Pastor Man’s POV (point of view)
The hardness of the stool was enough to reconcile me to the truth of what Ophelia had done. I threw a glance over Veronica’s beauty products as she picked a lotion from the table. She’d just taken a bath.
“What’s on your mind? You seem lost.” She said.
“These children can’t be trusted. Right under my roof such promiscuity.” I buried my head in my palms. ”Who knows what else she’s done or is capable of doing?”
“What happened?” Veronica threw her arms around my neck and our eyes were fixed on the mirror.
“Tsuip!…it’s terrible.”
“Is it Ophelia; what did she do?”
“Who else? I caught her kissing that technician; right before my eyes. Did I make a mistake to bring her to our home? Last time she spanked Rachael and she seems close with Jacob… what if they’ve?”
“They’ve what? It can’t happen; I trust Jacob. He would tell me if there was anything fishy.”
“But she was…I mean he is a man after all?”
“Have you interrogated her?”
“No. We’ve done everything in our power to ensure that she is okay…how can she still…”
“Let’s hear her side of the story.”
“What could she probably say? I’ve asked her uncountable times if she’s okay with how things are done. If anyone is mistreating her, I mean, you inspect how she takes medications, everything that needs to be in place for her to stay healthy is available. She’s ungrateful. Very ungrateful!”
“Or she’s really struggling.”
“What I saw didn’t look like someone who is struggling. Besides I have been very open and if she has any struggles she knows she can always come to me.”
“But she’s a teenager Dr. Terrence you know better how these things work. She’s been alone for most parts of her life. These things take time.”
“What if I signed in for trouble by bringing her here?”
“You told me God asked you to do it.”
“Now that I think about it, I probably took her in because she looks like my brother. I must have heard myself and not God.”
She chuckled. “Pastor Terrence, are we debating about how clearly you hear God?”
“She was kissing; aren’t you taking it too lightly?”
“So do you want to send her away?”
“Of course not but…”
“Just because she was kissing doesn’t change the word you received on this matter. If anything she needs us now. Let’s hear her first.”
“Okay… call her here.”
I made a draft of what I would ask and how I would ask. She had gone overboard. Few minutes later, Veronica barged in to the room; her breathing raced.
“I can’t find her.”
My heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean you can’t find her?”
“We’ve searched everywhere.”
“What are you talking about?” I sprang up from the chair and rushed to the living room.
“Everyone get in here.” I hollered. “....Where is she? Rachael!”
She squirmed. “I don’t know daddy…”
“Hmm…you don’t know?” Jacob glared daggers. “If you hadn’t been rude and insensitive, she would be here.” He leaned on the couch.
Rachael pouted. “Don’t say what you don’t know.”
“You kept shoving her flaws in her face. She‘s gone, you must be so excited.”
“What’s happening here?” Veronica asked.
“What’s happening is…”
“We need to find her…” Rachael interrupted.
“Keep quite!” Jacob scolded. I was nonplussed; he was always calm, collected and rarely spoke his mind.
“As I was saying…Rachael and Ophelia had a misunderstanding and Ophelia begged to be forgiven, even I begged but nooo. Rachael has the heart of stone; she would not budge. She kept on picking fights with Ophelia and talking down on her. I asked Ophelia to tell Mommy or you but she said she didn’t want to cause friction. Today, Rachael called her a prostitute in the kitchen and here we are now.”
“What is the misunderstanding about?” I asked.
“Answer; what is it about?”Jacob chimed. “…Aha, see; you can’t even remember.”
“Why are you making it sound as though she is perfect? She hurt me.”
“Okay, how did she hurt you?”
“She was insensitive too. I’m sorry… I didn’t mean for her to leave. I was hurt and angry.”
“For a whole month?”
“You always take her side even when she’s wrong.”
“That’s a lie; you are self centered.”
“One more word from any of you and you will be on the streets until she’s back. We raise you better. Rachael if this is true, you disappoint me. Where did you keep the Holy Spirit while you were busy being bitter? How do you so easily grieve him; how?” I bawled.
“I…I …was jealous.” She said as though it provided some sort of balm to the situation.
“Jealous?”
She sniffled. “You had a new talented daughter. And…”
“We are dealing with people’s lives here; do you think it’s a drama…what is the jealousy for?”
“… Then she told me you were her uncle so… I was scared that…”
“You say these things as if it’s a justification. Am I not like an uncle to you as well?”
She looked at Jacob suspiciously.
“What’s that look?” I asked.
“Ophelia found out she’s your niece.” Jacob blurted and I remembered her ecstasy that night when she showed me the picture of me and my brother.
“What? How is I and Mommy hearing all this just now? Jacob! Why didn’t you come to me?” He squirmed. “Mommy please, get me my car keys. Jacob come with me.” I had to find her. For the first time in a while, I was anxious. My niece! O how long I had searched for them.
***********
😇❤️ Jesus🔥
YOU ARE READING
OPHELIA
General FictionThe seed of revenge in OPHELIA TEGAH blossoms as she unexpectedly found her self in the hands of the ghetto after a traumatic childhood. Can she find the satisfaction she desires or how many more people have to suffer?
