Chapter 1

"Daniel? Where is that boy? Can you tell me where that homeless dog is?" Jordan's mother yelled for Daniel all over the house, but she couldn't find him.

Jordan sighs and replied his frantic mum, "I haven't seen him this morning, perhaps he's still sleeping." 

"Sleeping?” Jordan flinched when she yelled. “At this time?” she pointed to the clock then marched towards the garage where they provided a small space for Daniel to sleep “Does he think he can sleep in anytime he wants?” she rants angrily.

Jordan was walking behind his mother and couldn't say anything to her or even calm her down because he was as vexed as she is.

When they reached the garage, they saw a tired looking Daniel sleeping on the thin blankets he spread on the floor to keep himself warm to an extent and it infuriated them even.

"Are you insane?” Jordan’s mum screamed and it woke Daniel who looked like he didn’t know what was going on. “I fed you, clothed you, housed you, and you still want me to wake you up every morning? Don't you realize you have a class this morning?” she asked n anger “Do you want to go back to the street and beg door to door like you did before we generously took you in?" she yelled, then slapped her hands on Daniel's back.

"Uhh…" Daniel’s now slightly awake then he managed to reply her in a weak tone. "I slept... 4 a.m,”

"4 am? And so? What if you did sleep at that time?" she nagged then turned to her son “See why I don’t like taking ungrateful beggars into my home, they abuse and take advantage of your hospitality” she threw her hands up in the air.

"I was just doing the laundry you as- arrghh!” Daniel was cut short of his sords and he let out a loud scream when Jordan’s mum landed his cheek a heavy slap.

“Now you’re complaining just because I provide you with something to do for your miserable life? I gave you everything you need and you have the guts to complain that you were doing your work?” Jordan’s mum looked at Daniel with so much distaste.

Daniel was caught up in a conversation he didn’t want to have with Jordan’s mum early in the morning, especially now that he is looking unkept and was terribly hungry after he was left to sleep with an empty stomach.

“I need to use the restroom," Daniel rubbed his hurting cheek and tried to walk away from her to avoid getting slapped again.

"You're not going anywhere,” she pulled him back then threw his school bag at him and points behind her “I brought your bag already,” 

Daniel looked at his ragged clothe then looked up at Jordan’s mum “I need to change ma’am, I’ll come down after I am done cleaning up” he said to her but she didn’t want to accept.

“Next time learn to wake up on time, now get out of my house and head to school" Jordan's mother said.

Daniel looked behind the raging woman to see Jordan looking at him with what looked like anger then pity. He felt embarrassed that he constantly gets ridiculed by his peer and in front of them and it made him feel so low and sad.

Daniel with a really sad look took the bag and followed slowly behind Jordan, he wished that she would at least let him wash his face and look presentable but that never happened.

He and Jordan got into Jordan’s dad car then the driver made his way to their university.

Jordan moved further away from the car as he held his nose while looking at Daniel with contempt.

“Sit far from me before I make the driver stop this car and let you walk to school” Jordan threatened then rolled his eyes. “You should be happy that we let you ride to school with me else you’ll just have to find your way to school” Jordan taunts Daniel.

Daniel couldn't say anything because he knew they were still paying for his education, so he had to keep quiet. He hadn't washed his mouth or face, and his clothes looked ragged.

As the car slowly approached the school, Daniel despised going there and facing another round of insults and bullying from his course mates and in the midst of all these, Daniel daydreamed about being wealthy and not looking filthy. He wondered how respected he would be when his statue does change.

Jordan noticed a smile on Daniel’s face and it irritated him so he slapped him and eyed him “Only the well to do are allowed to dream big, you are allowed to keep being miserable and working for us for the rest of your valueless life”

Daniel felt the tears well up in his eyes but he blinked them away and promised himself to give to all his mockers according to what they did to him.

The car stopped at the entrance of the university and they both came out of the car. Jordan’s friends began laughing at Daniel as he walked behind the gracious Jordan.

"Hey guys," Jordan greets one of them and they all exchanged pleasantries.

"You still brought this dude," one of the students hisses, pointing to Daniel.

The others continue to stare at Daniel while holding their noses. "He stinks," they say as they try to get away from him.

They all walk to the classroom while Daniel stands a few feet away. 

Even the freshman students ignored and treated Daniel badly. It was embarrassing for him to even walk without looking kept like always.

“Such a stinky man” one student said.

“Very irritating to view” another said and it made Daniel feel more miserable than he feels.

“Why still let the loser stay with your family?” one of Jordan’s friends asked as he looked back at Daniel then back at Jordan “Get him out and let him keep staying miserable because, him staying with you isn’t good for your reputation as the most popular and richest student” he urged.

Jordan looked at his friend then smiled. “We don’t want to keep him but he is our help, the least he could do since we clothe, feed and provide a roof above his head for him” he chuckled and his friends join in on the laugher at him.

They entered their class and continued mocking him, speaking loudly and mockingly at him. Every joke talked about him brought everyone in the class to rolling on the floor laughter.

A new student saw how maltreated Daniel was and tried to come closer to him to speak and probably offer him company as he sits alone in a secluded area. "Hi..." she said but Daniel was already on his feet as with tears that fell then he dashed out of the car with a heavy heart.

She frowned at how Daniel reacted when she tried to talk to him and thought ‘maybe he deserved the treatment he got from everyone’

School went on and no one even bothered to care where Daniel was because he is a poor man and no on cares about people of his status, especially when they looked at unpleasant as he looked.

After the close of the day, everyone starts to leave their classes and go home or wherever they want to go to after school hours.

Jordan noticed Daniel sitting under a tree as he was deep in thought.

“When did you leave class? I thought I was the first to leave class” he said then crotched to his level “I hope you’re not planning on skipping classes because mum will be very mad when she learns of it” Jordan taunts with a grinned and he laughed when he saw how terrified Daniel looked at the mention of his mum.

“I-I didn’t sk-skip class,” Daniel stuttered and it made Jordan happy that he will continue to have this fearful effect over Daniel.

Jordan’s phone beeped and he stood up then looked at it “Looks like our ride home just arrived” he said then turned around to walk out of the university compound “Come or we will leave you”

Daniel sighed then said a little prayer about being out of his situation before standing up and trailing behind Jordan as they walked towards the car.

Jordan was happy when he saw that his mum was the one that came to pick him up so he entered the car and waited for Daniel to follow suit but his mum stopped him.

"Wait, do not enter” she said “There's a necktie I saw at a unique store downtown, hurry there, buy me one and bring it home," Daniel frowned at that.

"Ma'am, a unique store?" Daniel asked.

“You got a problem with that?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No ma’am” Daniel swallowed the lump he didn’t know he was holding on to. “I will be appreciative if you can book for me a cab” 

Jordan’s mum laughed at him then threw some cash at him “That, you will figure out yourself, I can’t do everything for you boy” she rolled her eyes and drove away but he didn’t miss how Jordan stuck his tongue out at him.

Daniel was conflicted with how he was going to get the groceries because of how he looked, he feared that they might not listen to him but he had no choice, he has to go there to at least try to get it.

Soon, he arrived at the store and entered, once inside, he walked over to the sales attendant to request for what he came to the shop for.

The sales attendant looked at him in disgust then held her nose because of the smell coming from him.

“We don’t entertain beggars here so, I will ask that you leave before I call security on you” she told him then continued with what she was doing.

Daniel was taken aback with how she spoke to him and treated him, she didn’t even wait for him to make his request known and just concluded that he was a beggar.

“Ma’am, I just need a bowtie, I am not a be-”

“I will not repeat myself again, leave and never return you smelling shit” she said harshly to him and continued with what she was doing.

“Please ma’am, I need this bowtie or I am dead, my boss will kill me if I don’t re-”

“I don’t care about whatever lie you are telling me but I want you out of here or I call security” she points to the door with raw disgust for him in her facial features.

“Ma’am, please. I’ll do anything, just let me bu-”

"Security..."  she called out to the security of the store then points at Daniel when they came “Bundle this thief out of here, and don’t let him inside again” she said to them and the man grabbed Daniel then began to push him out of the store while he begged that they listen to him.

"Stinky beggar" she muttered to herself then continues with her work.

Daniel felt really embarrassed and sad about what happened and his heart was heavy because he didn’t know where to go to get the bowtie that Jordan’s mum asked him to get.