Tears of an Orphan
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Episode 6
© Francis Mary Solomon
As Caleb wandered in the city of Lagos, he found an uncompleted building and decided to sleep there for the night. He looked around for a spot that seemed a little bit cleaner and sat down, hugging himself tightly.
He wondered what life still held for him. Tears streamed down his face as he whispered bitterly:
“Mom… Dad… why did you leave me? I’m homeless now. I don’t have anyone to turn to. Uncle abandoned me too. I’m tired. I don’t want to live anymore. How can I survive this life without you both? How can I even feed myself? How can I continue my education?
Lord, what have I done wrong to deserve this? You promised me You would make me great… but is this Your promise—hardship, loneliness, suffering, and rejection? I don’t know what I’ve done that You allowed my parents to leave me at this age. Lord, please… why?”
He cried bitterly until he became weak. Sleep slowly began to overtake him. He laid his head on his lap and curled up, trying to comfort himself as though hugging his own pain. Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching the building.
His heart skipped. Fear gripped him. Could it be people who want to harm me? He quickly crawled into a corner and tried to stay as quiet as possible. Moments later, a group of young men entered.
They were laughing loudly, shouting, and smoking. The air soon filled with thick smoke that began to choke Caleb. He wasn’t used to such smells and felt suffocated, yet he dared not move.
As their noisy chatter continued, one of them decided to step aside to another corner. That was when he spotted Caleb lying there with his head bowed across his knees.
“Chai! Wait… who be this?” the boy said, flashing his torchlight at him.
He quickly ran back to his friends and whispered, “Guyz, one small boy dey inside here oh. He dey sleep for corner.”
They all turned their attention to Caleb. The first one walked closer, tapped him on the shoulder, and said:
“Hey! Wetin you dey do here? Why you dey sleep inside uncompleted building?”
Caleb slowly raised his head. His eyes were red from crying. He was terrified.
“I… I have nowhere to go. I don’t know anybody in this city. That’s why I’m here,” he said, his voice trembling.
The boy returned to his friends and told them. They came closer, some laughing, some staring. One of them stretched out a bottle of beer toward Caleb.
“Sorry, bro. No vex. We all dey street too. We be brothers here. If you no mind, you fit join us. Take this beer make your body calm down. Later we go find something chop for you. At least e go hold you till morning. You fit even crash for our side,” he said convincingly.
Caleb shook his head quickly. “No… no, thank you. I don’t drink beer,” he replied politely.
The boys burst into laughter.
“See this guy! He say him no dey drink beer. So you wan form correct English boy abi? For street, no be Queen’s English dey help person oh,” one of them mocked, twisting his mouth.
Caleb kept quiet, too scared to argue. He didn’t know what else to say. He just looked down, wishing they would leave.
Another one waved his hand. “Guyz, leave am jare. Na small pikin. Make we no waste time for this matter.”
Finally, they left him alone. Caleb sighed deeply in relief, though fear still clung to him. Yet, he had no choice—he had nowhere else to go.
It was strange and bitter for him. He had grown up in luxury. His parents were wealthy. He had never lacked food or comfort. But now, even one square meal in a day was becoming a dream.
That night was horrible. Mosquitoes tormented him as he tried to cover himself. The more he slapped them away, the more they bit him. Frustration and hunger consumed him until at last nature took over, and he fell into deep, restless sleep.
But while he slept, a thief sneaked into the building and stole his phone. Caleb didn’t even notice.
When morning came, he reached into his pocket to check his phone, only to realize it was gone. Panic filled him. He searched everywhere but found nothing. His last hope of reaching his friends, and even returning to Port Harcourt, had been stolen.
Now completely stranded, he began wandering the streets of Lagos under the scorching sun, looking for what to do. He entered several shops, asking if they needed a sales boy, but every shop turned him away.
Weakness grew inside him. He hadn’t eaten well since the previous day. By evening, he spotted a restaurant in the distance. Hope rose in his heart. Maybe… maybe they will allow me to wash plates just to get food.
He walked in and quietly sat on a bench, thinking of how to ask. If he didn’t speak up, hunger would kill him. Gathering courage, he went inside and sat at one of the chairs.
“Good evening, welcome to our restaurant!” a cheerful waitress greeted. “We have different food delicacies that will satisfy your hunger and make you come back again. Here is our menu. Please, what would you like to eat?”
Caleb collected the menu but just stared at it, saying nothing.
“Sir, I’m talking to you,” she said impatiently. “Please, order what you want.”
He composed himself and spoke softly. “Um… good evening. Please, I want to beg for a favor.”
“What favor?” she asked, her tone already uninterested.
“Please… can I wash dishes in exchange for a plate of food? I’m very hungry. I’m starving,” he pleaded.
The waitress burst into loud laughter, shaking her head. “Ah! This place na restaurant, not charity organization. If you dey hungry, go beg outside. Here no be where you come do wash-for-food,” she mocked, twisting her waist as she walked away.
Caleb felt humiliated, but he refused to give up. He boldly went to the dishwashing area and pleaded with the ladies washing plates.
“Please… allow me wash these dishes, just for one plate of food,” he begged.
The women scoffed and insulted him. “Get away with your filthy self! Who are you? You think here na orphanage?”
As they raised their voices, the manager of the restaurant walked in.
“What’s happening here? Why are you insulting him?” she asked curiously.
Caleb quickly stepped forward. “Good evening, ma. My name is Caleb. I was only begging them to allow me wash dishes so I could eat. But they said this place is not a charity organization and called me filthy.”
He spoke with tears welling in his eyes.
Inspired by the Great Teacher.
To be continued…
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Stay blessed until we meet in the next episode.
Written by Mary Francis Solomon.