THE STRANGE PROPOSAL
Part 8
©Franca Uwuigiaren
It was Thursday, and I had just returned from work and emptied my pocket on the bed. As usual, Oroma helped me count what I made for that day. It was nothing I was proud of.
“N700,” she announced.
“It was N800, actually, but I had to drink pure water and wine my mouth small.” I told her.
My wife sighed.
“The way the sun squeezed its face at me today, enh… it almost roasted me… almost popping me like popcorn,” I said, trying to make light of my wasted efforts at the motor park.
“Obiama, today’s hustling is the worst… so you were only able to load eight buses.”
I nodded my head seriously. I know where she was going to; transport fare to River State. It has not been easy for me these past days. So far, I have not been able to raise money for her transport. The little I had, I spent on air freshener and pain relievers.
The painful aspect is that my kids have stopped going to school. The embarrassment was too much, and I was tired of going to beg the school administrator.
Two days ago, Alabo almost died. I had to rush him to the hospital. The little money I had saved, I used to conduct tests, but still, the doctor couldn’t diagnose anything.
“So what are we going to do?” Oroma asked me, bringing my mind to the present.
“I will still go to hustle tomorrow. Just hold the money,” I said.
“Tomorrow’s hustling will not be able to bring the money I will need.”
“Let’s see how tomorrow goes.”
“Alright!”
I left her to the window to raise the curtains up. Then she told me she would love to bathe again. I looked at her, then noticed that she was really sweating. Thick sweat was falling from her forehead.
“Why are you sweating like this?” I asked, so concerned.
“I don’t know.”
I went to the bathroom to make sure the chair I normally sit her on is there. I returned and carried her, then bathed her with cold water. Afterward, I carried her back to the bedroom and took care of her.
I proceeded to the kitchen to see what I could prepare when suddenly my last son told me he wasn’t feeling well. I touched his body, and he was running a temperature. I left the kitchen and gave him paracetamol. I asked him to lie on the settee while I went to the kitchen to cook dinner. About an hour and thirty minutes later, I served everyone. My wife managed to eat a little, but Alabo wouldn’t eat. I begged him for a long time before he managed to eat three spoons of rice. It was only my second son that finished his food. I sat before my food and couldn’t eat again. Everyone is sick except myself and my second son. What if we also fall sick? What will happen? Who will take care of us? I was really worried.
I stood up, cleared my plates, and took my blue plastic chair outside. I was tired and wanted to just be alone to clear my head.
Sitting outside, I saw my neighbors’ children playing and running around, laughing. The scene was better for me than going inside, where gloom had settled.
I started pressing my phone, but uppermost on my mind was how to raise money to transport my wife to River State. While I was thinking of what to do, I remembered Osayi, my Edo friend. We graduated from the same university and served together in Gombe state. Immediately after his service, he travelled out of the country to Germany. We have been on talking terms until things became upside down. I know how many times he has sent me money.
As I sat there looking at my phone, I wondered why I hadn’t remembered I have a friend in Germany. It was as if he was erased from my memory. Osayi has been so wonderful to me and my family. Now I needed to call him, to ask for his assistance. I scrolled through my contacts and saw his number and quickly dialed it. It rang several times until his voice came on the line.
“Hello, Osayi, this is Obiama, your guy,” I said. “How far, na? Wetin dey sup? It’s been a long time? How is everything over there?” I asked, excited.
For a short moment, he was quiet.
“Hello! Are you there?” I asked.
“I’m here. Please, who are you, and how did you get my number?” He asked with an accent I don’t understand.
“This is Obiama, your gee!” I said.
“Obiama? Obiama from where?” He asked.
“It’s me, Obiama, your friend from Nigeria,” I said.
I found myself describing our relationship, how we met, and all that.
“Sorry… I… don’t think I know anyone by that name.”
“Ha ha! Is it not Osayi I am speaking with?” I asked, my countenance changed.
“Yes… This is Osayi, but… I have…”
“Guy, it’s me Obiama. We were in the same department… we shared the same room together in the university and served at the same place…”
“Sorry… I don’t remember…”
“It’s alright… but I am disappointed that you can’t remember me. Is it how you guys travel and forget people that…”
The line went dead immediately. I stared at my phone for a long time. It was so unbelievable that Osayi wouldn’t remember me. It pained me that my friend would deny me because he’s now in Germany. My eyes were already misty, so I wiped my face before tears started dropping.
“It’s alright!” I said to myself.
I sighed deeply, then stared at the children playing or is it drama they’re acting? I removed my eyes from the children and went on WhatsApp. I just wanted to send my pictures to Osayi so he could identify me. I was really bothered. I raised my head to look at the children arguing. Ifeyinwa was saying, “You didn’t act it well. How can you be going to a native doctor? No! We can’t include that part. Abike, you didn’t act it well. How can you give so much power to the devil? God is the only option, and no other power. If God cannot do it for you, no power can. Abi Abiodun? We should remove that part. Abike should just go to Jesus straight.”
Those words from Ifeyinwa jolted me and shook me to the root.
“The drama is all about the power of Jesus. He is so powerful, and that’s what we’re going to showcase during the children retreat. No power can stand that name. We’re not going to deviate from it.” Ifeyinwa said.
Suddenly, I came to the realization that I have been running helter-skelter for nothing. How come my mind didn’t really go towards that direction?
“My Sunday school teacher said that when situations are tough, you run to God because He’s all-powerful. So, Abike, since you want God to help you, the first option will be for you to go to God.” Abiodun explained to Abike, who nodded her head.
“But we can still add that part, na. I will first run to the native doctor for help, then I go to God later when he fails.” Abike explained.
“We should not add that part. Power shouldn’t be given to the devil,” Ifeyinwa insisted.
“My daddy said it too that Jesus must be the only option in our lives, whether things are good or bad.” Caleb told them.
“So, we are not going to include where you went to juju first. We shouldn’t add that part at all.” Ifeyinwa kept insisting. “Those powers are powerless after all.”
“Okay,” Abike said.
“If you run to the devil for help, you will only delay solutions to your problems because the devil or agents working for him will waste your time, and you might even die in the problem.” Caleb said. “When Hannah was looking for a child, the Bible didn’t say she had a second option. She was always going to Shiloh, believing God would definitely answer her, and didn’t He answer her? When Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, he wasn’t afraid because his trust was in God, and didn’t God deliver him? Jesus is the only way, the truth, and the life.”
Abike began to smile. “Even the three Hebrew boys were delivered from the furnace of fire because they know their God. The Bible said that those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits. Do you know your God?”
As I watched the children with my phone abandoned in my hand, I began to wonder whether it was drama they were practicing or they had turned it into a Bible study. Abike’s question also hit me hard. Do I know God? Do I really know Him? Can I call him my God?
“That’s why we must tell everyone through our drama that there’s power in the name of Jesus and that salvation is in Jesus. Acts 4:12 says Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Caleb said.
“Yes! Philippians 2:9-11 says Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. That name is so powerful. The name can heal, raise from the dead, cause miracles. There’s nothing that name cannot do. It can cause confusion in the kingdom darkness and turn their camp upside down. It has been working for me and my family.” Ifeyinwa told them.
“Didn’t you hear dad say that God is the head of all principalities and powers? Since He is the head of all, who then can challenge Him? Is it powers from the heavens, from the earth, or the sea?” Tobechukwu, who has been quiet since, told Ifeyinwa.
I was still there, dazed by what these children were saying. I know their parents are church addicts. Isn’t it what I was supposed to call them? On weekly activities, they are there. Sundays, they hardly miss unless something unavoidable happened. I began to admire the parents of these children and how grounded they are. Their parents must have invested so much in their spiritual life. One even mentioned his Sunday school teacher. Have I ever attended Sunday school? I just enter the church when the pastor is about to preach, and when church is delayed, I just pick my Bible and go home.
Oroma would not attend Sunday school, but she always waits till church closes, but I had no patience for such.
I was jolted back to their drama- turned Bible study class, where Abiodun quoted a Bible verse that says the name of the Lord is a strong tower where the righteous run into and are saved.
“So, if one is not living a holy life or a life that pleases God, such one is exposed and is a target.”
“So we are going to come out tomorrow and act it again. We must not miss this children’s retreat. It’s all about the name and power of Jesus. Only Jesus can save.” Ifeyinwa said.
“Wait, Ifeyinwa, let me tell you what my Sunday school teacher told us about the name Jesus.” Abiodun said smiling.
I noticed Caleb folding his arms across his chest.
“Go on!”
“She said that the name of Jesus is higher than every other name. That name gives us identity as believers. The name of Jesus is the greatest weapon that can overcome the power of darkness. She said that unfortunately, many do not understand the power embedded in that name, that’s why they’re defeated by the enemies in the battlefield. In fact, a lot of Christians are disappointment to heaven. No believer is expected to live a defeated life because there’s victory in the name Jesus. When a Christian neglects the weapons of war available in God’s armor, he will remain a coward on earth.”
“Ride on, Pastor Abiodun,” the children chorused, smiling and admiring him.
Abiodun seems to be gingered by their hailing as he continued.
“She said that today the name of Jesus is still available for believers who are authorized to use the name.”
“So there are people who are authorized to use the name?” Caleb asked.
“Yes! No sinner is authorized to use the name. If you’re not born again, you’re not authorized to use it. I doubt if it will work for you.” Abbey continued.
“Wow!” Caleb said.
“True! My daddy said that whatever has a name is below the name of Jesus and must give way to it. His name is at work 24/7. The enemies know and understand the power in that name.” Ifeyinwa told them.
I heard one of the parents call her children to come and have their dinner.
“Tomorrow, we will continue,” Abike told them, “and I will surprise you all. I will practice my part very well.”
I had tears on my face as I watched these children begin to run around, laughing, but then my spirit man has been stirred. I became restless. It was like these children set a fire in my heart. I couldn’t even press my phone anymore. I didn’t bother to send any pictures to Osayi. I began to ponder on every word they said.
Truth be told, what the kids said, I have not heard before. Everyone calls the name of Jesus, but I didn’t know that the name is so powerful. Why did I start going to church? It was simply to run away from the worship of the river goddess. I thought that running from such worship and going to church was enough.
The moment I finished my service, I didn’t want to start my life close to my parents, my destination was Lagos. I just wanted to run from them so I wouldn’t be involved in their fetish practice, so I came to Lagos and settled. It was in this Lagos that I met my wife, and after our marriage, we joined a church. We go to church on Sundays when we actually wanted to. There were many times we just sat at home and watched television. The Bible to us is just what we should have. I bought two Bibles that we carry to church, and after the service, we keep it to pick it up anytime we were ready to attend again. I didn’t remember opening it to read.
Apart from going to church, I don’t know what other things one needs to know. Severally, I have heard that Jesus died for us, but what next?
Restless, I carried my plastic chair and entered the house. I went to the place I kept the Bibles and picked one. I glanced through the pages and didn’t know where to start from.
“God is the head of all principalities and powers,” I murmured.
It was as if everything the children said was being replayed to me.
“I can’t return to my former church. No!… there is nothing spectacular there.” I said aloud.
I dropped the bible and went round to the rooms and found that everyone was asleep. I sighed deeply. At least no one is groaning in pain. I probably might sleep peacefully if they sleep like this till morning.
I went to the long settee and lay down, stretching myself on it. I tried to sleep, but it was impossible. The fire was burning in my heart. All through the night, I tossed on the chair as I lay there awake, wondering.
“Only Jesus can save” I said it aloud unknowingly.
Suddenly I heard, “That’s not true. Why didn’t he save your family from the river goddess that’s ravishing your family? You’re jobless and will die jobless because your doom. You have no help. You will be deceiving yourself and wasting your time if you think that name will save you. It’s just a mere name, just like every other name you hear. Ordinary name! Hahahahaha!”
I sat up suddenly, looking around, and a great fear descended upon me. I lay on the chair again and closed my eyes. Even though sleep eluded me, I didn’t open them until it was morning.
To be continued…
