Honesty has always come with its reward, but in this story it’s the reverse.
Just like any other man, Stephen Brown is a Site Engineer, holding the position at Coleman Energy & Engineering Limited. And like everyone, Stephen had both virtues and vices in him. Stephen’s virtue was that he didn’t discriminate between justice and mercy, and his vice was that he was too honest even at the detriment of others. Well, because of his virtue, his junior workers had no fear of him and were lazy. And because of his vice, all officers in his department and superiors had turned hostile & cruel towards him.
One morning, he was ready to go for an inspection of a bridge, but the gateman was still lost in slumber. The night before, Stephen had given a clear order to keep the carriage ready. But as dawn broke and the sun climbed out of the eastern sky, the gentle morning breeze gradually became warmer. And the sync was still at sleep.
Stephen got frustrated and sat down on a chair in anger. Finally the gateman managed to wake up, but the laborers were yet to make their appearance. As the heat of the sun became stronger, Stephen was forced to go back home without achieving anything. He said to his wife Zara, ‘it’s already late in the day, but no laborers are to be seen. These boys are making my life miserable!’
“This is what comes of giving them a free hand”. Zara replied.
Stephen retorted angrily, “What shall I do? Strip them off their jobs?”
Stephen couldn’t afford those new flashy cars, but he maintain his old BMW 2009 Model, which looks like an antique, He maintained frugality in other things too! He had a widowed mother in Lagos, Nigeria and a sister dependent on him, also he gave scholarships to a number of poor orphans in his community. For all these reasons he was always hard up for money. Despite all these difficulties he never allowed greed and selfishness to overcome him. Those who were close to him and had no shady dealings, because of his honesty, cherished him. But those who had professional relations with him suffered loss, because of his attitude they weren’t his admirers.
One day, he returned home from office, his wife said to him tenderly, ‘What is the use of your honesty if the whole world hates you?’
Stephen replied sharply, ‘Let the world say whatever it likes. God is my witness to everything.’
Zara had anticipated this reply, she countered, ‘I won’t want to argue with you, but just think of how your honesty affects others. You earn a good salary, at least we have three square meal each day, but what of those workers under you, your honesty has affected them, they hardly get promoted. Don’t you think they have families? Uh!” She said, “how will they manage with the little they earn?”
All this was true, Stephen could not deny it. He reflected often on this problem.
“You’re absolute right,” he agreed, “but I’m helpless. I can’t violate my principles, If it were in my power, I would have increased their salaries. But I can’t, it’s just not in my power.”
“Who then will be responsible for their plight?” Zara said mockingly.
Stephen shot back, “I can’t answer for the false value of those who choose to live beyond their means”
To be continued...