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The boy called a LUNATIC by Blossom Monyei

The Boy They Called a Lunatic

By Blossom Monyei

I was just a kid, about 12 years old,
when Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s wife asked my landlord to send his son, Francis, to work at her house.
At that time, Boakai wasn’t yet President of Liberia.

Francis refused. He said he wanted to go to school — not serve anyone as a house worker.
His father was angry, but couldn’t say no to Boakai’s wife either.

That evening, my mom sat on the porch marking papers.
The landlord came to her, confused and frustrated.
My mom suggested a different boy — Saah, the landlord’s brother’s son.

He was known in the neighborhood as a lunatic.
The landlord hesitated, but in the end, he sent Saah.

I helped sometimes too — sweeping, delivering food and water to people sitting under the palaver hut.

Then we moved.
Time passed.
An election came.
Joseph Nyumah Boakai won. He became the President of Liberia.

Suddenly, Francis ran to his father, begging to now work for the First Lady.
But it was too late.
Saah was already there.
Saah was already trusted.
Saah had started school.

And you won’t believe what happened next.

Saah graduated top of his class.
The “lunatic” everyone doubted became one of the President’s personal assistants.
He now speaks at youth programs, reminding people:
“Where you start doesn’t define where you’ll end.”

Francis?
He still walks past the Executive Mansion gate…
Wishing he had made a different choice.

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