Spoilt at the church
EPISODE 2
If hell is on earth, Kike saw hell and entered. It was hot. It was fiery. She regretted the day she was born and the moment she took the decision to run after Jide Williams. She had ransacked her brain to look for a plausible reason to give for leaving the Church. Her Mum’s in-depth scrutiny and harsh tones, couldn’t allow her reason fast. So, she said whatever came to her mouth when questioned.
“Why did you leave the Bible study? Mrs. Johnson asked for the second time.
“At a time when the prayer meeting was about to start,” Mr. Johnson added gently. “I saw you. I did.”
“I…”Kike stammered.
“You what?”
“I met Martha, and Martha met me.”
“What is she saying?”
Her Mum asked irritably.
“I went to ease myself.”
“Oh! You should have said that.” Mrs. Johnson turned to her husband. “Deacon Johnson, your daughter took an hour to ease herself. She never came back till the service ended.”
“It was because the toilet was dirty; I couldn’t use it. Rather, I moved to the bush behind the Church to ease myself.”
“I see,” Mrs. Johnson said. She faced her husband again. “Daddy, you see what I always say? The Church toilet is not well maintained and monitored.”
“Yes ma!” Kike cut in fearfully. “The last time I used it, I got toilet infection. That was why I decided to…”
“Shut up!” Mrs. Johnson shouted and landed Kike a slap that sent her rolling on the floor. “You mean it took you over an hour to ease yourself? Please tell me another story.”
“I was coming to that,” Kike said with hot tears cascading down her face. “After urinating, I was coming to the Church fast-fast, then I saw one of our choir members.”
“So you stayed at the roadside to do choir rehearsal?” Mr. Johnson asked.
“No sir. I stayed to preach to him.
The parents were shocked at Kike’s fallacious claims. “You should have left the preaching to the Pastor,” Her mother mocked. “When did you become a preacher?”
“Actually, he wanted me to be his girlfriend.”
“Hen?”
“So I told him that ha! It is not good.”
“Okay.”
“That God will not be happy with us, and my parents forbid such kind of relationship.”
“So?”
“That was all. Then I was coming fast-fast, not knowing that I stayed long.”
“You are a liar, a blatant liar.” Her Mum pounced on her. Kicking her from all sides, she used all her appendages to pummel her and voiced out her disappointment. “You want to disgrace us? Knowing the kind of posts we hold in Church; knowing the kind of influence we command and how we challenge and discipline other peoples’ children.”
“You knew God from childhood,” her father added, as he used his belt generously on her. “I will kill you before you shame us.”
“I’m sorry Daddy,” Kike pleaded.
“At no time did we draw back from taking you to Church. We adhered strictly to our denominational doctrines, religiously teaching you what is expected. You were part of the young star society, the girls’ guild and now the young ladies guild. You are a strong member of the Sunday school team; a role model. Why will you disgrace us by spoiling your life?”
“I’m sorry Dad and Mum. I will never do it again.”
“See! Ask your father,” Mrs. Johnson boasted. “I came into his house with my virginity, and you must also marry as a virgin. I will do all in my power to ensure that. Abi, has someone ever slept with you?”
“No ma,” Kike answered, shaking her head.
Spent, Kike’s parents, gave additional rules to further guide Kike’s daily living. On no account should she be seen standing, sitting or talking with a man, either at the Church or elsewhere. She must never go out without being accompanied by either her elder brothers, or the younger one. Her skirts and gowns must henceforth reach up to her ankle.
Kike left for the room with her body drained of all strength. She felt her world falling apart, with nothing to hold it together. She wondered what her Mum’s reaction would be, if she knew she was se€-xually active.
Kike was introduced to the adu-lttt game by a male classmate, a barrack boy that was too eager to satisfy her curiosity and answer her numerous questions about se€x. It started gradually.
She wanted to know if it was wrong to be attracted to the opposite se£x, and why she always got funny feelings whenever she watched films involving s€exually suggestive scene, or read one of the numerous novels she borrowed from her classmates. Innocently, she asked her Mother if getting attracted to boys or having funny feelings was wrong. She needed to know what to do about it.
Her Mum’s reaction was discouraging. Shouting, she drew Kike to her room asking, “What did you know about s€xx? Mogbe! This girl wants to kill me. Oya, lie down.” She forced her to lie down and checked if her hyymen was intact. She met her unbroken. Heaving a sigh of relieve, she warned her never to mention the word se£x in the house again.
“Why Mummy?” Kike asked.
“Because it is a dirty word,” Her Mum replied.
If she had been given a chance, Kike might have asked if it was right to read romance novels and magazines, or watch the kind of movies her brothers often sneaked into the house when the parents were not around.
Mrs. Johnson ordered her into the room, to prepare for a Bible competition that would hold by the next day. That ended the discussion between mother and daughter, although Kike’s curiosity wasn’t satisfied. She had increased se€xua@l feelings day by day. And one day, she vented out to a likewise ignorant female classmate. Stanley the barrack boy eavesdropped on their discussion. He volunteered to teach Kike on all she needed to know. Persuading her to follow him to a friend’s house, Stanley taught her that s€ex is beautiful and must be enjoyed even by teenagers. The first time with Stanley was painful, but she soon got used to him and then others, before Jide came her way.
‘I’m in deep shiiit,’ Kike murmured as she prepared for the night. What happens if Mum gets to know that I missed my period? She searched her brain for what could have led to a missed period apart from pregnancy. God please help me, she prayed earnestly. If I scale through this, I will never go near a man again.
Possibly as a result of her prayer, or her menstrual blood that had been delayed for a week decided to use that moment to show up, or because of the beating she got, she felt something flow from her underneath. Kike looked down to see drops of blood splattering at her feet. Raising her night gown to confirm if the blood was from the right place, she twisted her waist in jubilation and relief.
After cleaning up and padding, she laid on the bed to sleep but sleep eluded her. Now that she had seen her menstrual flow, she felt a renewed tenderness towards Jide. Realizing that all her talk about reducing their se€xu@al encounters was because of fear of the unknown, she wanted him like never before.
Hugging her pillow, Kike stretched her hand to pick a novel she was reading before going to Church. Titled- The dark charming prince, it was about a man who tried all he could to get a maid to l@ay with him. Kike enjoyed the intrigues and the suspense and wished she was the maid being wooed by the hunk of a man.
Lord have your way in our midst today. In Jesus name I pray.
The Choirmaster ended the opening prayer. Signaling everyone to stand up by raising his two palms, he instructed the keyboardist to start a prelude to get them set for a short praise session.
The Church central choir was meeting in preparation for the revival service which would hold in a week of time. It was a custom at Beulah Salvation Assembly to have a yearly revival, when a guest minister is invited to rekindle the fire of God in the life of the congregants.
Admonishing the Choristers, the Choirmaster said everyone should be prepared to minister wholeheartedly at the revival. He emphasized that since one cannot give what he lacks, it is important that all choristers check their lives, to make amendments wherever necessary, in order not to pollute the altar of God with strange fires. “Now to the business of the day” he said. “I want you to suggest and pick soul lifting and inspiring songs for rendition on every day of the revival.”
There were diverse suggestions out of which he picked the songs he deemed suitable. Some of the Choristers were not okay with the choices and couldn’t hide their feelings.
“The numbers picked are too slow,” a female Chorister said. “To me, we should pick songs that are lively and danceable.”
“I concur,” another member said. “We shouldn’t sing as if we are mourning. Remember the Bible says, in the presence of God, there is fullness of joy. We can only show our joy when we dance, shout and sing songs that are bubbly.”
“Correct!” Kike stood up. “I want us to note that people from different Churches will attend the program. It will be an opportunity to showcase our talents, and make people know that our choir is the best in town.”
“I wonder if we are now in show business,” someone whispered from the back.
“Anyway,” the Choirmaster said with a raise of the hand to stop further input. “I want to correct a notion please. I have always drummed it into our ears that we sing not just to entertain, but to draw souls to the kingdom. If entertainment alone is what people need, they can get it from musicians that are not Christians. If we are only here to show our singing prowess, then we are not better than secular entertainers.”
“Entertainment is part of the requirements to be a choir in vogue,” Someone argued.
“It shouldn’t be the main priority. Our focus should be how to use our songs to draw men to God. Any other thing is secondary and could be counterproductive.”
All said and done, the songs were ratified and rehearsed over and over again. It was time to pick the worship leaders for the program. The Choirmaster turned to Jide Williams, the praise team coordinator. “Bro Jide,” he called, what are your plans for the praise and worship sessions?”
“We will use a key worship leader, Miss Martha Aboderin, for the whole of the week,” Jide answered. “She would be backed up by other praise team members.”
Kike flinched and changed her facial expression the moment Jide made that statement. Not long after, she excused herself and stepped out. She also sent a message to Jide to meet her without delay.
“Why the distress call?” he asked on getting to her.
Kike refused to answer but eyed him and turned her face away.
“You better talk before the Choirmaster or someone meet us here.”
“Why must Martha lead the worship for the whole of the revival week? Why not me or someone else?”
She fumed.
“Why not her?”
“Everything is Martha! Martha! Martha this, Martha that. I doubt if you are not dating her. I caught the two of you making faces at each other today.”
“Is that all?” Jide asked, trying hard to conceal his anger. “I need to go back inside.”
“Won’t you say anything?” she held him by the cloth.
“What did you want me to say? This lady is your friend. The decision for her to lead was unanimously taken based on her ability. Now that you say I’m dating her, maybe I should begin to think towards that direction.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Let’s go in before people start thinking otherwise.”
“It’s okay! When do we meet again?”
“It depends on you.” Jide replied impatiently. Next week is fine.”
“No!” she frowned.
“Next week is revival week.”
“The ball is in your court.” He left her standing.
After the rehearsal had ended, Martha waited at the gate for Jide to join her. Holding hands, they took a back street leading to Martha’s home.
“What were you discussing with Kike,” She asked.
“Hun?”
“Don’t feign ignorance. I saw you discussing with her.”
“That girl is a nuisance,” Jide replied and drew her close.
“I’m beginning to suspect the two of you.” Martha turned her back to him. “I caught you making faces at each other at the rehearsal today.”
“Look Martha.” He turned her to face him. “I can’t stoop so low, as to have anything to do with that girl. She’s lousy, she’s uncultured and she’s not even beautiful. You know you are my one and only. Although, you are not treating me well. I’m a virile young man with flesh and blood, and your continuous insistence on no s£ex before marriage is demoralizing.”
“So?”
“You shouldn’t expect me not to have it with other girls. Body no be wood. But Kike is below my standard. I got nothing to do with her.”
“If you say so.”
“On a serious note Martha, this no s€ex thing is killing me.”
“How? Our agreement at the start of this relationship was that, we would save physical se€x till our wedding night. But, I do everything to satisfy you. We kiss, smooch, rub and do it from the back. Besides, we engage in phone s*x and you have my nudes. What else do you want? I even…”
“Even what? Say it! Jide prompted, raising up her chin. “Are you shy to say it?”
“Must I say everything?” she leaned against a wall.
“Don’t think I’m not appreciative of all we do together,” Jide said. “The little you show me now, gives me the confidence that you will be good in the other room. You know, I have this notion that God made your mouth to give utmost satisfaction. No one would believe the mouth you use to sing and inspire people at Church, is the same mouth you use to give me joy at the right place. Honestly, you are good at what you do.”
“I don’t like it,” Martha objected and rose to her full height. “That is touching and far below the belt. When I hear you talk at times, I remember touts at the park. Must you say everything? No one that hears you making such reckless utterance will believe that you are a Christian.”
“You may say whatever you want to say about me Martha,” he replied. The truth is that my Christian life and my societal life is different. My activities in the Church cannot stop me from enjoying life. I’m a young man, who does not want to grow up regretting not living his life to the fullest.”
“And you are free to live your life to the fullest,” Martha said sarcastically. Because, no one will ask you for the proof of your virginity when you get married. The woman is always at the receiving end. You know what? I’m under obligation that my hubby must present a blood stained cloth as a proof of my chastity to my parents after my first wedding night. I must keep myself so that I could boldly say to the Pastor during the wedding counselling, that I am a virgin. So, be satisfied with what you get. Don’t ask me for s*x again. But, I will do all that is need to be done in order to keep a man; that wouldn’t do the actual thing until the D-day. Good night.”
“Fire cracker,” Jide whispered. He whistled, rubbed his head, drew his goatee and gave a wicked laugh. Considering his experience with other girls, he knew it was matter of time before Martha would fall under his amorous advances like a pack of cards. ‘They are all the same,’ he murmured. ‘Church girl or no Church girl.’ Dragging his six-foot frame and well-built body that made him irresistible to all category of ladies as he always claimed, he picked a stone and threw it into the compound next to Martha’s’. That was the sign needed for his next meat to come out. That meat was already on the slab and will be slaughtered today. At the back of her compound. The night was still young.
To be continued
