Joy slowly collected it with both hands, still confused. “What is it for?”
The old woman stepped closer and lowered her voice as if she were giving a secret that could change a life.
“If you need anything in this life, just touch this pot three times, and whatever you need—anything at all—will be inside.”
Joy froze. She looked at the pot again, then at the old woman’s face. Her eyes were calm, serious, and strong. She did not look like someone joking.
Joy’s heart started beating fast. “Mama, how is that possible?”
The old woman sighed. “My daughter, don’t ever tell anybody about this. Keep it to yourself. If you talk, people will destroy you, and they will destroy the gift. And listen to me—make sure you keep helping people. Do good, my child. Goodness is not for noise. It is for destiny.”
Joy nodded slowly, still shocked. “Yes, Mama.”
She carried the pot carefully as if it could break her whole life if it fell. She stepped toward the door, her mind spinning, her hands even shaking. She wanted to turn back and ask questions, but the old woman’s voice stopped her like a hook.
“My daughter,” the old woman said, “you can’t walk back home.”
Joy paused and turned. “Why, Mama?”
The old woman looked serious. “It is dangerous. Wild animals are everywhere. I don’t think you know the distance we walked to reach this place. If you decide to walk back alone, it is too risky.”
Joy’s heart jumped. “So what do I do, Mama?” she asked, trying not to sound scared.
The old woman stood up slowly, came close to her, and spoke in a calm voice, as if she were giving a simple instruction.
“Close your eyes.”
Joy hesitated. Her mind was confused. Everything about that morning had already gone beyond normal. But she obeyed. She held the white pot tightly to her chest and closed her eyes.
The next thing she felt was a soft breeze passing over her face, as if the air had shifted. Her stomach turned slightly, like when someone stands up too fast. It lasted only a moment.
Then the old woman’s voice came again, gentle and clear.
“Open your eyes.”
Joy opened her eyes—and her whole body froze.
She was no longer in the old woman’s compound.
She was standing inside her own small room, the same room in her aunt’s house.
Joy’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. She looked down at her hands. The white native pot was still there.
Her knees grew weak. She sat down slowly on the mattress as if her legs could no longer carry her.
Her heart was beating like a drum. Her eyes moved around the room again and again, as if she expected the walls to change.
“No… no… how?” she whispered.
She rushed to the window and looked outside. She could see the village road. She could hear people’s voices. She could hear ordinary life. It was as if that strange place had never existed.
Joy held the pot tighter. Her breath shook.
Then she whispered again, this time with fear and shock together, “What just happened to me?”
Minutes later, Joy was still standing in the middle of her room. Her mind kept replaying everything like a film—the old woman’s weak voice, the heavy firewood, the dirty compound, the sweeping, the cooking, the white pot, and the strange moment she opened her eyes and found herself back in her room.
Suddenly, the door slammed open.
Her aunt rushed in angrily. She did not even greet her.
“Joy!” she shouted. “So you did not go to school.”
Joy blinked as if coming back to life. “Auntie—”
But the woman did not let her speak.
“What are you doing in this house this morning? Are you now seeing men?” She looked Joy up and down with disgust. “Is that why you’re standing here like this, looking confused, like someone who just came from somewhere?”
Joy’s mouth opened again. “No, Auntie, I—”
But her aunt cut her off with a loud hiss. “Shut up! Don’t you ever open your mouth to lie to me. You’re in uniform and you’re still at home. So what is it? You think you are grown now? You want to start sleeping around?”
Joy’s eyes widened in shock. “Auntie, I didn’t do anything like that.”
Her aunt laughed bitterly. “An old woman story, abi? Every day you have a story. Tomorrow it will be, ‘I helped a young man.’ Next tomorrow it will be, ‘I fell into somebody’s bed.’ Listen to me, Joy. If you like, continue. If you like, spoil your life. But don’t bring shame to my house.”
Joy’s throat tightened. “Auntie, please—”
“Please what?” her aunt barked. “If you talk too much, I will stop you from going to school completely, because I have not even paid your fees. In fact, I’m happy I didn’t. Useless girl.”
Joy stood there holding her tears while her aunt kept pouring insults on her like hot water. Inside Joy’s chest, fear and anger mixed painfully.
The next morning, Joy and Tracy were on the road to school again, but the air between them was different. Tracy walked fast and angry, her face tight. Joy followed quietly, her mind still full of everything that had happened.
Tracy did not even greet properly. She started talking immediately.
“So, you left me yesterday and followed that witch old woman. Joy, you are lucky she didn’t eat you. I thought she was going to harm you. You are very stubborn. That’s what I hate about you. You don’t listen to me as a friend.”
Joy sighed and looked at her. “Tracy, there is nothing wrong in helping people.”
“You are too soft,” Tracy snapped. “Try to be hard a little. If you are too soft, people will use you and throw you away.”
They kept walking.
Then Tracy suddenly changed the subject. “By the way, some big city boys are coming to the village tomorrow. They’re hosting a big party at night. Music, drinks, everything. All the fine girls will be there. Will you go with me?”
Joy’s eyes widened immediately. “Never. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be at home reading my books.”
“Books?” Tracy repeated with disgust. “Joy, are you serious?”
“Yes. I want to finish school. Well.”
“I’m not doing night party,” Tracy hissed. “You are really a local village girl. A village girl who doesn’t know anything about enjoyment.”
Joy replied softly but firmly, “Enjoyment is not everything, Tracy. Not everybody wants that kind of life.”
Tracy rolled her eyes and increased her speed. “Stay with your books. When you see people progressing, don’t cry.”
Joy stayed quiet, but inside she felt that familiar pain again—the pain of being mocked for being different. Still, she told herself: I will not change my heart because someone wants to shame me.
At break time in school, Tracy came to where Joy was standing near the classroom corridor.
“Joy, they didn’t call your name this morning on the assembly ground for unpaid school fees. How come? Have you paid your fees?”
Joy nodded. “Yes.”
Tracy’s mouth opened in shock. “How? Your aunt finally gave you the money?”
Joy’s eyes changed. “Tracy, please don’t insult her.”
Tracy waved her hand. “Whatever.”
Just then, a junior student passed by slowly. He looked sad.
“Good afternoon, seniors,” he greeted politely.
Joy noticed his face immediately. “Hey, why are you sad? You are always cheerful. What happened?”
The boy stopped. His eyes looked tired. “Senior Joy, my mother is sick. She has been in the hospital since yesterday, and I have not paid my school fees too. They said they will send me home tomorrow.”
Joy’s heart tightened. She did not think twice.
“Don’t worry. Tomorrow morning I will pay your school fees. And come to my house this evening. I will give you money for your mother’s hospital bills.”
The boy’s face lit up at once. “Thank you, Senior Joy. God bless you!”
He almost bowed in gratitude, then hurried away smiling for the first time.
The moment he left, Tracy stepped closer with a strange look on her face.
“Wait a minute. Joy, is there something you are not telling me?”
Joy looked away. “Nothing at all.”
Tracy narrowed her eyes. “Stop that nonsense. What do you mean nothing? You just promised somebody money. Me and you know you are poor. Where will you get money from?”
Joy’s heart beat fast, but she kept her face calm. “Tracy, I’m not poor. Don’t worry. The Lord will provide.”
Tracy laughed mockingly. “I knew it. You are sleeping with men in this village. That’s where the money is coming from. I thought I was the bad one, but you are worse. You’re doing it secretly.”
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.”
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