Naomi had lost her school fees on her way to  school. She had kept it carefully in her school   bag, but unknown to her, when she rushed  to meet up before the school gate closed,   she forgot to zip the bag, and somehow the money  fell out without her knowing. As she walked under   the morning sun, tears rolled down her cheeks.

She  was crying so hard that people passing by looked   at her, but no one stopped. A man sat in his small  shoemaker’s shed by the roadside. He looked up and   saw the girl crying. His heart moved with pity and  he quickly stood up. “My child, why are you crying   like this?” he asked gently. Naomi wiped her  face with the back of her hand and sniffed.

“Sir,   I’ve lost my school fees.” “I don’t know how. I’ve  searched everywhere, but I can’t find it.” The   man stepped closer. “Calm down, my daughter. Tell  me what happened.” Naomi explained. “I live with   my mother and stepfather. My mother worked as a  teacher before she lost her job.

And my stepfather   is the one feeding us. He is very strict and will  deal with me mercilessly. He gave me this money to   pay my school fees today. He told me not to come  back home without the school receipt. If I don’t,   he will deal with me and maybe even send my mother  and me out of the house. The man’s heart broke.

He didn’t have much. He was a poor shoe maker,  struggling to survive each day by polishing and   making handmade shoes by the roadside. What he  made that month was the only money he had left.   But when he looked at Naomi’s face, he didn’t  think twice. How much is the school fees? He   asked softly. “4,000 naira,” Naomi replied in  a shaky voice.

Johnson reached into his faded   trousers and brought out a small bundle of notes.  It was all he had made that month. He was saving   it for rent. Slowly, he placed it in Naomi’s  hand. Here, take it. Go and pay your school fees,   he said with a weak smile. Naomi’s eyes widened  in surprise. Sir, are you sure? Yes, my child,   he said, nodding. You remind me of my grandson  at home. Be serious in school.

Don’t follow bad   friends. One day you will be great. Naomi held the  money tightly and wiped her tears. Thank you, sir.   I promise I will make you proud. When I become  rich, I will never forget you. I will look for   you and help you, Johnson smiled and nodded.  Make sure you don’t forget my name. I won’t,   Naomi said. He placed his hand gently on her head  and whispered a prayer.

Then he returned to his   small shed, still with no food for himself,  but he was happy to help. Naomi ran toward   the school before the gate closed. She looked  back once and whispered, “God bless that man.   When Naomi got home, she looked tired but a little  calm. She had paid her school fees and had the   receipt in her school bag. Her mother was sitting  on a small bench, looking worried and stressed   as usual. Naomi greeted, “Welcome.

” Her mother  said, “Did you pay the school fees?” Naomi nodded   slowly. “Yes, Mom. I did.” Her mother stood up,  relieved. “Good. That’s one less problem. Let me   see the receipt.” She brought it out and gave it  to her. But then she looked down and said, “Mom,   I have to tell you something.” Her mother frowned.  “What is it?” Naomi swallowed hard and said,   “I lost the money on my way to school today.” Her  mother’s face changed immediately.

“What?” “You   did what?” “I lost it, Mom. I don’t know how. I  kept it in my school bag. I searched everywhere.   I cried,” Naomi explained quickly. Her mother’s  voice rose. “Naomi, how could you be so careless?   Do you know what that money means to this house?  Your stepfather will starve us again. He warned   me. He’ll say I’m useless. He may even send us  out. Naomi’s eyes filled with tears again.

I’m   sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to. I was so scared. I  thought about not coming home. Her mother turned   away, breathing heavily. But then someone helped  me, Naomi added quietly. Her mother looked at her   again. Who? Naomi smiled through her tears. A  man? He’s a shoemaker by the roadside. He saw   me crying and asked what was wrong. I told him  everything. He gave me 4,000 naira.

He said it   was his last money, but he didn’t mind. He told  me to be serious in school and not to follow bad   friends. Her mother blinked, confused. Wait, he  gave you money? Just like that? Naomi nodded. Yes,   he was kind. He said his name is Ogre Johnson. For  a moment, the room was quiet.

Then her mother sat   down slowly. “God bless that man,” she whispered.  “A stranger helped my daughter when even we had   nothing.” “Naomi, we must go and thank him. This  kind of kindness is rare.” Naomi smiled. “Yes,   Mom. I want to thank him, too. I promised him that  I won’t forget him.

When I become rich, I’ll look   for him and help him.” Her mother placed a hand  on her shoulder. And I believe you, daughter.   God will help you. While Naomi and her mother  were planning to visit Ogre Johnson to thank him,   something terrible was already happening on his  side. That morning, Johnson was sitting quietly   in his small shoemakaker shed by the roadside. He  had a few handmade slippers placed on the table.

Business was slow, but his heart was still full of  hope that he would soon find customers. Suddenly,   he heard loud noises. People were shouting. Big  trucks and men wearing uniforms were coming down   the road. One of the men held a megaphone and  shouted, “All roadside stalls and sheds must   be removed. This is government land, you were  warned.

” Before he could even pack his things,   they started pulling down his shed. His handmade  shoes and slippers, along with the ones customers   gave him to fix, scattered all over the ground.  His old umbrella was thrown aside. He begged them,   “Please wait. Let me pack my goods. But no one  listened. They pushed and broke the wooden shed   completely.

Johnson stood, his eyes filled with  tears as he watched everything he owned destroyed   in minutes. Where will I sell now? His eyes  glistened with unshed tears. How will I feed   my grandson? The women beside him were also  crying and begging, but it was too late. The   trucks had already moved to the next street.  Johnson carried his small hammer and walked   home slowly under the hot sun. His slippers were  dusty and his heart was heavy.

All he could think   about was how to tell his grandson Andrew the bad  news. But as he turned the corner to their house,   he stopped in shock. Andrew was already standing  outside crying. Their bags and few belongings were   thrown outside the gate, the land lady, a chubby  lady with a hairy face, stood there with a wicked   smile. Ogre Johnson, she said, “I told you. I  warned you.

You have not paid house rent for a   year and 6 months now. I’m tired of your excuses.  You and your grandson must leave now. Johnson’s   mouth opened, but no words came out. He rushed to  his grandson. Andrew, are you okay? Andrew nodded,   wiping his tears. Grandpa, they threw everything  outside.

I begged them to wait for you, but they   refused. Johnson turned to the landlady. Please  give me a little more time. I just lost my stall   today. I don’t even know where to go, please. But  the woman turned away. I have new tenants coming.   I don’t run charity. I have children to feed and  bills to pay. Go and sleep in the street if you   like. She walked back inside and shut the gate.  Johnson and Andrew sat beside their bags.

The sun   was going down. People passed by. Some looked,  some whispered, but nobody helped. Johnson held   his grandson close. I’m sorry, my child, he said,  his voice shaking. I tried. I really tried. Andrew   rested his head on his grandfather’s shoulder. I  know, Grandpa.

You’re the best grandfather in the   world. God will help us. Johnson looked up at the  sky. His lips moved slowly as he whispered, “God,   I don’t regret helping that little girl. If I had  to choose again, I’d still give her my last money.   I just need a miracle now.” That night they slept  outside on the cold ground beside their bags.

No   food, no roof, no light, but Johnson still held  on to hope in his heart. The next morning, Johnson   and his grandson Andrew woke up early. They hadn’t  slept well. The cold ground had made their bodies   stiff and their stomachs were empty. Johnson sat  quietly for a moment, then turned to Andrew.

“My   son,” he said, gently tapping his shoulders. We  cannot stay like this. Let’s go to the next city.   My old friend Simon lives there. Maybe he can help  us. Andrew nodded. He trusted his grandfather even   in hard times. Johnson sold their small television  set and used the money to pay for two bus tickets.

It wasn’t much, but just enough to take them to  the nearby city. They sat at the back of the old   crowded bus, holding their bags tightly. The  journey was about an hour, but it felt longer.   Johnson kept looking out the window, praying  silently in his heart. When they arrived,   they walked slowly to the street where Simon  lived.

Johnson hadn’t seen him in a long time,   but he remembered the house. He knocked on the  gate gently, hoping and praying that his friend   would still be there. A few seconds later, the  gate opened, and there stood Simon, surprised and   speechless. “Simon?” Johnson asked, looking  closely, “What? Why do you look like this?”   He gasped and opened the gate wide. Come in, my  brother. Come in quickly.

Sadness filled Johnson’s   eyes as he hugged his friend. My brother, we lost  everything. Government people demolished my shed   yesterday. Then when I got home, my landlady had  thrown us out. We slept outside with our bags last   night. He brought them inside, gave them water to  drink, and sat them down.

Just then, Simon shook   his head in amazement. Johnson, you are lucky.  You came just at the right time. My wife and   I are relocating this weekend to the new house  my son built in Abuja. I was about to give the   house key back to the landlord today so I could  collect our one-year advance rent. Johnson looked   confused. What do you mean? I mean the house is  already paid for, Simon said, smiling.

You can   stay here. Just take over the place. I will tell  the landlord to change the name on the rent. You   don’t have to pay anything yet. Johnson’s hands  flew to his mouth. Ah, Simon, you want to give me   your house just like that? Yes, Johnson. You’re my  friend and you need help.

Remember when my mother   was sick? How you sold your phone to help me with  her hospital bill back then? God must have sent   you here at the right time. Johnson fell on his  knees, tears pouring from his eyes. Thank you.   Thank you. God will bless you, my brother. He will  reward you richly. You don’t know what this means   to me and my grandson. Wait,” Simon added. I’m  not done.

I also have some small money I saved   for emergencies. You can use it to start another  shoemaking stall. It should be enough to buy the   leathers you need for a start and for Andrew’s  school fees, too. Johnson broke down. He held   his friend’s hands and said, “You don’t know what  you’ve done for me. Just yesterday, I had nothing.   Now I have a roof and a new start. God will  bless you, my brother. He will reward you richly.

You will never lack. Simon smiled softly. That’s  what friends are for. You helped me once when I   was in need. It’s my turn now. Andrew smiled for  the first time in days. Thank you, sir, he said.   I’ll study hard and make you proud. 3 days later,  Naomi reminded her mother about their plan to go   and thank the kind man who helped her. Mom, we  promised to thank him. Let’s go today.

Her mother   nodded. Yes, my daughter. Let us go. A person like  that deserves our thanks. They took a bus to the   street where Naomi had met the man. But when they  got there, they were shocked. The whole row of   small stalls and sheds by the roadside was gone.  Everything had been demolished.

The land was now   empty. Broken wood, scattered baskets, and torn  umbrellas were all that remained. It was quiet,   and there was no one around to ask questions.  Naomi’s heart sank. Mom, this is where he sat.   This is his shed. What happened? Her mother looked  around. It must be the government demolition we   heard about. They have sent all of them away.

But how do we find him now? Naomi looked left   and right, hoping to see someone who knew him, but  nobody was there. Sadly, they turned and walked   back home. As they stepped into the compound,  Naomi’s stepfather was already standing at the   door with his hands folded. “Where are both of  you coming from?” he asked sharply. Naomi’s mother   answered calmly. “We went to look for the man who  helped Naomi pay her school fees.

” “What man?” he   asked frowning. Naomi’s mother explained, “Naomi  lost her school fees. A poor shoemaker helped   her. He gave her his last money. We went to thank  him, but we couldn’t find him.” The man burst out   laughing. What a nice story.

And you expect me to  believe that you left this house since morning to   go thank a man? Are you not ashamed? Naomi stepped  forward. But it’s true, sir. He really helped me.   Shut up, he shouted. Your mother is cheating on  me with that man. That’s why she went there this   morning. Look at you both. Like mother. Like  daughter. Naomi’s mother was shocked. How can   you say that? I’m telling you the truth. He helped  your own step-daughter.

Why are you thinking like   this? Leave my house, he screamed. I’m tired of  taking care of two foolish people. Both of you are   a liability to me. You and your liar of a daughter  should just go and live with that your shoemaker   boyfriend. Before they could say anything else,  he went inside and started throwing out their   clothes and bags. Out. Out of my house. They stood  there confused, ashamed, and speechless.

Naomi’s   mother carried their bags slowly. She didn’t want  to argue. They walked down the street looking for   where to rest. Finally, they found a small store  with a bench outside and sat down. The shopkeeper,   a kind man, allowed them to rest there.

As they  sat quietly, a man dressed almost like a madman   walked up to Naomi’s mother. “Mama, you fit find  me something to buy water,” he said calmly. But   all that was left with her was just 500 naira and  she gave him 200 naira from it. “Thank you, mama,”   he said, cheering her. “Is see, I get something  for you.” He pulled out a small squeezed piece   of paper. “Take,” he said with a smile. “This is  my raffle draw ticket.

” “I want you to have it,   mama. You will become a millionaire soon.” Naomi’s  mother took the ticket and whispered to herself,   “Just like that.” She didn’t believe it, but  something inside her made her keep the ticket.   Some days later, as Naomi’s mother was on her way  back from helping women in the market fetch water   so they could earn some money to feed, she passed  by a raffle drawer shop.

Her eyes caught the sign   and she suddenly remembered the ticket the man  she had met on the street some days ago had   given her. She walked slowly into the shop just  to check the results without expecting anything.   The shop owner looked at the paper and suddenly  shouted, “Wait, Ma, this is the winning number.”   Naomi’s mother was confused. “What do you mean?”  “You’ve won.

You won the jackpot,” the man said,   jumping with excitement. “You’ve won 100 million,  Naira.” Naomi’s mother stood there frozen. She   couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “100  what? 100 million?” The shop owner repeated,   “You’re a rich woman now.” Naomi’s mother began  to shake. Her knees felt weak. She sat on the   nearest chair and held her head with both hands.  Tears began to fall from her eyes.

God, that man   is God-scent. Is this really happening to me? She  cried. Tears of shock, tears of pain, and tears   of joy. Everything had turned around in a moment.  No more hunger, no more shame, no more sleeping   outside. 15 years passed. Naomi was no longer  the little girl who once cried by the roadside   because she lost her school fees. She had grown  into a beautiful, elegant young lady.

Her steps   were confident and her heart was full of dreams.  She was now the only daughter of a billionaire.   After her mother won 100 million naira that day,  everything changed. They moved into a big house,   started a business, and from there the money kept  growing. Naomi didn’t waste the opportunity. She   worked hard, went to school, and studied business.  After university, she started her own company.

It   didn’t take long before her business became one of  the fastest growing companies in the country. She   became known for her smart ideas, humble attitude,  and kind heart. But there was something Naomi   never forgot. The man who helped her. Every year  on the same date, she would sit quietly in her   office and remember the day the man who gave her  his last money.

She searched for him many times,   but no one knew where he had gone after his shed  was demolished. Still, Naomi never gave up hope.   She kept saying to herself, “One day I will find  him. I must find him.” Meanwhile, in a small town   far away, Johnson and his grandson Andrew were  still struggling. Life hadn’t been easy. The   money his friend Simon gave them helped for some  time.

But after that, they went back to starting   over again and again. They lived in a small room  at the back of an old compound. Johnson opened   a small shoe stall by the roadside. His back achd  now and his eyes were not as sharp as before, but   he kept pushing. Andrew had grown into a handsome  young man. He was respectful, hardworking,   and full of dreams, too.

He had graduated from  the university one year ago, but job hunting was   hard. He had applied to many companies, attended  several interviews, but nothing came through. So,   he did petty jobs, sometimes helping his  grandfather in the shoe making business.   Each morning, Andrew would wear an old apron,  sit beside his grandfather, and make different   shoe designs, a skill he had learned from him.  Some days, they sold enough to eat.

Other days,   they returned home empty-handed. “Grandpa,  don’t worry,” Andrew would say. “I believe   our story will change one day.” Johnson would  smile weakly and nod. “I know, my son. God is   watching.” But inside, he worried. He wished he  could give Andrew a better life. One evening,   as the sun was going down and they were packing  their goods, Johnson sat down and said, “Andrew,   do you still remember that little girl that was  about your age?” “The one I helped so many years   ago.” Andrew smiled. “Yes, Grandpa.” “You’ve told  me that story many times. I wonder where she is

now,” Johnson said softly. “I hope she’s doing  well.” It was a bright Saturday morning. Johnson   had gone to the market to buy more leather for  a customer’s order, leaving Andrew at the stall.   He sat quietly, polishing a customer’s shoe, when  suddenly a sleek black car rolled to a stop a few   feet away. The tinted window slid down, and a  well-dressed woman stepped out gracefully.

Her   perfume lingered in the air, mixing with the smell  of leather and shoe polish. She looked elegant   in a flowing black and gold CF tan with floral  patterns and a golden inner layer, gold earrings,   and gold high heels that clicked sharply against  the rough ground.