My husband is not a pàstór but a riitúàliist – Episode 5
“I thought of telling my pàstor about it, but I was scàréd of expósing my involvement with a nàtívé dóctór. The next day was Sunday, and despite my bróken and cónfused state, I needed to go to chúrch because my pàstor had already chosen me to be the moderator that Súnday.”
“As early as 7 am, I was already in church, but I left all my siblings at home. Peace, James, and Mercy were already showing térríblé signs of wéàkness, and I told Ruth and Jacob to watch over them. I never wanted to raise súspíçion by bringing them along to church, especially because my Pàstor was a very señsitive man. He could notice their wéàkness, and by the remarkable turn of events, he could uncover my híddén ageñdas.”
“The service lasted for 5 hours, and by 12 noon, we were already done. After the workers’ meeting, as the moderator of that day, I needed to submit myself to my pàstor to address certain issúes, as we normally do on Sundays. I got to his office, lo and behold, I saw my five siblings all seated on the couch with Mrs. Grace, my pàstor’s wife, each with a biscuit.”
“My spírít almost left my bódy in shóçk. I was completely lóst in thoughts, not knowing when I scréàmed, ‘Ruth, Jacob, what are you doing here? Didn’t I ask you to watch over your síçk siblings? How come…’ ‘Brother Peter, it’s okay!’ my pàstor intérjécted.”
“My wife had gone to visit Brother Ben, who súrvíved a ghàst|y motor aççídéñt on Saturday. On her way back to church this morning, she drove past your house to say “hello.” Only to discover that you’ve gone to church, leaving your siblings (Peace, James, and Mercy) behind because they were sérióúsly íll. You told Ruth and Jacob to look after them.”
“She was shócked that you didn’t even inform anyone that three of your siblings were serióúsly íll. So, she felt maybe you didn’t want to bóther me or the church, and that was why you chose to bear the búrdén alone. As a result, she took them to church and brought them to my office.”
“But Brother Peter, that was tóó múch. You should’ve at least informed me on Saturday when I paid you a visit. Your pàrents are no longer àlíve, and you’re the last man standing for these beautiful kíds.”
“I know you’re trying to be a man, but as your pàstor, you should’ve at least carried me along. Why béar all this búrden alone? Why híde something as sérióus as this from me? Don’t tell me it’s because you felt you would be asking too much to inform me. How many times will I tell you to see me not just as your pàstor but as your dàd?”
“Yes, your dad was a very simple, Gód-féàring, and well-respected servant of Gód in this church before he was called home. But outside the church, he was a very good friend of mine. In fact, we went to the same primary school. I’ve long had ties with your family, so you won’t be wrong to consider me as your fàther.”
“I’m really not hàppy you never informed me of such a deliçate matter as this. If something had happened to these kíds, who do you think Gód would hóld respónsible? Me, of course. Please, Brother Peter, henceforth, anything that bóthers you or your siblings, do not hesitate to inform me. That is why I’m here. You have my number; call me anytime, any day.”
“I was speechless…”
“At that moment, I didn’t know if I should be happy that my pàstor was caring, or if I should be sçàréd and sàd that he was so close to shàttériñg all my plans that had cóst me so much to make happen. I had to compose myself quickly and pretéñd like nothing was cóoking in the background. Only this way could I keep him in the dàrk concerning my séçrét plans.”
“I apólógized for not informing him earlier and gave my siblings a very scàry and féàrful sidelong glance, making sure they wouldn’t dàré to say anything súspiçióús. They wouldn’t even dàré to do so because, even when our pàrents were àlivé, owing to my disçípliñary nature, they were more sçàréd of me than Mómmy and Dàddy. Therefore, I was certain that they hadn’t said anything súspiçíous to either my Pàstor or his wífe before I found them in his office.”
“Rather than talk about the usual centerpiece and matters that concern the chúrch activities, my Pàstor drifted and centered our discussion on the matter at hand, rehearsing and repeating everything he had said previously. I pretéñded I was listening, gave him my undivided attention, hoping he could wrap up the discussion on time so that I could go home to think and decide quickly on the options the nàtívé dóçtór gave me, and get back to him as soon as possible.”
“After our discussion, he pràyed for my siblings and gave me 50,000 naira to take them to our fàmily dóçtor, ensuring I get the necessary drúúgs and médíçations they needed. I suddenly became happy and appreciated him, not on behalf of my siblings, but because I had now gotten enough móney to go settle with the nàtívé dóçtór if, perhaps, I decided that he should go ahead and sàvé the líves of James and Mercy.”
“I wish he knew why I was happy. He wouldn’t have given me that móney in the first place. He would’ve taken it to the hóspítàl himself. But even if he did, it would be a futíle effort since I already knew the root of my sibling’s sudden síçkñéss. He offered to drop us off, and I deçlined, saying he had already done too much. We appreciate it and will find our way home.”
“On Monday morning, as early as 8 am, something térríblé happened: the póíísóñ began to take effeçt, and all three of my siblings started çóúghiñg and vómítíñg b|óód. Suddenly, they became very slím overñíght, looking like skélétóñs. Their túmmíés grew so bíg, as if they were going to búrst. I could literally see them dyíñg slówly.”
“Ruth and Jacob had gone out to bég for móney, as usual, and it was just me and my three siblings. As I watched them strúgglíñg so hàrd to bréàthe, I couldn’t hold myself anymore. I kñelt down and started cryíñg.”
To be continued ✍️