Day in the life of a Lagos street kid

 It was a hot, humid day in Lagos, and the streets were bustling with activity. The scent of fried plantain and spicy pepper stew filled the air, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares filled the streets. In the midst of all this activity, a young boy named Akpan was selling newspapers on the corner. He was only 10 years old, but he had been working the streets of Lagos since he was 6.

Akpan's day began at dawn, when he would make his way to the street corner with his newspapers.Each morning, he would hope and pray for a good day's sales. If he sold all his papers, he would earn enough money to buy a meal and maybe even some sweets. But if the day was slow, he would go hungry. As the sun rose higher in the sky, Akpan began to feel the heat and the fatigue of standing all day. But he knew he had to keep selling, because if he didn't, he wouldn't eat.

As the hours passed, Akpan's feet began to ache and his stomach started to growl. But still, he kept selling.Finally, just as the sun was beginning to set, a kind-looking woman approached Akpan and bought a newspaper. Akpan's heart leaped with joy. But then, to his surprise, the woman handed the newspaper back to him and said, "Keep the money, young man. I don't need the paper. You look like you need it more than I do."

Akpan couldn't believe his eyes. He had never been shown such kindness before. The woman smiled at him and walked away. Akpan felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. He knew that he would never forget the kindness of this stranger.As the sun set and the street lamps came on, Akpan felt a surge of energy. He knew that he had to pay this kindness forward. So, he decided to use the money the woman had given him to buy some food for a family who lived in a nearby shantytown. He carried the food to their home and knocked on the door. When the family opened the door, Akpan could see that they were hungry and tired. But when they saw him with the food, their faces lit up. They thanked him profusely and invited him to share a meal with them.As Akpan sat with the family, eating and talking, he felt a sense of peace and satisfaction that he had never felt before. He knew that he had made a difference in someone else's life, and that felt better than any amount of money could have. That night, Akpan went to sleep with a full stomach and a full heart. He knew that even though he was poor, he was rich in a way that money could never buy. He had learned the true meaning of kindness and generosity, and he would never forget it.As Akpan's life went on, he continued to pay forward the kindness that had been shown to him. He helped others whenever he could, and he always tried to find the good in every situation. Even when things were tough, he never gave up. And as time went on, he found that he was not the only one who was impacted by his kindness. The people he helped began to pay it forward as well, and a ripple effect of goodness spread throughout the city.