Øgbanjé. Part 9.
On the 8th day of my fast, I went to the market and bought about 10 pairs of sandals, 5 school bags and some pairs of white stockings. I wanted to buy more but was limited by funds.
I went very early to a public school that was close my house. I stood by the gate.
I saw a little girl who was wearing bathroom slippers to school instead of a proper school sandals. She also used a polythene bag to carry her books.
My heart broke. “People are really suffering”.
I called her and gave her a pair of sandals, socks and also a new school bag.
This little girl broke down in tears. She went on her knees and sobbed at my feet. All my efforts to make her stand proved abortive.
“Thank you so much ma. My mummy asked me to manage till money comes. My mummy will be so happy. God bless you ma”. The little girl said.
I was amazed by how well mannered and appreciative she is. Her mother is definitely doing a great job.
She wanted to stay with me the whole day o. One of the teachers quickly came to chase her to the assembly ground.
I saw other students who were in need of either sandals, bag or socks and distributed everything to them.
You needed to see how happy they were.
There and then, I vowed to repeat the exercise more often when God finally opens the window of blessings for my family.
When I got to the house, my husband was about leaving the house.
“Obim, what’s the occasion?”. I asked smiling.
My husband was well dressed. He was polishing his shoes when I got in.
“I don’t know yet o. But Engr. Okazie wants me meet him at his office”. My husband said.
I quickly dropped my bag on the chair and readjusted my wrapper.
“The CEO wants to meet with you?”. I asked with my eyes agape.
“Don’t get excited yet. I don’t know why he called for a meeting”. My husband said.
“Holy spirit, is that your hand I see?”. I asked in tears.
“You women are too dramatic. What if it’s to reprimand me? Why are you overreacting?”. My husband asked.
He wore his shoes and left the house.
I didn’t stop praying till my husband got back. Although I was in pains, the hunger was so severe. I still managed to pray. The Bible said we should pray without seasons after all.
My husband broke into the house dancing few hours later.
The last time I saw him that happy was when he got promoted
“Spill baby”. I urged him.
“Honey this one is too much”. My husband said whilst gasping for breath.
“Say it anyhow, I will understand”. I urged him.
“When I got to his office, Mr. Okazie was almost in tears. “I’m so sorry about what happened to you”. He said. I was taken aback. “You were unfairly sacked. Infact, the manager who did it has been sacked”. He said. I was perplexed. Then, he dropped the bombshell”. My husband said.
“Oh Obim, you are kîlling me with suspense. Spill already”. I asked impatiently.
“Are you sure you are ready for the news?”. My husband teased.
“This man! I will have to tear your mouth open to bring out the gist myself”. I said.
We started laughing. That was the first laughter we shared since his shop got burgled.
“We opened a subsidiary branch in Canada. We want you to manage it”. Those were his exact words”. My husband said and started jumping in jubilation.
“I don’t understand…. You said what?”. I asked in disbelief.
My husband unzipped his bag and brought out a cheque.
It was a cheque of 20million naira. It was in my husband’s name.
My breathing became heightened.
“They said we should start preparing for our Visa’s. Accommodation and a car has already been arranged for. We are going abroad in months time”. My husband said.
“Ohhhhh! Ehhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhh! Jesus son of David, who is like thee? Omeihekwu Jesus, the doer of great things. The almighty! The prince of peace! The curse breaker! Obarisi! I never thought you’d honour me this way”. I broke down in tears.
“Honey! I’m sorry for not taking this fasting thing serious. Please tell me more about it, I want to join you “. My husband said.
I wanted to call my mom to share the good news but something ministered to me to keep the good news discreet for the meantime.
The remaining two days of the fast was massive.
On the ninth day of the fast which was the following day, my husband and I went to a school and paid the school fees of 50 students who were owing school fees.
Prayers flew from every sides.
On the tenth day, my husband and I travelled down to Enugu to see the pastor in his church.
We told him about all what the Lord has done for us.
“This is just the beginning”. He said.
We donated the sum of 1million naira to his church.
We branched at my mom’s and also shared the News with her although we pleaded with her not to share the News with the rest of the family for the meantime.
We applied for our Visas. The process was made easy to us by God.
Two months later, my husband and I landed Canada.
“Who would have thought? Just few months ago, we were so mad at God and told him he had forsaken us. Just in a twinkle of an eye, our stories changed. Who says there’s no God?”.
Everything worked out well for us. I applied and got admitted into a nursing school.
I didn’t have to shuffle between school and work because my husband asked me not to bother working. He said I should focus on my degree. “Who am I to say no?”.
I started having severe stomach pain one evening. That was in our second year in Canada.
It was a sudden acute pain. I groaned in pains.
Luckily, my husband was home.
He quickly rushed me to the hospital.
“She’s in labor, take her to the maternity ward”. The doctor said after he examined me.
“Labor? How? when? Is that even possible?”. My husband and I wondered.
They took me into the ward and started preparing me for labor. I kept telling them I wasn’t pregnant but the nurses didn’t listen to me.
I was asked to push but I didn’t push.
The nurses kept petting and encouraging me to push.
That was how I started pushing out of pressure.
“I can see the baby’s head already”. One of the nurses said. From her accent, I knew she was a Nigerian.
Voila! The baby came out. A bouncing baby boy.
Luckily, the hospital already had some baby kits in handy in case of emergencies like this.
They brought my baby to me.
I stared at the child in disbelief.
“How is this even possible? I was never pregnant”. I said out loud.
“It was a cryptic pregnancy”. One of the nurses explained.
I was blown away.
I was pregnant but didn’t know.
To be continued.
Written by Judith Onyoyibo
