the lobby opened. A tall man with white hair walked in. It was Senator Ademola. He was the owner of the whole company. He was a very busy man and he usually did not stop to look at the floors. But today, he stopped. He looked at the white stone. He looked at the way the light hit the ground.

The Senator turned to his assistant. Who is the new boy? he asked. This lobby looks different. It looks brand new. I have lived in this city for forty years and I have never seen a floor shine like this. It is like walking on a lake of light.

Seyi was standing nearby. He had just come down to meet the Senator for a meeting. He heard what the Senator said. Seyi looked at Tobi. Tobi was standing near a pillar, holding his mop. Tobi’s heart was beating very fast. He was afraid the Senator was going to complain.

Seyi stepped forward and smiled. That is the new janitor, sir, Seyi said. His voice was full of a quiet strength. Actually, he is my cousin. He is learning the family business from the ground up.

The Senator looked at Tobi. He saw the green uniform. He saw the blisters. He saw the tired eyes. Then he looked at the floor again.

Your cousin has a very good spirit, Seyi, the Senator said. A man who can clean a floor like this is a man who can be trusted with big things. Keep up the good work, young man.

The Senator walked away to the elevator. Tobi stood there, frozen. He felt a surge of pride in his chest. It was a strange and powerful feeling. It was not the kind of pride he felt when his mother gave him money. It was not the kind of pride he felt when he showed people his degree. This was a new kind of pride. It was the pride of a man who had earned a compliment through his own hard work. It was a pride that no free meal had ever given him.

He looked at his blistered hands. They did not hurt as much now. He looked at the mop. It did not feel as heavy. He realized that the Senator did not see a servant. He saw a man of excellence.

Seyi walked over to Tobi. He did not say much. He just put a hand on Tobi’s shoulder for a second. Good job today, Tobi, Seyi whispered. Then he followed the Senator into the elevator.

Tobi went back to his bucket. He felt like he could mop for ten more hours. He felt like he could clean the whole world. He knew that he was still at the bottom, but for the first time, he could see the top of the mountain. And he knew that he had the strength to get there.

Tobi walked home that night with a smile on his face. He told Aunt Clara about the Senator. He told her about the mirrors on the floor. Clara cried tears of joy. She felt like they were finally winning.

Tobi’s hands were covered in blisters, but he kept working. What does this tell us about how he has changed since the first episode?

The Senator said that a man who can clean a floor well is a man who can be trusted with big things. Do you agree with this? Why or why not?

Seyi told the Senator that Tobi was "learning the family business." Why do you think he said it that way instead of just saying "he is a janitor"?

Tobi felt a new kind of pride that was better than a "free meal." Why is it better to earn something than to be given it for free?

The Mirror in the Lobby!

Tobi has found his fire! He is working hard and even the Senator has noticed his excellence! The boy who was a failure is becoming a man of value.

The harvest of hardship is about to enter its most dangerous phase!