28/08/2024
I've been witnessing a slim, tall lady collecting cans in a sack. She was determined to find every can, even going as far as jumping into gutters and dirty pits. I would often see her in the early morning, but had never spoken to her until last week when she approached me while I was out buying detergent which was around 10am. As she tapped me on the back, her hands stained with pods left marks on my white sleeves.
I tried brushing it off but the stains refused to leave. I was pi**ed off but seeing the girl's impoverished state prompted me to quêll my anger.
"Why are you here? I don't know you."
"Are you lost? You looking for someone?"
She dropped her sack and told me she only needed water to drink and wash her hands and legs. What she did if it was someone with ánger issues, such person wouldn't take it likely with her.
On the contrary, I only had money for the detergent, without any left to spare but I couldn't turn her away. I told her to fóllów me to one of my friends place that was close-by and pleaded with daddy to turn on his tap so the girl can make use of it.
There were four taps in total, typically requiring payment for access. However, due to my close relationship with Daddy and the bond we share, he graciously unlocked the taps from the back of the tanks without hesitation.
I opened the tanks for her and told her to make herself comfortable, she carried everything underneath it and began rinsing herself, rinsing some of the cans, she even washed her face, cleaned some parts of her gõwn with the water before turning it off.. I joined her to package all the cans back to the sack.
"Thank you sir."
"Thank you sir."
She appreciated and carried back the sack to leave with her empty legs but I halted her and began questioning her to at least know some things about her.
I started with her name and age which she answered as Sarah, that she was 26yrs old and was from ebonyi state. The way she was speaking was somehow poor and not loud, I had to listen attentively to comprehend her words.
I asked about what led to her condition and she sháred that her brother rápped her many yrs ago and threátened her not to talk, that when her parents discovered about the pregnáncy, they did not even give her the chance to explain before chasing her out with their machetes.
I asked about the child and she mentioned that the child couldn't survive the pregnáncy, that she had to move on with her life. She mentioned that she had not heard from or seen her family for years. That she left ebonyi state many years ago to hustle.
She said she sells the cans to survive. That after collecting the cans, she had a designated location where she would take them at the end of each month for sale. She explained that they usually buy it for 2,000 or sometimes 3,000 naira, depending on the availability.
She shared that she had been doing the business for years just to feed and help herself that she cannot go and stèal and get herself kîlled. That sometimes when móney wasn't enough, she'd go out in the streets to beg. That she stopped school at primary 6, not high enough to guarantee her a good job..
She said her prayer was that God should answer her, so she can open a small bakery of her own, to start selling bread, with many staffs. That it has always been her dream.
I felt emotional and sheded tears. That was someone that was supposed to be in school, doing all those things just to get 3,000 naira to feed? What can three thousand naira buy in this hard economy?'
I started questioning myself 'Why some parents would be so brutal over their own child?" I cried till I dashed her the detergent money and even took her to one particular restaurant to buy her a good meal I told her to eat to her satisfaction and went to the house to fetch my phone to initiate the transfer.
She finished eating and began smiling. She told me that she couldn't remember the last time she ate such meal. After I paid madam rice, I begged her to hire Sarah if possible she could join the other girl and be washing plates and be paying her something at the end of the month which was far better than the 3k she was earning. I emphasized that Sarah desperately needed the job but Madam rice told me it could only be possible by the beginning of next month that this month has almost ended.
However, I left Sarah with Madam rice and asked her to discard the sack as she would be hired by Madam. I instructed her to adhere to Madam's conditions and left to buy the detergent with my phone. When I passed the restaurant on Thursday, madam told me that they've both discussed that Serah will resume work at the beginning of September that they had some sort of agreement.
I just hope that Serah shouldn't run away and will also stick to whatever agreement they had.
That was the best I did for her that day.
Like I said, everybody have their own problems that they're going through in life. There are many other people in Sarah's shoes, so to speak.. Some persons don't even have money to eat, no money to buy clothes... If you find yourself in such opportunity to give a helping hand please don't hesitate. You can help someone in so many ways, it must not necessarily be móney....
You Can Shãre To Othèrs Out There.
Credit
Nicholas Stephen
