As a kid born in a middle class family, I never suffered anything too much, until I reached puberty.
It was then that my life turned upside down and from an easy going and carefree one, I become the rebellious one who tried almost every vice within my reach and soon enough, I had to reap what I sow and become a young mother to a son at the age of 19 years old and at the age of 26, I had to be a single mom who works for the both of us.
Now working as a massause in a small time business parlor, I had to deal with different kinds of customers that had my patience worn out all throughout the long time of work, until one day an old lady comes in and book a massage with me.
"Hello, Ma'am! My name is Kia and I will be your massause today." I greeted her with a polite smile.
Smiling back, the lady asks shyly "Sorry, Hija, but can I just remove my clothes here? I don't think I have the strength to take it off inside that dressing room."
Smiling, I nod and said. "Sure, Ma'am. If it's that hard, I can also assist you if you don't mind."
"Oh! I would love that, it's just too hard to move around now that I am this old." She replies with a laugh.
Smiling, I helped her undress herself, then once set, I helped her to lie down the massage table.
"Are you comfortable now, Ma'am?" I asked her as I prepare the oil that I will be using.
Nodding, she says. "I am, thank you."
Smiling, I went back back to her and soon started with her full body massage.
"Hija, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" She asks.
Continuing the massage, I muttered. "I'm 26 now, Ma'am."
"Oh wow, so good to be young." She comments with a hearty but slightly bitter laugh. "Guess you have a family of your own now." She adds.
Smiling, I casually replied. "If a family counts a single-mom, then yes, I do have a family."
Looking at me all apologetic, the old lady mumbles."I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
Giggling I said. "No offense taken, Ma'am. It's not like I am hiding it anyway."
Nodding, she says. "You must be a really brave girl, Hija. I don't think anyone could do that."
"I ain't brave, Ma'am. I just had to be strong enough to walk away from someone who doesn't see a future with me and my child." I muttered.
Nodding once more, the old lady goes silent and when I checked, I realized that she already fell asleep so I just continued the massage.
After sometime, the receptionist knocks on the door of the cubicle I am in. "Kia, is everything alright there? It's been a while since her time is up."
Smiling as I watch the Old Lady enjoying her nap, I replied. "It's fine, just charge her with the additional time."
"But what if she doesn't have money to pay the additional?" The receptionist, situated.
"Just deduct it to my pay, I just don't have the heart to disturb her sleep." I replied once more, still can't help but to smile.
Surrendering on the argument, the receptionist trudges off, while I sat there and waited for the old lady to wake up.
"Oh dear! Guess I fell asleep." The old lady states, the moment she got up.
Assisting her to sit up, I asked. "Did I do well, Ma'am?"
Nodding happily, she says. "You did great, Hija. It's been a while since I had a massage that good."
Can't help but to giggle, I replied. "You flatter me, Ma'am."
"Oh please, I'm just stating the fact." She says, before reaching for her clothes. "I'll definitely come again."
Smiling, I nod and helped her to get dressed. "Please do, Ma'am. We will be glad to have you again."
"I sure will, Hija." She says, before getting off the bed with my assistance.
Once ready, she reached for the door knob and I realized that I had to inform her about the additional time pay.
"Ma'am, I almost forgot to inform you that you will be charged for the additional time, will you be able to pay for it? Cause if not, you can just tell the Receptionist to put it on my tab." I briefly explained.
"Oh no worries, Hija. I would be paying it, all. Thank you for your hard work." It said before finally leaving the room.
Now busy cleaning my station, the receptionist then came running to me. "Kia! Kia!" She calls out my name from the door.
Got no idea to what she's about, I opened the door and asked. "What's with you? Did something happened with the Old Lady?"
Nodding urgently, she holds my hand together. "You won't believe it!" she says, keeping the suspense coming.
Rolling my eyes as I am getting annoyed, I told her. "If it isn't important, you can now go back to the front desk. I still have to clean the room."
"Fine! fine! I'll tell you! You're no fun!" She groans before pulling out a receipt and soon enough, her energy is back again, saying "The customer you had earlier isn't someone regular! That old lady was a famous businesswoman back in her days and guess what! She give you a tip!"
"A tip? How much was it?" I asked, uninterested since I know too well that it isn't some significant amount.
"$10,000!" She says in a exaggerated tone.
Shocked but keeps my calm, I had to ask again. "are you kidding me?"
"Hell no! Why would I even joke about something like that!" She defends herself and handed me the receipt. "If you don't believe yourself, then see this." She adds, handing me the check.
In disbelief, I just fell into my knees, totally weak from the surprise.
Smiling and obviously happy for me, the receptionist, says. "Go home and treat your son and yourself, you worked hard, Kia."
Can't help but to feel emotional, I just remained kneeling there thankful to the unexpected surprise and once back to myself, I figured to do what my colleague suggested and went home early to treat myself and my son.
Now home, I just ordered some food online and had it delivered to our house and there my son and I shared the feast together.
The next day, I asked for a day-off and went to the bank to withdraw the bank check and the moment I had the money on my hand, my tears just came down running again, I just feel so grateful to the Old Lady, if only I can meet her again but I figured that it will be hard.
Going home, I decided to do grocery shopping for our necessities at home and as I am done paying, the cashier told me that I just earned a raffle ticket so I filled it up and drop it before I finally went home.
The next day, I and my son just woke up into the continuous buzz from our intercom. "Who is it?" I asked, still half-asleep.
"Good morning, Ma'am! We have a package for Kia Samuels." The guy says.
"A package? But I haven't ordered anything?" I replied in confusion.
"Yes, Ma'am it isn't an order but a prize from winning in a raffle." It then added so I opened the door.
"What is it?" I asked.
Smiling the delivery guy says "It's actually quite a lot, Ma'am will you follow me so I can show you?"
Still confused but curious, I followed it and soon see the truck full of several home appliances.
"Oh God! What the hell is happening here?" I started questioning myself in the back of my mind and just told the delivery guy to put it in inside the house.
Once done, it left and I who's still at awe, just looked at the pile of home appliances on our living room.
Still not in sync, my phone rings. "Hello?" I answered.
"Kia! I've got a news for you!" The receptionist says in a hurry.
"What?" I asked, bluntly.
"Come on! can you even ask as if interested!" she groans but as I didn't said anything, she already know that I am seeing her as a non-sense so she spills the tea. "The Old lady calls here earlier, asking if you could do Home Services."
"And what did you say?" I asked again.
Giggling excitedly, she says. "of course, I said yes!"
"What?! Are you out of your mind? Are you planning to get us fired?" I scolded her.
Groaning again, she says. "Just do it, Kia! Who knows, that Old Lady would be the key for you to have a better life!"
"But what do I say to the boss?" I muttered, hesitantly.
"Don't worry about that! I got you covered!" she proudly states.
"But..." I tried to speak but she cuts me off. "I won't be accepting your but's and what it's now, Kia! Just go for it! I'll send you the details later! Bye!" It said, ending the call.