After reading a few entry posts of fellow contestants, it then occurred to me an encounter I experienced in my early teens
Truthfully, then I didn't even know what I did could be regarded as kindness. However, thinking about it now, I reckon that it should be.
It happened when I was precisely 15 years old. I didn't even know about her issues until we became close.
Since we were neighbours and she sold provisions at the front of her house, I usually patronised her whenever I was sent on errands to get one or two things, that's how we became familiar with each other.
One fateful day, when I went to get something, on reaching her shop, it was open as usual but she wasn't there. After knocking for so long, no one responded and just when I was about to leave, her husband came through the entrance. His appearance tells that of an angry man. I couldn't even greet him, not that he even noticed me. He entered his car and drove off.
I just presume that they probably had a little argument and decided to take my leave. Before I counted two steps, the woman came out and stood by her doorstep. It was obvious that she didn't plan on coming out at all, she called me by my name tried putting up a smile and pleaded I come back later.
Oh right, her appearance was terrible but I couldn't question her either. I just put on a warm smile and walked out. It was months later that I knew the full story. At that time she was pregnant with her third child, and as a regular customer, I met her at her shop crying. I felt so sad seeing her that way. She didn't notice my presence until I casually made noise with my slippers and when I saw others behind me who also wanted to get something, I sold it to them.
That was how our relationship grew closer, I didn't question her knowing fully well that she was having issues with her marriage and just took care of her children and helped her to sell and would only leave towards evening.
It became a routine for me, not that I minded the additional workload, as long as I could see her in a happy mood was my main motive. After a while she gave birth but I wasn't around at that time.
The moment I came back, I rushed over to visit her and meet my new baby. On getting there, I met her bathing the child and guiding the other ones to have their bath all at the same time.
For starters, I was shocked. From the little I knew then, she wasn't supposed to stress herself and should have people around like her mom or a nanny who would help. I couldn't voice these thoughts other than just to assist her. When all was settled, I stylishly asked her about her mom or sister.
It was at that moment I knew all about what had been going on. How she found out about her husband’s mistress who went as far as renting an apartment for her in a different state and even paid her pride price, and how he also restricted her from reaching out to any of her relations which was the reason no one was present after she birthed her child.
Things were already not too good in my home and listening to a higher version of wickedness tempered me mentally. However, I was happy that I could be there for her during one of her challenging moments. We've lost contact for so long and I don't know how she's fairing presently but I guess I could count this as a good deed that I was privileged to offer at that time.