Joy’s eyes widened. “Tracy, how can you say that?”
“Then explain. How did you pay your fees? How are you promising hospital money? Don’t tell me, ‘God will provide,’ like a child.”
Joy swallowed hard. She wanted to tell Tracy the truth, but the old woman’s warning flashed in her mind—Don’t ever tell anybody.
So she forced herself to breathe and said, “Tracy, I’m not sleeping with anybody. Please stop talking like this.”
Tracy shook her head slowly. “If you like, lie. But I will watch you, because something is going on.”
After school, Joy walked home quietly. When she reached the house, she entered her small room and locked the door gently. She stood there for a moment, breathing slowly.
Then she brought out the white native pot and placed it on the floor.
She looked at it as if speaking to a living thing. Then she touched it three times and whispered, “Please, my dear pot, I need money.”
Immediately, money appeared inside it.
Joy’s eyes widened. She covered her mouth with her hand to stop herself from shouting. It was real. It was not a dream.
She quickly collected the money, counted what she needed, and hid the rest carefully.
Then she stepped out of the house. On the road, she met the junior student’s father coming toward her. The man looked worried and tired, like someone who had not slept.
“My daughter,” he said quickly, “my son told me you want to help us. Is it true?”
Joy nodded. “Yes, Papa. It’s true.”
The man’s eyes filled with tears. “Ah, God bless you. My son said you told him to bring us this evening.”
Joy shook her head. “No need, Papa. I couldn’t wait till evening.” She brought out the money and gave it to him. “Take this. Use it for the hospital and medicine. Please go quickly.”
The man stood as if dreaming. He looked at the money, then at Joy again in shock. “My daughter, are you sure?”
“Yes, Papa. Please go and take care of Mama.”
The man lifted his hands to the sky and started praying immediately, right there on the road.
“God of heaven, thank you. My daughter, may you go to the best university in this world and graduate with flying colors. You will marry a good husband. You will not suffer. You will not beg. Keep doing good, my daughter. God will reward you.”
Joy’s eyes softened and she smiled. “Amen, Papa. Thank you.”
Then she added, “Tomorrow morning I will pay your son’s school fees when I get to school, so they won’t send him home again.”
The man’s face shone with even more joy. “What would we have done without you? God bless you, Joy. You just saved a life.”
Joy shook her head gently. “It’s nothing, Papa. Please hurry to the hospital.”
He kept thanking her as he walked away quickly, holding the money like hope itself. Joy watched him go, and for the first time in her life, she saw clearly that her kindness could truly change someone’s story.
Two days later, trouble came to Joy’s house through the person she least expected—Tracy.
That afternoon, Joy’s aunt was outside in the compound doing chores when Tracy entered with a face that looked serious and annoyed.
“Good afternoon, Ma,” Tracy said.
“Good afternoon, Tracy. Where is Joy?”
Tracy lowered her voice immediately and moved closer as if sharing a secret. “Ma, I came because I don’t want problem. Please don’t tell Joy I told you.”
Joy’s aunt frowned. “Told her what?”
Tracy looked around, then whispered, “Ma, haven’t you heard? People are saying Joy is now sharing money in this village like a billionaire. Money for school fees, money for hospital, money for food. Everybody is talking.”
Joy’s aunt froze. “Joy… sharing money?”
Tracy nodded. “Yes, Ma. And people are saying she is sleeping with local village men. That’s where the money is coming from. She is stubborn. I don’t want them to say I’m following a bad girl. That’s why I stopped moving with her.”
Joy’s aunt’s face turned red. “So Joy has money and we are suffering in this house?”
“I don’t know, Ma. I just know what people are saying.”
Joy’s aunt started pacing angrily. “So this girl has been hiding money from me!”
Tracy lifted her hands quickly. “Ma, please. Don’t mention my name. I didn’t tell you anything. I just came as a friend.”
“Friend indeed!” her aunt barked. “Leave! Leave my compound!”
Tracy rushed out immediately.
Joy’s aunt stood there breathing hard. “So this girl has money and she is doing big woman outside. Me, I’m here struggling and she is hiding money. God will not forgive her.”
Just then Joy entered the compound, unaware that her life was about to turn upside down.
Before she could greet, her aunt rushed toward her like a lion.
“Joy! So you are now sharing money in this village like a billionaire!”
Joy stopped suddenly. “Auntie, what are you saying?”
Her aunt’s eyes were full of anger. “Don’t ask me anything. Where are you getting money from? Where? They said you are paying people’s hospital bills, paying school fees. Are you sleeping with men in this village?”
Joy’s heart jumped. “Auntie, I’m not sleeping with anybody.”
Her aunt laughed bitterly. “Then where is the money coming from? Answer me!”
Joy opened her mouth, but no words came. She remembered the old woman’s warning too clearly.
Her silence made her aunt even angrier.
“So you will be hiding money from me. You want to eat money alone while we are suffering?”
Joy held her aunt’s hands gently. “Auntie, please.”
But her aunt pushed her away. “Please what? Useless girl. You will disgrace me in this village. One day you will just disappear and bring shame. Mark my words—you will leave this house soon.”
Joy went to her room and sat down, breathing hard, her eyes full of tears. She felt trapped. She had lost Tracy. She was fighting her aunt. The village was already talking.
A week later, on a quiet evening, someone knocked on Joy’s door.
When she opened it, she saw Tracy standing there with a small smile and a bottle in her hand.
“Joy,” Tracy said softly, “I’m sorry.”
Joy’s face stayed hard.
Tracy stepped closer. “Please, my best friend. I was angry. I talk too much. I miss you. You know you are my only true friend. Forgive me.”
Joy looked at her for a long time. Tracy’s eyes were watery and her voice was sweet. She kept begging, saying nice things, reminding Joy of old times, touching Joy’s hand like she truly cared.
