Stay In Your Own Lane
There were some people who could not mind their own business, and Raymond Jones could not understand why. The only thing he wanted was to start a fruit-selling business.
Until someone came along and ruined everything. There were all kinds of accusations thrown at him, and he'd had enough. This woman would be proven wrong by him.
Pointing Fingers
Grandma Gertrude was known around town for being a nosy troublemaker and disrupting Raymond's fruit stand. Pointing at the fruit with her bony finger, she raised her hand.
She declared, her voice echoing through the crowded alleyway, "You can't just set up a table here. This is private property!". “On a related note, where did you get these fruits?"
Side Hustle
The cash Raymond had in his pockets really needed to be replenished. In his free time, he sold fresh fruit in an alleyway just outside his apartment, which is near a popular fast-food restaurant where he worked as a cook.
The neighborhood loved the variety of fruits he had on offer, and it was a great way to earn some extra cash. However, not everyone was happy with his fruit stand.
An Opportunity
A whole range of fruits could be purchased at the farmer's market downtown. It would then be sold at half its market price. He had a loyal following because of that. The prices he charges are affordable.
His fruit had only been sold for a week, but it was already popular. He realized that not everyone can afford to shop at the organic market, which is why he brought the market to them. To the annoyance of someone.
A Brilliant Idea
Some customers had asked him to add vegetables to his fruit stall since it was so popular. The idea was deemed a great one by Raymond. Next month, he will introduce it.
“Fresh fruit! Get your fresh fruit at Ray’s!” he yelled out, his voice carrying through the alleyway and into the street beyond. He heard someone making trouble and was about to do something about it.
A Watchful Eye
Raymond was unaware that someone was watching him at all times. As he sold his fruit and chatted up a storm with his regular customers, he was too busy to pay attention to anything else.
Suddenly, he noticed an elderly woman with folded arms staring at him to his right. He considered it to be another customer. It was his pleasure to welcome her to his stall. “Good morning, Ma’am. Could I interest you in some fresh fruit today?”
Not Saying Anything
But Raymond found her face to be less friendly than those of his usual clients. Despite her cold eyes and glaring stare, the woman seemed to be thinking something.
As soon as he didn't hear back from her, he just helped another customer. However, he noticed she was still glaring at him, standing there.
Things Were Going Well
As he continued to sell his fruits, the woman eventually left. The next day was also a good day for him, and some customers asked him to remain.
The rate at which he was going, he would have to give up his day job and make a living selling fruit. He was having a great time. The elderly woman returned, but that was only for a short while.
Not A Good Feeling
As if she snuck up on him, Raymond immediately noticed her presence. His table was in the process of being folded and he began packing for the day because he felt a little uncomfortable with her presence.
“Sorry, Ma’am. As you can see, I’m all sold out, but I’ll be back tomorrow morning with some more fresh fruit if you’d like to come back then?”
Staying Calm
In an instant, the woman's face changed. “No! I don’t want your fruits. I’m here to ask you why you’re soliciting on private property,” she replied, sounding really snarky.
This was going in a bad direction, and Raymond wasn't interested in being involved. “Ma’am, I’m just a humble guy selling some fruit. I’m not bothering anyone, okay?”
Don’t Come Back
But that’s when the woman showed her true colors. “You’re bothering me! I’ve noticed all these people in the area who weren’t here before, and it’s making me feel unsafe. It’s a good thing your fruit sold out because today was the last day you will be selling here. Don’t come back tomorrow or else!” she warned.
Raymond was taken aback by her tone of voice, and to him, it sounded like a threat.
Who Are You?
“Excuse me? Who are you? The fruit police or the alleyway security? As far as I know, this is public property, and you can’t tell me what to do,” he replied.
The woman’s face went as red as a tomato, and Raymond could see that she was fuming. He picked up his things and walked away. In the back of his mind, he knew that the trouble wasn’t over.
An Early Bird
The next morning, he was up early to go to the market to get a fresh supply of fruit for his stall. His customers depended on him, and this time, he added in some new additions that they might enjoy.
He was all about making his customers happy. He set up his table and placed the fruit on display, and in no time, he had his first few customers. But unbeknownst to him, trouble was brewing not too far away.
Sold Out
By 9 am, half of his fruit supply was already gone, and at this rate, he would be sold out by lunchtime. This pleased him. Then he could have a nice day to himself.
But then, Raymond saw her. The same woman from the day before. Lurking in the shade of an oak tree. She was walking over to him, obviously to cause trouble again, he thought to himself.
A Storm Brewing
Her eyes were dark. A storm was definitely brewing. Raymond shook his head. He knew what was coming. Just when he thought his day was going to be pleasant.
She came up to him, finger wagging in the air. “I thought I told you not to set up here again. Do you want me to call the cops on you?” Raymond just sighed. He wished she would just leave him in peace.
Leave Me In Peace
“Listen, lady. I just want to be left in peace, okay? Why won’t you leave me alone? Are you bored or something?” Raymond said mockingly. But he could see she didn’t like that.
“You better pack up because I’m this close to calling the police and reporting you for soliciting on private property,” she said angrily. But Raymond wasn’t fazed at all.
Calling The Police
When she saw that Raymond was budging, she whipped out her phone, pressed something, and put the phone to her ear. It seemed like she had the cops on speed dial or something.
“You leave me no choice, young man. I’m on the phone with them right now. It’s over for you and your little farmer’s market,” she laughed.
The Police Arrive
In less than five minutes, a police car arrived, sirens blaring. Raymond shook his head. His day had just gone from bad to worse. The woman was smirking as the police officer got out of his car.
“Officer, thank God. I need you to arrest this man immediately. He’s been selling fruit here illegally for weeks. This is private property. Go on, take out your cuffs,” she demanded.
What’s The Problem?
“Now hang on a minute here, Ma’am. What seems to be the problem? You say this man is selling fruit here? Is that all? the policeman asked. But the woman flew into a rage.
“What do you mean is that all? He is on private property! And I think the fruit he is selling is stolen!” The woman gave Raymond a smirk. He was furious now.
Nothing To Hide
He balled his fists but remained calm. The police officer approached him. “Sir, where did you get these fruits from?” he asked.
Raymond couldn’t believe he was in this position, but he had nothing to hide. “Good morning, Officer. I purchased all my fruits fresh from the farmer’s market downtown,” he calmly replied.
Liar
“He’s lying!” the woman shouted. The police officer turned around, surprised that an elderly lady shouted and screeched the way she did.
“Ma’am, please be quiet. You had your turn to speak. Please step back. Sir, do you have proof of purchase, please?” the officer asked. By now, Raymond was sweating buckets, but he wasn’t afraid.
Cool And Calm
Raymond carefully reached into his pocket and pulled something out. “Of course I do, Officer. Here is a receipt from the purchase I made this morning. I hope everything is in order?” Raymond said coolly.
He was cool, calm and collected. He had nothing to hide, and the receipt just proved it. “This looks legit. By the way, how much do those mangoes cost? They look delicious,” the officer said.
Arrest Him Now!
But as the two were discussing the fruit, the woman was busy erupting with anger beside them. “Excuse me! Are you just going to let him do this? It’s illegal! I want him arrested right now or else!” she screamed.
The policeman stepped forward now. “Or else what, Ma’am? This man had done nothing wrong. This is public property, and he is allowed to set up and sell in this alleyway. Please refrain from bothering this man, or I’ll be forced to arrest you!”
No Fear
The woman looked at the police officer now, showing no fear whatsoever. “You can’t arrest me. On what grounds would that be? I did nothing wrong,” she protested.
But the policeman was ready for her. “Are you sure, Ma’am? I have a few witnesses here that clearly heard you threatening a police officer. Those are grounds for arrest in this state,” he replied.
Standing His Ground
The tension in the alleyway escalated as the woman's face turned even redder, and her confidence began to waver. Raymond stood his ground, clutching the receipt in his hand, relieved that the police officer had taken his side.
A small crowd had gathered around the spectacle, whispering amongst themselves, and it was clear that public opinion was not on the woman's side. Some people who had bought fruit from Raymond in the past stepped forward to vouch for his legitimacy.
Backfire
Seeing that her plan was backfiring, Grandma Gertrude's anger turned into frustration. She realized she had underestimated the determination and resourcefulness of Raymond and the support he had from the community.
The police officer issued a stern warning to Grandma Gertrude about making false accusations and harassing innocent citizens. With a reluctant sigh, she backed down, her shoulders slumping as she realized she had lost this battle.
Grateful
Raymond thanked the police officer for his assistance, and the crowd around them erupted into applause. The officer advised Raymond to continue selling his fruits as long as he complied with local regulations and zoning laws.
Raymond agreed, grateful for the officer's support. He watched as his customers swarmed his table, eager to get their hands on his fresh fruit.
Defeated
As Grandma Gertrude walked away, defeated and embarrassed, Raymond couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. He knew that the drama might not be over entirely, but he had learned that standing up for himself and having the support of his community could help him weather any storm.
He had a new sense of purpose now, and he wanted to expand his stall to include other fresh produce.
More Customers
With the incident behind him, Raymond continued to run his fruit stand in the busy alleyway. Word of his determination and the quality of his fresh produce spread even further, attracting more customers each day.
He expanded his stall to include vegetables, just as he had planned, and soon enough, he was a staple in the community.
Thriving Business
As time passed, Raymond's business grew beyond his wildest dreams, and he eventually quit his day job to focus solely on providing fresh, affordable produce to the neighborhood.
The incident with Grandma Gertrude had been a turning point in his life, reminding him that in the face of adversity, he could stand his ground and triumph with the help of the people around him.