Moses the City Wanderer

Moses woke up. There was a choir of blazing horns from afar. A peculiar noise from public service vehicles competing for attention with rolling tires and car engines passing by. He could visualize a tarmac road.

He turned his face to the only window in the room. The sky was clear. A few stars shone at a distance. Night was ending; it would soon be daybreak. He could feel the cold uneven floor as he raised himself from the thin mattress. He yawned and robed himself with a towel, grabbed the soap dish and in two steps was outside the door.

He took a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The corridor could barely fit two people. To one end was the staircase, to the other, ammonia scented showers and toilets.

His mind was adrift as he took a cold bath and went back to his room. He had a suitcase, a mattress, beddings and a pile of clothes piled at a corner.

Moses was 18 years old and had just moved out of his father’s house two weeks earlier to live in this hovel. He looked outside from the window. This was a concrete jungle. Tightly packed seven-story buildings precariously set together. His window stood on the seventh floor of a building that conformed.

A tarmac road meandered through this jungle and passed by a few buildings away. The sun was rising and a stream of people were leaving their buildings to take a bus or walk towards the city.

Moses smiled as he picked up a backpack and was out of his room. He bounded down the dimly lit flight of stairs to the entrance. Outside he took in the morning air. It stank from a broken sewer line and garbage piled at the end of the street. Nevertheless, the day also presented new opportunities.

--

“Moses where are you going?” his mother asked as he dragged his suitcase to the foyer of the maisonette. “Mom, I need to go and discover what I can really achieve by myself. Dad has made his money and built his business. I want to see if I can do the same. I want to try now, not later.” Mother and child looked at each other fondly and hugged. They had been here before.

In an adjacent room, his father was in a recliner reading a book. A man of few words his heart was exploding with emotion. He was worried. He was proud. He was full of joy. His gaze was on the book, yet his ears and full attention were set on the happenings in the foyer. 

“Please take this, Moses,” his mother directed handing him a wad of notes. Moses took the money, thought about it for a moment, then held his mother’s smooth hands and placed the money back.

“Thank you Mom, but let me try this on my own first.” He sighed not believing what he was saying. “I saved some money over the last few months. If I don’t make it in two months I will come back home.” He said to himself more than to his mother. “I promise.” he added assertively.

That was two weeks earlier. He had used his savings to buy a mattress, beddings and paid rent for three weeks. During that time, he had taken a bus daily into the city, walked the streets and then come back to the silent room. 

His favorite location had been a scenic view of the city from the top of a hill. He would sit on the grass and build castles in the sky. In his daydream, he was a wealthy merchant. Many people had made their wealth in the city below. He promised himself he would too.

----

As he stood at the bus stop, it dawned on him he was on the last $2 dollars of his savings. If he took the bus, he would have no money to buy a meal for the day.

His eyes followed the group of people trekking towards the city, a 16-kilometer walk. Most of them looked genuinely happy. He shrugged, ran to a group and fell in step.

“Hello!” he greeted them and in unison the group responded, “Hello”.

“The politics of this country shock me,” continued the jester in the group. He pointed to a dilapidated factory bordering the concrete jungle. “This guy has his effluence flowing into the river. He pays a bribe and suddenly government officials become blind. Murkiness turns to clear spring water in their tinted eyes. Yet he is destroying our children’s future.” “I think any person who endangers our children should have his legs tied to a heavy stone and then thrown right over there.” Said another person in the group. “Ouch,” they all exclaimed as they cringed following his pointed finger. He was pointing to the goo like substance struggling to flow down the riverbed; it had dead animals, plastics and human waste. “Can you imagine this was once crystal clear water flowing in a river?” added the jester.

A BMW X6 slowed down as it passed the group. Everyone fell silent lost in a daydream. “Did you see the madam driving in the vehicle,” asked a goofy looking man with an overgrown nose. “Yes we did,” the group responded in unison. “In fact we know you even smelled her perfume,” said the jester and everyone bust out laughing. “She slowed down and smiled at me,” he responded feigning hurt. “Actually she was slowing down to avoid that pothole. And she was smiling at this handsome young boy,” everyone turned to look at Moses. “I think she is a cougar,” the goofy looking man said and everyone bust out laughing again.

The humor kept coming as they walked. The ‘human train’ would pick and drop people. As they got closer to the city, more people started dropping off. Eventually Moses found himself with a young man arriving at the hill.

The young man walked to a scruffy man standing beside a motorcycle and they spoke in hushed tones. The young man handed out some money and received a small carton box in exchange. Moses was watching attentively. The young man sat down on the grass, his back facing Moses, and took something from his backpack. He opened the carton, poured the contents of his bag into the box. Then turned around and walked over to Moses.

“I am ready for my day,” he said beaming. In his open carton was an array of biscuit packs, sweets and chewing gum. He grabbed two biscuit packs and tossed them at Moses, who grabbed them thankfully. “Enjoy bro and have a good day,” and off he went down the hills towards the traffic jam. The young man was a traffic hawker.

A few meters away was an old woman with a pushcart. She was selling sweet smelling doughnuts and tea. Moses was hungry and salivating. He did not have enough money to buy her food and pay for a meal later in the evening. He sat near her, and kept quiet. She inspected him for a while before inquiring, “I have seen you a couple of times, are you new young man?” “Yes I am,” he responded almost too eagerly and started coughing. Chocked by saliva. “Come have some breakfast,” she invited him.

Moses had a cup of tea and an assortment of doughnuts in a plate. He wolfed it all down in less time than it took to make the meal.

After he was done. The woman opened up. “The reason I gave you the meal is because I saw you interact with James. He has been working here for many years and he is a good boy. You look as responsible. Therefore, here is the deal! Come to me any time you need a meal. You can pay me when you have some money. Ok?” Moses was moved by the gesture, “Thank you so much.”

That day Moses walked the streets of the city observing as he went. He noticed a couple of problems, but none inspired him to create a solution.

As the afternoon dragged on Moses started asking himself very hard questions. “What am I doing here? My father is a rich man and he does well in business. Why do I have to struggle?” Nevertheless, even as his mind raced he knew the alternative was not an option.

That evening he retraced his steps to the lonely hovel. At the building’s entrance, he met the caretaker coming out. The caretaker a small man, with few words, felt cornered. He smiled and blurted out, “young man the weekly pay is due in three days,” then walked away awkwardly.   

In his room, Moses took time to recollect what he had observed. There was a man who supplied wares, women who cooked and many who peddled. He still felt out of place in all this.

“What am I good at?” Moses questioned himself. That night he stayed up thinking long and hard.

The following day he was out of the room at the same time. He found the previous day’s group passing by. “Welcome to the human train young man,” said the jester. “What’s your name,” the jester asked. “Moses!” came the assertive reply. “Good! Moses since you have made it to Day 2, I will introduce the most important and consistent members of this group. My name is William Jest I speak at all times. The goofy man with the large handsome nose is the butt of all our jokes. He is Goofy Mulama. James is the young man who sells biscuits and sweets to bored drivers in traffic. Paul is a security guard at one of the most prestigious buildings in town. His words not mine. The rest come and go as they will.”

As the walk progressed. It turned out William had a family of three. His eldest daughter was in university, the pride of the family. His wife had a roadside cooking business and he worked as a sales man at a textile shop. The wage was low, the commissions forgettable, but had been stable for his aging family. Paul had a young family, two children. His wife was at home recuperating and he had to go to work and bring home a monthly $100, the little he could manage to feed two hungry mouths.

The two were proud fathers and it showed in their conversation.

Goofy Mulama was the oldest in the group and a polygamist. He had two wives. The younger one lived with him in the city. His story was the strangest. He had made millions in the past and squandered it all on women and drink. He still had a roving eye and he admitted so. He loved his women young and crazy. His children had grown and left a long time ago. Some were doing very well for themselves. He, kept having illegitimate children.

Moses found Mulama fascinating. The man had it all and then lost it. For such a loss, he looked particularly happy. “Why are you so happy?” Asked Moses pointedly. “Because I experienced it all and discovered my full potential. When I had it all I had no self-control. I indulged heavily and disastrously. I was also depressed. It is a strange thing, that you have it all, but are unsatisfied. I was empty inside and longed for friendship and community. When my children were old enough I sold my business, put away some savings, and squandered the rest. I moved to the concrete jungle and that is how my second wife found me. Life today, is easier and richer for me. To be honest, I can feed my two wives with my eyes closed. There are so many opportunities to exploit every day. I work for a good friend, who says I am mad. I prefer this life to be honest.” Confirmed Mulama. Moses was shocked.

James was from a poor background. His father was a drunk, his mother a barmaid. They lived in the outskirts of the concrete jungle. At 22 years, he was on a path to self-reliance. He had built a corrugated structure outside his mother’s compound which housed three families that paid him rent monthly. He was saving to buy a motorcycle to distribute sweets and biscuits to traffic vendors across the city. James was very excited by what he was doing. His passion was infectious.

The more Moses listened, the more he realized he was walking with the right group.

“So what is your story Moses?” Asked James. Moses breathed heavily as he sensed all eyes on him.

“I come from a well-off family, but I decided to start afresh. Not depending on my father. I went to Computer College and finished a course last month, before I left home.”

 “You have balls young man,” said Mulama. “But you are a fool.” Everybody nodded. “When it is not broken you don’t try and fix it,” said Paul. “But for all your folly, you are valiant and you will go far,” affirmed Mulama, who was taking a special interest in Moses.

“So where do I start?” asked Moses almost begging.

“The answer lies with what you have. Start with the network you have and what you can provide,” added Mulama. “I work in a building that has many businesses that need computer services. You can always come over later in the day and check them out.” Said Paul.

“Also never give up. As many times as you face rejection ask what you would have done better,” James added.

“Also listen and never offer services that people don’t want or need. Listening has kept me happy and satisfied for many years. Today, I actually have a small shop that I use as a front to buy and sell information,” said Mulama.

Everyone looked quizzically at Mulama, but dared not prod further.

That day Moses went to the hill out of habit and fear, rather than anything else. “I need to do something,” he said to himself as he sat beside the old woman who had become a fast friend. “I think you need to go and visit Paul and see where it goes. You already owe me a sum and from the way you look you don’t eat much beyond the doughnuts and biscuits James and I give you.”

Yet Moses did not follow her advice that day.

The following morning his weekly rent was due. He wiped his shoes, wore a fresh set of clothes and kept quiet most of the way in the ‘human train’, as everyone branched off. This time he followed Paul who kept him entertained knowing how frightened the young man was.

At the building, Paul went into a tiny room at the back and changed. He then came back transformed in uniform and swinging a baton.

“Now,” Paul said as he came to attention. “There are 30 businesses in this building that may need computer services. I know because I have seen them. When you go to each, confirm I have sent you. When you have access to one, the rest will eventually come onboard. Make sure your service is exemplary.” He stated, ushering Moses in.

The first business Moses went to was a custom suit maker. The attendant at the door gave him a scathing look that started from the sole of his shoes up to the hair on his head and back down again. Moses felt offended even more when she demanded, “Please remove your shoes before you walk in.” Dejected by this request, he still knelt and brought his shoes off. He walked into the belled door. The second attendant behind the counter snorted, “Young man! What do you want?” “I am looking to offer computer services,” gulped Moses. “I repair and maintain computers, printers and laptops.”  The response was quick and frosty. “We don’t need such services. Thank you!” 

At that instant, a man in an expensive suit walked in and the two attendants nearly tore each other apart trying to get to him. Moses wore his shoes outside, while stealing a glance at the two as he shook his head.

Unfortunately, for the next five businesses the response was not any better. His luck changed on the seventh attempt. The business was a travel agency. The woman at the counter had the warmest smile. “Good morning,” she beamed. “Hello madam,” Moses responded. “You look exhausted. How can I be of assistance?” she queried. “I am a computer expert; I repair and maintain laptops, printers and computers. Any technology problems you have I can sort you out.” He continued.

“Ok that sounds like a service we need. Have a seat as we wait for my boss to come.” She directed. Moses sat down at the plush reception area. An hour passed and they struck a conversation. She offered breakfast, and he obliged. Two hours later a woman with the most exquisite taste in clothing, shoes and handbag walked in. The sweetest scent followed her to the glass paneled office behind the reception area.

A few minutes later the woman at the counter walked into her boss’s office. They had an animated conversation then turned and looked at Moses. Finally, he was ushered in.

“Young man can you make websites?” the lady asked. Moses was shocked by her directness and need for urgency. He recovered quickly. “Yes, madam.” She immediately turned her MacBook screen in his direction revealing a website. Moses pulled out a pen and note pad, wrote down her preferences as they went on. When done, he confirmed again. “I believe I can deliver on your request. Once you share access to your website.”

“How long will it take you?” she inquired. “Two days will do.” He responded. The woman’s mouth fell ajar. “That is impossible. I had given the same requirements to an agency and it has been six months with no response.” She thumped the table clearly angry. “How much will you charge me?” she continued interrogating. “I will charge you $400 dollars,” retorted Moses boldly. “No!” she thundered. Clearly still angry, “that’s too much.” “Ok!” Responded Moses and kept quiet. “I will give you $350,” she retorted after realizing her outburst was targeting the wrong person.

Moses was shocked by the offer rather than her tone of voice. He would have done the job for a fraction of the pay. For the first time someone was offering an amount beyond his imagination for his services. “I am going to do an excellent job,” Moses promised himself.

“I will need a percentage,’ stated Moses.

The woman looked at her receptionist, who nodded back. She then proceeded to open her Jimmy Choo handbag and then paused. “How much?” She asked. “$200,” came the reply. “I will give you $150,” then she proceeded to hand him a fresh wad of notes.

Moses had a spring to his walk as he stepped out of the travel agency. He passed a fresh dollar note to Paul, then crossed the street and took the staircase down to a dingy cybercafé on the basement of a commercial building. For the next 10 hours, he slaved away cobbling together the website.

“Hey, we need to close. It’s past midnight,” said the cybercafe attendant. “No worries. I am already done.” He paid up his bill and walked out into the cold night. He felt adrenaline coursing through his blood.

The following morning, he was seated outside the travel agency before anyone had arrived. As the receptionist undid the locks, they chatted, “You are already done,” she asked. “Yes, actually,” he affirmed. She looked at him impressed.

That day she offered him breakfast, and lunch. Her boss did not come in until late afternoon. Moses had nowhere else to go. He sat at the reception and watched clients buy plane tickets and holiday packages.

When the elegant lady finally came, Moses was ushered into her office. “You want more money?” she asked sarcastically while shuffling through her in-tray. “I am actually done with the work.” He blurted out, excitement showing in his eyes.  She stopped and looked up. “You are what? Let me see.” She demanded motioning. “We can use your laptop. Please type your website link.” She did so. As she scrolled through her website she gasped, “Wow! You did exactly what I wanted and you did it in less than 24 hours.” She shook her head, “I am pleasantly surprised.” She then paid up. Moses placed the amount in his wallet. Then allowed the moment to sink in.

“Do you have any other technology problems I could help solve?” He asked after basking in the moment for a few minutes. “Off course we do.” She confirmed excitedly. The receptionist led him up two flights of stairs into a dusty store room. She then opened a cabinet. Stacked high were laptops and computers interspersed with cobwebs and a thick coat of dust.

“Please have a look and let me know what you can salvage, we have for 3 years been dumping anything that did not work here.” She was uncomfortable standing there and left. Moses rolled up his sleeves and started unstacking the computers and laptops. He brought what was salvageable downstairs to an assigned room. He borrowed a screwdriver set and proceeded to write down what needed replacement. When he had a list, he requested for $200 dollars. “I need to buy parts.” He stated. This the boss agreed to with no qualms. And over the next 3 hours the computers and laptops that had been carried downstairs were each given a new lease of life.

He then invited the two women to come and witness his work. They could barely hold their excitement as 10 computers and 5 laptops chimed alive. By the end of the day, Moses had enough to pay those he owed money, especially the caretaker who nearly broke a tear when he saw the young man pay for 3 months in advance.

In the weeks that followed Moses ‘the nobody’ became Moses ‘the fast, excellent computer expert’. The go to person at Paul’s office building.

A month later, the boss lady, a close friend to the owner of the custom suit maker suggested Moses’ services, and he was asked to come over. The two attendants at the suit maker’s shop were shocked to find him sitting in their boss’s chair working on his laptop.  

Moses had a thirst for knowledge and loved to listen actively, rather than speak. After a conversation with someone he would go and replay it in his mind hoping to learn more. 

One day as he was repairing the computer of a well-known flour baron, he overhead the merchant complain how long he waited for his supply to arrive from a neighboring country. When the baron was alone and Moses was done with repairs, he asked, “Sir, is it possible for you to allow me to ship you a small consignment? I neither have the experience or money. But I think I can deliver the flour to you in a shorter time.” The baron was taken aback by this bold young man. “Young man, I will pay for 400 bags upfront. I will pay you what I pay my vendors. My only requirement is you deliver by the end of the week. If you do so, I will give you more work.” He promised.

The following day, Moses was up early. With Mulama’s connections, he got a dependable driver, truck and trailer on hire. He was advised on the best destination for cheap, high-quality maize from the neighboring country. He was warned of the challenges he would face bribing traffic policemen, and border patrol officials. Moses was undeterred. He was the youngest in the truck, as it headed towards the border with the driver and two ‘turnboys’.

He made sure he got all his papers right with the driver’s help. That evening they crossed the border and by midnight had arrived at a large market. The following morning was spent sourcing quality maize. “I would rather get the best quality produce for the baron’s money and not make as much profit but ensure I have repeat business.” He told himself.

They were off by late afternoon after the ‘turnboys’ had loaded 450 bags. “You never know what may happen.” Moses stated unknowingly, trying to explain the extra 50 bags. His first unintended cost was the bribes the traffic police demanded along the way. They veiled their requests in threats. Threats to delay the truck with unnecessary inspections were the most common. The veteran driver would walk to the back of the trailer with the aggrieved policeman and come back smiling, alone. The policeman would lose interest and wave them off as soon as he was given his desired bribe.

Moses would shake his head as they continued their journey. “The papers we have don’t mean a thing here?” He asked. To which the driver and the ‘turnboys’ laughed hysterically. “This is the jungle my friend,” The driver responded as he changed gears. Eventually they got back to the border at nightfall.

“We will need to travel tonight. We will find fewer traffic policemen and be in the city by mid-morning,” emphasized the driver. At the border crossing, they engaged the services of an agent, who provided smooth movement of bribes to the border officials. Everything else was secondary and a well-orchestrated show. 30 other trucks we waiting and the driver seemed agitated.

Moses was learning and observing. He kept walking up and down the full length of the trucks as they waited to cross the border post. As the night wore on nothing happened. Moses started asking unnerving questions, “What am I doing here? I don’t even have the credentials to be doing such business. What if someone finds out how inexperienced I am? God! I am a fraud.” Questions and doubt flooded his mind. Yet all went well. By 2 am they were processed and on their way.

They had a long way to go and little time. “Please drive like crazy. I need to impress my client and guarantee another deal for both of us.” Moses directed.

The driver understood this young upstart had a bright future. For one, Moses was as old as his last-born son, yet very wise for his age.

It was around 5 am when it happened. The driver was laughing at jokes shared when smoke started bellowing from the left side of the truck. A screeching noise also got louder. He moved the truck to the side of the road and they all stepped out. Immediately a fire started in the left front drum brake. They were running around trying to find some water when Moses shouted, “Stop! All of you come and pee on this drum brake.” They did so and the fire stopped.

They still had to wait for the metal to cool down. A passerby also gave them a full 20-liter water jerrycan. They drowsed the water on the brakes. The cause of the issue was not clear. The driver thought he had found the root of the issue when he found a tiny stone lodged on the air brake system. So, they got back on the road.

Then the worst happened. They were going doing a two-lane road along a hill. To the left was a steep descent, to the right the face of the hill. Suddenly the braking system failed. The driver shouted,” BRAKE FAILURE,” and started flashing his lights to oncoming traffic. Every few seconds he would activate the parking brakes and release them to slow the vehicle down. No one was as frightened as Moses was. Sweat drenched his clothes. The driver was absorbed looking for something out there. “What is the last time you took this truck for maintenance?” shouted Moses his heart in his mouth.

A mile out the driver saw what he had been looking for. He started prepping. As the road meandered to the left, there was a large clearing to the right. He would use it to bring the truck to a halt. He breathed hard as everyone noticed his ploy.

If he missed it, they would either ram into the hill or fly off the steep cliff to the left. He was driving on the left side of the road. He crossed the road and went for the clearing. As he did so he started drifting, and turning his steering wheel very fast. The seconds slowed down as Moses noticed the trailer come beside the truck cabin to the left. The truck slid from the road and went partially into the clearing. The trailer overturned and a portion was still on the road when the truck came to a complete stop.

A large cloud of thick dust rose and other truckers stopped and came running to the scene of the accident. For a minute there was complete silence as the dust rose then quietly settled. Four human beings came out coughing and covered in layers of dust.

“No injuries,” exclaimed the driver as they stood side by side beside the overturned trailer. Surprisingly the truck was still ok, cushioned by the dust. The trailer had overturned but its cargo was intact.

The traffic police were at the scene 15 minutes later. “Who is the owner of this consignment?” demanded the inspector-in-charge as soon as she was out of her Land Rover. The driver and the ‘turnboys’ stepped back and pointed at Moses. “I am not asking for the son of the owner of the consignment. Who is the owner?” She demanded angrily. They stepped further back and pointed at him again.

“Young man, are you even 20 yet? Is this your consignment?” she asked genuinely concerned. Moses nodded. The policewoman’s eyes widened. They could all see her mind question how such a young man was doing such business. “Are you OK?” she softened asking about his condition.

“Come with me,” she beckoned as she made a call, “Magic Mike come at the fatal corner,” she directed the person on the call as they sat in her Land Rover. “Don’t worry,” she said when she noticed the four being hesitant. “A crane will move the trailer and you can make the call to have the goods moved.” It is nearly morning and you look like you need breakfast. The four looked at each other quizzically as they wiped their dust laced faces.

She took them to a restaurant near the police station and asked many questions, specifically directed at Moses. By the time they were done Moses and the policewoman were fast friends.

Moses made a call to the flour baron who was surprised by the story but also happy that his consignment was on time and only two hours away. He sent two of his smaller trucks, which came and picked up the 450 bags. He agreed to store the 50 for Moses.  

Back at the accident scene, the driver’s mechanic was taking care of the braking system. After paying the driver and ‘turnboys’ Moses found his way back into the city. His first stop was the flour baron’s shop. “Young man despite this mishap I am impressed. You supplied me what I needed a full day earlier with plenty of time left. You did not go and squander the money like others have done. For that I am going to give you plenty of opportunities.” “Thank you so much,” Moses said gratefully, as they discussed other opportunities.  

Moses did not suddenly move to a bigger and better house, just because he made more money. Rather he stayed put and lived in the same hovel. He walked the same path into the city. The only difference is he was now James’ business partner. They started a distribution business with five motorcycles supplying biscuits and sweets to traffic hawkers, and flour to kiosks and shops in and around the city. His computer services company became the go to business for movers and shakers in his city.

For Moses this was the start of bigger things. “Aliko Dangote maybe,” he smiled as he joined the human train into town.