Helping Hand

Tony couldn’t believe his eyes, he read the notice again. This was the fourth time he skimmed through the notice on the screen of his phone, yet he was enmeshed in disbelief. He checked out other pages, to be sure that someone wasn’t pulling a prank on him. Of course the information was the first on all the University pages he opened, the contents were still the same: There was a slight adjustment in the
Post UTME Time table.

He felt the world crashing under him, his papers was supposed to be on Wednesday, but they have been moved to Monday the next week. He never planned staying in Awka longer than 2 hours after his exams, and so had planned his budget to accommodate only 2 days.

He knew nobody in Awka, and had lodged in a hotel when he got to Awka. Lodging in a hotel was a luxury he could have avoided, if he had an option, and having spent over N5k for the night, he planned on leaving the next day after his exams. He didn’t eat the previous night, because that would mean encroaching into his Transport fare, as he was told when he tried placing an order, that a plate was N600.

He was so confused, he couldn’t call his widowed mum, because he knew how she toiled and even borrowed to make sure he made the long journey from Sokoto to Awka. Calling her to break the news of a shifted time table, which implied more money, could lead her to suicide.

This was one of those days he wished his dad was still alive; he was a victim of the Boko Haram pogrom, as he was killed in one of the bomb blasts, when they still lived at Maidugiri. They lost all their investments to the pogrom, and moved to Sokoto where they joined their stingy uncle after the death of their father.

As he remembered that ugly incident, tears dropped from his eyes, but this wasn’t the best time to cry, as it wouldn’t solve any problem. He walked up to the manager of the hotel where he was lodged to plead with him, to allow him stay the remaining days, and maybe work for them as a way to pay up.

The shrewd manager looked at him, with disgust, and told him it wouldn’t be possible, advising him to leave the hotel immediately his payment expires or be forced out by the security.

Immediately, Tony fell on his knees, pleading with the manager to help him out in any way he could.

Tears don’t move Mr. Okoro, but Tony made a statement that stirred up every pity in him.

“Sir, I seriously need your help, all hands are not equal, and not even my widowed mum can help”

At this moment, he saw the sincerity in the little boy’s eyes. He wished he could help, but he was just a manager; there was little he could do, many hands would need to shift, but there was already a heated tension within the management, he felt helpless.

Mr. Okoro dipped his hands into his pockets, retrieved his wallet and counted 5 notes of 1K. He handed the money to Tony

“I am sorry, I wish I could help, but my hands are tied. Take this, look for someone you could spend the nights with. Just manage”

Tony was confused with joy, N5K wasn’t enough, but it was better than nothing, at least he has something to manage. He thanked the Manager and walked out.

Tony took his bag and walked down the road leading to the campus, he had no destination in mind, and he hoped to meet someone that could let him in. but everyone he met was already occupied. He concluded he would sleep in any of the classrooms in school if he didn’t find anyone to let him in.

He was almost close to the school gate, when suddenly a car pulled across him, the glass wound down, and a beautiful lady popped up her head and called on to him. The face was familiar, but he couldn’t point where he’ve seen it. He walked over to the car, opened the door and sat down.

The lady introduced herself as Tina, and cleared the mystery of where they had met; she was at the hotel when Tony walked out with tears in his eyes, and she had asked the manager who explained the situation to her. She had entered her car and drove down, hoping to meet him.

Tony was glad; at least she could help her. She was outrageously beautiful, with curves in the right places, and her light makeup gave her away to be in her early twenties.

She drove back to the hotel, where she booked a week’s accommodation for Tony, and paid to the last detail, including his feeding. Tony was amazed when she opted to help him carry his luggage to suite 201, he didn’t know what was going on, until they got into the room and the lady told him, he was free to stay for a week, as everything had been taken care of.

Tony was enmeshed with joy, he thought of what to say in appreciation. ‘Thanks’ wouldn’t be enough; ‘I am grateful’ wouldn’t be enough. Without crosschecking in his mind to confirm his next action, he drew the lady close as she was about opening the door, and planted a passionate kiss on her pink lips, savoring the succulent wet edges. Of course, that was enough.

The lady was dumb in surprise and shame, she was…

…To be continued

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Since the announcement of the shift in exam time table a lot of aspirants are stranded around the school like Tony, waiting for a helping hand. You can be that Manager that can offer help in the little way you can, or Tina that would take them in and solve their troubles. But please, take no advantage of their present situation, give them all the help you can and expect nothing in return, not even a peck.

Be a Helping Hand

#HelpingHand

Augustus Bill

©2015