The homeless military veteran.


Clay leconey from Unsplash


It has been a year since I have been transferred to the south-south part of Nigeria from my previous company. Thank God my fiance stayed there and I moved in with him so I could just save up the money I intended in renting an apartment.

My fiance's apartment is a three-bedroom flat which he gave a room to his cousin. The other one was locked and was for any guest that comes around. I moved in and we both shared his bedroom.

Every morning when we both go for our morning exercises, there is to be a man who would sit around the pavement very close to the stinking gutter and with a smile, he would greet us. I wondered why such an old man, should assume in his fifties would be sitting all alone in such a smelling area.

His clothes were old already and I guessed that was the only clothes on him with black shoes that have almost raised their heads at the front, the shoe already had white stained like flour was being poured on them.

I looked up to ask my fiance if he had been noticing him sitting there and he stared at the man from a distance and gave me a positive nod, which means he has been there for long.

Suddenly, the old man looked up and brought a brown handkerchief to wipe off something from his eyes which made me notice he was going through a problem apart from sitting there all alone. He has been homeless since

I knew him here and he would always greet me with a smile. Said, my fiance.

Let's host him for the weekend, Babe or what do you think? You know I don't like seeing people in such a situation. Only that we do not know the good ones but don't you think we might be helping an angel? I sexily tapped his shoulder.

Let's go home first and come back. If he is still around, then it means we are meant to bring him home for the weekend.

Okay, Babe. We both went home after the exercise. I had to remind him when we got home because I know he forgets things on time and my mind has been on the man since I had the intention of hosting and giving him a home for the weekend.

We don't know what he is going through.

Later in the evening, which was still on a Friday, we both went down to the street and we met him already sleeping, lying by the gutter. I was still confused of how someone would enjoy such a place. But I remembered that there are people who have no choice but to be grateful if they have a place to rest on.

We moved to where he was and talked for a bit before he accepted to follow us. I knew he was scared. We were too, but we were only trying to help him.


Dan Gold from Unsplash

We got home and the first thing was to let him take a shower, and before he was done, I had set the table and we all ate including my fiance's cousin. I watched him as he kept rushing the meal in his front.

We allowed him to finish eating and we started asking some questions about him. That was how he started his tragic story of how he was a military man for twenty years and he had served his country his whole life.

He was a married man with two kids, and a lovely wife. He tucked his hand in his pocket to show us the only family photo he had.

He had an accident some years back which made him mentally detailed as he couldn't remember things again or even talk sensibly.

He got home one day after being given a letter to stop service but to return home for proper treatment. He met the shock of his life when he saw the house he built had been sold by his wife and ran away with the children.

He thought he would see them again or perhaps they will come back to him but after waiting for five years, he knew there was nothing to do again. He became a homeless man since he had no relatives.

Both his parents had long been dead. He had done all he could to bring back his family but no one was ready to help him.

I listened to his story which was so touching and emotional. I stared at my fiance with the look that we need to help this man.

On the second day which was on Saturday, we took him out for coffee. We visited many places as we just wanted him to be happy and feel welcomed around us. He talked about his experience on the military ground and the lessons he had learnt over the years.

As young people, we needed to learn from him as he told us many things about himself and his goals when he was a young guy.

We spent some hours and I saw my fiance showed me a chat with his friend. He already rented an apartment for him and paid three years of rent upfront but we didn't let him know until we got home.

After dinner, we gave him the news of getting a home for him. He was so excited to hear this. On the last day of the weekend, we already got him a maid to stay with him in case he needed anything. We stocked his new home with food.

My fiance promised to get a Job for him to do so he doesn't only stay at home and not do anything. He prayed and wished us well.

We only did our part of helping humanity even though it's risky but we still have to give it a try to help people in this condition.

The weekend sure, was a blessed one and we are happy learning a lot about the military and life's experience of a homeless military veteran.

This is my entry to the weekend challenge hosted by @Galenkp. Join here to participate.

Thanks for your time.

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That's a pathetic story. Things are really happening.

May the Lord bless and replenish you and your fiancé for extending a helping hand to him.

With what you guys have done, I know he will find his feets on the ground back again.

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That's a pathetic story.

LoL bud, I think the word you're looking for is empathetic😅

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You're right. I think empathetic fits in better 😊😅. Thanks so much 😊

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Hahahaha. Amen. How I wish to do this in reality. It was fictional though 🤪😆😆
Thanks for reading.

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It takes a lot of courage, love, and understanding to actually invite a stranger(or at least someone you don't really know) into your home and treat them the way you and your fiance did.

That simply just shows the kind of good people y'all are 🤍

But I remembered that there are people who have no choice but to be grateful if they have a place to rest on.

These lines touched me a lot. As I've had my fair share of being homeless at some point in my life.

Truth is, not everyone is happy in this world. It's a pain, it's a dread, and it's sad. So, if we can at least try to help out the little way we can, I think the world will b a much better place.

Regards to you and the Mr!

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These lines touched me a lot. As I've had my fair share of being homeless at some point in my life.

One thing is to be grateful no matter how little the thing we have is. Many really wanted where we are, but they don't have the opportunity.

Truth is, not everyone is happy in this world. It's a pain, it's a dread, and it's sad.

Everyone wants a happy moment but we would surely encounter bad moments too, but it's for a little while. We should be of help to those we can help and doing this, we are putting smiles on them.

Thank you so much, @zeraton 🧡

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The story of the man was really so touching, our world today has made some people really scared of rendering an helping hand even when it's so obvious that someone is in need of our help.

I'm so happy your fiance has a very good heart like you and he was also fearless as well and took the man in, God is so happy for you guys and I pray he replenish you both in thousand folds.

Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story with us, I've learned a few things from it.

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The world has made people not to help those in need because of what has happened and what is happening but we can always do what is best and hope nothing bad happens so we don't end up regretting.

Thank you so much for reading and I am glad you found some things to learn from it. Let's help people when we can.

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You're right Buzhay, we just have to keep praying we help the right people that will make us want to do more.

It's my pleasure reading through, you are welcome ❤️.

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This is more than kindness and love, it takes only one that truly fears God to help this days. but you took it upon yourself overlooking the risk and the expenses to help that man. God will reward you and your fiance abundantly

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Amen. Though, this is a fictional story since it's a challenge 😆😆
I will gladly do this if it's real because I love helping people in need and doing that for a homeless person will not be excluded. Thank you 😊

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Wow! It look so real, I was going emotional already 😁. Well done ma

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so thoughtful and kind Princess .... Among all people on the list, you chose the homeless while would like to date those handsome men..lol... a nice story about the act of kindness.

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Hahahaha..... My mind chose the homeless 😂😂😂
Just wanted to write something on being kind and giving to humanity. Lol

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You would never stop amazing me on how you seemed to be so helpful. It's a risk though cause in our world today we really don't know who is whom. People are looking for slightest opportunities to climb on someone's head based on being nice and generous. May our help not turn to a regret 💗💗💗

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Amen, my sister. Helping is good but we just don't know who the evil is. Trying to make our efforts waste.

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Military veterans deserve much more than what they currently have as they gave their all for the country.

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Exactly. They need to be more respected and not treated as if they do not exist. Thanks for showing up.

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Is it a true story? 😮 I spent a lot of time with homeless people when I was in other parts of Asia. Most of them are decent people but staying on the street so long can make it more difficult to communicate and allows dark thoughts to come into your mind. I don’t blame them but it’s also important to take some precautions. I often drank with or brought lunch boxes and ate with them but I never invited them to my home.

Actually there was one guy I was hoping to rent a place. I learned of a decent apartment for very very cheap, about 5% the price of a regular place so I wanted to offer it to him for free but he disappeared from his usual spot before I had a chance.

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Oh! This is fictional and might make it a reality but considering the fact that the world is so full of wicked ones who could make you help and waste your effort and even make you regret.

Wow! He could have been chanced to own a home. You already did your best but he is nowhere to be found. So unlucky, should I say?

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Too many have given their lives serving the people who now walk straight past them, pretending not to see them sitting in the squalor. Well written and thought out!

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That's a really amazing thing you've done. Very few people would invite a stranger into their home. Although we are all one. Children of God.

#dreemport

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Yes. We are one and that should be in us every time we want to help others.

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@princessbusayo, Real humanity is the feeling of happiness by helping even a little, to the homeless military person who has laid down his life for the country.

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You are right. If we truly want to be happy, we should help people even if it's little. Thank you so much.

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These things happen, unfortunately. And we may not find good people like the ones in this story but we can be one.

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It is great to be kind Busayo and I knew you would do this if you could:)
Popped in from you know where tonight!

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Yea. I will. This is what I enjoy doing. Helping others when it's in my capacity. Thank you so much Sir.

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Awesome, that is the way to do it and the way to be, if we were all like that, then the world would be such a better place;)

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This is so pathetic. You and your fiancee are brave ones with good hearts. The world is scary out there and we don't know the right ones to help. You all did great. This is the story of many military veterans. How would a man with a condition be dismissed like that? He should have been retired honorably, paid gratuity, and put on his pension.

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Exactly. That is life for you. We live to keep getting surprised at some things. May God help us all.

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It would be a great work to be able to help a needy person as you tell it here. Although we can do simple things, like a sincere smile, so that those people who no longer have anything, at least feel the warmth of a smile. Nice story.

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You are right. At least do something little in your own way just to make sure others feel the warmth from you. Thank you so much.

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