07/03/2026
MERCY THE AKARA GIRL!
Long ago, in a small village surrounded by tall palm trees and dusty footpaths, there lived a young girl named “Mercy” Anyone who met Mercy would notice her beauty immediately. She had bright eyes, smooth skin, and a confident walk that made people turn their heads.
But Mercy had a problem.
Her beauty came with great arrogance
Mercy lived with her parents and her younger siblings in a small mud house at the edge of the village. Life was very hard for them. Her mother woke up every morning before the first c**k crowed to fry akara by the roadside. The smell of the hot beans cake would spread through the village as people going to the farm stopped to buy some.
The little money Mercy’s mother made from selling akara was what the whole family depended on to eat.
Some days the akara sold well.
Some days it did not.
On the bad days, Mercy and her siblings went to bed with empty stomachs.
Because of their poverty, Mercy often felt ashamed of her background. Instead of being humble and hardworking like her mother, she began to grow proud and disrespectful. She believed she was too beautiful to suffer in the village.
One afternoon, Mercy’s childhood friend Ngozi who had moved to Port Harcourt, came back to visit the village.
Ngozi had changed a lot. She wore nice clothes, spoke confidently, and told stories about the busy city life.
Mercy listened with wide eyes.
“My friend,” Ngozi said kindly, “why don’t you come with me to Port Harcourt? There are many opportunities there. You can start a new life.”
Mercy didn’t think twice.
Within a few days, she packed her few clothes and followed Ngozi to the big city.
Port Harcourt was very different from the quiet village. Cars filled the roads. Tall buildings touched the sky. People hurried everywhere.
Mercy quickly enjoyed the city life. She liked dressing well and going out. Because she was very beautiful, many people admired her.
One day, while she was walking through a shopping area, a young man named Prince saw her.
Prince came from a well-respected and wealthy family. But he was also known to be humble and kind.
When he saw Mercy, he was immediately attracted to her.
After introducing himself, they began to talk often. Prince liked Mercy so much that he started visiting her regularly. He bought her gifts and took her to nice places.
Soon, Prince decided he wanted to marry her.
He planned a special surprise proposal.
One evening, he invited Mercy to a beautiful restaurant in the city. The place was calm and decorated with soft lights and flowers.
Mercy arrived wearing a shining dress, feeling very proud of herself.
Prince had secretly arranged everything. He planned that after dinner, he would bring out a ring and ask Mercy to marry him.
As they sat down, a young waitress politely came to serve them water.
The waitress was a simple and hardworking girl. She smiled gently as she placed the glasses on the table.
Mercy picked up her glass and suddenly frowned.
“This glass is dirty!” she shouted loudly.
The waitress looked surprised. “I’m sorry, madam. I can replace it immediately.”
But Mercy’s anger had already risen.
“How dare you bring this kind of thing to me?” Mercy yelled.
Before anyone could react, Mercy stood up and slapped the waitress across the face.
The restaurant became completely silent.
The waitress held her cheek in shock, her eyes filled with tears.
Prince froze in his seat.
He looked at Mercy with deep disappointment.
At that moment, Prince realized something important.
Beauty without kindness is empty.
He slowly stood up and walked to the waitress.
“I am very sorry for what happened,” he said gently.
Then he turned back to Mercy.
“I thought I loved you,” he said calmly. “But today I have seen your true character.”
Mercy crossed her arms proudly, thinking Prince would support her.
But instead, Prince did something nobody expected.
He reached into his pocket and brought out the small ring box.
Mercy smiled proudly, thinking the proposal was finally coming.
But Prince walked past her.
He stood in front of the waitress.
Everyone in the restaurant watched in shock as Prince knelt down.
“My dear,” he said to the waitress kindly, “a person who can remain calm even after being insulted has a good heart. Will you accept this ring and allow me to know you better?”
The waitress was speechless.
Mercy’s face turned pale.
The same arrogance that made her slap someone had just taken away the greatest opportunity of her life.
People in the restaurant began whispering.
Mercy slowly realized what her pride had cost her.
She left the restaurant quietly that night with a heavy heart.
From that day on, Mercy understood something her poor mother had always tried to teach her:
Good character is more valuable than beauty, money, or pride.
MORAL LESSON:
The way we treat people, especially those who serve us, reveals our true character..
By
ERNEST JUMBO
“The glass masquerade of Africa “
