The Pointer

A Modern Parable

The Pointer was a very helpful chap. His nails were long and sharp in some places and a bit uneven in others — as a result of all his chewing.

"You should see that monument," he'd say, swinging his right arm like a giant pendulum just centimeters in front of the noses of his listeners.

"Look at that red bird. Look at that blue bird," he'd say.

"Whoosh," sounded his arm as his sharp pointer finger swung full force in front of innocent passersby.

The Pointer could not wait to give directions. To explain the beauty of his city. His arms swung this way and that. His listeners waited very patiently for him to remove his sharp instrument from their faces.

Some staggered back a stride or two. But the Pointer followed them, finger focused on the target of his explanations.

One Saturday, a man got off a plane. Not knowing where to find a grocery shop, he wandered for hours. It didn't help that the man could not read the street signs or even see the shop signs clearly. He walked and walked until he happened upon the Pointer, who was standing by a lamppost.

"Excuse me, sir. Could you help me find a grocery shop? I am so hungry. I feel like I haven't eaten for days."

"That's no problem. I can help you," replied the Pointer with a smile.

The Pointer swung his finger up in front of the hungry man's face.

But before he said a word, the hungry man took a bite into the air and onto his finger.

"Ouch!" screamed the Pointer. "That is my finger!"

The hungry man spat it out as if he had tasted something very sour.

"I thought you were offering me a chip, lightly salted," he replied.

The Pointer wrapped his hand with a napkin.

"I'm going to do something I've never done before. I am going to take you to the grocery shop myself," he said. "I need to buy a bandage there."

He walked beside the hungry man, clutching his finger and sharing directions.

"A beautiful red bird there," he nodded.

"Where, where?" asked the hungry man.

The Pointer still gave directions, but he never swung his finger in someone's face again.

A story by Pemba Umoja