The Market of Two Doors
In the bustling town of Ayetoro, there was a market unlike any other. It was called Oja Meji, the Market of Two Doors.
The first door was painted bright gold. Anyone who walked through it would find themselves in a section of the market where everything was cheap, quick to get, and easy to carry. The sellers there smiled too much, promising “Buy today, enjoy forever.”
The second door was plain wood. No gold, no decoration. People said it led to a part of the market where things were expensive, hard to find, and took a lot of bargaining before you got them.
Most people, of course, rushed for the gold door. After all, who does not love easy deals? But there was a rule: once you chose a door, you could not switch to the other.
One day, a girl named Morayo came to the market with her mother’s last savings. Their roof was leaking, and the rainy season was coming. She needed strong roofing sheets.
Her best friend, Ajoke, ran straight for the gold door. “Come here, jare! The sellers here are giving everything for half price.”
Morayo hesitated but remembered her mother’s words:
“Easy roads often have potholes you cannot see.”
So she entered the wooden door.
Inside, the wooden door market was not fun at all. The sellers were strict, some ignored her, others made her carry heavy samples before they would even talk prices. Her feet hurt, her clothes were dusty, and she spent the whole day negotiating. By evening, she finally bought roofing sheets. They cost more than what Ajoke paid for hers, but they were thick, heavy, and solid.
Meanwhile, Ajoke came home smiling. She had gotten colourful, shiny sheets from the gold door market for a cheap price.
Two weeks later, the rains came. Ajoke’s roof began to leak. The shiny sheets bent under the wind, and she had to start saving all over again. But Morayo’s roof stood strong, keeping her family warm and dry.
Moral: Not everything cheap is a bargain. Sometimes, the path that makes you sweat is the one that will keep you safe in the storm.
