Southend U3A

From riches to rags - Maureen Rampersaud

February 2012

Leon, although now an orphan, was left 'well provided for.' His schooling finished, he now lived alone in a rather grand mansion. His parents would never have counted the servants, who also resided here, as people.

Each day was relentlessly pointless. He got up, had meals and went to bed.

One day, Leon had had enough and he set out for the nearest town. He knew there must be something he was put on this earth to do.

He passed women and men with ragged clothes and dead eyes. He squinted through filthy factory windows and saw rows of workers moving like clockwork toys, coughing and spluttering. He hurried away from the deafening noise of machines.

The river glinted in the sunshine, Leon knelt and scooped some water up into his hands and noticed a dead rat floating by. He dropped his hands and wiped them frantically on his immaculate clothes.

Leon spent the next week at home, thinking and planning. He had a purpose now and needed to be bold.

Ten years later. Leon walked through the town on his way home from the school he founded and where he worked.

He passed women and men with bright eyes and ready smiles. Through the factory windows he could see that it was clean and well run. It was a place of industry and harmony.

The river was clear and clean. Fish were visible, darting under the surface and Leon took pleasure in the beauty of it.

He arrived at his small cottage, his mansion had long since been sold. His wife held their new baby whilst the twins played at her feet. He looked down at his well worn, shabby clothes and realised that he was the richest man alive.