She covered her ears with her hands, tired of the harsh insults the gatekeeper was hurling at her.
> “You again? If you're a witch tormenting people, I swear, only a miracle can heal your victims!”
> “I told you already, madam isn't home every day you come here! Do you have no shame, or did a dog lick your conscience away? Such a stubborn little girl with those wide, shameless eyes like some sneaky stray!”
The girl slowly lifted her head and looked at him. Her eyes welled up with tears, her lips trembled, and her face transformed with pain. The gatekeeper expected a rude response—children these days don’t keep quiet when scolded. He stared intently, thinking she would walk away, but instead, she crouched beside the wall, buried her head on her knees, and began to cry—a heartbreaking sob.
A Shift in the Gatekeeper’s Heart
He watched her, guilt creeping into his chest. He was a Muslim, yet he had failed to understand the little girl who showed up at the gate every day. He never once asked her why. He had chased her like a stray dog repeatedly, yet she still came back.
Quietly, he walked toward her and crouched before her.
> “Hey, enough crying now. Look at me and tell me, why do you keep coming here every day looking for Madam?”
She looked up, face soaked with tears and snot. In between sobs, she said:
> “I heard she helps girls find work as housemaids and they get paid. That’s why I come.”
He paused, surprised.
> “Why are you looking for work? You're just a little girl. Don’t you have family?”
She shook her head.
> “No, it’s just me and my siblings. They’re very sick and in the hospital. The doctor said they need surgery. I don’t have the money, but if I can work, maybe I can save enough to help them before they die and leave me alone.”
She lowered her head again, crying harder.
An Unexpected Kindness
Now he understood her persistence.
> “Poor child... such a heavy burden on such a young soul,” he thought.
He held her hand.
> “Wipe your tears. I’ll help you talk to Madam. Come, sit on the bench.”
They sat quietly for a while. Then he gently said:
> “Calm down. Stop crying. Allah is the only true protector. Even if you have no one, Allah will never abandon His servant. Pray, and your siblings will recover.”
She smiled faintly. He poured her some hot tea he was boiling over a small stove. He had two cups he used for sharing tea. She watched curiously as he used a metal kettle. He handed her a cup, and she accepted it with both hands—she hadn’t eaten since yesterday.
He poured himself a cup too and started telling her folktales. She didn’t follow the stories but enjoyed the warm tea with sugar. After three refills, he joked:
> “Goodness! You’ve finished all my tea. If Madam gives you a job, you’ll have to pay back for this tea!”
She laughed, surprised that he joked about her being a boy, despite clearly seeing she wore a girl's clothes. Evening came, and Madam had not yet returned.
A New Connection
When it was time for the Asr prayer, the gatekeeper opened the side gate, fetched water for ablution, and led her in prayer. Afterward, they stayed on the mat—he prayed with his beads while she lost herself in thought. When it was Maghrib, they prayed again. As they finished, the sound of Madam’s car was heard.
The girl’s heart lifted—finally, she would meet Madam.
The gatekeeper quickly opened the gate. Madam drove in with her big car and parked. He closed the gate and followed, praising her as usual.
Arrival of Madam and the Girls from the Village
Madam smiled at his flattery. The girl remained seated, watching and waiting. Madam exited the car, a plump and elegant woman, dressed in blue lace with decorative stones, diamond jewelry, and subtle makeup. She looked classy and wealthy.
> “Welcome back from Mecca, Madam!” the gatekeeper greeted respectfully.
> “Thanks, Aku. Anyone came looking for me while I was gone?” she asked as she opened the car door.
> “Yes, many. But I told them you traveled. Only one kid kept coming. Today, I told them to wait.”
Madam looked toward the girl sitting on the prayer mat, then at the girls still inside the car.
> “Are you spending the night in the car?” she asked.
One girl replied loudly,
> “Madam, the car is so cozy. The cool A/C feels amazing. I don't want to get out!”
Madam shook her head and smiled.
> “Well, there’s A/C inside too.”
The five girls got out. Their clothes were mismatched and crumpled. Their makeup was overdone, with lipstick smeared and black spots drawn on their noses and foreheads. They scratched their heads restlessly. Madam often brought such girls from the village, trained them, and found them jobs—for a commission.
She turned to the gatekeeper:
> “Bring the girl inside.”
Then to the others:
> “Let’s go in. But any of you who misbehaves will go back to selling fura at the village market!”
Inside Madam’s House
They entered a lavish living room. The village girls gawked, eager to jump on the plush sofas. Madam scolded them:
> “Don’t sit on my couch! Sit on the carpet like ladies!”
They settled down. The other girl, more composed, found her own corner. Madam shouted for her maid.
> “Larai! Where are you? Is this house empty?”
Larai arrived yawning, clearly just waking up.
> “Welcome, Madam. Sorry—I took cold medicine and fell asleep.”
> “I hope you’re not addicted,” Madam teased.
> “God forbid, ma!” Larai laughed.
> “Good. Now I brought girls from the village. Is there any food?”
> “Oh no, I didn’t cook today. I didn’t know you’d return.”
> “Well, it’s my fault I didn’t tell you. Just prepare tea and indomie with bread.”
Larai nodded and went to the kitchen. Madam went to change clothes.
A Desperate Plea for Work
The girl silently prayed to God for a job to help her ailing siblings. One village girl interrupted her:
> “Hey, do you know how to turn on the TV? Put something for us to watch!”
She shook her head—though not because she didn’t know, but out of fear of making a mistake that would cost her the chance to work. They mocked her.
> “Liar! You just don’t want to help us. What a snob!”
She glared back.
> “Yes, I know. But I won’t. Don’t you have hands?”
The girls fell silent, shocked by her boldness. Just then, Madam reentered in sleepwear, holding an Infinix Hot 10 phone. The girls quickly straightened up.
She sat on a 3-seater and began to speak:
> “I’ve explained everything, right?”
The girls nodded.
> “Now I’ll teach you how to clean, cook, and maintain hygiene. You’ll need to learn everything well.”
She turned to the girl:
> “You’ve been quiet. I don’t know you. Why have you been looking for me?”
The girl hesitated, intimidated by the village girls staring at her. Madam scolded them:
> “You all just love to stare, don’t you?”
Then the girl finally spoke:
> “I heard you help girls find house jobs. Please help me too, for God’s sake.”
Madam placed a hand on her head, sighing.
> “Oh dear! If I had known that’s why you came, I would’ve sent you back home earlier. I already have girls ready for those who requested. You came too late. I’m sorry, my child.”
A Heart Crushed by Disappointment
It felt like a hammer struck her head. Her body went cold. Tears welled up in her eyes again. She had endured so much—wandering daily to Madam’s house, desperate to save her siblings. But now, it seemed like all her effort had been for nothing.
Yet she resolved firmly:
> “No matter what happens—I won’t leave without getting a job. No one gives money for free. If I don’t help my siblings, no one else will.”
Description
An Angry Encounter at the Gate
She covered her ears with her hands, tired of the harsh insults the gatekeeper was hurling at her.
> “You again? If you're a witch tormenting people, I swear, only a miracle can heal your victims!”
> “I told you already, madam isn't home every day you come here! Do you have no shame, or did a dog lick your conscience away? Such a stubborn little girl with those wide, shameless eyes like some sneaky stray!”
The girl slowly lifted her head and looked at him. Her eyes welled up with tears, her lips trembled, and her face transformed with pain. The gatekeeper expected a rude response—children these days don’t keep quiet when scolded. He stared intently, thinking she would walk away, but instead, she crouched beside the wall, buried her head on her knees, and began to cry—a heartbreaking sob.
A Shift in the Gatekeeper’s Heart
He watched her, guilt creeping into his chest. He was a Muslim, yet he had failed to understand the little girl who showed up at the gate every day. He never once asked her why. He had chased her like a stray dog repeatedly, yet she still came back.
Quietly, he walked toward her and crouched before her.
> “Hey, enough crying now. Look at me and tell me, why do you keep coming here every day looking for Madam?”
She looked up, face soaked with tears and snot. In between sobs, she said:
> “I heard she helps girls find work as housemaids and they get paid. That’s why I come.”
He paused, surprised.
> “Why are you looking for work? You're just a little girl. Don’t you have family?”
She shook her head.
> “No, it’s just me and my siblings. They’re very sick and in the hospital. The doctor said they need surgery. I don’t have the money, but if I can work, maybe I can save enough to help them before they die and leave me alone.”
She lowered her head again, crying harder.
An Unexpected Kindness
Now he understood her persistence.
> “Poor child... such a heavy burden on such a young soul,” he thought.
He held her hand.
> “Wipe your tears. I’ll help you talk to Madam. Come, sit on the bench.”
They sat quietly for a while. Then he gently said:
> “Calm down. Stop crying. Allah is the only true protector. Even if you have no one, Allah will never abandon His servant. Pray, and your siblings will recover.”
She smiled faintly. He poured her some hot tea he was boiling over a small stove. He had two cups he used for sharing tea. She watched curiously as he used a metal kettle. He handed her a cup, and she accepted it with both hands—she hadn’t eaten since yesterday.
He poured himself a cup too and started telling her folktales. She didn’t follow the stories but enjoyed the warm tea with sugar. After three refills, he joked:
> “Goodness! You’ve finished all my tea. If Madam gives you a job, you’ll have to pay back for this tea!”
She laughed, surprised that he joked about her being a boy, despite clearly seeing she wore a girl's clothes. Evening came, and Madam had not yet returned.
A New Connection
When it was time for the Asr prayer, the gatekeeper opened the side gate, fetched water for ablution, and led her in prayer. Afterward, they stayed on the mat—he prayed with his beads while she lost herself in thought. When it was Maghrib, they prayed again. As they finished, the sound of Madam’s car was heard.
The girl’s heart lifted—finally, she would meet Madam.
The gatekeeper quickly opened the gate. Madam drove in with her big car and parked. He closed the gate and followed, praising her as usual.
Arrival of Madam and the Girls from the Village
Madam smiled at his flattery. The girl remained seated, watching and waiting. Madam exited the car, a plump and elegant woman, dressed in blue lace with decorative stones, diamond jewelry, and subtle makeup. She looked classy and wealthy.
> “Welcome back from Mecca, Madam!” the gatekeeper greeted respectfully.
> “Thanks, Aku. Anyone came looking for me while I was gone?” she asked as she opened the car door.
> “Yes, many. But I told them you traveled. Only one kid kept coming. Today, I told them to wait.”
Madam looked toward the girl sitting on the prayer mat, then at the girls still inside the car.
> “Are you spending the night in the car?” she asked.
One girl replied loudly,
> “Madam, the car is so cozy. The cool A/C feels amazing. I don't want to get out!”
Madam shook her head and smiled.
> “Well, there’s A/C inside too.”
The five girls got out. Their clothes were mismatched and crumpled. Their makeup was overdone, with lipstick smeared and black spots drawn on their noses and foreheads. They scratched their heads restlessly. Madam often brought such girls from the village, trained them, and found them jobs—for a commission.
She turned to the gatekeeper:
> “Bring the girl inside.”
Then to the others:
> “Let’s go in. But any of you who misbehaves will go back to selling fura at the village market!”
Inside Madam’s House
They entered a lavish living room. The village girls gawked, eager to jump on the plush sofas. Madam scolded them:
> “Don’t sit on my couch! Sit on the carpet like ladies!”
They settled down. The other girl, more composed, found her own corner. Madam shouted for her maid.
> “Larai! Where are you? Is this house empty?”
Larai arrived yawning, clearly just waking up.
> “Welcome, Madam. Sorry—I took cold medicine and fell asleep.”
> “I hope you’re not addicted,” Madam teased.
> “God forbid, ma!” Larai laughed.
> “Good. Now I brought girls from the village. Is there any food?”
> “Oh no, I didn’t cook today. I didn’t know you’d return.”
> “Well, it’s my fault I didn’t tell you. Just prepare tea and indomie with bread.”
Larai nodded and went to the kitchen. Madam went to change clothes.
A Desperate Plea for Work
The girl silently prayed to God for a job to help her ailing siblings. One village girl interrupted her:
> “Hey, do you know how to turn on the TV? Put something for us to watch!”
She shook her head—though not because she didn’t know, but out of fear of making a mistake that would cost her the chance to work. They mocked her.
> “Liar! You just don’t want to help us. What a snob!”
She glared back.
> “Yes, I know. But I won’t. Don’t you have hands?”
The girls fell silent, shocked by her boldness. Just then, Madam reentered in sleepwear, holding an Infinix Hot 10 phone. The girls quickly straightened up.
She sat on a 3-seater and began to speak:
> “I’ve explained everything, right?”
The girls nodded.
> “Now I’ll teach you how to clean, cook, and maintain hygiene. You’ll need to learn everything well.”
She turned to the girl:
> “You’ve been quiet. I don’t know you. Why have you been looking for me?”
The girl hesitated, intimidated by the village girls staring at her. Madam scolded them:
> “You all just love to stare, don’t you?”
Then the girl finally spoke:
> “I heard you help girls find house jobs. Please help me too, for God’s sake.”
Madam placed a hand on her head, sighing.
> “Oh dear! If I had known that’s why you came, I would’ve sent you back home earlier. I already have girls ready for those who requested. You came too late. I’m sorry, my child.”
A Heart Crushed by Disappointment
It felt like a hammer struck her head. Her body went cold. Tears welled up in her eyes again. She had endured so much—wandering daily to Madam’s house, desperate to save her siblings. But now, it seemed like all her effort had been for nothing.
Yet she resolved firmly:
> “No matter what happens—I won’t leave without getting a job. No one gives money for free. If I don’t help my siblings, no one else will.”