Keshia Johnson

 I met Keshia Johnson in Tannersville; Pennsylvania. She was the CEO/Manager of an ever-growing and reputable children’s daycare, and she also ran verification for some higher authorities.

 

From her job description; you would know that she had nobody’s time; not even me. The day I walked into her office, it took her about 45 minutes of moving from one place to another, to actually sit down and talk with me.

 

“I can’t employ you” she said; “you’ll be leaving for your country in a few weeks time, so there won’t be any need to train you for the job which I do.

 

Every other person would have gotten up to leave; but I sat, staring at her directly in the eyes; and then I spoke;

 

“I’m willing to do any other thing for you aside working in your organization. I’m ready to work”

 

“Do you have the strength to work?” She asked; an indication that I was in for something tasking.

I nodded affirmatively, and that’s how I started working for Keshia.

 

I never knew how hard I worked until she asked me one day; if I had parents, and if they were still alive.

 

“I’d love to speak to them,” she said “I surely have to speak with them; they’ve done a great job” 

 

But you know, whenever a busy woman makes a promise, she has to be constantly reminded so that she doesn’t forget her promise. And when I finally got her to speak with my mum, it was a sigh of relief. “He’s a young strong man who has made a bold decision to survive” I overheard her as she spoke. I stood at a spot, close to the car where she sat in the driver's seat; grinning from ear to ear. 

 

When it came to care and affection, Keshia was exceptional. And on several occasions, I wondered if I was part of her kids. One of such lucky days, she would buy me food; the least I was expecting. All that rang through my mind was; “Gentle ma’am I only came to work”.

 

And when I watched her play with the kids in the daycare, the expression on her face showed, that of fulfilment and peace; an indication that she really loved children. At the end of work when the daycare was about to be closed for the day; she would throw her arms around the lovely kids and tell them one or two things; “Listen to dad and mum, don’t be stubborn alright?, stop crying too much; you’re a big boy”. Then she would walk down to her car quickly, and in a few minutes, she was speeding home. Her walking steps were always fast-paced. Time was her greatest enemy, it was never on her side; In fact everyday was a deadline for an important thing. I doubt if she ever rested.

 

You see that situation where you waste people’s money and you get punished. In the case of Keshia, it was her TIME. If you ever wasted any second of her precious time, it would take so much grace for you not to be yelled on. She looked at no one’s face while yelling.

 

Her office was another community on its own. Decorated with frames of different sizes and components, hanging on the walls. Some framed certificates of achievement were positioned at strategic places and one could scan through them while passing time and waiting for the ever-busy Keshia. She was one who also loved nature and anything relating to aesthetics. Right beside the door was a small carved statue of a human meditating. She explained that it caught her fancy and that’s why she bought it. Only that the first time I stepped into the office, I had every reason to believe that she was a Buddhist.

 

I also saw pictures of the various kids who had graduated from her daycare.

“They’re all grown now” she would say; pointing to the ones she could still remember, and then she would joyfully begin to explain to me how hard she fought to see that the daycare came into legal existence. To her, it was an achievement, and I totally understood why her countenance brightened up whenever she told such inspiring stories, even though it had been a hell of a ride.

 

“One of the kids painted this for me,” she said, pointing to a set of beautiful pictures hanging on the wall. “I trained her”.

 

I watched in silence as my eyes scanned the pictures, and then she took me to some other room and showed me more paintings from the same kid. Beautiful paintings, a unique thing about them was the fact that they were painted professionally by a young child. “She’s all grown now,” Keshia said.

 

The first task given to me by Keshia was cleaning up a room filled with important documents which needed to be arranged in a more organized manner. Then setting up new equipments which would be installed for the kids in the daycare. After that, I was given access to some other rooms to clean and set them up.

 

And every new day that I came to work for Keshia, it became tougher and tougher. These activities were tiresome but exciting. Sometimes I marveled at myself on how much strength I had, to be able to do all these.

 

There was nothing I didn’t do; from mowing the lawns, to setting up the storehouse, then blowing off the compound and then cleaning up one of her large properties which was far away from her office.

 

I even went shopping with her. And if anyone ever called me “Keshia’s handbag”, I would have gladly accepted the name.

 

Sometimes she would get me food without my asking for it. She would tell me to stop work and come eat with her. It was the first time someone was doing that for me, outside the normal contract (which was to pay me off and send me home).

 

A week to my departure from the country, I asked Keshia if she would take a picture with me. Of course, she readily accepted. 

 

But we were never able to take a picture together, and it’s all my fault. I surprisingly underestimated her busy nature, thinking that she’d be the one to make time for it. So I waited patiently until I left for my country.

 

The night before I left; Keshia gave me a room to stay in. It was on the upper floor of her office.

 

My housing rent had expired and she decided to give me a space for the night. She dropped me off, with my loads and told me that she’ll be back by morning. 

 

Unfortunately, the next morning I left before she arrived for work.

 

The previous night, I had booked a ticket for 7:00 am, and I had to be at the bus stop, thirty minutes before that.

 

So I left her a text message, on my way to the park.

 

Good morning Keshia;

I left a few minutes ago for the bus Station.

I’m grateful for everything; for your support throughout my program and stay, here in Pennsylvania.

I wish to work with you sometime in future, and whenever I come to Pennsylvania, I’ll let you know.

 

She finally called that evening, and from the way she spoke, I knew she was feeling sad. I was, too.

 

“Do stay safe, and say Hi to your family” she said.