My night was short and by 5am I was already awake for our family morning devotion. As the prayer was being said I kept saying in my heart “God please help my friend Amara my new found friend and her family. Please father use me to answer their prayers and bless them”…
In no time everyone hurriedly left for their different jobs while I waited for my little cousin to get ready so that I’ll drop her off at school before joining mom at the shopping Mall. Just as my cousin got ready she came out and said “brother I’ll like to eat Akara this morning” and she smiled in a way that sent a message to me that we would have to stop by mama Amara Akara joint. It had rained heavily on that side of Lagos the night before and I was very surprised that the drainage was over filled up till that morning.
We drove to the Akara joint but didn’t find anyone there. It was very unusual not to find anyone there that morning and so out of curiosity I decided to drive to their house to find out what had happened and my little cousin decided to follow me too. I managed to find my way to their house after stopping to ask for directions.
On getting there I was so shocked to see what had happened. Their house was destroyed by the storm the night before and they were all outside crying with sympathizers everywhere. I could not believe my eyes. I shaded tears as Amara’s mom ran to me with tears and knelt down before me crying. Amara was also crying. Because they had no other hope for that day and all they had was gone.
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My little cousin quickly dropped her school bag and helped them in selecting the left over remaining things the storm didn’t carry away. I immediately thought about getting them an accommodation in a hotel, at least that was the only option at that time. So I immediately asked them to pack the few things they could lay their hands on and I drove them down to a hotel and booked a room for them.
A room that had two beds and a kitchen and a bathroom. I didn’t bother about the amount, all I was concerned was about them getting comfortable. I ordered for breakfast for them and immediately I left to the boutique with Amara and her younger brother to pick some things for them since they didn’t have any cloth to wear. Amara complained about the cost of the clothes and only picked a few clothes for her and her mom while her younger brother picked a few things for himself and his siblings.
I felt so happy and then I remembered the gift I thought about the previous night to get Amara. I stopped over at a phone plaza and got her a good phone. Amara was so dumbfounded. She didn’t know what to say. She immediately put her Sim in the new phone and for the first time in my life she hugged me. My world paused for a while. It is not as if I’ve not been hugged before but this particular hug drove me crazy. I didn’t want to let her go.
So I drove them back to the hotel room and without wasting any minute she showed everything I had bought her to her mom. Her mom with tears in her eyes said a prayer for me “my son, may the Almighty bless you abundantly for all you have done for me. May you live long.”…my little cousin sister already canceled going to school that day. It was past 11am.
She asked that she spent some time with them while I went to look for an accommodation for them because they won’t stay at the hotel forever. I remembered the house dad bought me some time ago. A duplex with a three bedroom boys quarters apartment and so with speed I drove down to see mom first to update her on the latest happenings. Besides she would be wondering why I was not yet in the shopping mall with her…
Mom was not so happy about the whole plan and everything I’ve done because according to her it was like rubbing our family’s name in the mud. My associates were supposed to be the richest of guys around and not a woman that sells Akara. She was worried that people would have seen me and soon news would start flying round.
She advised that the best she could do is allow me keep them in the hotel for a few days and that they should be capable of finding their way from there. I was shocked at mom’s reasoning and angrily I left the shopping mall. So I drove to dad’s office and my dad was even more difficult to convince… “how dare you involve yourself with such low lives and as if that isn’t enough you have the guts to think of giving them a part of the house I bought you that you’re not even living in yet…
Please get yourself out of my office and make sure I don’t get any news that you’re messing up”… I was so shocked at my dad. I stood for a minute still thinking I was dreaming. So I left and drove to my friend’s office. He is an estate manager and so I discussed about any vacant accommodation that I could get for Amara and her family.
Fortunately there was a two bedroom flat in the island that was not taken and so I hurriedly made payment for that place and we both went to see it. It was very beautiful and I was glad because I knew Amara and her mom would like it. So I drove to the hotel to tell them the good news of the new place I’ve gotten for them. They were filled with so much joy that her mom fell to the ground and started crying. It was as if she was dreaming.
They moved into their new house. Wow… Money answereth everything. I didn’t even realize I’ve spent a lot that day. But I was happy I was doing this from my heart.
As I drove away with my cousin sister she handed me a note Amara had written to me and it says “you’re heaven sent to our family. You’re so caring and God will definitely bless you… I love you”… I wiped my eyes twice to make sure I read that last sentence well. She said she loves me? Oh my God, my heart melted and I felt goosebumps all over my body. My cousin sister then looked at me and said “you know I love you too bro”…
I remembered my prayer that morning and I could say that God had indeed used me to bless Amara and her family that day.
I know this would raise a lot of dusts and eyebrows. But I think I was ready to face whatever the consequences would be. Besides I am not a kid anymore. I drove home feeling very happy as I watched my cousin sister doze off in the car after spending the day with Amara and family. The smile on her face while she slept said it all “she really had the best time of her life helping the needy”…
Hang on for the Next Episode. .
© Written by Mc Wireless