PASTOR HELENA
Written by Nicholas Stephen
Episode 6
(I tried to open up to her)
“Victor it’s midnight you need to rest. Goodnight.” She said and quickly stood up from the bed. Went to turn off the lights and exited the room.
I remained silent as she left the room.
I brought out my phone and called my sister and she picked the call.
“Big bigi this one you didn’t sleep at home today.. You’ve had a new girlfriend I guess.”
“No naa, it’s the pastor I told you about the other day. I’m in her house, she invited me to church and they closed late so she insisted that I should follow home because getting a vehicle that will take me home isn’t going to be easy. That’s how it happened.”
“Alright see you tomorrow then.”
“Ummm don’t know if I’ll be coming tomorrow. Let’s see how it goes.”
‘Why? Bigi I don’t trust you o. I know there’s something fishy that’s making you not to leave. It’s alright it’s your choice.”
“You can’t just understand. It’s hard to explain. Hope you’ve heard from dad.”
“Yes….”
“Don’t worry much. We’ll talk probably tomorrow or next.”
Call ended.
I started watching a movie titled “Titanic” I finished it and I wasn’t feeling sleepy. I strolled to the parlour and everywhere was calm, I only saw pastor’s Bible on top of the table.
I was just loitering about before I noticed Helena’s room. I silently opened the door and realised that she had slept off.
I brought out my phone and took some photos of her, during the process my hand mistakenly hit some, it fell and made a very loud noise. But she didn’t wake up, she only switched position and continued her sleep.
I opened the door and crept out of her room closing the door leniently to avoid her from noticing before heading to my bed.
The next morning after the morning devotion, I told her I want to leave but she insisted on me staying. She said I should stay for some days so that I could get acquainted to the church activities then I agreed. So I strolled out and told her I’d be returning soon, while she took Ada to school.
After staying there for over three days, I noticed that she no longer comes to my room as usual. I was thinking maybe it was because of the silly question I asked her the other day and she often had visitors. I could vividly attest to it that she loves praying and speaking in tongues.
When I told her about my job, she contracted me to be making shoes for her and to some of her members.
And most of my customers had called me several times to deliver shoes to them so I had to deliver the shoes to avoid losing their trust. When I realised that staying would give me an edge over my business, then I decided not to leave.
She told me to follow her to church so I did as instructed when service was over, she pleaded with me to exercise some patience that she had a little meeting with some of her members. Before she wrapped up everything, time was almost clocking 4pm. Meanwhile church started by 9am. That was actually the first time on Sunday that a pastor invited me to church and attended without hesitating.
When we got home. She went to the kitchen to prepare something, after cooking for a while, I went to her room. I sat on her bed and started putting on an act by praying and speaking in tongues.
She heard my voice and left what she was doing. She came to meet me in her room.
“Wow Wow Wow! Victor I love this. Victor I so much love this. I never knew you could pray… You’re even speaking in tongues wow keep the fire burning.. I’m coming let me finish preparing the rice I’ll come and join you.” She said, closed the door a little and left.
When she finished cooking, she came to join me and I told her I’m already tired.
“Alright I’ve prepared something you need to eat. This thing you just did, you need to give it a continuous practice. If you can be be burning the fire everyday you’ll realise that chains will begin to break, things will begin to change in your life. It has happened to me so many times.” She said and sat close to me on the bed.
“But pastor I want to ask you something. Please don’t be offended…” I said to her.
“What is it?”
“I only see you and Ada. Are you married or something because I’ve not seen your husband…..”
“Actually, I’m a single mother. It’s actually a long story but let’s keep that story for another day. Let’s focus on what we were saying.”
“But pastor…..”
“Yes….”
“Pastor….. pastor… The thing is that…”
“What is it Victor, speak up like a man! What is it?”
“What I told you the other night I really mean it. But you just walked away without saying anything. You haven’t given me a response up till now. The truth is I think about you everyday and we are very close.” I muttered, placing my right hand on her shoulder.
