Arrogant student slapped an old woman unaware who she was until something unexpected happened to her

Joy followed the old woman into the narrow path, and the sound of the main road slowly disappeared behind them. The trees on both sides were tall, the bushes thick, and the morning air felt cooler there. Joy kept adjusting the firewood with her hands because it was pressing on her head like a stone. Her neck was already burning, but she refused to complain.

The old woman walked slowly behind her with a small stick, breathing like someone who had been carrying pain for many years.

Joy tried to keep her voice steady. “Mama, are you sure your house is not far? Because this wood is heavy.”

The old woman replied weakly, “It is not far, my daughter. Just a little more.”

Joy nodded and continued, but inside, she was thinking about school. She imagined the bell ringing, the teacher writing down the names of late students, and Tracy entering class alone with that angry face, telling everybody that Joy was foolish and proud.

Joy felt shame trying to rise in her chest, but she pushed it down. She told herself, Let them laugh. Let them insult me. This woman needs help.

After some minutes, Joy’s legs began to shake. Sweat entered her eyes. Her breathing became rough. She stopped for a second and bent slightly to rest the load, but the old woman quickly said, “Don’t drop it on the ground, my daughter, please.”

Joy looked back in surprise. “Why?”

The old woman looked away. “Because dust will enter it.”

Joy did not understand, but she forced herself to hold it up again and continue.

The deeper they went, the quieter everything became. Joy started feeling uneasy, not because she was scared of the old woman, but because the place looked like nobody lived around there.

She asked again, “Mama, do you live here alone?”

The old woman answered slowly, “I live with what life gave me.”

Joy frowned. That answer sounded like a riddle. She wanted to ask more, but she did not want to sound disrespectful.

Soon the path opened into a small clearing, and Joy slowed down because she could not believe what she was seeing. In front of her was a small compound. It was an old place, quiet and tired, as if it had been standing there for too many years without joy.

The old woman pushed the gate open gently and said, “Come inside, my daughter.”

Joy entered slowly, still carrying the heavy firewood. The old woman led her to the side of the yard and pointed to a spot near an old shed.

“Put it there,” she said.