Recently I boarded a trotro - I was on my to meet a friend for story hunting. My friend and I, we talked a lot about the importance of searching for inspiration. You know, It’s one thing sitting and working for it and it’s another taking the trotro to some unknown place or known; place not really searching but allowing your mind to have new experiences whiles it works on clearing out the fogginess of your previous ideas or thoughts.

There was trotro salesman on the trotro I boarded. Now this guy, who looked middle aged, 40 or so years, had a smooth and strong voice. Seated facing the passengers in this bus. He started by saying: “You are all healed of your diseases today. Amen?” And some people in the bus replied, Amen.

My heart sinks , when I see anyone with any disease. You don’t deserve it. No one deserves to be sick, he continued. I make sure when I come into these buses, I don’t talk too much and cut straight to business. You know everyone was born with a gift and my gift is healing and caring for sick people.

You see , I sell medicine, not because I want to make money. Money is nothing. I sell medicine because I want to see people happy. Why should anyone be sick. Your haters can only mock you when you are sick. Sickness is a terrible thing.

And that is why I am here today. Talking about diseases I have cured. Let’s not go too far- I have just left the house of three people who have a stroke. They have spent thousands of GhanaCedis on doctors practicing something called orthodox medicine. Orthodox my foot. Any medicine that comes with a side effect is not medicine is just another disease being sold to you. Today, I just gave them a massage and what they couldn’t do before they started doing… and I gave this massage with a special medicine.

And I am here today to sell this medicine…

He went on and on and on… selling his credibitlity.

He then brought out a soap for shaving, for clearing pimpled face, and for curing rashes. After, he went on to talk about worms and how he is a worm specialist and then brought out dewormers for children and adults. When people showed disinterest in the dewormers, he brought out from his bag horrifying pictures of school children who had died of worm infestation and young men who had fainted only for doctors to find out it was worms.

Everyone on the bus, even me, bought dewormers that day…

Now that’s a typical Trotro salesman.

It’s always a great a experience for me to meet experienced trotro salesmen or preachers when I board a trotro. They show you all you need to know about selling.