FAMILIAR ENEMY (EPISODE 4) Written by Glorie Adepoju
Pa Benjamin had about seven children, four of which were scattered across the globe, whilst three are based in Nigeria. During all the times I stayed with Pa Benjamin, only his last child visited and called often. Most people assumed Pa Benjamin had only this one child, Mabel. When the funeral rites were over, Madam Mabel called to see me.
“Eki, my Father loved you like his own. You did a great job of taking care of him. You served him faithfully. I want so badly to take you along to live with me and my family. Unfortunately, I can’t, our home is crowded as it now. My husband’s younger twin sisters live with us, there is nowhere else vacant in that house, it just a small space we are managing.” She sighed in frustration, she was quiet and lost in thought, sighing at intervals.
I felt anxious. I had nowhere to go, knew nowhere else. Yes, I had trusted my life into God’s hands, but I couldn’t help but wonder in fear if I would end up homeless and back on the streets.
“Dad made me promise him something as he was dying. He made me promise that you would be well taken care of. I don’t even have the financial capability to achieve that, but then I already gave him my word on his death bed. Whatever it takes I have to fulfil that promise.” She said softly, more to herself than to me, rubbing her temple softly, with her eyes closed. She went quiet, the silence stretched. I almost thought she had fallen asleep, then she spoke again, eyes still closed.
“Go to bed, I’ll let you know my decision.”
“Okay ma, thank you ma.” I said
with a slight bow and went into my room, where I knelt and prayed for an intervention like my life depended on it.
The next morning, she had clearly decided, because we were on our way out of the state. I had no idea what her decision was, or where she was taking me. We arrived at our destination in the evening.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He would direct thy path.” I repeatedly said this scripture under my breath, it was the word I received from God as I poured out my heart to the Lord in prayer last night. Repeating it over was my habit of letting the word sink into my being.
We entered an amazingly impressive looking house with posh interior decoration. The woman I assumed to be the Madam of the house, sat in the living room, a pedicurist was attending to her, completely focused on her job. It was home service obviously. The moment I stepped into the living room, I felt strange
“WELCOME TO YOUR PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT.” came the soft voice. I looked behind me quickly, wondering who had spoken to me. I was shocked to see that no one had said anything, and it occurred to me that the voice must have been what Pa Benjamin usually called the inner voice. The Holy spirit.
“Place of assignment? God wants me to do something here? Me?” I asked in my head, my curiosity heightened and, in my mind, questions arose like several sea waves, loud and drowning the voices and conversations around me. Madam Mabel tapped me; the physical touch seemed to drag me back to reality.
“Ma?” I looked at her in confusion, she must have spoken to me, and I had obviously not been paying attention
“I asked about your age.”
“I’m fifteen years old ma” I said quickly, in the composed manner that Pa Benjamin had taught me.
The woman glanced at me briefly;
“She speaks good English.” She said in a tone suggested that she was impressed. Madam Mabel had a satisfied smile.
“Mabel, there’s already the maid who cleans and takes care of the house, another maid who washes clothes, we have a chef too. What exactly would I be needing another for?” She said with a shrug. Madam Mabel adjusted on her seat uncomfortably
“I don’t need another…but then…” she seemed deep in thought for some seconds, Madam Mabel almost looked as if she was holding her breath. I waited eagerly as well.
…to be continued…
pEn&pApEr
GLORIEADEPOJU
