Wendy

Chapter 23: You Again 2

"It's just a mild case of malaria. I'll write some prescriptions and how they should be taken," Margret said as she scribbled away on the prescription paper.

She didn't want to look up. Even though she was painfully aware of Ken's presence, she fought hard to maintain a professional air.

"Are you still embarrassed about the meeting at your house?"

Margret gripped her pen tighter and struggled to concentrate on what she was writing. Why did his voice have to sound like some kind of polished anchor man? She groaned internally before forcing her eyes to meet his.

"Why should I be?" Margret asked casually as she folded her arms. She knew it was a defensive gesture but she didn't care.

"Never mind. Sorry I asked." Ken smiled at her, flashing perfect teeth. Why does he have to have such a good smile?

Argh.

"I'm used to getting attacked by my mother. I'm sure the only thing that makes her happy about my life is the fact that I'm a doctor. She's disappointed in me." Margret wasn't sure why she added that bit, but a part of her, a way bigger part, felt comfortable doing so.

"I understand how you feel." Ken said as he fixed her with a steady gaze. Margret looked away, choosing to stare at the prescription paper on her desk. She was feeling incredibly self conscious.

"I doubt you do. You have no idea how she makes me feel." Margret said with a hint of sadness. She felt so wary. Maybe she should dismiss Ken and head home. Before she could act on thought, Ken started speaking.

"My dad was also very religious. All the years I knew him, I never felt good enough in his sight or God's for that matter. I tried so hard. I was a good kid; I attended every church service, sang in the choir and I was even a youth leader at a certain point. It would seem at the time I felt he was about to give me his right hand of fellowship, Sophia came along," Ken said with a faraway look on his eyes. His gaze shifted to his son playing with Lego bricks at the far corner of the room.

"Yikes! I'm taking your time. I should go." Ken stood to leave. Margret found herself not wanting him to leave.

Surprise, surprise, her subconscious mocked.

"It's no bother, your son was my last patent any way. Please continue what you were saying." Margret managed a smile. She liked the calm air the man exuded.

No you don't! You're just using him as an excuse not to face your miserable life! A voice shrieked in her head. Margret gritted her teeth and chose to ignore it.

"Okay." He took his seat once more and relaxed into it. Margret noticed the man had kind eyes.

"Sophia was not the regular type of Christian. She had this beautiful wildness about her that pulled me like a moth to a flame. Her lifestyle was like a breath of fresh air. She didn't struggle in her faith walk... it just flowed. Her love for people was very real, unlike the kind I was exposed to. But what I saw as beautiful, my father saw as untamed. He always referred to her as a leaven that corrupts. He told me to stay away from her."

Margret thought Sophia sounded a lot like Rose. She couldn't help being interested in what he was saying- Christianity and all.

"I wanted to please my father so I stayed away. I continued my routine legalistic life, graduated Law School and got a job. But you know what?" Ken asked as he glanced at her.

Was that a rhetorical question or...? When Margret saw he was waiting for her reply, she quickly answered.

"What?"

"God was just determined to make me have Sophia in my life," Ken said with a wistful smile.

Margret fought the unease she felt as he spoke of the woman. Was it jealousy?
Why are you so weird and foolish? She shook her head internally and forced her mind to focus on what Ken was saying.

"I met her again at a certain summit and her carefree, loving spirit pulled me in once more. This time, I refused to fight it.
I got to understand from her that God is nothing like my earthly father. And I realised how our parents relates to us affects how we relate to God. It's a circle that only gets broken when we see God's love as something that has no strings attached."
Ken was looking at his son as he spoke.

"God doesn't breath down our necks with a hammer handy, ever ready to bash the life out of us if we dare slip. He is way better than the best parent on earth. It was a sweet relief when I accepted this truth. I felt free for the first time." Ken smiled as he spoke.

Margret nodded. Why did it feel like she had never heard this before? She leaned forward and rested her arms on her desk. Listening with rapt attention.

"When I told my father I wanted to leave his church, he became furious. In all my years, I've never seen him that mad. You see, he was the pastor and he had been living with the hope that I'll take over his ministry when he's done. What he didn't know was I never had the desire to be a pastor. I only did the whole youth pastor thing to please him." Ken released a humourless laugh. It was obvious the memory wasn't something he cherished.

"He couldn't understand that I wouldn't continue in a church that dished religious burdens instead of love.
I left his church without his blessing and joined the one Sophia attended. I married her two years later and he refused to attend the wedding. Even when Bodunde was born, he refused to come."

Margret felt sorry for the man. She even felt a kind of kin spirit with the him; their parents were awfully alike. Maybe they should get married or something. She suppressed an amused giggle and focused on Ken's words.

"The only time he came around was when Sophia died. It was by far the most painful moment of my life. My son was only a few months old and I felt abandoned by God. My father told me God was the one that took my wife. He said God used her death as a tool to break me because I was running away from ministry like Jonah. I didn't listen to him. He still hasn't spoken to me till this day." Ken scoffed then sat straighter on his seat. Bodunde walked over and dropped a weird looking Lego design on his father's lap.

"You know, my mother told me something similar." Margret said as she handed the prescription sheet to Ken.

"Awch, sorry. No parent deserves to hear that. So you see what I mean when I say I understand how you feel?" Ken asked. There was compassion in the man's eyes as he hugged his son closer.

"Yeah, I do. When I heard her say Wendy was killed by God...I..." Margret sighed heavily as she shifted her gaze to her daughter's picture.

"Wendy."

"Huh?" Margret asked in surprise as she looked at Bodunde. Had the boy just called her daughter's name? He was pointing at Wendy's picture.

"You know her?" Ken asked his son with a puzzled expression on his face.

"Aha. She was my seat mate. Told you about her birthday, remember? She always listens to me talk about my superheroes. Our teacher said she left our school. I miss her sometimes." Bodunde said quietly as he looked at Wendy's picture.

Margret didn't know if she was to cry or laugh.

⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇Hi hi,
So Wendy reached over a thousand veiws and I was like: WOOOOOOHOOO! Haha. 😂
Thanks so much guys; mega grateful to God. 😍😢

Few more chapters and we'll call it a wrap.
The votes and comments you guys give me always makes me feel sooooo good. Thanks again.
Love y'all. 😙❤