Mrs. Ngozi and Mr. Jacob were married and blessed with four children — three girls and one boy. Their first child was Mike, followed by their second child, a girl named Sarah. The last two girls were named Mary and Gloria.
The family was happy, and everything was going well for them. Mr. Jacob worked as a motor driver, while Mrs. Ngozi owned a provision shop. They lived peacefully and worked hard to provide a good life for their children.
Life was not always easy, but Mr. Jacob and Mrs. Ngozi did their best. Every morning, Mr. Jacob would wake up before sunrise to prepare for work. He drove passengers from one part of town to another, sometimes traveling long distances just to make enough money for the family.
Mrs. Ngozi would open her provision shop early. Her shop was small but always busy. She sold rice, garri, milk, bread, soap, and other household items. Because she was kind and friendly, many customers preferred buying from her.
Mike, the firstborn, was a responsible young boy. He helped his mother in the shop after school. Sarah was very intelligent and always came first in her class. Mary and Gloria were still young, playful, and full of life.
One day, something unexpected happened.
Mr. Jacob returned home looking worried. He had been accused at work of damaging a customer's goods during transportation. The customer demanded a large amount of money — money Mr. Jacob did not have.
That night, the house was quiet. Mrs. Ngozi tried to encourage her husband.
"Don't worry," she said softly. "We will face this together."
But little did they know that this problem was only the beginning of bigger challenges ahead…
The next morning, Mr. Jacob was called to the motor park. The customer he had issues with was angry and influential. He insisted that Mr. Jacob must pay for the damaged goods immediately or lose his job.
Before the week ended, Mr. Jacob was suspended from work.
The little savings the family had quickly disappeared. Feeding four children became difficult. Mrs. Ngozi tried to manage the situation with her provision shop, but things were not easy. Some customers owed her money and refused to pay. Suppliers began demanding cash before giving her goods.
At home, the children began to notice the tension. Mike stopped asking for pocket money. Sarah quietly endured going to school without proper lunch. Mary and Gloria didn't fully understand what was happening, but they could feel the change.
One evening, something even more painful happened.
The landlord came knocking.
He reminded them that their rent had expired two months ago. If they didn't pay soon, they would have to leave the house.
That night, Mrs. Ngozi cried silently. Mr. Jacob felt ashamed and helpless. For the first time, he began to doubt himself as a father.