Tina Daniels: A Short Story

CHAPTER TWO

          Two weeks went by and everything seemed fine so far. My classmates loved me.... Or so it seemed. I could tell some were jealous of me. I started to top everyone in class academically, and it was so obvious that Jane was furious.
          Jane, as I had heard, was the best in the class. Then I came in and it was clear being in second place made her angry. But I couldn't help it, could I? I couldn't do bad in my studies to please some arrogant girl.
          As for Mary, she helped me a lot to blend in. She also told me a lot about Jesus that I started to love him. A MAN WHO WALKED ON WATER!!! I sure couldn't stop thinking about him. I started to love Jesus and Mary even invited me to her church a couple of times. I loved it!
Seeing the joy on people's faces and the way they danced, I was amazed.

          Mary told me about everyone in class. There were Godwin, Victor and Dan: The neat and clean boys that everyone wanted to be like.

Glory and Precious: The sneakers who always sneaked out of class to buy snacks.

Penelope: The onlooker who always watches everyone, hardly talks and never socializes.

Laura, Peace and Vera: The gossipers who talked about anyone and everyone.

Michael: The class sleeper who slept in almost every class.

Lisa, Lavender, Divine and Grace:  The social freaks that wanted to be friends with everyone

Kendrick: The handsome boy all the teachers and students liked. Charming

Mary: The Christian girl who loves God, always stood up for what was right and had few friends.

Jane: The rude pretty intelligent girl of the class. That was until I came, I wasn't rude though.

I got to know them all and interact with them....well except Penelope. It was Friday afternoon, Jane walked up to me in class, I stared at her, wondering what was wrong. I watched her approach me slowly.
   "Hey Tina" Jane said.
   "Hey" I gave a short reply.
She placed a parcel on my table.
   "What's this?" I asked.
   "A little something for you. You missed my birthday party yesterday so I thought I should bring you some cake"

I looked at her in confusion. It was her birthday, I was the one that should get her a gift and not the other way around.

   "Oh, thanks" I said. "I'm really sorry that I didn't get you anything".
   "No, there's no problem" she said and left.
I put the cake in my bag

          School had closed. Mum always dropped me off at school but I went home alone each day. I was about to leave the class when I heard someone shouting my name. I turned back to see and saw Mary running towards me.
   "What's the matter?" I asked.
   "Um Tina, do you have any plans after school today?" she asked.
I looked at her. After running like that, how was she not gasping for air.
   "Not that I know of, what's up?"
   "We're having a service at church this evening and I was hoping that you'd come"
   "Why not? Of course I'll come" I replied.
   "Great! You can go home and come over later, the time's 4pm. Or you can follow me home if you want" Mary said.

I knew my mom wouldn't bother if I come home late, the only reason why she dropped me off every morning was because she takes the same route to my school as she does to her work. I knew she loved me and all, but we weren't close, I could leave the house anytime I wanted and come back anytime I wanted too. She never gave advice on stuff that I do. I saw it as freedom anyway.
   "I'll follow you home" I said. So we went to her house.
          Her house wasn't as big as mine but the air smelt homely. I walked in and saw Mary's mom.
   "Good afternoon ma" I greeted. I had seen her a few times when I followed Mary to her church.
   "Oh my dear Tina, how are you?"
   "I'm fine ma" I answered.
   "Mummy good afternoon" Mary greeted her mother. Her mom gave her a warm hug and I suddenly felt jealous. If only mom hugged me, I thought.

  When the time had come, we went to church. I loved it! The way they worshipped, it was awesome. All the sessions passed and it was time for the sermon. The pastor, Pst. Friday gave a wonderful sermon. It was as if he was talking to me.
          He said that we served a God who is the father to the fatherless. I really never remembered my dad, but after listening to the ministration, I realized that I have a father after all......One who loves me more than all.

          After the service was over, pastor Friday came to meet me, saying he had something to tell me. I listened.
He told me that he saw me taking some kind of food item from a friend. I asked him how he saw, because I was confused. He said that God showed him. I was so amazed. He told me not to eat it.

I went home that evening and when I was in my room, I opened the parcel of cake. I didn't understand why I was told not to eat it but I didn't. I felt bad for Jane though, so I kept the cake in my drawer.
The next day in school, Jane asked me if I had eaten the cake. I don't know why I lied, but I told her I ate it. How happy she was!

I forgot about the cake until the next week. When I opened the parcel, I was shocked!
   Believe it or not, I found a finger in it. A human finger. No cake!
I couldn't tell my mom, I was not close to her anyway, so I told Mary, and she told her mom. She took me to pastor Friday and I was told that if I had eaten the cake, I would have died. I wondered what jealousy could make people do.

I clearly remember pastor Friday telling me:

Ephesians 6:12-13
F͟o͟r͟ w͟e͟ w͟r͟e͟s͟t͟l͟e͟ n͟o͟t͟ a͟g͟a͟i͟n͟s͟t͟ f͟l͟e͟s͟h͟ a͟n͟d͟ b͟l͟o͟o͟d͟, b͟u͟t͟ a͟g͟a͟i͟n͟s͟t͟ p͟r͟i͟n͟c͟i͟p͟a͟l͟i͟t͟i͟e͟s͟, a͟g͟a͟i͟n͟s͟t͟ p͟o͟w͟e͟r͟s͟, a͟g͟a͟i͟n͟s͟t͟ t͟h͟e͟ r͟u͟l͟e͟r͟s͟ o͟f͟ t͟h͟e͟ d͟a͟r͟k͟n͟e͟s͟s͟ o͟f͟ t͟h͟i͟s͟ w͟o͟r͟l͟d͟, a͟g͟a͟i͟n͟s͟t͟ s͟p͟i͟r͟i͟t͟u͟a͟l͟ w͟i͟c͟k͟e͟d͟n͟e͟s͟s͟ i͟n͟ h͟i͟g͟h͟ p͟l͟a͟c͟e͟s͟.

W͟h͟e͟r͟e͟f͟o͟r͟e͟ t͟a͟k͟e͟ u͟n͟t͟o͟ y͟o͟u͟ t͟h͟e͟ w͟h͟o͟l͟e͟ a͟r͟m͟o͟u͟r͟ o͟f͟ G͟o͟d͟, t͟h͟a͟t͟ y͟e͟ m͟a͟y͟ b͟e͟ a͟b͟l͟e͟ t͟o͟ w͟i͟t͟h͟s͟t͟a͟n͟d͟ i͟n͟ t͟h͟e͟ e͟v͟i͟l͟ d͟a͟y͟ a͟n͟d͟ h͟a͟v͟i͟n͟g͟ d͟o͟n͟e͟ a͟l͟l͟, t͟o͟ s͟t͟a͟n͟d͟.

I asked him how I can have this armour, and he told me to read Ephesians 6: 14-18.