by Gloria Obizu
Sounds good to me! Wallis continued. So, what kinds of goods do you import and export?
You know, within the years, I developed good relationships with many retail outfits all over the places. They let us know whatever it is they need at any particular time and is the duty of my company to go hunting for the goods and supply them. One thing makes us successful though, that is the quality of our goods. They are highly rated because we never compromise.
Good! I truly admire your sense of purpose and honestly! What line of business do you think might be ok for someone like me? I mean give me some suggestions. Wallis asked.
It all depends on how much cash you are willing to invest, understand? The ground of Africa I tell you is now ripe and ready for business exploits. It’s a gold mine for those who have the cash and know how since there are lots of potentials for businesses nowadays. Only if the world will open up a little bit.
I have that feeling too!
Then you will succeed here! Now, take the African Movie industry for instance, it’s booming beyond what ordinary eyes can see. There is this idea of a Movie village somewhere in Africa, you know, the kind of thing you guys have at the Universal Studio in the US. If it happens, it is going to be something huge in the future. I’m confident this type of industry will rule the African business scene in the near future and those with the sense today to start putting their money in that direction will be smiling to the bank tomorrow. Mind you riches go to who gets to the treasure first. I’m considering putting some money in it myself but I’m waiting to have enough that can pull some weight in that kind of thing ‘cause we are talking billions.
I never thought you guys make movies until I came here. And what I’ve seen is marvelous. I’m surprised.
You guys don’t seem to care about what goes on in other parts of the world and that’s not so good, continued Pena. I mean America is great! The greatest in the world today, I don’t deny that! But not everyone in America is so great and seeking greener pastures in other lands help builders grow even bigger. You have to look beyond your nose to succeed sometimes and I tell you, this place is a gold mine. Is like a virgin land yet to be tapped but what is holding us back is resources. African Fashion and beauty industry is also expanding fast and this in a way complements the movie industry. Good for show business too. A blend of west and African fashion will be just great! That reminds me of the Music scene too which has always been good but fast expanding now. A blend of both cultures in this area also will not be a bad idea at all. I think some musicians in this region are already doing that you know! And don’t forget that show business is the real thing. We can entrench that culture here in Africa with huge benefits.
Tell me about it! Wallis lent his support.
Oh it’s all coming in strong for Africa now for sure. People are seeking new ideas and other means of doing things in more complex ways.
Huh! I think I’m into the right guy here! What about shopping Malls? What do you say about that? Wallis asked.
Oh! That’s also a good field of play. Something like Wal-Mart and others like it will do just great. As a matter of fact there are a whole lot of other areas to consider. The oil industry too, which for me is an old horse but ever yielding is there. Restaurants and fast food could do well too but they must be willing to be very creative in the local dishes. People simply want new ideas because stereotypes are already over flogged and ready for the trash. Agriculture in its mechanized form will not be a bad idea at all ‘cause the countries in this region need this. The automobile industries are almost empty right now and my thinking is that most Africans would now welcome home made cars.
That will require a lot of capital investment and that I don’t have. Wallis emphasized.
I understand! But it’s still a great area for investment especially now that many Africans are being forced by economic realities to start looking inwards and that means good promotion for all-African car. I can say for sure that the awareness is in and this reinforced by hard times facing the whole world today is forcing people into seeking various options for survival. Investment in auto industry will pay off real good but you have to make the right kind of cars. By that, I mean cheap, affordable and durable for the kind of routes most of these African counties present. Actually you don’t have to put in a whole lot of money ‘cause you can start small like the Indians did with very light weight vehicles. I’m seriously studying this area myself and so far what I see is some kind of allayment with the government to make the kind of impact I imagine. Anyway the sum is that Africa has the crowd required for marketing anything, just like China. I mean, a lot of the big societies like yours are already saturated with goods and I strongly believe Africa is the way of the future. That’s why I’m for the idea of a New World Order. It could help stabilize the whole world economically if managed well. But what I say to the government of some of the countries in this region is, clean up! See, a society is like one huge market and the way you present your goods so will it be priced. After all everybody started from same kind of sport, bare piece of land and you model the way you want your society turn out. Look at your country for instance, it cleaned up, that is why everyone wants to go there. You guys have good functional amenities that are easily available to folks and almost everyone gets to meet his basic need. Then you made sure everyone and everything is accounted for with your effective force and policy of no man left behind. How nice! My greatest wish is that some of these African nations will begin to recognize the importance of equitable distribution of wealth in building a society, continued Pena. When you give to a few, you limit society, but when you give to all, you open your horizon because wealth in every hand is the answer to buoyant economy, period. Stability and creativity grow out of it and ultimately further expansion in wealth. That’s what a system is all about, a turning wheel of progress. Pena contended.
Wonderful! I kind of like your ideas and the fact that you took so much pain to break it down to basics is fascinating. But being new in this area, I think I may still need a lot of studying of the environment to do, Wallis said.
There is nothing wrong with that. But if you can’t go alone, come with me to form a partnership and expand on what I do and possibly add some more businesses in the future.
Thanks for the offer Pena. But don’t you think it’s probably too early for me to jump into something right away?
It is up to you?
I understand that! What I need is a little more time ‘cause I’m not in a hurry right now. I’ll study all these areas with potentials for investments you suggested. I could end up with one of these things you suggested, I don’t know right away. I could probably go into importation of cars out rightly since I’ve a little idea about how that works already. I may also want to open a grocery store. To be honest to you, I can’t say I’ve made up my mind right away but these suggestions you offered are so great and would serve me as road map in my future considerations. I’ll give myself time and let you know what I decide to do, okay? Meanwhile, I may be practicing more on ‘honeymooning. As they laughed over that, Isabel came in with some snacks.
Like I said, it is all in your hands my friend, Pena picked it up again. There is also a Christian organization ran by a Dutch, Ache Easel and his wife Amelia. Very good couple to be with! They named the church Neo Concept Christian Fellowship and it turned out my idea of place of worship. Part of their program is a fellowship for people in business called Business Men Council, a very successful forum that holds every last Saturday of the Month. There, people of like minds associate and discuss business matters in candid manner and in very conducive atmosphere such that sometimes deals are struck or new partnerships and other kinds of associations formed. Members also get to learn about new developments in the business world and always a good place for beginners to meet and interact with others from different business environments. If you like we can go together. I’m sure you will find it
quite interesting.
That’s cool! I will think about that too and give you a call, okay? Wallis said. Eventually the talk melted to other issue and Pena sensing he shouldn’t overstay his welcome took his leave.
Soon after the guests departed, Isabel also left for her apartment because another agenda was on her mind, so she hurried home to meet up with an all-night party in a friend’s house.
For Isabel, her new life in South Africa is in complete disparity with whatever goals and aspirations Wallis is gunning for even though he is in the dark about this. In her understanding, what the new environment offers is an opportunity to see the world and enjoy all the good things it offers with new found wealth, no more no less. Never in her imaginations did she foresee the kind of goodies coming from Wallis in the present ‘cause even if such thing as riches ever crossed her mind, she never thought it will come from the Wallis she used to know in LA. But all of sudden, wealth dropped at her feet by his hand and she is still struggle to get used to the whole idea. There are times she wondered about how Wallis suddenly turned to gold but would always reach the conclusion that this matter shouldn’t really add up to her concerns so she never asks questions. After all, what Isabel feels for Wallis is not what anyone would describe as a girl’s love for a man and in her own understanding she is here in South Africa by forced circumstances not because she followed her heart. Even so, Wallis has done so much to earn for himself some of her respect so she sometimes considers it necessary to do things right. Besides, as things stands, she has no choice but stick with him while she waits to see what other opportunities that come up in South Africa of her future, but how long the relationship lasts, that what she can’t guarantee.
In her mind set, Isabel never stops searching for her idea of treasures hidden beneath the skies just like Wallis. The difference is that she has no goals because she hates to dream ‘cause it brings back so many memories that are so hard to deal with. So, in the crescendo of night lives and all that goes with it, she tries to build reality out of nothing as frivolous mind basks in euphoria.
Her friends are basically picked out of girls of the nights. Some of them like Fajita are not the core ones and she follows from a distance but to fiery players, Isabel gives her whole heart. The club houses of South Africa rich in good dancing music and amenities like what she was used to back home captured her soul and she embraces fully, parting away the nights with compatriots in frivolity.
She still lives apart from Wallis which to her understanding is a very good development. It offers the opportunity for that pattern of life she aspires and pursues, so night clubs are constant games arenas and she plays without remorse, games well concealed from Wallis’s eyes.
Meanwhile, the man remained steady in his own quest! A better future for his family is all that mattered and Wallis was ready for the sacrifice. On a sunny Saturday in a summer afternoon, Pena came and took Wallis to the Neo Concept Business Men Council for the first time. And just like Pena said, it turned out a very rewarding experience. As he found out, it was indeed a good starting point if you seek to become part of South African business circles. And that day at the Council, Wallis met with a lot of business people and talked to a lot of them on his intentions while seeking good suggestions on how to invest. A dinner party was part of the entire package for added flavor and Wallis liked it all. At the end of the show, he was so delighted that he began considering adopting Neo Concept Christian Fellowship which is the parent body, as his sole place for fellowship as long as he lived in South Africa.
With all the business information he gathered from the outing, he got home and began thinking along the line of opening up a grocery store in the major shopping area of the city. It’s the only business he felt would succeed within the means available to him and in line with all the suggestions he gathered so far. Besides, it also happened to be the kind of thing he is passionate about.
His first step towards realizing his dreams would be to inform Isabel and see how she reacts. If she is favorably disposed towards the idea, both of them will go find a good location for the store and start immediately.
He got home from the business council late Saturday night and went to sleep soon after. The next day which was a Sunday he followed up and went to worship with the Neo Concept and that also turned out quite rewarding. After service, he drove home, had lunch before setting out for Isabel’s apartment. Wallis journeyed to Isabel’s place in high hopes and expectations but all that is now being challenged by the kind of reaction coming from Isabel. She also got home in the early hours of that morning but from a completely different kind of outing because while Wallis sweated it out with business discussions on the floors of the Neo Concept building last night, Isabel was also sweating, but in the bowel of a club house. She was barely awake when Wallis got into her apartment and he questioned that. Why are you still sleepy at this time of the day, what happened last night?
Wallis, don’t come up with that stuff, ok? But if you must know I went out with Ginger!
Who is Ginger?
My new girlfriend I talked to you about! Isabel continued.
Where did you guys go? Wallis asked.
It was an all-night thing in a night club! We went dancing!
How could you go dancing without me Isabel?
Wallis I wasn’t thinking you’ll like to come with me, okay? With the way you are going these days, I don’t think you still care about that sort of thing ‘cause you don’t show interest any more in all the things we used to do back home because of this business thing you’ve got in your head, Isabel continued.
So who was it that had all the time in his hands you went dancing with all night?
Nobody! I just danced with everyone! Listen, Wallis I miss doing stuff like we used to do it back home, that’s all! You got to understand!
Isabel! All these things I’m doing are for your own good! I’m trying to focus and build something for us and you know how hard it is when you are getting started but that doesn’t translate to what you’re talking about. You need to be careful with the way you go about things in this country please.
Chill man! I know what I’m doing okay? You just go ahead and continue to do what you think is right for you! I’ll be doing my own little things too, Isabel said.
Anyway, there are things I want us to discuss so freshen up and join me in the living room.
Reluctantly, she went to shower, dressed, and came out. Care for a beer? She asked.
No thanks. I just came back from a church! Wallis said.
Really! She said with a hint of surprise. What church?
The one Pena talked to us about and I think is a good place to worship. I’ll be going there more often. I hope you come with me sometimes.
I don’t wanna talk about that right now, Isabel reacted.
Baby you are very young. 21 is a difficult time but I’m sure you will understand how things work with time.
I kind of like the way you said that, you know! Isabel reacted. This is my time and I got to enjoy it! What is it you want us to talk about?
It’s about this store I want us to start. I’ve been doing a whole lot on it lately, talked to so many people and did some investigations on my own and from the look of things I’m convinced a Grocery store will work for us. What do you think?
I’ve got no clue on how this kind of thing works but I’m not trying to discourage you. Keep up with it ‘cause is not a bad idea. Isabel reacted
I’m looking for the ideal store building in a good business area and I want us to go see what we can find.
When?
We start on Monday!
Ok! That will work!
Wallis stayed in the apartment with her until the following day and later morning both left for the town in search of their need. He had to put everything to the hunt since he wasn’t ready to settle for just anything. �
��If you are interested in grocery store business, the key is in finding the right location which must be in an area with the potentials for pulling crowd” That was the chorus in the song of everyone he spoke with and Wallis was convinced too that this is an idea worth trying out thus it became the compass directing all his quests until they found the exact thing they wanted. Luckily too he had the resources and as Pena summed it up, once you have the money, you will always find what you want just like Wallis did.
It didn’t take so long before Folks Super Store began taking roots and with so much energy he threw in it, the venture sprout and stood firmly in no time at all. ‘Pena and Pena Enterprise’ was contracted for the supply of much of the goods.
Now, considering the quantity and quality of items reflected on the floor of Folk store today on the opening day, Wallis had no doubt in his mind he made the right decision. All brands of goods, from simple to the most complex and from all most all parts of the world showcased in the Store. And a proof of how it turned out was an instant hit with the locals and with that began a fast boom.
Chapter Thirteen
Now, obvious to everyone’s eyes is the fact that Wallis’s life is heading another direction in this land so far away from home. As it turned out, he is a well-established man and flourishing in every sense of the word. This is the fourth year he with Isabel made their successful passage into another land and in that short time he already achieved so much that is pleasing to the heart. His life’s dreams are all gradually fitting in place as he continues making progress.
Another two years consolidated the business arena before his attention shifted to the home front. Since his intention is to stick to the norm in everything he does with Isabel he chose to begin with a formal marriage proposal, and then a wedding would follow.