Helping with the Groceries

Femi walked home from school every day. He always passed the same building. One afternoon, he saw an elderly woman by the entrance. Bags of groceries sat at her feet.

She struggled to open the heavy door. Her hands were full. The bags kept sliding down her arms.

He jogged over and held the door open. "Let me help you with those," he said. The woman looked at him, surprised and grateful.

"That is very kind," she said. "My name is Verity. I live on the third floor."

Femi picked up two heavy bags. He followed Verity into the building. They walked slowly up the stairs together.

At her door, Femi set the bags down carefully. "Thank you very much," Verity said. "Do you want some tea?"

Femi checked his watch and smiled. "I have a little time," he said. He stepped inside for a quick cup of tea.

Verity told him about the building's weekend coffee morning. "We meet every Saturday in the lobby," she said. "Come next Saturday."

That Saturday, Femi walked down to the lobby. Verity waved him over to her table. She introduced him to three other neighbors.

Femi returned the next week, and the week after that. He always saved a seat next to Verity. He waved at her from across the lobby.

Weeks later, Verity introduced Femi to her whole family. They invited him to a small birthday lunch. Femi brought flowers from the corner shop.