THE DEVIL ON THE ALTAR
CHAPTER SEVEN
Resuming back to school was an exercise that many students don’t look forward to but some others are actually enthusiastic about going back to school for various reasons. Celestina had been worried sick about Patricia since they went on break, she had not been able to talk to Patricia and didn’t know how she was faring. Celestina got to the hostel with the mind that Patricia would have resumed or better still would resume soon, but after a week when she didn’t resume and her number was always switched off, Celestina became really scared because she knew something must have happened to her friend.
Celestina decided to inform their fellowship president, Bro Paul, about the latest development.
“Good evening sir,” she greeted, as she stepped into his office just after the evening service.
“Good evening, dear sister. How are you doing?”
“I’m very well sir, thank you.”
“Hope all is well, you look so dull.”
“All is not well sir!”
“What happened?”
“I didn’t hear from Patricia all through the break, her number is not reachable, school has resumed and she is nowhere to be found.”
“Have you tried calling her parents?”
“I don’t have their contacts.”
“Ok! Do you know her place?” He asked with a very concerned look.
He had also been very worried about Patricia and had tried her number several times during the break but he was not able to get through to her and had also been worried that she has not resumed just that he was giving her two weeks ultimatum to resume after which he would ask after her like a concerned leader but truth be told, he liked her beyond that.
“I have not been there before but she had mentioned her town to me but I don’t even know how to get there,” Celestina replied.
He got the details of the place from her and promised to make further enquiries so that they can travel over the weekend to see Patricia. He also prayed with her and comforted her or rather himself that all was well with Patricia.
*****
Patricia’s life had been reduced to almost shambles. She no longer had time to take care of herself and she had to do a lot of tedious and strenuous jobs to make the little she was making. She looked so unkempt and haggard. Her mother, though responding to treatment still needed surgery to get well and get out of the hospital. Her dad was also running around to raise money for the surgery and even though they needed close to three hundred thousand, they had barely raised one hundred and fifty thousand and the doctors had refused to receive payment in installment, they were insisting on the full pay.
Patricia went to the hospital to see her mum and also give food to her father. Just as she stepped into the hospital compound she heard someone call her name and she was so surprised because no one called her name around there. The nurses or doctors would rather say ‘hey lady, you there,’ etc, so hearing her name was rather of a great surprise to her, nevertheless, she turned to see who was calling her and she was met with a great shock.
When she turned her back to see who was calling her, she saw her fellowship president and her best friend standing and gazing at her. She didn’t know how fast she ran but all she knew was that she found herself hanging on Celestina’s shoulders and she held her in a tight hug. They both burst into tears as they held onto each other and Paul only watched in amazement. He was so surprised that the beautiful-looking sister in the fellowship can be reduced to a very haggard-looking and unkempt lady.
After a while, they exchanged pleasantries and went into the hospital. They went into Patricia’s mum’s ward to see her and afterward they stepped out. Patricia explained in detail her mother’s condition and their inability to meet the financial demand and every other thing that had happened. They felt pity for her and she felt bad because she was a person that hated to be pitied by anyone.
Paul was really moved by Patricia’s mum’s condition that he could not sleep that night. He kept on wondering how possible it was for someone to live without a mother. Paul lost his father when he was in 100level and since then had been so attached to his mum. Even when his father was alive, he was so close to his mum to the point that people started calling him ‘mummy’s wrapper’. And now seeing a person’s mother in that condition was something that really got to him because he could not imagine his own mum in that condition. He prayed for Patricia’s mum that night and he was so determined to be of help in every way he could.
Paul and Celestina were lodged in a hotel close to the hospital. That made it possible for him to be able to arrive at the hospital earlier than anyone. He met Patricia’s dad at the corridor and they exchanged pleasantries since they already met the previous day. Patricia and Celestina arrived much later with a bag containing food and after they had exchanged pleasantries Paul asked to see Patricia separately and they both stepped out.
“I’m really very happy that you people can go out of your way to visit me here,” Patricia said as they stepped out of the hospital main building.
“It is nothing much.”
“But all the same I’m very grateful.”
“Sis Patricia, how much do you say the surgery would cost?” Paul asked with a serious look and tone in his voice.
Patricia was surprised at the question and she just looked at him puzzled, then he decided to ask the question again.
“How much do you say the surgery would cost?” It was then she became sure she heard him correctly and then decided to reply.
“It is two hundred and fifty thousand naira but other expenses included it is three hundred thousand naira but we already raised one hundred and fifty thousand naira and we are believing God that He would make a way soon so that my mum can get out of here,” Patricia replied like a tap without a gauge.
“God will do something. Please don’t stop trusting Him because He never fails His own.”
“Please can I speak to the doctor in charge of her?” He said after a little silence.
“He should be somewhere around. Let me take you to him.” Patricia didn’t understand why Paul was asking all those questions and why he was also asking to see the doctor, but she took him to the doctor anyway.
He spent about forty minutes in the doctor’s office before coming out and they were all wondering what he did there and what he had to discuss with the doctor for that long but they never bothered to ask him. Patricia didn’t go for her menial job because she wanted to spend time with her guests and she felt that it was rude and impolite for her to leave them in the hospital and wander off.
The doctor called Patricia’s dad into his office after a while and asked him to sign some documents as the legal guardian of the patient and he was flabbergasted. The doctor then told him that someone had paid for the surgery and he almost collapsed for joy. He asked who the person was and the doctor told him that the person wanted it to be a secret. Patricia’s dad was elated that he expressed his gratitude in all the ways he could and he ran outside to inform others about the latest development. Everyone was indeed very happy and they rejoiced greatly and Patricia got so emotional to the point that she started shedding tears.
All along Paul kept quiet and he also rejoiced with them and when Patricia was told that the person who paid such a huge amount on their behalf wanted to make it a secret she started suspecting Paul. She decided to confront him about it later in the day, and when she did he had no choice than to expose himself. Patricia was so grateful to him and thanked him greatly and he also instructed her not to inform the rest to avoid unnecessary attention.
*****
Patricia’s mum was prepared for surgery the next day, and she was wheeled into the theatre. The surgery lasted for close to fourteen hours and all through those hours they were praying and pacing to and fro outside the operating room. The surgery was successful and Mrs. Adams was declared safe from all risk and that anytime from that moment she would open her eyes. Patricia was beyond glad to hear the news, she went on her knees right there in front of everyone to thank Paul and boom the cat was let out of the bag and they all took turns to thank Paul and when Patricia’s dad prostrated before him, he was really embarrassed and just walked out of the ward.
Mrs Adams recovered quite early and in the space of twenty-four hours she was already out of coma and free from major complications and everyone was happy. Celestina and Paul decided to take their leave and hoped to see Patricia in school very soon.
“I promise to resume as soon as she gets discharged from the hospital,” Patricia said as she saw her friends to the door followed by her dad.
“Alright! I look forward to seeing you in school and please always charge your phone and keep it with you so that we can always be in touch with you.”
“My son! Thanks a lot for all you did. May God reward you abundantly,” Patricia’s dad said to interrupt the conversation.
“Amen! Thank you so much for the hospitality and care during the period of time we spent here,” Paul replied.
“Haba! What did we do? Please oh! That is nothing, in fact, we are sorry for our lack of hospitality,” Patricia’s dad replied in a funny manner which made all of them giggle.
They chatted while they awaited the bus that would take Paul and Celestina to Ibadan, the bus came and they waved them goodbye.
Mrs Adams was discharged after two weeks and she started her normal activities heartily and everyone was happy, even the neighbours that really didn’t visit them nor care for them while she was at the hospital all came to greet them after she got discharged. Patricia stayed with her mum to help her with some things for about a week after which she decided to resume back to school knowing full well that she would have missed a lot of activities but notwithstanding she was happy to be going back to school.
To be continued…
© Grace Olayemi
