So, while in ogbomoso. I was running a small business. I raised some money from my local laundry service.
I 'charged' as low as fifty naira per wear. Smiles.

I got a shop; moved in my laundry equipments. First month was challenging.
I needed to make more money since I now own a shop. I thought of making small chops. I learnt it in Abia state. I added pure water and drinks too.

I had more chances of introducing my laundry work to customers who came around for drinks. And it worked.
But that's not the story.

Each day I returned in the morning, I would see the front of my shop already clean.
Wonderfully swept. I kept wondering how.

'But I didn't sweep here yesterday now. Who must have?!'
It remained a mystery for long.

So that night, I forgot to pick a customer's clothe for ironing at home; since we do have 'light' more frequently. I returned.

It was past 11; and very dark. As I approached the front of my shop, I saw a guy seated.

"Could this be a mad man?!" As I kept on with the little pace in my steps as I was still wondering.

He stood up. I put up the torch to his face.
Of Course it's my shop. I wanted to challenge him.

He held bread on his right hand and 'Akara' (beans cake) on the other, as there were still some in his mouth.

He isn't a mad man. He's one of the rough guys I know from the streets. I put down the torch.

He already prepared his resting place.

I didn't say a word. I returned home.

That night, i couldn't sleep well.

"Someone will sleep in that open place; out there in the cold!
That's not home, no family, no security, no love, no companion..."

If there was anything bothering my heart before that night, I don't think I remember any.

In the morning, I got to my shop. Then he came around. He came to apologize.

"No! You don't need to"

Apparently he had been the one sweeping the front of my shop.

He wanted to leave.
I called him.

I told him, he can make himself a better person...
He can get himself a home:
Somewhere save, warm, a place he would enter at his own will with no one to question him..
I told him, he could prevent himself from unforeseen attacks, and someday get himself a wife; and make a home.

He was in tears. He asked "how?!"

Then, I asked if he could work with me.
I make small chops: donuts, chin-chin, meat pie and the likes. We will make good sales if he can take them to schools and few other places. Children will buy.
Then in the evening, he will assist me with the laundry.

I told him, I will pay him handsomely at the end of the month or better still hand him some amount then save the remaining till it's well accumulated to get him a room.

He agreed. He worked hard. We made double of the amount I used to. Truly, two heads are better. There was so much money.

Soon, we expanded our shop. He was sleeping inside one of those shops.
He did for 4 months. I've got a pregnant wife, so I couldn't take him home.

He saved for himself so much money; enough to get a room. We did get a good room.

He can never forget that day.
He remembered my words. He hugged me.

Soon, he filled his room with 'conveniences'.

It was really a turn around.

Not long, I got a job in Ibadan. A job that left me no option than to leave ogbomoso totally.

I told him, I was leaving. He wept. I did too.
I told him, i will be leaving everything for him. He worked for it. He deserved it.
The joy he felt that day was overflowing. He was more than grateful.

He has since then expanded that business more than I imagined.

He remembered me sometime ago and sent me 100k

Ogbomoso.

©️ Oluwanishola Akeju[b][/b]