"We will have to cancel it." 

My heart sank as I heard those words from the MC. 

I should have seen it coming because something like that had happened before. 

But then, I guess I was optimistic that this time things would be different,

Especially since I had gone extra lengths to make sure that it went exactly how it was supposed to go. 

"Why did I even bother?" 

"I never should have bothered in the first place."

"I'm never doing this ever again." 

These and many other thoughts floated across my mind as I got lost in thought. 

"How will I explain it to the children?"

I'm sure this story is a bit blurry right now because of some details which I intentionally left out. 

But don't worry. It will become clearer in just a few moments. 

First, I think we have a pending discussion, so let's get that one out of the way shall we? 

Good. 

Remember in my last mail, I told you about just how stressful the end of the term and session in my work place has been, especially for me. 

A lot of things happened within the last two to three weeks that left me nothing short of exhausted...

Ranging from:

• Me having to do impromptu typing and printing work to cover up for some unexpected challenges that came up (which I hinted on in my earlier mails), 

• While learning (on the job) how to use a photocopying machine and how to print. 

• All of these while still doing my normal job of invigilating students, marking scripts and recording scores (well, most of the time), 

• Scrutinizing the master sheets and report cards of some classes in the primary section, 

• Writing teacher's comments and headteacher's comments in various report cards, 

• Packaging the results and getting them ready for delivery, 

• Et cetera. 

All of these while still preparing some children for various presentations to be made on the graduation day. 

While all of these was happening, I couldn't fix my phone's TouchPad which was misbehaving because I just didn't have the time. 

And trust me, the TouchPad frustrated the hell out of me, but I survived. 

With this detailed explanation, it's obvious why I couldn't keep up with sending you mails like I should have been, 

But like I said in my last mail that by the end of last week, everything would be said and done,

That is exactly what has happened now.  

So we're all good. 

Now, to clear the dust on the story I began this mail with, 

When the preparation for the graduation day's activities began, I was assigned to handle the NEWS presentation. 

But somewhere along the line, somehow I got to find out that there were some children who had singing capabilities. 

Well, at least for their age, they were good singers. 

So I just decided to give them a trial and see where it goes. 

I had told them that they were going to present the song on the graduation day, but I didn't really mean it at first. 

But after seeing their zeal and zest during the rehearsals, coupled with the fact that they really had good potential to sing well, 

I eventually pushed for the song presentation to be added to the list of activities for the graduation day. 

And to my surprise, I got the support of the HM,

Even to the extent of her making effort to make provision for a piano to be used for the song presentation both for rehearsals just before the day and on that day itself.

The graduation day came and the activities were in full swing. 

Because of the usual behavior of Africans, the event started late. 

And at some point halfway through the event, the HM told the parents that within 1 hour, the event would be over... And the children hadn't sang the song yet. 

Some minutes into the cutting of the cake (an activity where the HM usually tasks parents to cut the cake with various amounts of money or to contribute to the school project as they put it), 

That was when the MC came and told me these words. 

"HM said that there is no more time, so we are canceling the presentation. After the cutting of the cake, the choreographers will perform and then we will go straight to the awards presentation"

My mood changed. 

All my efforts gone down the drain. 

All the shouting, corrections, rehearsals and preparation was going to be for nothing. 

The MC (who was also a teacher) and other teachers who saw my countenance thought I was sad because I wouldn't get to play the keyboard anymore... 

I guess they thought I just wanted to show off my playing skills. 

But I was more concerned about having given the children hope that they would perform, and then dashing it to pieces.

And because some of them already had doubts about performing that day. 

I knew that if they didn't do the presentation that day, they would never agree to do something like that again. 

I had to give it one more shot. 

Luckily, an opportunity came where I was alone with the HM in the store. 

I spoke to her, and made my case. 

"Ma, they said we are not presenting the songs again. All our efforts would have been for nothing. Even the keyboard that we brought too."

"They should still do it ehn?" 

"Yes ma!"

"What is the time?" 

I told her. 

"There is still time sef". 

"Yes ma."

"Go and do it" 

"They should do it?" 

"I should tell them to do it?" 

I asked twice to be sure I heard correctly.. 

She affirmed. 

And that was how I was able to save the presentation from being canceled. 

The children sang well, but there are some areas they could improve on. 

I am just glad that I was able to give them an opportunity to shine and that I didn't dash their hopes to pieces. 

Here is a short lesson I want you to learn from this story (plus my random thought for you today). 

1. Never give up till the very end. 

Sometimes, the night is darkest just before dawn. 

Just when you think everything is over, that may just be the time when your efforts will have the most impact. 

So if you have given up and stopped making efforts, you may miss out on the results that you so much desire. 

Don't give up until the very end. 

It is not over until it is over. 

2. At the very core of humans, we all have a deep need to satisfy ourselves and our desires, even if it has negative impact on others. 

An alcohol addict will do whatever it takes just to have one more bottle of alcohol, even if he knows that it will hurt his family's feelings and even if that money is meant for something important for the family. 

All because of a deep need to satisfy his desires. 

When the cutting of the cake was going on in my story above, the MC was trying to get the HM to hurry up so that the next activities (of which the song presentation was first) could begin to take place. 

That was when she told him to cancel the presentation because the money she was "hustling" the parents for was more important to her than some song presentation. 

Plus, the song presentation was probably not going to bring in any money. 

Again, here you see that the need to satisfy our desires trumps every other thing at the very core of humans. 

If you think very deeply, you will realize that there are some desires you have that you would totally ignore everyone else just to satisfy. 

It's basic human nature. 

As a copywriter, salesman or marketer, it is your job to find those deep needs and desires of your prospects or customers and tie them in with your product. 

The moment you do that, you will find it very easy to compel people to buy your products. 

I hope this all makes sense to you. 

That's all for today. 

I know this mail was long and I intentionally made it so,

Because I bet you missed reading my mails didn't you ?

I thought so.

Anyways, bye for now. 

To your digital success, 

King Danisan™.