Anome (A Christian Story)

Chapter 1

Dad left.
Mum died.
I'm all alone.

I threw on some clothes and jogged up to my Saturday class. I left my bag at school on Friday.

No food at home. What do I do?

I entered the school gate. I brisk walked to my class. I came earlier than others. The class was empty. My bag was in a corner of the classroom. It was open and dusty. There were even footmarks on it.

I searched frantically for my most important book. My diary. It was in a secret compartment I created for it.

Phew!

It was there. I flipped through it. No funny business. I sat down at my usual seat at the back of the class and wrote out my heart onto the book.

Amarachi strolled into the class.
A rich kid's daughter. I've never talked to her before. We always minded our businesses.

She took a seat in the second row of the class and started mumbling.

Leave joor!

She finished 'mumbling'. Though, I knew she was praying. Then, she left. I locked the class doors and windows and searched her bag. I found a wad of cash in her purse. I kept it safely in my pocket and put a handkerchief in the same pocket to cover it. I quickly zipped her purse and bag and opened the doors and windows. I did all this under a minute.

I had always been astonished at the amount of money this girl keeps bringing to school. She never knew that I was 'helping' her to 'take good care' of her money. Others came to class and sat down.

Soon, Mrs Pako entered the classroom. She taught English. I was a natural at English and Mathematics but when it came to other subjects that I had to read, it was a huge problem for me. A huge one.

After the class, I bought a loaf of bread, some beverages, a lot of milk, pasta and some snacks.

I made some pasta and had a cool drink of milk.

I stared at the living room emotionlessly.

No sibling
No money
No job
No friend
No mom
No dad
No food
No love

So, it literally means no life.

I brought the pointed part of the sharp knife closed to my chest. As usual, at that my moment, something happened, my neighbors dog jumped into my home.

What the heck?!!!

I flung the knife under the chair opposite of me because I knew that the dog's owner would soon come in too.

He did. He knocked. I opened the door.

"If you continue jumping over the fence, I'll have you arrested." I said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, I'm sorry." He said in his deep voice.

You better be.

"Now, leave!"

"Okay. But, just so you'll know, Jesus loves you, a lot."

"Can you just leave?"

"Yeah, I'll leave now. Sorry about that but, won't you come out for some fresh air. I can get you some ice cream."

I love ice cream. But, I better not show my excitement.
Why is he offering so much?
Why am I bothered?
He should get it and bring it to me.
Or was it a compensation for jumping over my mini fence?

"Why are you offering so much?"

"That's because I noticed that you are closed off and my dog keeps disturbing your peace."

" I don't wanna go out."

"I'll bring it to you then. Well, see you soon. Bye."

I sat back and waited for my ice cream. I remembered the knife but postponed my suicide to immediately after my ice cream.

He came back and gave me a litre of chocolate ice cream. I hated strawberry anything. It was a good choice.

I mumbled my thanks to him as I started digging in into my ice cream. He didn't go back to wherever he came from. He even sat down in my living room.

What audacity!

"I have to tell you something Anome. Someone loves you."

I ignored him and focused my attention on the now half empty bowl of ice cream. When something struck my mind.

"How did you know my name?"

"I was told."

A long silence.

"So, will you come with me to church?"

I almost choked on my ice cream. I swallowed and laughed heartily.

He looked confused. That was how Amara tried to preach to me.

If there was still a God up there, why did he leave me alone? Why is he invisible? Why is he not providing food? Why did he let me suffer? So, why would I worship him?

I laughed for so long that I forgot that the ice cream would melt. It was already runny when I stopped laughing.

I glanced at the boy. He had a straight face.

"No, I can't." I said as politely as I could.

He stood.

"I won't let your soul get lost. Bye for now."
He turned to leave.

"Good riddance!"

He heard me and smiled.

He spoke under his breath and left.

I kept the ice cream in the freezer hoping for electricity. I slept.

I had a long dream. I saw my mother.