There once was an old baba (grandfather) who had just retired from a successful career as a welder. He settled into the house that he built in his village to enjoy a quiet retirement. Because he was a welder, Baba had many metal barrels and sculptures in his yard. In the afternoons, the old baba loved to rest under his large mango tree. On the day that school resumed, Baba's afternoon rest under the mango tree was disturbed. A group of young boys on their way home from school passed by Baba's house and beat on the metal cans with sticks. BOOM BOOM BOOM! Baba was awakened, but quickly settled back into his nap. The next day, Baba's rest was again disturbed. BOOM BOOM BOOM! And the next day, and the next day, for the entire week, Baba woke from his nap by these boys who beat rhythms on Baba's metal barrels. A thoughtful man, the old baba pondered how to keep these boys from disturbing his quiet afternoon rest.
The next day, the old baba was waiting for the boys when they were released from school. "Young men," he said, "I have really enjoyed the music that you are making on my metal barrels. In fact, I am enjoying your music so much that I want to pay you twenty naira each day that you beat on the barrels. Will you please continue to make this beautiful music for me?" The boys were very excited and eagerly agreed to accept the twenty naira for playing on the barrels. For the next week, the old baba faithfully paid the boys twenty naira a day when they beat on the barrels.
After a week, the old baba approached the boys again. "Young men," he said, "I am grateful that you are continuing to make your music for me. However, my children have come to my house and I had to buy extra rice to feed them. This week, I can only pay you ten naira for playing music on my barrels. Will you please continue to make this beautiful music for me?" The boys grumbled a bit, but agreed to accept the ten naira for playing on the barrels. For the next week, the old baba faithfully paid the boys ten naira a day when they beat on the barrels.
After another week passed by, the old baba approached the boys again. "Young men," he said, "I am grateful that you are continuing to make your music for me. However, I have to help my grandchildren pay their school fees. This week, I can only pay you five naira for playing music on my barrels. Will you please continue to make this beautiful music for me?" The boys were very upset. They threw their sticks on the ground. "Five naira? Only five naira? We will not play music on your barrels for only five naira!" And the boys angrily stomped off. The old baba smiled to himself and settled under the mango tree for his quiet afternoon rest.