The very first time Tunde got caught climbing over the fence, he didn't even try to run or struggle with those who caught him. He just stood there looking at the faceless crowd that shone torches right at his face.
One of the men who shined a torch at him went close to him and asked him to raise his hands up, which he did. Then he was led to the city's square for everyone to see.
It was night, almost midnight, but the news had already spread like wildfire; it was that a thief had been caught.
Mama Bola was one of the first people to arrive at the scene. Immediately, she saw it was Tunde; she shouted as if she'd caught him stealing before...
"I knew it, this boy is the one stealing from all the shops around." She said screaming.
That day, he was warned since nothing was seen with him, but everyone in the village had already tagged him "thief." From then on, every ksor chicken, goat, money, fruit, and all was said to be Tunde's fault.
But then, things have changed already; people no longer want to associate with him anymore. Even his playmate and children in the neighborhood kept their distance. Including those who knew him to be a good boy and those who knew his late mother to be a very good woman... They all whispered behind his back anytime he passed.
But Tunde was less concerned; he just does his thing; he greets the elderly, even though most of them find it hard to respond to him. And people felt he's not even remorseful for all he's been doing.
Mama Bola once asked him why he keeps stealing and that one day they will catch him red-handed if he refuses to stop. Tunde just looked at her and didn't say a thing. It was the man next to her who talked...
"What did you expect him to say? To deny it or what? He's guilty; we've caught him once already." The man said.
Two weeks later, someone saw him sneaking behind the house in a very suspicious manner. Immediately, the man alerted the few houses nearby, and in no time everyone knew. In a few minutes, everyone had gathered and lurked behind a house, expecting him to come out so they could pounce on him.
A few minutes later, they saw him climbing a fence to jump over to the other side; immediately everyone rushed him.
"Catch him! Catch him!!" Was the noise that rent the air.
The shouting and all made him lose balance even before anyone got close to him; that was why he tripped and fell and a small bag slipped from his hands.
Before he could do anything or say anything, the young men there had already bounced on him.
"Please, allow me to talk; listen to me, please...." Tunde kept screaming, but no one was listening.
"Listen to me, please...." He shouted again with all his might.
"Listen to why exactly, to the things you've stolen or to the excuse you want to give us." Someone yelled at him.
"Enough!" Someone said from the crowd.
It was Baba Agba, as everyone does call him. He happens to be the oldest person not just in that village but also in the neighboring villages. And he was respected far and wide.
Everyone calmed down when they saw him as he made his way gently to the front.
"What's inside that bag." He asked quietly.
"What would it be? I'm sure it's what he went to steal from that old woman's house." Mama Bola said as she pointed at the small fence Tunde was trying to climb when they caught him.
"Stealing from old people." Someone added in the crowd.
"Anyone there to pick up that bag for me and check what's inside." Baba Agba said.
A man stepped forward, picked it up, and emptied what was in it. It consists of a loaf of bread, a bottle of locally made medicine, and some fruits.
"And what is all that for?" Baba Agba asked Tunde.
Tunde knelt down and wiped the tears off his face...
"It's for Mama Sade, the old woman staying there," he said, pointing to the house behind the fence, and then he continued, "She's been sick for a while now, and I had promised to get her something."
The crowd went silent immediately.
"I noticed everyone treats her like a castaway, and nobody wants to be associated with her. And so as not to draw unnecessary attention, I decided to come at night."
"So, why use the fence?" Someone asked.
"She has neighbors, so I can't use the gate. I just drop things at her doorstep, make a slight knock on her window to notify her, and then I leave." Tunde responded.
*"For how long have you been doing this?" The old man asked.
"It's been a while, sir." He responded.
*"And where do you get the food and money from?" Baba Agba asked again.
"Sometimes it's the proceeds from the work I do during the day, but since everyone has stopped giving me work ever since I've been tagged a thief, I do go to the market in the next village to sell some of my mom's necklaces, clothes, and dishes."
Nobody talked.
"Why exactly are you doing this...?" Baba Agba was forced to ask again.
"I just want to follow in my mother's footsteps. She always helps those in need, and that is what she taught me. So, after she died, I promised to continue. Ever since then, I've been dropping raw foods and medicine at the doorstep of those I see are in need during the day. Mama Sade had caught me once dropping something at her doorstep; that's why......"
He couldn't talk again as he burst out crying.
"I don't want anyone to know; I want to remain anonymous. That's why I do it at night and go through the fence. I've done that in almost every old person's house in this village." He added.
"I've seen it once, but I felt it's from my neighbors." Baba Agba said. "But I thanked my neighbor the following day, and she responded." He added.
Mama Bola couldn't say a thing; she just covered her mouth with both hands. Shame was written all over her face, including the faces of others.
Baba Agba moved closer to Tunde and placed his hand on him.
"My son, I'm sorry; we are sorry. We judged you before we heard from you."
The following day everyone was seen doing one thing or the other for the widows, the aged, and the helpless. Tunde, who was once tagged a thief, had reminded them what kindness looked like.
Sometimes, suspicions do not uncover a truth; sometimes they bury it.
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