A candle in the wind
Episode 4
“Mummy pastor, she can’t be dead.
Mummy pastor!” I screamed on and
someone tapped my shoulder
“Sister Precious” I heard my name
clearly and my eyes opened wi-dely. It
was Sister Jane.
So, it’s been a dream all these while?…
Like seriously?
I sat up and saw tears on Jane’s face.
Jesus!
“Is it true?” I screamed. Smiling faintly,
Jane nodded over and over again.
Jesus!
“Mummy Pastor! Mummy Pastor oooo”
I started screaming as I sat up from the
pew in which I had sle-pt off and
started running to the back of the
church as if being pursued. Jane called
me back to no avail
“Mummy Pastor ooo….someb©dy help”
I screamed on and on until I looked to
my left as I approached the exit door
and I heard my name.
“Sister Precious”
Mummy Pastor’s voice!
I turned to look around and there they
were all gathered the women leaders
with Mrs. Idile smiling wholeheartedly
at me.
“Is anything the matter my daughter?”
she asked, smiling again- her very real,
affectionate smile
“Is this for real? Is this a dream too? Is
that mummy pastor? Someb©dy talk to
me.” I cried again as I walked to her
side on the podium.
Some women tried to st©p me but she
signaled at them to leave me alone.
I went beside her, knelt down, felt her
legs, t©uçhed her calves and hvgged
her.
She hvgged me too!
“Mummy is alive!” I shouted childishly
and the women murmured
“Daughter, go and check yourself in the
bathroom. Your cloth is stained at the
back” she whispered into my ears and
a cold wind of embarras-sment ran
throu-gh my spine.
It’s the same day!
That Sunday!
I managed to smile at her.
She smiled back!
She signaled that I bend down and she
di-pped her hand into her bag to give
me a white shawl. I wra-pped it round
myself and pas-sed throu-gh the back
door outside with the women’s eyes
following me- I most as-suredly guess!
Sister Jane was outside and I frowned
at her.
“Why were you crying earlier on? And I
still asked if it was a true and you
nodded. You made me to make a fool
out of myself today and it’s not fair!” I
retorted
“I didn’t un-derstand your question
Sister Precious. I was only shedding
tears of joy because I am happy for
you. You obviously just had a vision.
That’s something we had both been
praying for you for a very long time
now. You asked if it was true and I
thought you were referring to the
vision thing. I smiled happily and told
you yes!” she explained and I hvgged
her
God heard my prayers!
He spoke to me in a vision.
But what does that mean?
Mummy Pastor was smiling just so
happily now that I saw her.
I am still as single as ever, so why was
Tony in the same attire with me?
What was I doing in a wilderness?
Despite the rou-gh road, my car was
able to still drive on as if on a tarmac!
What does that mean?
What is the problem between the
pastor and his wife?
Tony called me MMR…what’s the
meaning?
>>>>
As I brou-ght out my Sk-irt from the
spinner of the washing machine, I
heard some ra-pid footsteps at the
staircase and I listened.
The pastor was ma-king a call.
“It’s a great privilege to do so for my
wife my dear pastor. I am just going to
dedicate this week to her. It’s her
birthday and she has to be treated
extra-wonderfully. Thanks for booking
the h0tel for us…we should arrive
Dubai in the evening tomorrow. Let me
tell her the surprise now…. My wife so
loves surprises….hahahahahahaha…
God bless you sir!…” he said on and on
and I smiled happily.
I trust my pastor!
Ever ro-mantic!
That dream was just a useless one jhur!
I had much to think about before I
sle-pt off.
My pastor and his wife are just too
anointed to have any problematic issue
between them.
I waved the dream off as I quic-kly wore
my Sk-irt, checking out myself in the
mirror.
“Sister Precious, do you wanna sleep in
the laundry?” Sister Jane called out and
I smiled happily as I ti-p-toed to the
door.
“I am coming right away mon amie” I
said in a very musical voice- what
happens whenever I am satisfied with
something or extremely happy.
But…my spirit stirred again!
A candle in the wind
Episode 5
“We cannot join you together!”
That was the response of the head of
the marriage committee immediately
Jean and I entered the church’s board
room on Sunday.
I turned sideways subtly to see Jean’s
face and it was expressionless. He was
looking indifferent. I sighed repeatedly
but silently.
As much as God wasn’t in support of
this relationsh!pand I was re-ady to
obey His will, I still loved Jean and his
expressionless face actually broke my
heart.
He wasn’t going to miss me!
Perhaps he never really loved me!
Just then, while my head was bowed
still where I stood, I saw some fluid
falling to the ground and I was
shocked.
Tears!
I looked up at Jean and he was totally
broken! He had unknotted his tie, his
eyes were closed and his hands were
di-pped right inside his well combe-d
afro hair. The other hand held his
tummy as he let out a squeak that
shook the whole room.
The four-man committee members
stood abruptly, covering their ears with
their hands. They looked really
shocked.
I could only watch on as I felt his pains.
He squ-atted and started a real babyish
cry and my heart shattered into pieces
the more.
Who does that for God’s sake?!
Who leaves a man like this when real
men are scarce outside?
Only a foolish person would do so!
Jean was a very good man. Even before
I led him to Christ, he had really been a
moral man. Never had he for once tried
to t©uçh me or pla-yed dirty with me
during those times.
Even the day he proposed to me, he
was very shy to do so. It took the
efforts of his daughter to help. He
never took advantage of his
subordinates.
I loved mature men!
I hate ‘baby men’!
And, but for his marriage to Beatrice, I
would have loved to get married to
him. I had really opened my heart to
him.
“You people don’t un-derstand. You
don’t!” he cried out again as he blew
his nose into the handkerchief he was
holding. The committee members sat
down, still looking perturbe-d.
“un-derstand what?” Mr. Hosanna, one
of the marriage committee asked and
the others nodded in support.
“I had really endured a very bad
marriage where my wife would bring in
different men into our matrimonial be-d
and sleep with them right before my
open eyes. If I dared to retort, she
would s£nd different touts to beat me
up or even deal with me herself….” He
swallowed ha-rd and the committee
members looked somber as he
unfolded the story.
I shook my head as I imagined the
whole scenario.
“I had a mixed feeling when she
eventually travelled outside the
country five years ago with another
sugar daddy. I was happy to be free
indeed but I hated slee-ping around.
What do I do?…” he paused as he sat
on the floor. He looked really hopeless
and a cold shiver ran down my spine.
“I had really been weaned from all
emotions and love until I met Precious.
If I got married at 20, I should be able
to father her but really, I love her so
much. I was scared of another failed
marriage but I trusted her and wanted
to give it a trial once again…”
“Marriage is not trial and error my
brother!” Mrs. Hallow, one of the
committee members retorted and Jean
shook his head.
“Probably my use of English sold me
out madam. It wasn’t for a trial at all. I
wanted both of us to have a real great
future together and all was going well
until this committee asked us to come
back.” He paused again and sighed in
anguish.
“It was really worth the waiting as God
met me and told me some vital reasons
why this marriage cannot be. There
was no way I could tell Precious and I
felt we should get here first. Right now,
it seemed that God had gotten here
even before me” he said and the
committee members whispered some
things to themselves.
“God had been here since my brother.
He is the Word personified and we
have the Bible. Everything is in there. If
we go ahead and join you together, it
would mean adûlt€ry. That’s what the
Bible says” Mr. Lawal, another member
explained
“Then, what should I do? I should wait
for a woman that had gone to join
herself with different filthy men? I
should?” he cried dejectedly. I
un-derstood his plight.
I felt really guilty
I shouldn’t have met him in the first
place.
I had opened up the closed wound in
his heart again and poured fresh
pepper on it.
“My brother, marriage contract is till
death do us p@rt. As long as you are
alive and she is alive too, there is no
going back. You have to endure it.”
Mrs. Hallow said again
“Endurance! That’s the word!” Mrs.
Idile said as she shook her head, her
li-ps pursed
Mummy pastor!
What does she know about endurance?
Some people just find it easy.
The only thing she probably endured in
her marriage was complaints about
salt, not being enough or too much in a
meal.
Mummy pastor sha! Very funny!
“We still have lots of people coming in
to see us today and the time isn’t on
our side. We have closed your file and
we want both of you to really go and
pray with all fervency.” Mr. Lawal said
with a large, comforting smile
“My dear Bro Jean, I can feel your pain
as I have been in your shoes. My
husband left me for another woman
and there were pressures here and
there that I should remarry but I thank
God for my pastor and his wife. Oh
what a great specimen of marriage for
our generation…” Mrs. Hallow paused
and smiled, shaking her head in
obvious appreciation while Mrs. Idile
smiled too.
A pure, sweet smile!
“My husband is back to me. I have
forgiven him and he is now a child of
God. You would never know that
something like that had ever happened
between us if you see us together” Mrs.
Hallow completed her own side of
consolation.
“And who knows if your wound had
actually been opened now because
your wife is on the way and so that
when she comes, she would find
something to nurse, thereby,
strengthening your marriage?” Mr.
Hosanna explained too.
I looked at Jean on the floor and I
smiled bitterly.
He was shaking his head vigorously as
tears streamed down his face.
Does any of their advice makes any
s-en-se to him at all?
“It would be ha-rd but that’s why we
have Jesus. He can help. Wait for your
wife and pray fervently for her soul.
Who knows, you may save a soul from
hell!” Mrs. Hallow said further.
“And you Sister Precious…”
That was my name right?
It was my turn to be lambasted for
almost leading a new convert of mine
astray even when I knew the truth.
Right?
It was Mrs. Idile
“My sister, God is never too late. For
some people, he comes at twenty years
of age, some thirty, some forty, some
fifty, even, sixty! He’s never late! How
old are you? I am sure you are in your
mid-twenties or thereabout. Why
would you rush? Do you know what
marriage means at all? Marriage is a
padlock with its key thrown away! Do
you want to miss it? This one that we
can still enjoy beautiful renditions of
songs throu-gh you, if you are sad and
unstable in your home, would that still
be possible? Sister Precious, are you
praying at all?” Mrs. Idile went on and
on and I was daunted.
There was an absolute silence
That was from her heart- de-ep!
I was speechless.
I realized that I hadn’t said a word
since it all started and I looked for
something to say.
“I love him…” I was saying when she
cut me short again.
She was never violent or lousy.
Mrs. Idile!
What was the matter?
“Love, you say? Any sign whatsoever
you have, be it vision, dream, de-ep
love, revelation and all, should still be
weighed on the word of God! Is God
saying something to me in His word
about this lady or guy? See, just like
our speech could be influenced by the
devil, out emotions can also be
manipulated and used against God’s
will for our lives” she explained and I
looked at the Spilt Air Conditioner.
It was working perfectly well. In fact,
16 degrees Celsius!
Why then was she sweating- profusely?
Was it more than what was being
discussed?
I am being blessed by all she was
saying but I was worried about her.
Was all well with her?
“Some marriages in the church are
camouflages. They wear same outfits all
the time, they seem to hvg and pe-ck
and fan, wiping each other’s faces in
the church and all and you feel, God
give me a happy home like lagbaja’s!
Do you know what is un-derneath? Do
you?” she ban-ged the table as the
pimples of sweat on her face dropped
on the table before her.
The vicinity was very solemn.
I looked around me and realized that
everyone was taking what she was
saying as just being a concerned
Pastor’s wife’s palava. But I saw
beyond that…something I would never
want to believe myself.
Hurt!
I saw de-ep hurt in her face!
Jesus!
What exactly is the matter?
Just then, the dream flashed back to
my head and I shook it off once more.
It can’t be real! It can never be real!
“God will have mercy” Mrs. Hallow
said, obviously t©uçhed by Mrs. Idile’s
‘Speech’
“plea-se, you both should go and pray
more” Mr. Hosanna said too
“You can go and may God make your
ways golden” Mr. Lawal said and Jean
stood up, supporting himself with a
chair.
“Thanks everyone” he said silently,
moving towards the door
“Thanks” was all I could say as I
approached the door too
“Sister Precious…” Mrs. Idile’s voice
called out to me. I turned back and met
her face.
So tender once more- smiling.
“See me in my house tomorrow by
4.pm” she said and I nodded
“Ok ma”
“I love you so much” she said further
and my heart stirred.
She smiled again- that very sad smile !
My heart missed a beat!
Something was just not right!
>>>>>
“Welcome ma” my gardener greeted
me as I parked the car, the lawn-
mower he was using, ma-king noise as if
it was a tractor!
I didn’t want to have a headache but
my lawn actually nee-ded trimming. The
other staff members had left their
lawns unattended too but I couldn’t. I
just loved orderliness, beauty and
neatness. Since the state government
had refused to renovate our quarters
for us, I got some money and had the
painting done, the plumbing works
attended to and now, the lawn!
“Well done Mr. Bright. How work?” I
greeted as I pu-ll-ed the boot lever un-der
my car seat.
“Work fine o madam. It’s just this sun”
he complained. I smiled. I looked at the
back seat and took a bottle of ‘five
alive’ jui-ce. It was very cold.
“Catch this” I said and he looked
behind him. His face shone as he saw
the drink. With open arms, he received
it as I threw it and then he shouted for
joy.
“It’s chilling” he said and I smiled.
Mr. Bright and his ‘wonderful’ English
language!
I opened the boot and brou-ght out the
hamper inside it- an Easter gift for
s£nior staff members in my
dep@rtment. I was privileged to be
among.
I took my veggies basket too and
walked towards the door.
—–
Gosh! It’s alre-ady two o’clock and I had
to be in Pastor’s house by four.
I really have to be fast o.
I had a really weird appetite while at
work.
I just stumbled on a movie where they
were eating coconut rice and an idea
c@m£ into my head. On my way home, I
had bought cu¢v-mbers, cabbage, leeks,
tomatoes, fresh paper, mackerel fish
(My best), and some coconuts.
I bought enough coconuts because my
hair seemed to be losing its vitality. I
wanted to make enough coconut oil
myself since the homemade is better
than the adulterated ones being sold.
The s—t from the coconut oil and the
coconut water was what I would use to
cook.
Yippee!
I was alre-ady salivating!
After I finished preparing those, I
would have a very cold shower and
then set out for the pastor’s house.
Few minutes later, the aroma of my
specially prepared coconut rice filled
the house. I looked at the bowl where I
had poured the coconut oil
That should be cold by now!
I quic-kly s£nt a ‘BRB’ to everyone I was
chatting with on Facebook, WhatsApp
and BBM- I really loved chatting.
I poured the coconut oil into different
bottles and set them aside. Then I
turned off my g@s cooker and opened
the pot- Hmmmm, indomitable meal!
Oops, 3.30pm!
I ran into the bathroom and richly
soaped my b©dy. As the shower rained
down the thin streams of water upon
my hefty b©dy, I felt a tickling
s-en-sation and I chuckled repeatedly. I
was somewhat happy- but about what?
I had really had a lot to do that very
day and though I was fatigued, I had to
go and see my pastor’s wife for
whatever it was she wanted to see me
for.
What could she want to see me for?
My happiness waned away as I jumped
off the bathroom into my be-droom
where I performed the normal beauty
rituals and wore a very cool colored
evening go-wn.
>>>>>
“Mummy will join you shortly Sister
Precious” Abigail, the housemaid told
me and I smiled at her.
The best treble p@rt singer in our
church!
“Do you mind a bottle of Charis wine?”
she asked and I nodded
“No, I don’t mind plea-se” I said and it
was soon delivered in a tray. The
phone on one of the tables rang and
Abigail picked the receiver
“Hello ma…it’s alright ma.” She said
and looked at me.
“Mummy said you should come into
her room upstairs” she said and I
looked surprised.
What!
Me?!
Who am I in that church?
What is my post or position?
What have I done to deserve entering
the room of my pastor’s wife?
Oh, that would be a very delightful
honor for me!
If the other p@rts of the house could be
this beautiful and gigantic, I wonder
what the be-droom would look like.
—–
The staircases leading upstairs were
sparkly neat!
I was told to take off my shoes and I
sli-pped into some furry sli-ppers before
stepping on those staircases.
God, I’ve got to be rich o
Lord, I ask for the riches of Job but not
his sufferings o abeg.
I laughed at myself for ma-king that
kind of selfish prayer request but if you
had the opportunity of coming into this
place, you would conclude that heaven
must be too goldenly beautiful because
this house looked like paradise.
I knocked the door
“plea-se come in” I heard the voice and
I opened the door.
Oh, that sight!
The room was indescribable!
What!
I wanted to run outside and confirm
that I was still in the same house I was
just coming from but I maintained my
cool.
The room was disorganized. The settees
were not well arranged and there were
clothes hanging on the chair, around
the n£¢ks of the gigantic wardrobes,
beautiful shoes were scattered all over
the floor and g@sped.
“Sister Precious” I heard that voice and
I was geared back to reality. I was lost
in my own world of irritation and had
forgotten why I was here.
I looked at the be-d where the sound
was coming from and I almost ran
back!
“Mummy!” I called out, really surprised
and she smiled sadly
“Good evening” she greeted and I
couldn’t hide my shock and despair.
Her head was neatly scR@p£d- totally!…
like a widow in her mourning mood!
Jesus!
The go-wn she was putting on was black
and she didn’t look like the normal
mummy I knew. Tears gathered in my
face as I looked at her.
“Mummy!” I called out in a heart-
renting way again as I ran to her and
fell on the be-d, holding her hands as I
wept.
“Mummy, what’s wrong?” I asked in a
very sorrowful way. She smiled but I
saw the tears welling up in her eyes.
“I wanted someone to clear up my
room for me. And I chose you” she said
calmly and I broke out into a serious fit
of crying.
What!
Mummy nee-ded help to clear up her
room?
Oh my God!
I scanned the room and I cried again.
Whatever it was that was happening to
mummy pastor was very serious!
>>>>>>It Continues<<<<<