Clay leconey from Unsplash
It has been a year since I have been transferred to the south-south part of Nigeria from my previous company. Thank God my fiance stayed there and I moved in with him so I could just save up the money I intended in renting an apartment.
My fiance's apartment is a three-bedroom flat which he gave a room to his cousin. The other one was locked and was for any guest that comes around. I moved in and we both shared his bedroom.
Every morning when we both go for our morning exercises, there is to be a man who would sit around the pavement very close to the stinking gutter and with a smile, he would greet us. I wondered why such an old man, should assume in his fifties would be sitting all alone in such a smelling area.
His clothes were old already and I guessed that was the only clothes on him with black shoes that have almost raised their heads at the front, the shoe already had white stained like flour was being poured on them.
I looked up to ask my fiance if he had been noticing him sitting there and he stared at the man from a distance and gave me a positive nod, which means he has been there for long.
Suddenly, the old man looked up and brought a brown handkerchief to wipe off something from his eyes which made me notice he was going through a problem apart from sitting there all alone. He has been homeless since
I knew him here and he would always greet me with a smile. Said, my fiance.
Let's host him for the weekend, Babe or what do you think? You know I don't like seeing people in such a situation. Only that we do not know the good ones but don't you think we might be helping an angel? I sexily tapped his shoulder.
Let's go home first and come back. If he is still around, then it means we are meant to bring him home for the weekend.
Okay, Babe. We both went home after the exercise. I had to remind him when we got home because I know he forgets things on time and my mind has been on the man since I had the intention of hosting and giving him a home for the weekend.
We don't know what he is going through.
Later in the evening, which was still on a Friday, we both went down to the street and we met him already sleeping, lying by the gutter. I was still confused of how someone would enjoy such a place. But I remembered that there are people who have no choice but to be grateful if they have a place to rest on.
We moved to where he was and talked for a bit before he accepted to follow us. I knew he was scared. We were too, but we were only trying to help him.
We got home and the first thing was to let him take a shower, and before he was done, I had set the table and we all ate including my fiance's cousin. I watched him as he kept rushing the meal in his front.
We allowed him to finish eating and we started asking some questions about him. That was how he started his tragic story of how he was a military man for twenty years and he had served his country his whole life.
He was a married man with two kids, and a lovely wife. He tucked his hand in his pocket to show us the only family photo he had.
He had an accident some years back which made him mentally detailed as he couldn't remember things again or even talk sensibly.
He got home one day after being given a letter to stop service but to return home for proper treatment. He met the shock of his life when he saw the house he built had been sold by his wife and ran away with the children.
He thought he would see them again or perhaps they will come back to him but after waiting for five years, he knew there was nothing to do again. He became a homeless man since he had no relatives.
Both his parents had long been dead. He had done all he could to bring back his family but no one was ready to help him.
I listened to his story which was so touching and emotional. I stared at my fiance with the look that we need to help this man.
On the second day which was on Saturday, we took him out for coffee. We visited many places as we just wanted him to be happy and feel welcomed around us. He talked about his experience on the military ground and the lessons he had learnt over the years.
As young people, we needed to learn from him as he told us many things about himself and his goals when he was a young guy.
We spent some hours and I saw my fiance showed me a chat with his friend. He already rented an apartment for him and paid three years of rent upfront but we didn't let him know until we got home.
After dinner, we gave him the news of getting a home for him. He was so excited to hear this. On the last day of the weekend, we already got him a maid to stay with him in case he needed anything. We stocked his new home with food.
My fiance promised to get a Job for him to do so he doesn't only stay at home and not do anything. He prayed and wished us well.
We only did our part of helping humanity even though it's risky but we still have to give it a try to help people in this condition.
The weekend sure, was a blessed one and we are happy learning a lot about the military and life's experience of a homeless military veteran.
This is my entry to the weekend challenge hosted by @Galenkp. Join here to participate.
Thanks for your time.
