“MY NAME IS VLADIMIR … ”
It was a few minutes past 12am, the air was fresh and a bit chilly on the 13th of July 2016, in the city of Lviv, Ukraine. I was headed to Kiev for a flight to Turkey. I was going to Nigeria, I was going home. It was just another busy morning at Lviv's central train station, or so I thought, as I pulled up to the parking lot in my cab. I had 3 bags weighing over 60kg combined.
*For the record I’m about 70kg, and I hadn’t been home in 6 years. I was home for 5 days but apparently I’m told that doesn’t count. It’s visual comedy imagining one lady dragging bags 10kg less than her total body weight.
Moving on …
I reached into my purse to add some money to the already stipulated cab fare, the cab driver had insisted on the way to the train station that my bags weighed too much and he therefore deserved some extra cash.
Once we had finalized our transaction and my luggages were out of his car, I stood at the train station parking lot, I noticed two men randomly standing outside; one taking a puff of his cigarette and the other glanced at me as I stood in my silent attempt to apply BODMAS in getting my luggages into the train station without losing any, once my back was turned.
While attempting to drag the first bag up the stairs and into the train station, I saw a young boy about 170cm, roughly 65kg, with red eyes. He had an uncorked beer tucked in the right pocket of his shorts, his nails and feet where unkept, his slippers were worn out, he wore a black hoodie with some bold white inscriptions. He didn’t have the most pleasant smell and it definitely seemed like he hadn’t taken a shower in days. His gaze was focused on me. He approached me and once he got to close proximity he said in English “Hi, would you like me to help you with your bags.”
*Now let me add that most of the time people like these approach you in a public setting it’s usually to beg for money or cigarettes, or they serve as distractions for actual pick pockets, so I was a bit skeptical but nonetheless I responded “Yes please, thank you.” He lifted the bags up the stairs with so much struggle, and into the train station. He arranged them neatly at a spot and then turned to me and said “where are you going? Do you have your ticket?”
*Now I’ve been in this city for about 2 years, I travel frequently and I’m no novice to the system, but I indulged him nonetheless. He showed me on my ticket what time my train would arrive and at what platform. I thanked him like I really didn’t already know that. I briefly left to make an enquiry about my excess luggages to be certain if I would be billed for them or not. I was very alert as I watched him afar, from the ticket queue, he stood guard over my luggages and touched nothing or attempted any shady movements.
I got back, reached into my bag for some change to thank him so he could be on his way. And he did the most amazing thing. He frowned and firmly said “NO!”. I was a bit startled as I didn’t expect that response or understand why. However, his response made me insist, despite his incessant refusal, i eventually made him give in and take the money.
It was few minutes to my departure, I bid him farewell as I attempted to grab my bags and make my way to my train’s platform but he grabbed my bags without consent and commanded me not to help out. I stood in awe, now more than ever I wanted to know him. So once we had successfully made our way to the platform I asked him:
“What’s your name and how old are you?”.
He responded, “My name is Vladimir and I’m 17years old.”
Me: “Tell me more about you Vladimir”
Vladimir: “I recently finished high school. I currently intern for a welder. It’s a dangerous job I’ll soon be done with because of all the chemicals involved. They’re bad for my sight. My sight is bad but my mind is powerful. I want to be a psychologist. I also want to travel to USA and major in English language. I’ll love to teach English too. I’ve always been told I’ll do great as a psychologist and I know it too. I used to read a lot. I started reading at age 4, I got distracted as I got older and didn’t read so much, but now I try to read often.”
Me: “Why did you reject my money?”
Vladimir: “I rejected your money because *as he pointed to the inscription on his shirt*
The inscription read “GOD FIRST BRO”
Vladimir: “I did it because of God, my reward is with Him.”
I was flabbergasted to say the least. I smiled as I looked at him, I had met an angel. I had never been happier with my decision to not look down on another individual based on their outward appearance as I had gained so much from this amazing 17year old boy in such a short amount of time.
Let me add that Vladimir eventually took my bags into my train cabin. Yes! His kind gestures knew no bounds.
As my train pulled away from the station, I closed my eyes and said a prayer for Vladimir with a strong conviction that my prayers for him were DEFINITELY answered.
Vladimir had a dream. Despite his worn out clothes and his unkept skin; he had a dream. And it was and still is valid. His current predicament didn’t steal his ability to dream and hope.
My name is Vladimir.
My dreams are valid.
Even with my worn out clothes and unkept nails. My dreams are valid.
My mind is powerful.
Money may be an obstacle but my mind remains powerful nonetheless.
I’ll conquer circumstances and smile through the hardship.
I’ll help my fellow man without selfish intent.
I’ll hold fast to the thought of God’s permanent blessings than man's temporary peanuts for humanly gestures.
This post is dedicated to all the Vladimirs out there💜 Bless your hearts.
Photo by Anny Robert || IG Anny_Robert
MysP👑
