The time Tunde said he was not going to university everybody laughed at him.
This was not a small augh it was the kind of laugh that says "you will soon come back to your senses and change your mind".
They were all sitting outside Mama Bisis shop that evening ,this was the spot where everyone gathered to talk after the power company, NEPA had interrupted the electricity.
Kunle, who was still eating groundnuts said "wait say it again".
Tunde repeated what he said that he was not going to university. He said it in a very calm manner like it was no big deal.
Sola jumped into the conversation saying "so what are you going to do ?stay at home and play with your phone?"
Tunde shook his head, then he said "I want to learn carpentry, I want to make furniture and do interior work all those nice designs".
For a second nobody said anything.
Then Kunle laughed again and said "My guy, you don’t jam Yahoo boys, you don’t want school… now na carpenter you wan be?”
Tunde did not laugh this time he just said "not everything is about looking big I just want to do something.
At home things were even worse.
His father did not even sit down when he heard the news, He said "so after all the money I spent on your education this is what you are telling me?". He started pacing around the sitting room.
Tunde tried to explain, His father would not listen.
His mother tried to calm things down. His father cut her off.
He said "explain what .....that he wants to be a roadside carpenter?"
Tunde tried to tell him that carpentry is not what he thought it was, that there is money in it now that people are doing designs and exporting furniture.
His father was not listening.
Then he said "ad long as you are living under my roof you will go to school end of discussion".
Tunde had already made up his mind.
Two weeks later he packed a bag and left for Ibadan to stay with his uncle, Uncle Dele, who owned a furniture workshop.
When he arrived the place, it did not look nice all.
There was sawdust everywhere , and machines, and men sweating under the sun.
Uncle Dele looked at him and laughed, saying "so you are the boy who chose to suffer instead of being in an air-conditioned classroom?"
Tunde answered and said "I just want to learn, sir".
Uncle Dele nodded slowly and went ahead to say "we will see if your body can handle what your mind wants to do".
The first month was very tough for Tunde.
He was working every day carrying planks sweeping the floor holding wood in place.
One evening he sat outside the workshop, tired and frustrated.
His hands had blisters his back was aching badly too, He was honestly starting to doubt himself.
One of the workers Musa sat beside him and start ed talking "you are thinking of going back right?"
Tunde did not deny it he just said "it is not easy".
Musa replied "nothing good is easy , do you think those big men you see started from a comfortable place?"
Tunde then said "but what if I made the wrong choice?"
Musa looked at him and then said "then make it right".
That statement hit Tunde differently.
Months later ..
Tunde started to understand measurements, cutting, polishing, designing.
He even started sketching his ideas.
One day a customer came to the workshop "I want something modern not all these old designs".
Before Uncle Dele could respond Tunde stepped forward.... "sir I have an idea".
Uncle Dele raised an eyebrow and said nothing.
Tunde brought out one of his sketches and the man studied it.
He said "you designed this?". Tunde said "yes, sir".
The man. Said "I like it, can you make it?"
Tunde hesitated, then nodded and said "yes sir".
That project changed everything.
When the furniture was delivered the customer loved it much that he referred two more people to Uncle Deles workshop.
Uncle Dele called Tunde that evening and said to him "Tunde you surprised me".
Tunde smiled and said "thank you sir".
Uncle Dele : "you did not choose the easy road but maybe you chose your own road".
Back in Lagos months later Tunde visited his home.
His father looked at him at the pictures of furniture on his phone.
He said "you made all these?" Tunde said "yes, sir".
His father was quiet for a while then he said "I still wanted you to go to university but I can see you are serious".
Tunde smiled slightly and said "I just did not want to follow a path that was not mine".
His father nodded slowly said "hmm just make sure this road you chose leads somewhere".
Tunde replied, "it will sir, I will make sure of it".
That night as he stepped outside he saw Kunle and Sola again.
Kunle joked, saying "so you are now a carpenter?"
Tunde. Said "something like that".
Sola shook his head and said "guy you really took the road less traveled".
Tunde looked up at the street then back, at them and said "yeah and honestly I do not regret it".
Image Credit: Chatgpt
