JESSICA??
(My story of faith and pain)
Episode 11.
©Miriam Edem
My heart was so burdened hearing that from my father and I wondered if a time will ever come when my father will accept me like he did to Cyril.
As God will have it, my step mother to be became very kind to me. The arrogant nature she came with last time was gone, and I was like hmmmm!
She took me out severally to help her around during the preparations of the wedding and I was happy to help out, I had no grudge whatsoever.
Finally the wedding was a success but my grandmother insisted I spend the remaining weeks with her before going back to school. That was very difficult for me knowing my condition and I didn’t waste time to remind her that I am still be-d we-tting if she has forgotten.
“That’s why I want you to come, there’s this baba I heard that can treat such a thing, I want to take you to him, she said.
“God forbid! I shouted on phone.
“Jessica what’s the God forbid for? Will you pee until you marry? She asked.
“If it pleases God so be it. If God can’t heal me let me remain in this condition, but if its me seeking help from any fetish being for my healing I won’t do it, I replied.
“And has he answered you? She asked.
“He will anytime it pleases him but please mama don’t drag me to anyone for healing, I replied and she heaved.
“Okay fine I’ve heard you, I was only thinking I was doing you good but since you don’t want to go atleast come stay with me to give your father privacy with his new wife. You know what I mean right? She asked and I smiled shaking my head.
“Mama I don’t un-derstand o, I have my room na and I don’t see how I will disturb them, I replied.
“Jessica stop proving stubborn, even for a week its fine by me. I’ll come pick you in the morning, she insisted and dropped the call and I breathed out.
“Mama allow me to pee in peace here na, I sadly said so worried of the mess I will put at her place.
The next day my grandmother came very early in the morning and used the opportunity to congratulate my father because she didn’t attend the wedding.
“Thank you, don’t tell me you came here just to say congratulations to me right? My father asked.
“Of course not, I am only here to carry my granddaughter who will stay with me before she returns back to school, she replied.
“I can see that, he said not concerned and I breathed out.
“Are your things ready? She asked looking at me and I slowly left for my room to get my things ready and left with her.
I stayed with her for a week, despite my condition she made me comfortable and I was so free as if I was home. I had to go back to my father house so I can p@$$ there to school before the week runs out. When I got back, the kind lady who married my father turned to an alien in the house. It shocked me!
She complains of everything especially my be-dwe-tting despite it was in my room and it was really confusing. I couldn’t stand her nagging and mockery of how I smell when i try ha-rd to keep myself clean, neither was in the mood to exchange words with her, i simply took the few things I came back with and hit the road back to school without wasting time and without anyone knowing. It was when I arrived where I schooled I called my principal crying terribly telling him what happened,
“What nonse-nse is this! Where are you now? He shouted.
“I just got in, I don’t even know when I got to the park, I could not stand it anymore, I replied and sniffed.
“Its okay, and your father didn’t say anything about her constant abuse to you huh? In fact let me go see him, my principal angrily said.
“No no no sir its not important, I feel better here don’t worry. And besides let me use this time to read in advance before I resume business, its all good you know, I said.
“But I have to see him, somebo-dy has to knock him back to his se-nses, my principal said.
“You’ll be wasting your time sir, just let him be please, I said.
“Are you sure you’re okay? He asked.
“Yes sir, I’ll be fine, I replied and he heaved.
“Too bad my wife wanted arranging some food stuffs for you but I think I’ll se-nd it to the park during weekend, but do you have some money with you to manage? He asked.
“Yes, thank you sir, I replied.
“Its alright, just take care of yourself okay, he said.
“Okay sir, please don’t tell my grandma about this before she will set the house on fire and I don’t want to lie either. Can you cover up for me please? He asked.
“Its alright I’ll take care of it, the principal said and dropped the call.
After he dropped the call, Tunde call came in immediately and I picked up,
“Hello good…… “Jessica I am in trouble, he cuts in with a weary voice.
“What happened! I shouted cleaning my own tears as I heard noises at the background.
“I have an accident, I’m finished, he replied.
“Where! Hello! Where are you! I shouted and from the noises in the background I knew where he was because he was distracted as they tried taking him to the hospital. I dropped the call and called back as I was already locking my room to leave but someone picked up telling me where they are taking him to.
I called the pastor immediately telling him what happened which he promised to be there soon.
I arrived in the hospital and saw that Tunde nee-ded money before treatment commences and the pastor came in.
“What are we going to do Pastor? We nee-d 70,000 naira for his treatment else he won’t be attended to, I told the pastor.
“I don’t have much with me Jessica, I just paid my children fees, the pastor replied.
“Oh God! He contacted his mother but she’s not in town though she promised to se-nd money for him because I was holding his phone waiting for an alert.
“Jessica I hope you’re not expecting much from her because she doesn’t have. I’ll support with 10,000 naira, the pastor said and an alert of 10,000 naira entered from his mother.
“Okay pastor we have 20,000 naira now, let’s beg the doctor to please start something with this while we get more to complete, I said and the pastor quickly approached the doctor.
“That’s our policy here, the doctor still insisted despite our pleas.
“But your policy should be to safe lives first right? We have 20,000 naira now, for sure we are going to complete the payment but first commence treatment, the pastor said.
“Can you make it 50,000? That’s the last I can take am sorry, The doctor said.
“Yes, please can you start already? Just came out from my mouth before I knew it.
“Please meet her, she’ll give you the details of where you can pay it to, the doctor replied after pointing at a nurse and left.
“You have 30,000 naira? The pastor whispered to me.
“Its from my savings, I sadly replied.
“Its okay I’m sure it will be refunded, the pastor said and we met the nurse and quickly left to pay
Tunde car was badly damaged and it will take thousands of money to fix it, to make it worst the taxi wasn’t his, he hires it to give returns every month.
Despite we tried consoling him to thank God for life, he wished he had died because he had no idea of how he will face the owner of the taxi.
“My means of survival is gone, will I be a beggar now? He kept asking and I heaved.
Things did not just turn bad for Tunde, it did same for me. The 30,000 naira I put in for his bills was my business money and it just destabilize both my business and savings. 2 years will be over soon and both my 2 years rent I paid for and scholarship will expire, who will provide for the rest of the years for me? I kept asking myself as I calculated how I will replace that money back because sincerely speaking the money won’t come out from either Tunde or his mother. In fact it was the church who completed the hospital bills and no one talked about my money and I didn’t know how to ask either seeing the condition of the person I am asking from.
The money my grandmother se-nt to me was not enough either because she complained about business, my principal se-nt lots of food stuffs instead and with my eyes pa-rtly opened and closed i sold it out in exchange for money and my room was looking at me waaaaa!
I used the money I got and got my stuff for business and school began fully but Sandra delayed to resume after 2 weeks.
When she finally came back to school, I was looking so thin and stressed up. Business wasn’t moving as it used to be, looks like I got more competitors than they were on ground and despite I didn’t have food the little I had i was sharing it with Tunde also just to keep him going and safe him the strength of thinking too much.
Sandra got alarmed with the way I was looking and quickly shared with me her food stuffs and my heart was so gladdened, she just saved me big time.
“But Jessica I don’t un-derstand you again. Yes I know God used Tunde to safe us then, but why will you take such risk for him? Or is there anything you’re not telling me? Sandra asked looking into my eyes and I heaved.
“Sandra you always think too much, so helping someone out now means something is involved? If you saw Tunde in the hospital then you won’t be saying this and I really pity him so much, I replied.
“I hope so o, Sandra said with a grin and I shook my head smiling.
God kept pushing us slowly, and Tunde struggled so ha-rd despite his health to repair the taxi because the owner was threatening to arrest him. I felt so bad for him and decided to visit him when I called him to find out if he’s at home. He was so down and sweaty as he sat on the floor looking at the drugs he was suppose to take but didn’t have the strength to,
“Tunde you have to take this else you will break down, I said giving him a gl@$$ of water but he angrily pushed the gl@$$ and scattered the drugs away.
“Tunde take it easy will you! I shouted holding him and he began to cry. Seeing a guy cry for the first time surprised me, I thought only ladies cry and it made me weak,
“Tunde its okay, I said keeping his head on my shoulder.
“Why do I have to suffer this way? Who did I offend? He kept asking and I just heaved because I am tired myself of asking the same question. I guess everyone has to go throu-ghdifferent trials of life,
“Its alright, God knows best okay, I said raising his head up and cleaned his tears and he held my hand.
“Please don’t leave me, he said.
“Leave you? What are you saying? I’ll be here with you so don’t worry about that, I said and he sniffed.
“If only my father accepts me things won’t go this way with me. He keeps saying that am an outsider because he had a fling with my mother that resulted to me. He’s filthy rich and currently living outside the country with his family, and my mother has tried contacting him to tell him that he has a son with her but its falling on deaf ears. He thinks my mother wants to use that to get money from him or something. I am tired being called a bastard when i have a rich father, he said.
“Ssshhh its okay, you’re not a bastard Tunde. You remember Jabeth right? God can do same for you and make you even more honorable than his legitimate children, just be calm, I said to him.
“I can’t wait Jessica, I can’t wait, he said and placed his head on my lap-s crying while I weakly looked at him…………
TBc