FREETOWN (MY QUIET PLACE 51)

I was working out of station and since the training venue was also where i was lodged, I thought it convenient to stroll and have lunch at the end of the day’s work rather than allow it to sent to my room. The ambience was good, the air was cool and it gave me time to reflect on the day’s assignment.

Everybody there looked neat and decent and so I didn’t pay any attention to a man that was wearing a bright blue blazer and nice shoes. He had well cut hair and had a warm smile. After meeting him on the queue the third day I naturally assumed he was working around the restaurant like I was and so had lunch the same time I did.

By the second week of my assignment I started to notice something which I didn’t pay much attention to in the first week. Firstly, he was never in a hurry to get to the front of the queue to get his meal he always seemed to give someone his turn; secondly he seemed to always answer his phone after staying on the queue for a while; thirdly he always engaged people on the queue as he waited his turn; lastly he never ate alone, he always shared a table with someone.

On this day (my tenth in the restaurant and the last day of my assignment), I was really exhausted. I came in and met him this time a little ahead of me as there was just one person between us. He smiled and waved as we both kown ourselves as regulars. I tried to smile back in my tired state and was a bit surprised at how excited he seemed to see me. We had never spoken.

He left where he was and walked to ask how my day was. He was suddenly interested in where I worked and wanted to hear from me. It wasn’t the best day to engage me as presently I even found it hard to even stand on the queue. I tried to shrug him off but he kept at it. I was getting a bit irritated because the familiarity was just too much and it seemed a bit odd. Now it was just the two of us on the queue.

I couldn’t take it anymore so I told him I just wanted to have lunch and go so i moved up since he didn't look like he was in a hurry to order. Suddenly he started checking his jacket and trouser pockets and ‘seemed’ a bit disoriented. I left him and was happy something had taken his attention away from me. I caught him looking at me through the corner of his eyes as though he wanted me enquire what was wrong. I didn’t. All the while there was no one walked into the restuarant. He brought his phone and ‘seemed’ to be talking with someone but I continued with my meal happy that I was beginning to gain strength after standing to teach for more than six hours.

Finally he walked to me and mumbled many things about not finding his wallet and how he didn’t notice he dropped it. I sympathized with him signifying that I couldn’t talk because of the food in my mouth. Then he dropped the bombshell and asked me if he could get lunch and i pay for him.

It was then it finally dawned on me the kind of person he was. This was the grand-plan. All the talking, phone calling and courtesy on the queue always led to him asking for a free meal. Apparently it was his stock in trade. The only problem this time was it was just the two of left on the queue and I wasn’t budging so there was no one to switch to. He continued pressing and even told me I was bigger than this and it was just a small favour he was asking. I told him to kindly excuse me since I couldn’t help but when his tone seemed to be changing to an aggressive one I called one of the waiters who escorted him out and apologised.

I’m back home in My Quiet Place (a place in my home where I recount the events of the past period) and I am thinking of how people just choose to live their lives. How long would he have continued to live his life like this? It might seem like a smart way to live for some but on the other hand it is so debasing. Sometimes it is good to answer a fool lest he be wise in his own eyes. There is dignity in labour and satisfaction in eating the fruits of your own sweat. Like they say, even in Freetown there is no free lunch #MyQuietPlace#TurnAroundThursday#DiaryOfACorporateTrainer#WorkChronicles#Training#AllInAdaysJob#ManagingPeople#