I heard on knock on the pew which I was
seated on. My eyes still firmly shut, I
smiled.
“Is that Jesus?” I asked, very happily.
Jesus had come to speak to me in a very
different way. Wonderful!
“Speak on Lord. You daughter listeneth” I
said when I didn’t hear any sound.
“Very funny. Ok, it’s not Jesus o. It’s His
son” I heard a wonderful male voice.
Eyes still shut, I racked my brain.
Jesus’ son?…Jesus has a son ?
Still in my fantasy, i asked on.
“Angel, you mean?” I asked and I heard a
very loud laughter.
I opened my eyes widely but it was blurry
because I had closed my eyes firmly for a
very long time.
When my sight cleared, right in front me
was Tony!
He had drawn a plastic chair and was
seated, staring into my face with a funny
smile on his face. He obviously was not
done making jest of me and I felt so foolish.
“Sis. Precious, you are supposed to be in the
drama unit. You can really act” he said and
I smiled
What could I say now so this brother
wouldn’t think me weird?
“Well, you wouldn’t understand” I managed
to say and he smiled again. The way his
cheeks raised whenever he smiled was
beautiful and my heart stirred again.
“I can relate to that. We just get to a point
where we are so confused that we just want
God to speak to us. We become so desperate
that God just calms down and says, if I
don’t talk to her, let’s see if she would still
stay.” He said and I smiled
“Hmmmm, that’s profound!” I nodded as the
words sunk into my skulls.
“Yes my sister. When we so desire that he
speaks probably so we could brag about it
to our neighbors that God said this or that
to us, he withholds his voice. Then, when
we do not expect, he would speak, he drops
it gently and he waits to see who cares to
even notice what He had done” he said on
and I watched on with great awe.
He paused and smiled
“Sister Precious” he called out and I woke
up from my fantasies again.
“Continue my brother. I am being blessed” I
said and he laughed, clasping his hands
together
“I am not a pastor o. this look you are
giving me be like say you think say I be one
kind apostle” he said again and we laughed
together
“But really, that was deep. So so thoughtful!
God bless you” I prayed heartily
“You are very funny Sis Precious. Whenever
I see you, you remind me of my mum. Your
stature, your clichés, your voice, your long
hair, and your funny talks, everything, just
like her!” he said and I blushed
“That’s wonderful.” Was the only sentence I
could utter
“Yes…why haven’t you been coming for the
choir practice? I had wanted to ask for a
long time now but whenever I looked at
your side when the service ends, you would
have gone. God held you down for me this
morning” he said again and I shook my
head.
Only if you know what these praises of
yours is doing to my heart right now.
Please, just stop abeg!
I stopped because I couldn’t face you!
Because of you
These thoughts filled my head but I shook
then off and smiled
“I will resume soon. I just had to step aside
for a while. Thanks for your concern” I
said and he smiled
“Ok ma. Thanks too” he said and he stood
up.
I felt bad of a sudden. I hope I hadn’t said
something that had made him feel bad o.
“Which side are you going to if I could give
you a lift?” I asked in compensation and he
smiled
“Iwo-Road area” he responded, looking
down at me. He is quite tall…nice one!
“Ok. Let’s go” I said and as I tried to start, I
felt something wet down my skirt.
Jesus!
Stains…Blood Stains? Oh no! Not at this
point.
I was wearing a white skirt since I used
heavy flow pad in the morning with the
mind that there couldn’t be any stain…
What shit!
“Is anything the problem?” he asked,
concern written on his face.
“No. Let’s go” I didn’t want to appear
foolish. It might be the sweat that was
making me feel wet. I stood up suddenly,
checked the white pew and nah! It was
soaked with blood. I sat down right back in
the chair. My perspiration started. My heart
started beating fast.
Oh why today o God!
“What happened that you suddenly sat
down?” He asked and I smiled faintly,
obviously embarrassed but grateful that he
didn’t see it.
“I just realized that I wasn’t done with the
prayers I was doing, I was praying for
somebody when you interrupted” I said.
Was that a lie? Well, maybe partly. Forgive
me Lord. I just had to do it.
“Ok then. Thanks for the offer then. Pray
for me too o” he smiled again as he walked
away.
I heaved a sigh of relief.
“Let’s just assume that he is the person sef,
would this be the right way for him to see
me? Stained with my own blood? No, that
would only show him how careless I am. I
wouldn’t want that” I said aloud, laughing
with satisfaction that I was not caught.
But I do I get out of the church like this?
I turned back and saw some men counting
the offering and all…why wouldn’t they do
that in the office ehn?
I turned forward and saw some others too,
discussing in groups. What do I do oh my
redeemer? I am done for right?
There was a tap at my shoulder and I
looked up- Tony
“Yes?” I asked, almost sharply. He smiled
“You were supposed to be praying” He said,
almost in a challenging tone
“Yes and you are intruding” I said defiantly.
What a bother! He smiled once more
“I have this for you. I thought of sending
someone but I found nobody around. Please,
don’t be offended” he said, dropped a black
polythene bag on the white chair before me
and off he went before I could say a word.
I was perturbed.
What could be in the bag?
I opened and the contents of the bag dazed
me, leaving me in total shock!
A new pack of sanitary pad, a small white
towel, four sachets of water, a roll of tissue
paper and a small white wrapper.
Tears streamed down my face.
Was I supposed to be angry at this guy now
or be appreciative? Which?
What an embarrassing day to remember for
me oh God!
A paper fell from the bag and I picked it up.
I unfolded it even as tears clouded my eyes.
“I am sorry. I just seemed to find out. A
medical doctor would just know!”
Geez!
Is this guy for real right now?
I folded myself in the corner where I was
seated as if something should take a hold of
me and make me disappear!
>>>>>it continues<<<<<