"Excuse me sir! Excuse me sir!"
I turn back, he is standing some metres away from me, close to a pillar in the church compound. Why didn't he call me earlier when I walked past the pillar? Did he not see me pass?
"Excuse me sir". He signals that he wants to speak with me. I stop walking. I can't walk back to the pillar, he should come to me - forward ever, backward never.
He walks up to me - slowly. I feel irritated already. Bros add one more leg na.
"Sir please I want to ask you for something".
Of course, he is a beggar! His hair looks like partially weeded grass, his clothes have seen better days; he surely has come to beg for money.
"ok, ask". I reply
"Please I need a job, can you be of help?" I am suprised! He probably has not come to beg for money after all. I am still not convinced, he surely wants my money.
"What did you say?" I ask. I probably did not hear him well
"Please I need a job, any job. Can you help me?"
He picks his words, talking as slow as he walked. His set of teeth are revealed when he says "need" - he drags "need" - those teeth bear the same colour as his shirt - yellow and brown.
I appreciate his dignity; I am not totally convinced though- he will still beg for money, I am certain. I lead him to the parish office; a job in the church is an official thing, so you apply in the parish office.
The office is locked, I forgot they do not open on saturdays.
"Come on Monday" I tell him.
He thanks me and leaves. I am suprised, he did not beg for transport money. Myabe he is not a beggar.
I am still lost in astonishment when I see him coming back. I knew it! bloody beggar!. He has come for the usual- transport fare: "I stay in kafanchan, please I need 200 naira to complete my transport" or some story like that - all lies.
He is getting closer, now I am rehearsing how I will tell him that I do not have money. "ehya! Me too I'm broke. Infact I stay at kafanchan too; let's trek home together".
He is finally here, his eyes fixed on mine. I am ready to hear the 'touching story' he will tell me...
"Please sir, what time should I come on Monday"
What!?
"10am, come by 10"
I am completely stunned.
1 comment:
This is very nice
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