Few minutes ago, I stepped out to take a walk in my compound. I saw the security standing by the gate,arguing with someone outside. I wanted to mind my business but it seemed heated. Also, this security was a nice young lad,so I peeked through the gate to see what was happening.
I saw an old man -maybe not so old if he cleaned out nicely- shifting from one feet to the other as he spoke a language I didn’t understand. So I asked the security, “Who is he looking for?”
“Nobody ma,” the security man answered.
“So why is he there causing a scene now?”
“Nobody ma,” the security man answered.
“So why is he there causing a scene now?”
“No ma he’s not causing a scene ma. He’s my father, we just dey argue, that’s all. He will soon go, sorry ma.” Security stammered through his response.
“If he’s your father why can’t he enter now? Why’re you arguing behind the gate? Let him in,” I instructed.
“If he’s your father why can’t he enter now? Why’re you arguing behind the gate? Let him in,” I instructed.
“Ah. No ma o,he can’t enter. He trace me here since morning, he say if I don’t give him money to repair his burglary he will be sleeping at my post. He no fit sleep here ma.”
“I don’t understand. You don’t have money to give your father to repair his burglary?” I asked.
“No ma,
“I don’t understand. You don’t have money to give your father to repair his burglary?” I asked.
“No ma,
I say he should be patient till end of month. He dey live alone for Badore side, the place dey safe but...”
“Eeees not safe ma. Eees not safe where I’m living. If I get money to repair the burglary I no o come hia. Eees not safe.” The old man outside the gate cut in desperately.
“Eeees not safe ma. Eees not safe where I’m living. If I get money to repair the burglary I no o come hia. Eees not safe.” The old man outside the gate cut in desperately.
Sigh...
I found out the money to join the rusted burglary was N5,000. This man came all the way from Badore for N5,000, he was scared of sleeping in his house because he didn’t feel safe without a barrier on his windows.
A father and son were fighting publicly because of money.
I found out the money to join the rusted burglary was N5,000. This man came all the way from Badore for N5,000, he was scared of sleeping in his house because he didn’t feel safe without a barrier on his windows.
A father and son were fighting publicly because of money.
It broke my heart to see this. I was behind a secured gate, in a tightly secured estate,having taken it for granted that I’m safe,so much so I don’t give safety much thought.
And here’s someone who won’t sleep in his home because he feels unsafe and needs 5k to fix that feeling.
And here’s someone who won’t sleep in his home because he feels unsafe and needs 5k to fix that feeling.
The matter with the security man and his father has been resolved.
I write this to ask you not to live perpetually in a bubble. There’s so much that we take for granted that’s giving others sleepless nights.
Come out of your bubble sometimes, ask those awhose standard of living
I write this to ask you not to live perpetually in a bubble. There’s so much that we take for granted that’s giving others sleepless nights.
Come out of your bubble sometimes, ask those awhose standard of living
isn’t at par with yours how they’re doing. Ask them what their immediate need is/are.
I see the security guy smiling at me when he’s on duty, doing his job diligently and it never occurred to me once to ask him, “how’re you? How’s your family coping during this period?”
I see the security guy smiling at me when he’s on duty, doing his job diligently and it never occurred to me once to ask him, “how’re you? How’s your family coping during this period?”
This has been a learning curve for me. I must step out of my bubble often, just so I can remember that the world doesn’t revolve around me and my circle alone.
#DANG
#DANG
