WHAT DOES KINDNESS MEAN TO YOU?
This is the second time I’ve seen someone throw money at a Keke (a tricycle used for transportation in Nigeria) rider here in Lagos. And both times, the rider, trying to hide tears in his eyes, came down to pick the money from the ground.
I don’t even want to talk about the first time I witnessed it, because it left me so hurt by what the passenger did. But let me share the second time.
As a 9–5er, I usually join my staff bus. That means I have to leave the house early, get on a Keke in time, and arrive at the bus stop a few minutes before the staff bus leaves. Because of this routine, I often see other corporate workers like me, rushing to catch their staff buses.
On this particular morning, I was lucky to spot a Keke waiting on the other side of the road. I crossed quickly and got in. Inside, there was only one lady, and she was lamenting about how late she was and how her staff bus might leave her behind.
At first, I thought it was normal until she started calling the Keke driver a wicked man simply because he stopped to pick up passengers.
I found it amusing because, girl, there were two seats left. If you really wanted him to go straight to your stop, why not just pay for the two extra seats? You could afford that.
Then her phone rang. She answered and started telling the person on the line to beg the staff bus driver to wait for her because, in her words, “the Keke driver is a demon and wants me to miss my bus.”
That was when I turned to really look at her.
Her earrings and bangles were intact.
Her makeup was flawless.
Her shirt was neatly buttoned.
Clearly, she had taken her time to get dressed and look good at home. Yet she expected this Keke driver to lose customers just to make up for her lateness.
The driver eventually stopped to pick up another woman, and the lady kept glaring at him.
When she finally got to her stop, she threw ₦200 on the ground for the driver.
I was shocked. Even the driver froze for a moment, before quietly saying, “God will judge you.” Then he came down, picked the money, and continued driving.
I was deeply hurt.
I couldn’t help but think, what if she tried this with a molue (the big public buses in Lagos)? She might even call in sick at work if things went wrong.
The truth is, as much as we can, we need to show kindness. We don’t always know what people are going through, and the least we can do is to be kind.
July 25.
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