Please feel welcome to read the six previous installments of The Success Story here, here, here.  here.

And most recently, here. and here. 

At Greg’s Residence…

[Six months after publication]

Copies of the book, ‘The Success Story’ are showcased in the living room. There are the first ordered one thousand copies, courtesy of the advanced payment money. Sales of copies of the book are ongoing. Dwellers from the same Gat Street are trooping into the house to purchase copies of the book.

At home, Andrew, Jane and the author himself, Greg, are on hand to monitor sales as neighbours come into their residence to order copies of the book. Mr and Mrs Smith are not left out. They are assisting in the sales of the work by ensuring the gate and the entrance to the Living Room is opened between the hours of 8:30AM to 8: 30PM from Mondays through Fridays. Copies of the books are rested on two wooden tables located just steps away from the gate, where Andrew is supervising and the one positioned at the door side of the Living Room, supervised by Jane. They are arranged in such a way that movements of book buyers, in and out of the apartment, will not be hindered. Each table has five hundred copies. The hundred free copies rests on the Center Table and it is only given out to family members, close friends, associates and well-wishers.

Andrew and Jane are to earn a commission of ten percent off the total sales for the week and have for free three copies of the book each, for a start. Greg reserves for himself ten copies, gives his mom and dad a total of eight copies, four each. Greg is left with eighty six copies of the book lying on the Center Table.  Greg is moving around to ensure no interruption in flow of movement of people by his book and Jane and Andrew are doing what they are told. Mr and Mrs Smith, each having a copy of the book, are reading it.

Though there is the influx of interested book buyers coming in, three people, Mrs Smith is typically gazing at, entering the Living Room through the gate,appear familiar. One, a male, is the youngest and tallest. The other two appears to be his parents. The young man is at the middle. Mrs Smith drops the book she is reading on the Center Table to approach them closely. Mr Smith is concentrated in the reading of the book and does not have any faintest idea of what is going on. Greg holds a copy of The Success Story book in admiration and keeps it alongside the resting-on-the-Center-Table copies. His gaze is not in the same direction as his mom’s.

Mrs Smith realizes they are the duo of Mr and Mrs Daniels. The older female leave the older and the youngest males to charge towards Mrs Smith. They hug each other passionately.

Mrs Smith (looks at her properly): Mrs Daniels, is this you?

Mrs Daniels (identifies): Yes, I am. Full flesh and blood

She showcases her feminine physique to Mrs Smith.

Mrs Smith (comments): You never change from your old girlish ways

Mrs Daniels: I’m the girl about town, anytime!

Mrs Smith wants to confirm they are—whom she came with. The older one is taking his time to stylishly walk towards them. The youngest sights Greg and smiles, as he walks about the same pace with the older

Mrs Smith: Is that old man not your husband? Mr Daniels?

Mrs Daniels: Yes

Mrs Smith: Long Time, no see long time no hear

Mrs Daniels (laughs): It’s been donkey years. It’s been ages!

Mrs Smith yells the name of her husband, tells them—-the identified older one, Mr Daniels and the youngest to hasten up. She creates attention as every Tom, Dick and Harry in the building, including Greg, Jane and Andrew stand still to find out what’s going on. Greg has not seen his long-time-no-see friend, the young man, Harp. Harp has seen him but takes his time to suspiciously tip-toe his way from the door’s entrance to where Greg is.

Mr Smith (screams in excitement): Mr Smith, come and see our august visitor!!! Mr Daniels, why not hasten up and join us?

Mr Daniels hasten up and meets them at the Living Room few steps away from where the second wooden table is positioned. Mr Smith does same. Harp makes it to where Greg is sited—the long sofa, now reading his book. Harp watches his ‘’long time, no see’’ read his written book. He takes a copy and begins the reading, in hopes that Greg call his attention in surprise.

Mr Smith shakes hands with Mr Daniels. They hug each other. The women, Mrs Smith and Mrs Daniels accompany each other to the dining table to talk their talk—The Women Talk

Mr Smith (notices changes in Mr Daniels): How time flies! You used to be very chubby, young and sweet. But now, you’re ageing gracefully

Mr Daniels (admits): You man, how it is…Stress. Why won’t I age when I have chains of business to run and all that… And you know, women

Mr Smith: You need not to tell me

Mr Daniels: It’s really been a while, Smith. How is life?

Mr Smith: Trying to make ends meet

Mr Daniels (looks at his casual dress): Hmmm… I see

Mr Smith: I thought I wouldn’t hear from you again.

Mr Daniels: It’s not what it is, Smith. It’s just that the time for, you know, all that…

Mr Smith: All that what? I’m listening…

Mr Daniels: Never mind

Mr Smith: I guess something brought you here…

Mr Daniels: Yes, in a way

Mr Smith: No wonder they say ‘Success has many fathers, and draws family from afar but failure is an orphan’’. Now I see

Mr Daniels: You said it!

Mr Smith: Let’s make ourselves comfortable! We can talk more on this and other stuff.

Mr Daniels: Ok

They both head to take seats on the sofas, facing Greg and Harp who are sitting on the longest sofa. Sales are ongoing. Mr Smith and Mr Daniels are discussing issues but quietly to avoid by heard by Greg and Harp.Greg is about to stand up to stretch is body a bit when he sees a surprise, just staring at him but holding a copy of his book In his hand…Harp

Greg (shouts in utter disbelief): Who am I seeing? Is this Harp?

Harp (dressed in all black suit): Yes…This is Harp!

They shake and hug each other

Greg: Why didn’t you pay me a visit for once in the past three years?

Harp: I’m sorry. School issues and other things—like dad’s businesses

Greg: And you didn’t take a time-out to see me for three good years…You’re funny!

Harp: I told you I’m sorry

Greg (accepts his apology): You’re still my very good friend, no matter what!

Harp: You name is everywhere in school, libraries, media houses…Been to places and I’ve heard your name mentioned.

Greg: Thanks to the publicity and media coverage by my publisher, Creative Publishing Press

Harp: That’s good to know!

Greg: It’s been a three-year journey. Wished you were coming to visit me all these while…

Harp (feeling guilty): I know, Greg. I ought. However, I will make it all up to you.

Greg: Okay. By now, you should be done with school…I, for now, haven’t kept in touch with Dr Tim Yale

Harp (corrects): Prof Tim Yale

Greg: I see. Like I mentioned, I haven’t kept in touch with him except for the recent book signing at the school’s Main Library. It was an impromptu call from my publisher to do it there. Though Dr, oh sorry, Prof Tim was there, I didn’t even get to contact you. Look at me! Students from other departments bought copies of my book and I had some autographed.

Harp: You see… you were at fault. In fact, the last time you communicated with me was over the phone. But you didn’t give me details on what went down behind the letter of release…

Greg (admits): Yes, that’s another flaw. I agree with you. I felt it was a long story…What was important to me was the fact that I’ve been granted a release letter.

Harp: Hmmm…

Greg (Ponders): That reminds me…I’ve been thinking on the inside of me and I’m voicing it out: ‘’how did Harp locate this place? Without his locating this place, his parents wouldn’t know’’

Harp (Laughs): You’re funny man. Do remember when you scribbled your address at the ME Lecture Room?

Greg (closes his eyes as he remembers): Ahhh….Yes!

Harp: You get it now, Right?

Greg: I see

Harp: I need not to be explained to because your success is self-explanatory. My parents are here because I had to force them to come. They are one set of business people I’ve ever seen! Workaholics!

Greg: With the chains of businesses you dad has, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. That’s all I have to say.

Harp: In the next fifteen minutes or so, we’ll be out of here. Dad wants us to move to Burke County for a business deal. He’s using me as s front because I finally finished as the overall best graduating student. And based on my qualification as a trained mechanical engineer, he wants to secure the deal.

Greg: I understand. But I wished you stayed a bit longer. Business has to be attended to.

Harp: Thanks for your understanding!

Greg: Alright. Let’s read. I know you weren’t concentrating on the book you held in your hand. You wanted catch me unawares. You did. But let’s read…

Harp: You said it! I agree, let me read…More seriously

Greg chuckles as Harp takes the copy from the table to read. Mr Smith and Mr Daniel are seen exchanging contacts and business cards as they discuss. Their audibility is below the hearing reach of Greg and Harp, Mrs Smith and Mrs Daniels.This is ongoing for the next sixteen minutes. Books are being sold in twos, threes, fours, to neighbours and other buyers by Jane and Andrew. Mr Danielsstands up, shakes Mr Smith, alerts his observant wife and son, ‘’it’s time to leave for the deal’’. He checks his gold-coated Rolex wrist-watch. Harp takes his standing position and is being joined by Mrs Daniels. They meet at the Center Table area. Mrs Smith is still sited, as is her husband. But Greg is upstanding, side by side Harp.

Mr Daniels makes an informal closing speech to the hearing of the trooping-in book buyers. Majority of them are listening to what he is saying, though purchasing, but Andrew and Jane are in the business of sales of the book’s copies.

Mr Daniels (audible): It’s a great time being here. I’m happy that we’re all together again after a long time of absence.Success, they say, draws many family members from far and wide but failure keeps them at armslenght. It is with great joy to see Greg attaining this height of success. He’s a specially gifted young man. But the show of maturity this young man exhibited, in terms of giving up what he was excellent at to face his dream in a time as ours is something worth applauding. Now, I know success isn’t cheap…It comes with a price! Greg, congratulations on this great feat of yours. More powers, more grease to your elbows of aspirations in the future! I wish I had the time in the world to stay all day with you—this is a great family. Unfortunately, time is not our friend. My very good friend, since our schooling days at the University of Berth, is aware of this—or at least—-I told him how very pressing my schedules have been. I want to believe my wife has told his the same thing. Harp, I believe, would have told Greg the same. We have discussed at length—Mr Smith and me. The old memories are rekindled once again!

Of course, by we have discussed, I know better his current family as does he mine. Andrew, Jane and the big man himself, Greg…You’re making dad and mom proud!

As we take our leave, we want to support this celebrated young man, Greg, with a cheque of 80, 000 Talars

Mr Daniels hands over the cheque from his wife to Greg. Everyone under the sound of his voice clap hands. The ‘wow’ reaction is expressed obviously on the faces of Andrew and Jane as they take a look at the presentation of the cheque to their brother.

Mr Daniels (concludes):Twenty friends can be together in the same place for twenty years. But their coming together after over twenty years is indeed The Success Story.

Thanks for listening.

The trio of Mr and Mrs Daniels and Harp are leaving the Living Room. Applauses from people present at the time of his informal closing-speech presentation trail them. Greg accompanies them. He presents 18 copies of the book to them for free—-seven copies each to Mr and Mrs Daniels and four to Harp. Mr and Mrs Smith wave their hands to Jane and Andrew. They responded the same way.

Mr and Mrs Smith finally wave the ‘bye, bye’ sign at Mr and Mrs Daniels, together with Harp, at the gate. They wave back in a heartfelt way, and left…

THE END.

*Barrister Frank is not able to make it because he informed Mr Smith of an impending case he has to handle prior to the day of Greg’s ‘’at-home’’ book event.

 

EPILOGUE

The Publishing Company is making huge profits off the sales of Greg’s book, just a month after publication. People are massively ordering copies of the book. Young, middle aged and elderly people, organizations, mega bookstores, all ministries within Perth and outside the city are all ordering en masse copies of the 105-page book. Greg’s royalty promises to be very colossal. The company is currently scheduling various speaking arrangements, book signings, and TV and radio interviews for Greg outside Perth. The book has sold in the last four months over 300,000 copies. And still counting!

The University of Perth is currently strategizing on working out for the first time in its history the College of Creative Writing for students who intends to make writing as their career. Greg has just en conferred an honorary Doctorate Degree by the university with the intention of making him the first Creative Writing lecturer

Creative Publishing Press is working on publishing the other nine works by Greg, considering the success of The Success Story. Never Too Late and Dare to Come Back are the first two works of his undergoing production.

Barrister Frank is currently dating Pamela Jong, secretary, Creative Publishing Press, in secret.

Greg is currently in a serious relationship with Sandra Brooks, the younger sister to the publisher

The running of Mr Daniels chains of businesses falls is Harp’s responsibility.

The Smiths are regular visitors to the Daniels (vice versa)

Greg makes Jane his personal assistant. She’s through with her studies.

Andrew is working with Pearl Management Services, a company situated in the heart of Perth. The Daniels are looking at incorporating him in their business network.