Strength and Mercy

Holy, Holy - Ava

Summer 2003

"Daddy, I'm telling you, he ain't a good man!" Ava shouted to the top of her lungs.

"Keep your voice down, child," her father hissed.

Stinging tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with her father in the dank church basement. Amadi Bello knew Ava was never one to lie and held true to that even as a thirteen year-old. But her father couldn't understand what she was telling him. He could see the pain in her still innocent brown eyes but he still couldn't wrap his head around it. He knew his pastor, they had been friends since he immigrated to Charleston in the eighties with his late wife, Ade. This man housed him, helped him start his career at a prominent law firm, and appointed him as Chairman of the Deacon board. He was his greatest companion. There's no way this kind of man would do something so heinous. Especially not to a child that he himself blessed and baptised.

"You need to confront him. You're the most respected person here, everyone in church listens to you. PLEASE, DADDY!"

"Enough!" her father bellowed. "This is not like you and I did not raise you to be such a... melodramatic mess!"

She could tell her father was on the edge because his acquired Southern accent was slowly slipping into his Nigerian one. Her father never acted this way towards her before. He would at least hear her out first and then investigate the matter for himself. But this was why she was scared to come to him in the first place. He always had a soft spot for the pastor, no matter what he did or how many of his messes her father had to clean up after him in the church and the courthouse. But she couldn't stay quiet. She wanted to wait until the service was over but after the way Pastor Williams looked at her when he was ushered down the aisle she couldn't take it anymore. She ran downstairs to vomit from disgust and her father followed close behind her since he was worried. She used that moment to tell him everything she thought he could handle. She considered as many scenarios she could think of though she prayed that it wouldn't be this one.

"I'm not being dramatic, I'm telling you the truth! I'm not the only one..."

Her father stood like a statue with an unreadable expression.

"Ask Jenna, Tonya, Neicy...you can even ask Eric," she sniffled, twisting the bow on her wax print skirt. "They'll tell you, and their story sounds a lot like mine. No one is doing anything about it but you can stop it, Daddy. No one else has to hurt because of h---"

"Get out," her father said quietly.

Her stomach completely dropped and her chest felt like it was burning.She was stunned and though she didn't hear him correctly. However, the words played over and over in her mind as proof that she heard right. The tears that sprang forth were bigger and hotter. Her lip quivered and she bit down on it to keep it still. The pain she felt on her lip was minute compared to the ache she felt in heart. She wanted to scream and but the sound died in her throat. Her world began to spin and it seemed as though her ears were ringing. The only thing keeping her tied to the present was the faint sound of the soloist singing "Take My Hand, Precious Lord".

"Get out and go to the house," he said.

"How could you..." she replied, almost inaudibly.

"I will deal with you later. Now, get out of this church!" he shouted.

Ava shut her eyes and quickly ran up the stairs leaving her father to his thoughts.

It was a wonder the two weren't heard but most of the congregation was so wrapped up in the song that no one minded their absence. The only one that took notice was Mother Henson. Mother Henson had been close to the family especially after Ade passed. Because Ava and the Mother forged such a strong bond over the years it encouraged Ava to confide in her about what the pastor had done. She was shocked and devastated and wanted to tell the congregation but Ava begged her not to. Mother Henson couldn't stand being in the sanctuary knowing what Williams did. It was the reason she barely came to the church but she often used sickness as a cover. When Mother Henson did come to church she sat in the back just in case she couldn't take sitting in the pews. saw that the Deacon followed his daughter she figured all would be well. That is until Ava jetted out the door. Mother Henson tried to catch her but the girl was faster than she realized.

When Ava got outside it felt like a hand reached down her throat and snatched the breath right out of her chest. She couldn't keep herself upright so she sat on the hot, stone steps hoping to gain her bearings. The muggy air left much to be desired but the stable surface eased her. In spite of the physical comfort, she felt the despair slowly consuming her being. Suddenly, she felt a gentle grasp on her shoulder and when she turned to see it was Mother Henson her anxiety and sadness released like a floodgate. Ava buried her face in Mother Henson's lap and released an unearthly wail that would have disturbed the dead. Mother Henson comforted the girl the best way she could while trying keep her own composure. It felt like hours had passed before Ava's body wasn't wracking with sobs. She felt a slight headache throbbing on her left side and her eyes felt sore from her weeping. When Ava fully calmed down she told Mother Henson about what happened in the basement. After hearing Ava's account Mother Henson made up her mind about what had to be done.

"Listen here," she started. "We gonna take that joker to court and expose him for what he is, a devil in the cloth! Imma help you and we gonna get through this thing together."

Ava felt some comfort in the Mother's words but it didn't completely ease the dread.

"B-but, what about my Dad?"

Mother Henson sat her up and hugged her tight. "Don't worry about your Daddy, I'll deal with him.However, for the time being, you come stay with me. Maybe if you stay with me I can help you get some meat on your bones."

Ava chuckled at the comment but her thoughts soon wandered to what was ahead. She wasn't sure if she could face her rapist in court, especially if his lawyer was her father.

A/N Thank you for reading so far. Things will get a little hectic from here but I think you can handle it. Critiques and comments are welcome!