"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", is a biblical maxim I have always loved, because that's the sum total of humanity. It’s not every day that a story comes along which renews faith in humanity, it's becoming rarer and rarer.
People need to step up and do the right thing always or we continue with the present trend and watch humanity die a painful death.
It’s a chain reaction. "One good deed does lead to another and others, and so on. I often ask people what they want to spread in this world, in their lifetime? Do they want the world to be a better place for their having been in it?
I was even too young to understand it at that time, but I did it.
Miss Kathy as she was fondly called became my class teacher in primary five. She wasn’t like the other teachers, she was very pretty and soft spoken and kind, but most of all, she was displaced. She was posted from the City to the community primary school that I attended, and she was not happy about it. It was written all over her that she was out of her element, that she was finding it very difficult adapting to the lifestyle in the rural area as against all the amenities at her disposable and which she enjoyed in the City.
Sensing her discomfort, I offered my help and made myself available to run errands for her, go to the market to buy her stuffs, help her in cooking and general house chores, accompanying her on walks around the village and getting her acquainted with some historical stories of my Motherland, just as my Grandma had told me.
She soon came to rely on me and always knew I would get things done. She said I was kind and too wise for my age, I took that as a compliment and told her my Grandma taught me everything I knew.
She paid Grandma a visit one day to show her gratitude for my unwavering assistance. Grandma was happy as she encouraged me to always do the right thing, not just for 'Missi', as she referred to my teacher, but for everyone who crossed my path.
Then I got promoted to primary six, I had another teacher but our relationship waxed stronger, I respected her a lot, her intelligence, especially her fluency in English language(she spoke it like she was the author of the dictionary), and I remained her best student until I moved to the City for my secondary education.
One holiday, I returned to the village only to find that Miss Kathy had been transferred elsewhere. She had left a few personal items with my Grandma as a gift to me, but no proper goodbyes were exchanged. I was sad that I wouldn't be able to see her again and we didn't even say a proper goodbye to each other.
Life went on, and thoughts of Miss Kathy became fond but distant memories.
Six years later, I found myself standing outside the university's student affairs office, my heart pounding in my chest, ready to explode. My name was missing from the JAMB results list, and nothing seemed to make sense because all my friends had seen their scores. My future was at stake, I had studied so hard for this examination, and it had somehow vanished, like it never existed. Hysteria crept up on me, my mind racing with questions, of what to tell my family, my friends, and my teachers. No one would believe me.
With my tear-swollen eyes, I entered the student affairs office, hoping for a miracle. Inside were seated three people in a conversation, but they abruptly halted as they all turned to face me. Among them, one face stood out, one that I would recognize always, no matter how much time had passed. Miss Kathy! This was indeed a miracle!
Missi Kathy?” Her name tumbled out of my mouth, just like Grandma used to call her.
With recognition, came a smile that spread across her lovely face, her frame was fuller where she used to be slender, and in that unique voice, she cried out my name.
"Is that really you? Her voice wavered with emotion as we flew into each other's arms.
It was an emotionally charged reunion and in the cafeteria where she took me for lunch, I discovered that she was now a university lecturer. In between bites of food, she promised to reach out to JAMB headquarters on my behalf, to investigate what had gone wrong with my results. With renewed hope, I handed over my details, trusting her, as always.
We had a very healthy conversation and she asked after Grandma, I told her how she was now living in the City with my parents (she was forcefully brought to the City against her wish, she was eighty two then).
"Oh did she agree to stay?" Amused, she asked, knowing how strong-willed Grandma could be.
"She needed to be taken care of after taking care of others all her life. " I opined.
Two weeks later, the news came. There had been an error, a simple omission that had excluded my name from the Master list. My result was restored, and with it, my university admission.
On the day of my matriculation, I went into her office to show my gratitude once again.
"Miss Kathy, I don't know how to repay you for this great kindness to me?"
Her response was quiet, but it struck me deep and brought tears to my eyes.“
"You fully paid many years ago" as she patted me on the back.
Grandma's words reverberated through my being.
A seed planted in the ether would bear fruits, only after its kind.
Karma had come full circle, and in that moment, I understood the true power of kindness.
I had done it as as a child because it was the right thing to do, not because I expected anything in return.
Doing Humanity is a luxury everyone should afford.
Images generated with PicsArt.
This is my response to this prompt by CLEAN PLANET.
I am @edith-4angelseu and thank you for stopping by my neighbourhood.
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