Twists and Turns

There is a new character in town. A true man about town. He has a highly emotional and sentimental disposition and is dedicated to the service of other people. He is fervent, caring, and takes his job quite seriously. This character works for many a nongovernmental organisation. Sometimes he can be found flexing his muscles, throwing his weight about, in community development projects and other philanthropic causes that you may know of. He is also there at church; within those structures that seek to help the needy.

   Indeed, let me say that his determination is admirable but there is one problem that he has. He wants to be everywhere at the same time—I think the right word is omnipresent—and is not quite open to the help of others who are also willing to contribute to such meaningful causes.

   The moment you mention your desire to roll your sleeves up and getting involved in the projects he runs, Mr Helpfulton’s demeanour undergoes drastic changes: His face, until then wearing a smile, collapses into a frown; his hitherto sweet voice develops rough edges around and begins to somewhat crack. He becomes, on the whole, quite uneasy. You see, Mr Helpfulton is only happy with sucking in the praises for the hard and selfless endeavours that he engages in every day. And to him, such phrases as “the more the merrier”; or “unity is power” et cetera, are an anathema of sorts.

   It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World why Mr Helpfulton does not want any help. I have mentioned that perhaps he is a glory-lover. But there may be other reasons. Perhaps he benefits in materially from his role and hegemonic position. It may as well be that donors to such essentially good causes deal with him directly and he is tempted every now and again to pilfer some of the resources. So, to bring in more people would disturb him from benefiting. I should hope that it is not so, because that would be a disgraceful state of affairs. Yet that is what people strolling in the streets in town are saying; that he himself is corrupt as the government that he, from time to time, labels as a cesspit of corrupt activities. But Mr Helpfulton denies such allegations with every particle of air in his lungs and with every ounce of energy in his well-fed body.

   He calls such allegations, frivolous and jealous rants aimed at discrediting his glorious and spotless efforts. But he has never answered—nor do I remember such a question being directed at him—why he fights to the death collaboration in the pursuit to tackle some of our societal problems. Therefore, to me, he still remains suspect.