My brother just arrived home that evening when he brought out mummy's package.
It was an adorable pair of tilt green shoes.
This was mum's gift after almost seven years of his seperation from us for school. He just arrived,a graduate and a pilot.
This seemed different from the numerous expensive gifts and packages he sent and we recieved in other years.
The difference was the presence i guess.
》 《
Mum put on the shoe and it wasn't her size.
Thank God it wasn't smaller than her because her feet were already too small.
Well,that was an opportunity for me to add another pair of shoe to my closet.
I was always the lucky one,mum's legs were really small so I would get all the choiciest shoes and even wore some of her shoes that were slightly bigger than her back then.
Now,I couldn't even wear her shoes except they were sandals or pip toed heels so my legs and nails coupd breathe fresh air.
》 《
Just last week,I decided to wear the shoe to work since she had kept it for a long while.
She refused to hand them over to me as usual or give them out(I wasn't expecting her to give me her gift so I wasn't bothered or sad that she didn't say anything about the shoe).
I guessed she felt bad for the plus size of the shoe.
She admired the shoe on that morning before I left the house.
》 《
On my way back frok work,I decided to trek a little more to save transport.It didn't occur to me that the sole of the shoe got detached.
I was still strolling happily.
Suddenly,it began to rain,the ground was wet.
It was then I realised my footsteps were becomimg slower the more I tried to hasten up.
I looked down and noticed the sole of the shoe detached.
Oh mum's new shoe!What would I tell her?
》 《
I took the shoe back quietly and planned to save up money to mend the shoe since I was told changing the sole would cost 1000naira.
I was with just my transport which I was trying to save so I managed the shoe back home.
I didn't know what to do and I had no choice than to keep my faith alive.
》 《
Today,I was given money to repair the shoe.
I decided to take it out in the morning on my way to work and get it on my way back home.
At work today,my friend visited and asked me to visit him at home.
I was just meeting him today for the second time.
I tried to dodge,I decided to collect the shoe first before heading home.
》 《
At the shoe vendors place he called. I got the shoe in a bag and headed for his house.
This was so unlike me,I have never trusted strangers so why today?
As I wanted to board a bus to take me to hia place,a heavy rain started.
Could this be a warning sign?
》 《
I ignored headed for his house and saw him waiting for me under the rain at the junction.
We chatted till we got home.
His house was clean although somewhat untidy.
He wasn't expecting me anyway.
I didn't blame him.
He opened his fridge and asked me to choose what i wanted for lunch
》 《
"White soup and garri" was my reply as he warmed it for me.
The white soup was nice,and it was with chicken my favorite.
We cleaned up and we left.He saud he had to deliver a package in another local governmemt this evening.
I needed to get home to make dinner so we parted ways.
》 《
As I alighted from the bus to board a triycle that will take me home,i felt light.
I had forgotten the bag with my shoe in his house.
Oh! What is this,and he said he was travelling to Abuja tomorrow for his job and would not be back till weekend.
Oh my shoe,my mum's shoe.
》 《
I began to remember all the advise mum gave me to beware from boys and face my books.
I thought about the fact that he is igbo and mum would think he jazzed or hypnotized me to get the shoe.
I wondered if to lie that I forgot it or something.
It was obvious I would be asked.
Mum saw when daddy gave me money for shoe repairs in the morning.
》 《
Just few minutes ago,I got a call to come to the junction of my house and get my shoe.
Yes he brought it,even after telling me he won't be able to give it to me till he's back next week.
He brought it despite all the inconvinience and short notice
It's something hardly any stranger will do.
He helped me avoid having to lie and panic and fret.
My dad suprisingly let me out of the house to get it although he gave me that supicious eye.
"Where to at this time ?" Was the unasked question in his eye.
I got out and received the shoe.
For a moment I felt loved.
So people can be this nice.
Just learn to be nice to strangers,you never know when you will need help.
