THE STRANGE PROPOSAL
Part 9
©Franca Uwuigiaren
I had finished taking care of my family, but leaving home for the motor park became difficult. I kept looking at my sick children and wife. What if I leave and something bad happens? Yet, if I don’t go out to hustle, how do I raise money for the family? I summoned up courage and told Oroma that I was going to the motor park, but I promised to return home on time.
“Call me if there’s anything,” I told her.
“Alright! Please take care of yourself.”
I got to the door, about to open it, when my last child started coughing. Early that morning, he woke up with a hot temperature and cough. I had to run to the chemist to purchase cough syrup with the money I asked Oroma to hold. Now I have no other money with me.
I rushed to the kitchen, got him some water to drink, and when the cough subsided, I left the house. I had no money, so I had to trek.
So many thoughts occupied my mind, especially the previous day, as I trekked to the motor park. There’s this desire in me to know God more. I desire to be grounded like those kids who know what they’re doing. I know that in the future, those children won’t be deceived by fake prophets as I was deceived. Was I really deceived, or was I gullible? Well, I wished my kids and wife would be grounded too.
I wondered if I met any of those kids’ parents to teach me what they knew; they won’t laugh at me. Probably I could call those kids and tell them to tell me about Jesus.
“What was that voice I heard last night?” I asked myself aloud. That voice that sent fear into my heart. Anyway, I was determined to know more about Jesus. I will talk to the kids first, then probably their parents. I hope I won’t be laughed at.
I got to the motor park and saw that a bus was parked, and the driver was calling passengers. There were two passengers already inside the bus, so I joined him and started calling passengers. “Main gate, Iyanga, Port City…enter…” I called.
“Oga, why you dey pursue passengers? I dey call them, and you dey pursue them,” the driver told me angrily.
“Me? How? But you heard me calling passengers, nah.”
“No! Oga no! I know wetin I hear. You dey tell passengers make them no enter the bus. Na wetin I hear. You no see as that man look you? Abeg no spoil market for me this morning.” He said.
I stepped back and looked at him speechlessly for a time. He kept calling passengers until it filled, and drove off. Other buses soon drove in, but I was scared for fear that a driver will accuse me of spoiling business for him.
For a very long time, I watched other hustlers do their thing and get paid. I wanted to go home, but if I leave, then what? How will I get money?
A bus soon parked in front of me, and I heard the driver calling Main Gate, so I joined in calling the direction of the bus. I was grateful that the driver didn’t complain. He paid me my money and drove off as soon as it filled.
I was able to work for three drivers until one of the hustlers told me to settle madam. Initially, I didn’t understand what he was saying until he said he saw me when I arrived at the motor park with madam.
“It’s like you didn’t settle her at all. See the way she squeezed her face.”
“Madam? Which madam, and where did you see my madam?”
“But you sef, why did you have to bring her to your place of hustling? She doesn’t need to know this place, na.” He said.
I glanced at where he was pointing, but I didn’t see anyone.
“Go and settle her. In my little experience, when madam is angry, work doesn’t move well,” he said, grinning.
He left me as soon as a bus stopped. I kept looking at the direction he pointed, and didn’t find anyone. Oroma is home, unable to walk, so which madam is he talking of? I walked up to him and said, “Guy, where the madam dey…which kain play be this?”
“Play? She dey near you, and she fold her hands for chest. Turn small, and see her glaring angrily at you. See, we get work before things messed up, but then our wives shouldn’t know that this is the kind of thing we do to hustle. My madam doesn’t know the kind of work I do. I don’t want to lose my respect, but I am hoping for God to open my way. Guy, take your wife go house, abeg.”
I felt the guy was crazy because all I saw were people walking up and down in the park.
“My guy, your wife fine sha oo. If I were you, I will take her home and settle with her.” He repeated.
I just decided to dismiss him and what he said. There were a lot of women moving about their business in the park. Perhaps he thought one of them was my wife.
I left him to hustle. I had loaded one of the buses successfully and collected my money when one of the passengers said, “Why is this woman behind you so angry? Did you offend her? See how aggressive she looks at you. Maybe you slept with her and didn’t pay her.”
Everyone in the bus laughed, and I moved backward as the driver started to drive away. I stood at that spot and watched until the bus drove into the distance. I was surprised. Which madam, and who, and where’s this madam? I turned and looked around me, perhaps somebody somewhere was staring at me. The park was so busy, as people moved here and there.
Suddenly, I became thirsty and needed water. The weather had become hot. I saw a woman hawking satchel water and called her. I bought two and paid her, but just as I assisted her in putting her goods on her head, she said,
“Brother, I want to tell you something, but make you no vex. You need to pray well well.”
I nodded my head in understanding.
“As I dey come meet you to sell water for you, God open my eyes, and I see you for bondage. E get one wicked spirit wey vow to destroy you, and that spirit dey follow you. As I dey talk to you, the spirit dey here. You no look like a child of God because you dey open; nothing dey protect you. You need the protection of God. No edge of God around you. You open! Things they enter you and come out, and e no good. Run to God. Pray! I see say your spirit weak like ripe plantain wey dem fry. You know the know the one wey overripe na. Your spirit too weak. You know say as you dey like this, if bad person call your name for one wicked altar, your death na one hand.”
“God forbid!”
“God forbid, but nothing cover you. Tell me wetin cover you…no protection. You just dey on your own like pikin wey no get parents.” I was speechless too.
“Oga, I hope say you nor dey vex.” “Ah! No oo. You just tell me wetin God show you, and make I tell you the truth, my life don dey upside down already.”
“Wetin you dey wait for? Na only Jesus Christ fit save you. Go meet am…look for better church go. Go church wey get fire of God. Church wey dem dey preach God’s word well and pray. If you no hide under Jesus, your own don finish.” I thanked her profusely, and as I watched her go, it was as if I should cry. Sighing, I told myself that it was time to go home.
Since I came, I had not loaded up to six vehicles, and I had spent fifty naira on water. I didn’t move from that spot but started drinking the water I bought when suddenly I saw someone standing not too far from me, staring angrily at me. The eyes were red with anger, and her hands were folded across her b*****s.
Just as I recognized her as the river goddess, the picture faded away. “Ah! She’s the madam they were talking of” I murmured.
Instantly, I made up my mind to look for a church. Another thing that posed a problem was how to identify a church that has the power of God or his fire? Well, I threw the empty satchel of water and started going home.
What will I tell Oroma when I get home? That there was no business? I didn’t think of entering a bike because, at the end, I will have not a dime left. I started trekking.
As I trekked, I thought of what the woman saw and told me. No wonder I was told to settle madam because she has been watching me. Well, I was going to hide in Jesus. I will allow him to protect me, but I need to know more of what to do.
Another thing entered my mind, that yesterday was orchestrated by God, where I had the opportunity to listen to the children in my compound talking. It was actually rare to see me carry a chair outside to sit. Look at the way God used the children to stir my heart.
I have trekked for thirty minutes, and I know I still have more minutes to go. I was already tired. I needed to rest a little, so I sat on a pavement outside a compound. I will just catch my breath before proceeding home.
I imagined Oroma getting angry when I narrate my experience. She would start to beg me again to accept the marriage proposal of the river goddess. Sighing, I looked around my surroundings and noticed that there was a compound opposite where I sat. It was fenced but had no gate. There was a church in the compound. I sat there staring at the church before removing my eyes. The street was a busy street as well. People were passing.
I balanced well, placing my back on the wall, and soon closed my eyes. Just as I closed my eyes, I saw a man standing at the church entrance, beckoning me to come. I opened my eyes instantly and looked at the direction of the church, but there was no one there.
Suddenly, I felt a pull, and I stood up and started moving towards the direction of the church. The church building was just a small one. I moved round the building, but there was nobody there. I moved again to the back and turned to the other side, still no one. From the other side, I noticed the church was open, so I initially peeped, then stood at the entrance undecided.
Inside was bright and beautiful. The plastic white chairs were neatly arranged, and the floor was clean. I saw the musical instruments in the choir stand and wondered why the church was not completely locked. Is the pastor not afraid of thieves? Anyway, I stood there admiring the church when suddenly I heard my name. Oh yes! I heard my name, within me. It was a beautiful and calm voice. I wasn’t afraid. I stood there wondering what was happening. I heard it again, and this time, he said, “Come to me, Obiama.”
I didn’t go to the choir stand or where the congregation sits. I saw myself moving towards the altar of the church. Even though I didn’t see any person in the altar with my physical eyes, I knew there was a powerful personality there, as I lay prostrated on the altar. This person is so great and powerful, and I could feel it. I could feel his love flooding my heart, and I could hear this personality saying, “I love you, Obiama. I love you unconditionally.” I was so overwhelmed that I began to cry.
I cried so much and began to pour my heart to him. I told him all the things going on in my life and the mistakes that I have made.
“I just want you to forgive me all my sins. Please! I want to abide in you. I surrender my life, my will, my wife, and children to you. I surrender everything that concerns us to you. Take control. I want you to come and abide in us too.”
I lay there weeping, but He kept telling me He loves me so much. I didn’t know how many minutes or hours I lay there, saying nothing. I didn’t want to go home anymore. There was peace, calm, joy, and love in my heart.
When I eventually stood up and checked the time, I knew I needed to start going home. I will tell my wife this overwhelming experience today. I stood there looking at the altar.
It was just a beautiful experience I had in the church, and I told myself that I was coming back the following day.
I walked out of the church and started trekking home. My heart was full of joy, and my mind was at peace. I couldn’t wait to share my experience with Oroma. As I walked, I felt a sense of freedom that I had never felt before. I felt like a heavy burden had been lifted off my shoulders. I knew that I had made the right decision by surrendering my life to Jesus.
To be continued…
