The Market Day That Changed Everything

It was market day in Umuahia. The sun was hot, but the market was hotter. Mama Nkechi was selling akara and pap by the roadside. She had been there since `Ezi ụtụtụ`.

By `Ezi ehihie`, she was tired. Nobody was buying. Her money for house rent was still short.

Then a young man walked past. He looked stressed. He stopped, bought 200 naira akara, and wanted to rush off.

Mama Nkechi looked at him and smiled. `Nwa m, ezi mgbede in advance o. I meela nke ọma for supporting me today. Chukwu go bless your work.`

The young man stopped. `Mama, daalu. Nobody don greet me like this today.`
He sat down. `Make I tell you. I just lost my job this morning. I no even get money for this akara, but I wan eat something before I go house.`

Mama Nkechi poured him extra pap. `Eat first. When you get, you go pay. When you no get, na blessing.`

They talked till evening. The man’s name was Chinedu. He was an engineer. While they were talking, another customer came — the owner of a new factory in town. He heard Chinedu talking about machines and hired him on the spot.

Two weeks later, Chinedu came back with a big bag of rice and money.
`Mama, na your "ezi mgbede" and "I meela" save me. You treat me like person when I felt like nothing.`

From that day, Mama Nkechi’s shop never lacked customers. People say na the blessing of one kind word dey follow her.

*Moral:* You never know which greeting will change a life. `Ezi mgbede` and `I meela nke ọma` no be small thing.

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