Remembering: Blessings From Above

Leo had got a job. It wasn't something to boast about but it out food on the table and bought medicine, albeit not enough, the his ailing mom.

As usual, he was busy washing utensils on a table that looked like it would break anytime if any more pressure was applied to it but miraculously, it never did break through it was always breakdancing since he got a job there.

His employer, a fat woman, loved shouting and hurling hurtful words at her workers and Leo didn't want her to ruin his mood and that was why he was doing his best to work as fast as he could and finish this before more customers came and she realised there weren't any clean utensils to use. That always irked her and she would embark on a string of worlds that never ceased until she was out of breath.

He had lost weight and he looked malnourished but he didn't care because what would he do even if he did care anyway? All he cared about was to make sure that his brother stayed in school and his mother got the meds she needed, which were not cheap.

As he was busy washing spoons, plates, cups and scrubbing soot covered cooking pots and pans, he heard someone talk behind him, "Hello? Excuse me," he turned and he was met by the face of a smiling woman. This woman looked kind, unlike his boss. And beautiful, yes, beautiful. She reminded him of his mother before she fell sick.

"Er.. Yes? How did you get here? If my boss sees you here she will be mad," he said apprehensively as he checked to see whether the woman he called his boss could see them.

"Don't worry. She is the one who has allowed me to come in here," she said with that kind smile.

"Oh, okay," he said, relief clearly written on his face.

"How may I help you then?" He asked as he adjusted his shirt sleeve so that it wouldn't get dirty.

"My name is Pendo and I own a cafe near the university which is not very far from here. I have been here several times and I have seen how hardworking you are and I would like to have you as one of my workers. What do you say?" She asked him with the same kind smile plastered on her face.

He looked at her as if he couldn't believe what she had said and he thought that he had misheard and so, he laughed.

“You are funny. I almost thought that you are offering me a better job," he said and continued with his scrubbing.

“That's what I said. What do you say?" She said and he stopped and looked for her.

“Are you serious? Please tell me that it isn't a joke," he said.

“I wouldn't joke about something like that. What do you say? Want to work for me?” She asked and Leo felt tears of gratitude sting his eyes.

"I… I… I…"

“Just say yes."

"Yes. Sure. I really need a better job and anything would help," he said excitedly.

He couldn't believe that such a chance had come. He didn't think that he would ever get a good job but here he was. The good Lord had sent an angel when he needed it most.

"Great, when do you think you can start?" She asked with that same smile.

"How about tomorrow? I have to finish my shift here for today and get my pay. Is that okay?" He asked hopefully.

"Sure. Here is my card. Call me once you get to the gate of the university and someone will come to pick you up," still smiling, she handed him her card.

He took it with a trembling hand and smiled at her and he couldn't help being emotional.

If the cafe was near the university, he concluded that his working conditions would be better and he was grateful.

** ** **

That's how Leo started working at Café Pendo with a better pay and better working conditions.

Pendo became like a second mother to Leo and he started confiding in her since he found that he could trust her and that she was a good woman. He never questioned how he could be given two days leave every week and be paid so well. He just thought it was Pendo's kindness for a worker because he had explained to her about his mother's condition.

It was during that same time that a kind woman would moved into the building they were living in and offered to help him take care of his mother when he was at work because, according to her, she was a freelancing nurse who mostly worked from home and with rich patients who didn't really need her full time.

For the first time since things went south, Leo felt relief and he felt like things were finally looking up. He wanted to work hard so that they could move to a better house with a better room for his mother and so that he and his brother could get some privacy. He counted all as blessings from above and he prayed for much more.

It was at that time while working at Café Pendo that he met Dylan on that bench on that fateful day that saw his life take a one eighty degree turn for the better.

At first, even his mother and brother couldn't believe their luck. But as they saw their lives change for the better day after day, they knew that lady luck had shone her light on them. For the first time in months, Leo could sleep well.

If only he didn't have

any more nightmares about his father's death.