One Giant Step for a Black Girl Praying to God in a Cubicle

Chapter 6: Fancy Stranger

The next day, Nandi walked down the stairs to grab a quick breakfast. She was headed to church. She found Rene laying on the couch cuddling with Ginger. They were watching a k-drama. Rene had kept covering Ginger's eyes every time a kissing scene popped up. Nandi shook her head at her friend treating Ginger like a child.

Nandi went to the kitchen and found energy bars stacked in the left corner of their grey pantry. She also noticed some Pepero with the EXO members faces on the packaging. Nandi found it a bit odd but she was not gonna say anything. She also noticed loads of green tea and was thankful for those. They would help her detox after a long day at work. She knew she would need them one of these days. She also noticed some coffee, noodles, rice, various spices, flour, tins of fish, dog food at the lowest stacking row of the pantry. She also saw other items she had no time to inspect. She would do them later. She didn't wanna be late for a sermon. All eyes would be on her if she arrived late.

"off to church are we?" Rene asked, her eyes were still glued to the TV screen as Nandi reentered in the living area .

"why ye---"

"Put a ring on it! Put a ring on it!" shouted Rene at the actor on the tv who as on some date with a woman who looked familiar. IU Nandi thought to herself. She ignored her friend's insanity.

"oh, you were saying?" Rene asked innocently as she battered her lashes at her friend.
"Nothing. why are you not dressed?" Nandi waited for an answer from her friend. She knew Rene needed some Jesus in her life.

Rene laughed as if she read her friend's mind, "I'm going to the afternoon service. Most people are not there since it's a Sunday. makes it easier to listen to the pastor. "

Rene was right. But Nandi always liked going in the mornings. She had gotten used to it. She felt if she went in the afternoon, she would be tired and slouchy. Well, everyone has their own time as to when to go and praise the LORD. She was not gonna take Rene out of her afternoon service. She left her and was on her way to church.

Nandi was in no mood to drive. She decided she would take a train to church. As she had arrived at the train station, she was thankful the trains weren't full. Most people stayed at home on Sundays and relaxed. She would not have to worry about standing close to a stranger . . .or so she thought. Most of the trains where empty - except the one she had to get on. She felt defeated. But she would not turn back home. she loved church. Come rain or sunshine, she would go.

She walked into the train and squeezed in between the people. She needed a safe spot where she could hold on to in order not to fall when the train moved and not to be pushed when people decided to exit at their destination. She opted to be squashed just a few meters from the door of the train but close to a window so she could open it and breathed in fresh air and not the stuffy carbon dioxide inside the train. She could also hold on to the safety handles next to the windows. She decided to press her belly just below the window. She had turned her back completely away from the people and faced the window. This was comfy for her and would ensure she saw which spot to get off at.

All of a sudden, Nandi felt an excruciating pain. Someone had stepped on her right heal and she let out a slight scream. It felt liked the bone just above her heal in the ankle area had been crushed or broken. She turned around

"YA! Mwah he!" The guy looked at her for a second and ignored her in disgust. Nandi was furious. "are you not gonna apologize?" she hissed at the guy. He ignored her and the train had reached its first destination. Several people walked out. The guy didn't. Nandi was glad. She hoped he would get out at her stop so she could give him a peace of her mind. She was the shy and quiet type but this guy, something about him rubbed her the wrong way. It wasn't the fact that maybe he might be a bad person but for some reason, when he stepped on her - a fuse in her broke. She was ready to attack or shout. And the guy had no decency to apologize.