21/10/2022
I was doing my morning.
Walkout.
In my former place in Lagos.
Last year.
When I saw this woman.
Skinny, average, and dark.
In her late 40s.
Even though her face looked familiar because I see her around but we hadn't spoken before.
She walked toward me as she tried to get my attention.
I turned.
Puzzled.
But waited for her to approach me.
And when she did.
She bowed down as she greeted.
"Good morning, sir."
I greeted back.
"Good morning. Please, don't use sir for me. I am perfectly fine without it."
She smiled.
Amidst her smile, she looked pensive and worried.
"I know you are wondering why I stopped you. I live around here, sir, and I used to see you around. I know you don't know me but I am moved to share this burden with you. I prayed about it and God told me to meet you and that you will be of help to me."
I was shocked.
That got my attention even more.
I looked at her again.
"God told you to meet me that I will be of help to you?"
She said with a forceful smile.
"Yes, sir. I know you might not believe it."
"I am just curious. Please, what could that help be?"
She clasped her hands together.
Head bowed as she stammered these words respectively.
"Sir..."
I interjected.
"Please, call me Kyrian or Chiemelie."
She nodded.
"I am sorry. I have been a widow for over five years. My husband left me behind with two kids. Both of them are in secondary school and going to new classes this term. No money for school fees. I am told that their school fees must be paid before the term resumes. School resumed today my kids are at home, and there is no money to pay their school fees. I have been praying about this since August and working and looking around yet, nothing to show for it. But a tiny voice was telling me to tell you about this burden and that you will help me. My kids' school fees and everything they need for the term is almost 120k. Please anyway, you can help me I will appreciate it, sir. Please. I just managed to pay our rent. Please, sir."
She went on her knees I pleaded with her to please stand.
I didn't know what to say to her as I have not been approached with this kind of situation before.
I do not have the resources to help her.
I was looking at her.
There were tears already clouding her eyes and it broke my heart the more.
So I said.
"What school do they attend?"
She told me.
"Where?"
She told me.
I thought about what to do, but nothing.
So I simply asked her.
"Do you mind taking me to their school now?"
She looked at me.
"But you are just coming back from a workout. You are sweaty and you are still in your workout wear."
"It's not a problem. I don't mind going now."
"Okay, sir. We will need to use a commercial bus and then a bike that will take us to the school but it's walkable from the bus stop where the bus will drop us off, but I wouldn't want to put you in that stress, sir. So we can just use a bike. It's about fifteen minutes journey from here."
I brought out my phone.
"Please give me the address of their school."
She did.
I booked a ride.
Barely five minutes the cab came and we left.
We got to the school.
After a few minutes wait for the head of school.
We were called into his office.
The woman was nervous but I tapped her on the back that everything will be okay.
I didn't know what pushed me to ask her to take me to her kids' school.
But I planned to plead with whoever is in charge to please accept half of their school fees before the terms finish the remaining half would be paid. That was why I asked her to take me there.
We got to the office.
It was a dark, unsmiling man at the desk.
In white native.
We greeted him and sat.
He said to the woman.
"Your kids didn't come to school today. The school just resumed today and I was hoping to see them."
The woman smiled sadly.
"Sir, that's because their school fees have not been paid yet."
The man nodded and turned to look at me.
He paused.
As his eyes locked on me.
"You must be one Kyrian Offor. Kyrian Chimela Offor."
I corrected him.
"Yes, sir. Kyrian Chiemelie Offor."
He clapped his hands in shock.
"Yes. You write amazing stories on Facebook. Nice to meet you in person. Wow. I started following you last year on Facebook when one of your stories was flying. About one lady who told you that she loves to act and that she wants to work with you and when you eventually linked her up with your team after she was given the lead role, she abandoned the job and told you that her boyfriend doesn't want her to act. I can't forget that story. That story made me start following you. Wow. Nice to meet you, my brother."
He couldn't believe his eyes.
I smiled as I stood up and shook his hands with all due respect.
"Thank you so much, sir. I didn't know that a man like you enjoys the little experiences I share with the world. It's an honor, sir."
The woman was shocked to realize the head of the school knows me.
He was elated to see me.
Even though I do not know him but he knows me well and welcomed me warmly.
I sat back in my seat.
He sat back.
"Is she your sister? Her children attend my school."
I said.
"No, sir, she is not my sister and I am aware her children attend this school."
I told him how the woman met me on the road this morning.
And told me how she isn't able to pay their school fees.
Even though we don't know each other but she shared her burden with me and I decided to come with her to see how I can be of help in my little way.
The man sighed.
And looked at me.
He was touched by my words.
"I always read how you help people on your page. Even the actress you wrote about who disappointed you and your team yet you didn't stop being who you are. God bless you. You don't know this woman yet you offered to come with her to see what you can do. That is noble. It's okay."
He turned to the woman.
"It's okay. Let your kids resume school tomorrow. The whole three terms will be free of charge. Do not pay anything. Everything will be provided for them. You don't know this young man who you brought here but I know him. He is a good guy because of him and what he stands for. Your kids will be studying here free of charge until they graduate. No fees. Everything they need will be taken care of."
The woman screamed and fell to her knees in tears.
Today, her children still attend that school free of charge and they are doing extremely well with their studies.
Abuja
Written by Kyrian Chiemelie Offor
