He Pretended to Lose Everything—His Family Abandoned Him, But She Didn’t

Franklin, what is going on here? Why are all these people inside my compound?  I don’t know. Marcus, excuse me. This is my house. Why are you stopping me from entering my own property? And why are those people taking records of my cars? Somebody should explain what is happening here.  Mr.

 Marcos, your company is currently under investigation over alleged fraudulent activities. Fraudulent activities? What fraudulent activities? I don’t know anything about this. Sir, we cannot discuss the details here. You are required to report to our office for questioning.  Is he under arrest?  Because you have already sealed his property without explaining anything to him.

 He is not under arrest, but this is a serious investigation and his cooperation is required.  Sir, we cannot discuss the details here. You need to come with us to the office for questioning.  Franklin, I don’t understand any of this. Let’s go with them first. We will hear what they have to say.

 All right, let’s go.  Your company is under investigation. Several suspicious transactions have been traced directly to your name.  I’ve never seen these transactions. I didn’t authorize any of this. Then investigate everyone who had access to those accounts. [singing]  We are. But until we establish what happened, your identified properties remain temporarily seized.

 You mean my house, my cars, everything. For now, your company’s operations have also been suspended pending the investigation.  Then find whoever did this because it wasn’t me.  Cooperate with them, Marcus. The truth will come out.  Driver, please stop somewhere. I need the toilet. I cannot hold it anymore. Mama, please wait.

 We are almost at the bus stop.  Please, my son, I am begging you. Just stop somewhere. [singing]  Mama, we are all going somewhere. Please wait until we reach the stop.  Driver, please stop for her. Can’t you see? She’s really struggling.  Ah, mama, see what you have done to yourself and this boss. After spoiling everywhere, now everybody has to suffer because of you.

 I begged all of you. I told you I couldn’t hold it. She begged everyone here. Why are you insulting her now?  My daughter, don’t touch me. You will dirty yourself.  Mama, forget about my clothes. Come with me.  [singing]  You didn’t know me. Everybody else was ashamed of me. But you stayed.  Mama, what happened could happen to anybody. You don’t need to be ashamed.

My daughter, never lose this heart because people treat kindness as foolishness.  The good you did for a stranger today will return to you when you need it most.  Mama, I only helped you. You don’t owe me anything.  I may not owe you. But life remembers kindness.  Something will come into your life and change your story.

 When it happens, remember today.  All right, mama. I will remember. Just make sure you get home safely.  Oh god, I don’t even have enough transport money to reach the market now. Gloria is going to finish me today. [singing] [music]  Mommy, come and see. That is Uncle Marcus’ house on the news.  What happened? Why are all those officers at his house?  I knew something was not right.

 I have always wondered how Marcos became so wealthy. so quickly. Now look at what is happening. They do not investigate a company this seriously for nothing.  Mommy, they said he’s under investigation. Nobody said Uncle Marcos is guilty.  Naomi, you are still young. You don’t understand how these things work. It is Marcos.

Now me wait.  Mommy, why? [singing]  Uncle Marcus, are you okay?  I don’t even know how to answer that right now.  Everything happened so suddenly. My properties have been seized and the company has been suspended while they investigate. I cannot go home tonight. Patricia, can I stay here for a few days until I understand what is happening?  Marcos, I am sorry, but you cannot stay here.

 There is no space and I already have people coming over.  I understand, Marcos, but with this investigation everywhere on the news, I cannot involve my household.  I’ve been calling Trevor and Kelvin all day, neither of them is answering my calls.  Have you heard from either of them?  No, I haven’t heard from them. All right,  I understand.

 Uncle, wait.  It’s okay, Naomi.  Maya, where have you been? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for these things? [music]  Auntie, I’m sorry. Something happened inside the bus and I had to get down before my stop.  I sent you to the market, Maya. I did not send you outside to solve people’s problems.

 Customers have been waiting while you were walking around doing whatever you wanted. I wasn’t walking around. An elderly woman was sick inside the bus. Nobody wanted to help her. So, because one stranger had a problem, everybody here should stop walking and wait for you.  This is your problem. You behave as if you have all the time in the world.

Maybe if your mother had trained you properly, you would understand responsibility. Auntie, please don’t talk about my mother. You can insult me if you want, but leave my mother out of it. Excuse me.  Raise your voice at me again. As long as you live under my roof, you will respect me.  I didn’t disrespect you.

 I only asked you not to insult my mother.  Wipe your face. Take those plates and serve the customers. Maya, did you hear me?  Yes, auntie. Good evening, ma’am. Please, do you have anything left that I can eat?  What do you want to buy?  I don’t have money. I haven’t eaten since morning. Even leftovers would be enough.

 We don’t give free food here. You heard her. Please leave. Didn’t I tell you to leave?  Mom, she’s throwing it away. I wasn’t asking for fresh food anymore.  Throwing it away doesn’t make it yours. Leave this place.  I’m sorry for disturbing you.  Maya, finish those plates. 8:49 and I expect you home before 8:30.

 You still have to prepare our dinner, so don’t waste time.  Yes, auntie.  Sir, come back.  Your boss already said no. I don’t want to cause trouble for you.  She has gone. Sit down and eat before you collapse somewhere.  Not that rubbish. I’m not giving you food somebody already ate from. [singing and music]  Won’t this get you into trouble?  Only if my auntie finds out.

 So, please eat before she remembers something and comes back.  Why are you suddenly quiet? Is the food bad?  No. It’s the best thing that has happened to me today. Mama, though your chair is empty, your love still follows me. When the road is dark before me, I still hear you calling me home.  What song is that?  It was my mother’s favorite song.

 She used to sing it all the time when I was growing up.  Are you in school?  No, but I [music] want to be.  I want to study nursing.  I’ve been saving whatever little money I can for the application. One day I want a life that actually belongs to me.  I hope you get it.  Thank you.  What’s your name?  Maya.

 What about you?  Marcus.  Nice to meet you, Marcus. Now, finish your food. I have to leave before 8:30.  Maya, look at the time. We have been waiting here without dinner.  Auntie, I’m sorry. The rain caught me on my way home.  Go and prepare something for us to eat.  Auntie, the gas is finished.  I know. There is no money for gas.

 Use the firewood outside.  But the firewood is wet. Then find a way. We have not eaten.  Aren’t you eating? I’ll eat after both of you are settled. Auntie Maya, you said you would help me with my assignment. I’m very tired tonight. Can we do it tomorrow? Wait, come back. Bring the book. If you have two oranges and I give you two more, how many? Four.

Good. You know it. Stop being afraid of the numbers.  Euchin wipe. Auntie, who took the money from my room?  What money?  The money inside my box. I’ve been saving it for months. It is gone. Saving money from where? Are you stealing money from my restaurant and hiding it? I have never stolen from you. That money came from the small tips customers gave me personally.

 Customers met you in my restaurant. If there was no restaurant, would those customers give you anything? Any money customers give you while you are working there belongs to the business? So you took it. I was almost there, Mom. I was really trying. Mommy, what we did was wrong. Uncle Marcus has always helped us, but today we sent him away.

 Naomi, his company is being investigated for fraud. I will not bring that trouble into my house. An investigation doesn’t mean he’s guilty. And both of you hid while he stood outside asking for you.  An investigation doesn’t mean he’s guilty. And both of you hid while he stood outside asking for you. Until we know the truth,  keeping our distance is the safest thing.

 We have our own lives to protect, too.  Funny.  When he had money, none of you wanted distance from him. [music]  I just hope Uncle Marcos remembers today when all this is over. Marcos, this has gone further than I expected. Your properties are restricted and the company has been suspended. If this continues, it could destroy everything you have spent years building. Franklin, don’t worry.

 Just trust the process. I know what I’m doing.  I trust you. But that doesn’t mean I cannot worry about you.  [screaming and crying]  Marcus, are you all right?  I’m fine. You don’t always have to tell me that. I have known you long enough to know when you are not fine.  Whatever happens, if you need anything, call me.

 You don’t have to carry everything alone. I know. Thank you, Franklin. Uh-uh. My brother Marcos, you came here. But wait, what happened? Why are you looking like this? I still can’t access my properties or the company. I just need a little money to manage for now. Marcus, things are difficult for me, too.

 A busy shop doesn’t mean I have spare money. Even 10,000 naira will help me survive for a few days. [crying]  Only 10,000 naira. You were paying my children’s school fees abroad. Now I’m handling those expenses myself. I don’t have extra money.  Then let me stay at your apartment for a few days.

 I only need somewhere to sleep.  That won’t work either, Marcus. I have too much going on right now.  All right. Thank you anyway. Even [singing]  Marcus, you’re really living here. I didn’t know things had become this bad. I have somewhere to sleep. That’s enough for now.  So, you really cannot access any of your accounts? No.

 Why?  What about the money you promised me for my business? I’ve already started making arrangements.  You came here, [music] saw me living like this, and you’re still thinking about the money I promised you. I came to check on you, too. I just don’t want to lose the business opportunity. Kelvin, look at where I’m living.

I can see that. I just thought maybe one of your wealthy friends could lend you the money until everything is resolved. [music] I see.  Good morning, Marcus. You came back.  I hope I’m not disturbing you.  You survived yesterday, so I suppose you can stay. But don’t you have a job?  I had one.

 I had one. The company is under investigation and my name got connected to it. Finding another job hasn’t been easy.  A big company may reject you, but that doesn’t mean you cannot work.  Someone nearby needs his block gutter cleared. Go and ask him.  You want me to clear a gutter?  You said you need work. The gutter doesn’t care what job you had before.

 I can give you food sometimes, Marcus, but you still need your own money.  All right, show me where the gutter is. You gave me nothing.  I got paid. Take this for the food you gave me yesterday.  Keep it. I sent you there so you could have your own money.  You barely know me. Why are you helping me this much? Because being in a difficult situation doesn’t make you less human.

 My mother taught me that.  Your mother raised a good woman.  Thank you. I think she would have liked hearing that. [singing] [music]  So you’ve been giving this man my food for free? Auntie, he was hungry. I only helped him a few times.  You’re exactly like your mother. She gave everything to people who couldn’t help her and she died with nothing.

Please leave my mother out of this. Somebody has to tell you the truth before you make the same mistake she made. My mother may not have left me money, but she taught me never to watch someone suffer when I can help. I’m not ashamed of that.  I’m sorry. I didn’t know helping me would cause you this much trouble.

 It’s not really about you. Sometimes I wonder if auntie is right. My mother helped everyone, but when she needed them, nobody came. Maybe kindness wasn’t her mistake. Maybe she gave too much to the wrong people. I’m learning that lesson myself.  I still don’t want to become someone who sees a hungry person and walks away.

Then don’t change that part of yourself.  And don’t give up, Marcus. Whatever happened to you won’t last forever. Thank you, Maya. I think you have your answer now.  Yes, I have my answer.  Sasha, move those people. A wealthy customer is coming.  [crying]  until they were here first. Let them finish eating.

 [singing]  They are sharing one plate. We need our best table. [singing]  Good afternoon, sir. Your table is ready.  It isn’t for me. [music]  [music]  Marcus.  Maya, I can explain.  Then start with who you really are.  What happened between us was real. I should have told you the truth sooner.  I worried about you, Marcus.

 I trusted you because I thought you trusted me, too. [music]  My name is [music] Marcus, but I didn’t lose everything. I wanted to know who would remain if they believed I had nothing.  So, the investigation, the clothes, the apartment, you were testing me, too. [music]  No, I didn’t know you when this started. Meeting you was never part of the plan.

 I need time.  I understand. So it is true everything has been restored.  We should talk to him before he hears different stories from other people.  Marcus, we saw the news. Thank God everything has been restored.  So now you remembered where I live.  Marcus, everything looked serious. We didn’t know what was really happening.

[music]  You weren’t supposed to know.  I needed to see what would happen when everyone believed I had nothing. [music]  What are you saying? There was no real investigation. It was a test.  Patricia wouldn’t give me somewhere to sleep. Trevor couldn’t give me 10,000 naira.  Kelvin found me in an empty room and asked about business money.

 Marcus, we made a mistake. We are still your family [music]  and you will remain my family. But things will be different now. [music] I forgive you, but I will no longer measure love by how much money I give people. From now on, I will be your brother, not your bank. [music] Now my heart is yours [singing] forever.

 I know you asked for time. I only came to apologize. I should have told you the truth sooner.  I believed you, Marcus. That’s what hurts me.  I know, and I cannot undo that.  But I haven’t forgotten your dream. Let me help you get to nursing school.  I don’t want your money because you feel guilty.

 This isn’t payment for your kindness. You cannot buy what you did for me. [singing]  Let me give you the opportunity.  What you make of it will belong entirely to you. I came. [music]  You really mean that?  Completely. [singing]  Marcus really paid your school fees. Maya, this is wonderful.  Auntie, I’ll always be grateful you gave me a home after mommy died.

But I’m going to nursing school and I’m moving out before classes begin.  After everything I’ve done for you, you want to leave.  I’m not leaving because I hate you.  It’s finally time for me to live my own life.  My mother would have been proud of me. before you.  Look at you. You finally made it.  Sometimes I still can’t believe this is my life.

 Remember the elderly woman I told you about?  She said the kindness I showed a stranger would return when I needed it.  She was right.  I think it returned to both of us. I wanted to know who would care about me without my money. I never expected to find that person in a stranger. Hard times showed me why people were really around me.

 And I learned something, too. Kindness never really leaves empty-handed. Never knowing I’d find your heart. You didn’t know the life I’d [music] hidden.