There is only one friend I have known who will not leave me no matter the situation.
Hmmm!!!
A preacher once said “when you see people who are willing to give their life for you forget all odds, swallow your pride, grasp them and don't let them go.”
We all have got friends but amongst them, there are those that are real and among the real ones there is always this one that is a genuine one.
You see that genuine friend? That's the one that will follow you into the lion's den knowing fully well that life might be lost.
I have met friends in my life but this one is different from all other ones I have met.
I met Smart during our college days when things were Smooth and Rosey.
My dad has got a good job with a nice pay that will settle bills without having to scratch your head thinking of where the money will come from.
We all were in Junior class then, Smart's father is also doing well in fact the school is a school that it's either your father is in the average class when it comes to financial status or you are on a scholarship.
Smart is from the eastern part of the country while I am from the northern part. Aside from Smart, I have 9 other friends whose fathers are even wealthier than Smart’s and my father joined together, LOL.
We all rely on each other then.
Something happened as the sound of the drum changed.
A term has finished when all students will have to go back home for holidays as it was a boarding house.
We collected our results and bid each other goodbye as our individual parents will always come pick us up when school closes. I was glad my dad came with his car to pick me up, and so are all of my other friends.
I went back home spent the holiday but then I discovered my dad doesn't leave the house as usual, I asked questions but a Dad will always be a Dad he never mentioned anything all he kept saying is “All is well my son” Even though I could see the direct opposite of that statement on his face, I knew something had gone wrong. I held to that statement and finished my holiday which lasted about 3 weeks.
It is now time to resume.
My Dad gave me a teller of my school fee as he has already paid through the bank.
I don't know how he did it since I couldn't still predict what is actually going on but then I discovered that my provision for schooling has reduced drastically.
At that point my facial expressions changed. My dad looked me in the face and that was when he opened up to me “Sorry, I am telling you this now. I have lost my Job and that means most of the things we can afford has to be cut down and it also means this might be the last term you will spend in that school as I don't think I can afford the fees from now on going, we will have to look for a school that is less in terms of payment.”
“You will have to manage whatever you get ok?”
Tears dripped from my eyes on hearing all these words, my mouth was shut as I packed my things into the car.
We finally arrived at school after a 45 mins drive of total silence.
I unpacked my luggages and made my way straight to the hostel. All the other friends were already in school. They were glad to see me. I also put on a smile trying to give the same impression they gave me but that one friend could see that it was just a mask.
“Guy, how far?” He came to my locker as I packed in my things. What's the problem? He asked and discovered some missing items in my bag.
Why did you buy just one thing of milk and chocolate each, Will it be enough? He asked.
My Dad said I should manage. That statement came with tears flowing from my eyes. He could see the pain and his mouth couldn't say a word. He only said “don't worry things will be alright” then he asked me to quickly clean my tears as one of my friends was approaching us.
Then he said, “Don't worry you can join your provision with mine. It means from now henceforth we will eat together. This he did so that others will not know how much I have brought.
My pocket money was nothing to talk about when he asked and I told him the amount. He never said a word, he only brought his money and asked me to join the money with mine. I saw an angel, not a human. The money he gave to me was almost 7 times the money I brought.
He asked me to cheer up and act like nothing ever happened . Within a short period of time I became myself again. Smart gave me life support.
And guess what Smart asked me to tell my father to pay half of the fee as he will do things within his power to complete the rest and what I will eat in school should not be a problem. I went home and resumed every term with nothing in my pocket for 2 years when we finally graduated from college.
That experience I will never forget just when I thought the schooling had ended.
My Dad got a new job appointment and that was the beginning of another thick time.
“Tough times don't last but tough people do” that's the statement of my father all through the thin times we went through even though it wasn't easy.
I almost forgot when my dad sold his car and couldn't come to pick me up anymore. Smart will ensure his father drives me to my house before they proceed to theirs which is about 25 mins drive from my house.
”When You see genuine friends please try all your best to ensure you stay with them.”
Smart is one and For the rest of life I will never forget that guy even though we are no longer in the same place as he is married with 3 kids and lives in a different part of the country now.