"Shopping for groceries is for women", Mark said, walking away from the living room. His mother, Mrs. Victoria, looked perplexed. She could not believe that Mark had just walked out on her.
In the whole of Hani village, Mark is the only graduate. He is loved by all the villagers. He is intelligent and witty. When an Oil company came to explore oil in the village, Mark, who was in secondary school at the time, stood up to the company and fought for the rights of the community. Everyone was surprised by his boldness and how eloquent he was. This led the Oil company to sign an agreement with the village; they agreed that the company would award scholarships to the best students from the community secondary school and also provide other social amenities as part of their social responsibility. Mark was the first beneficiary of the scholarship.
Mark just graduated from the university, and he was one of the best students in his class. He had been given a scholarship to further his studies in England.
"Mark, come back here!" Mrs. Victoria shouted "I am your mother, and you will go to the market and buy those food items". Mark looked at his mother and said "It is called groceries". "Oh, you are mocking me because I did not go to school", Mrs. Victoria said. Mark smiled and said to his mother "Send one of the girls to the market". "They are all at the farm," she replied. "Then when they return, you can send one of them". "Pride goes before a fall, Mark," Mrs. Victoria said with tears in her eyes.
Mark shook his head, murmuring "This woman does not know that I am about to travel to England".
Mark came back at night and saw everyone eating in the living room. "Where is my food?" Mark asked. "Go to the box where you keep your clothes," his mother replied. "What do you mean by that, mother?" Mark said this with his voice sounding like thunder. Mr. Peter Mark's father shouted "Can I have peace in the house".
Mr. Peter washed his hands and left for his room. Mrs. Victoria followed her husband, and as she was about to walk past Mark, she shoved him and said "Mr. Pride, give way, let me pass". Mark could not believe what he just heard. Mark roared like a lion, "Nobody will sleep in this house," banging the table by the TV stand.
"Who wants to bring down my house?" Mr. Peter shouted. "Everyone come out to the living room," Mr. Peter said. Everyone in the house assembled in the living room.
"What is the problem, My beautiful wife?" Mr. Peter asked. Mrs. Victoria stands and says, "Your son refused to go to the market this morning and said he is a graduate. His pride is becoming too much; he doesn't have respect for anyone. The villagers are all complaining of how rude Mark has become". "Mark, is that true?" Mr. Peter asked. Father, you know, as a graduate, I can't mix with these local people," Mark said. Mr. Peter smiled and said "My son, sit down and let me tell you something".
"The seagull is a royal bird who lives in the Palace with the King, but when the seagull goes for the annual bird meeting, he is humble, and no one believes it to be a royal bird; all the birds respect and love the seagull. But the vulture, who was just made the head of security by the birds, parades itself like a king and is hated by other birds; this is why the Vulture eats only dead things; he is not welcomed to share in the feast with others."
"Mark, my son, humble yourself before pride leads to your downfall. No matter what you become in life, be humble. No matter how well educated you are, you can never succeed if you are proud".
Mark was touched by his father's words. He went on his knees and apologized to his mother. They embraced each other, and the house became a happy place.