Tears Of An African Child

EPISODE 3

On this fateful day i went back to school, i was doing several menial jobs to keep soul and body together. I went out with some of my friends, after a little walk a vehicle screeched to a stop just a stone throw ahead of us, we all stopped and wanted to run away because we were afraid of being kidn*pped, which was already a norm in modern day Nigeria, a young man in his early thirties came out and called my name, i was filled with joy that brother James could recognize me.

James was a a close family friend, he usually comes to my biological mum to beg for small money and other things. He was also our neighbor, i loved him cos he was always jovial and would spend time playing with me anytime he was less busy, he called me and i ran to him, gave him a hug, he asked what i was doing here, i told him i was a student and we were just taking a work, he asked me to enter his SUV, i entered then waved goodbye to my friends he took me to an eatery and i ate to my satisfaction, that was where i told him all that has been happening to me, from the death of my mum, to the time i went to live with my adoptive parents and up till the time my adoptive father's shop got burnt and how we have been managing to survive, the menial jobs i do to survive in school, he felt pity for me and told me he will help me but that i need to be brave and strong to be able to do the jobs he has for me.

I told him i was already a strong boy and would do anything to make sure i have a better life and finish my education, he said OK, gave me his card and told me to visit him any day i feel like, but that before i start coming that i should call him to notify him i was coming to his house, i felt relieved at least a helper is on the way, i took the card and put it in my wallet, i thanked him and got up to leave, he asked me to wait for him besides his car, he paid the waiter and we went out, he got into his car brought out a bundle of 500 naira notes and handed it over to me, i felt like i was dreaming, he asked me to use the money for whatever i need that whenever i needed help that i should call him little did i know that i just dined with the devil and i just dug my own grave.