She smiled

Encounter with the Redeemer

    Chloe's years of her distinctive childhood experiences rolled away. It was time for secondary school. Chloe did not gain admission to the secondary school of her choice.

She knew she had difficulty reading, especially pronouncing unfamiliar words and spelling. Chloe loved arithmetic, albeit there was no support or encouragement to be the best. Something she realised affected her resolve and results. She could not discuss these observations with her overbearing father, or helpless mother.

Chloe reflected on an evening after her eleventh birthday. Papa Joe locked her up in his study, but he never listened to her. As usual, Papa Joe yelled her name from her room.

"Chloe! Chloe, have you finish reading the book I assigned to you for the past two weeks?"

Frightened, Chloe rushed out to her underwhelming father, flashing the book in front of her.

"Dad, I am sorry, I... I... is not..." Chloe yet spoke the words when she heard a blazing slap on her cheek.

"No, dad, I am..." Once again, he slapped and pushed her into his study.

This time, Chloe starting urinating on herself, in desperation. She remained perturbed with resentment about her relationship with him.

"You would remain in this room until you finish reading this book! You would have to produce a summary of each chapter. I need to ensure you read it."

To make matters worse, her older siblings who could help were now living away from home. Chloe felt very disappointed in herself and her hidden inabilities. Her inadequacies drove her even further into solitude.

She thought her father would use his connections to assist. She made sure he knew which school she would love to attend.

But he refused to speak to anyone on her behalf. He insisted that Chloe join the secondary school the school board allocated her to attend. Even with its bad reputation.

Her relationship with the Saviour was the only reason. The only reason she could give for his increased ill-treatment towards her.

It happened on an Easter morning. Papa Joe sent her off to the church with her sister, because he was not in the mood to attend church. Chloe wore her flowery maxi dress passed down to her from Sarah, her older sister. Mama Joe adjusted the length of the dress to fit her.

Chloe loved the dress, but she struggled with "hand-me-downs" from her older sister. Sarah seemed to have an 'entitlement' to new clothes. She only got new clothes during the festive seasons. A sense of envy flooded her heart.

"I wish I were born before her," she pondered as she tied her headscarf.

"Let's go!" Sarah hurried her out of the house. Stepping out of the gates in silence, Chloe wondered why Sarah was keen to leave home earlier than usual. On the way, they headed to her brother Joe, a friend's place of worship.

"I heard they have a lovely youth group," Sarah; said as she blinked her eyelids. She persuaded Chloe to go along with the change of plans.

"I have longed for a visit since the day Joe told us about the church."

Chloe was dragging her feet, unwilling to attend anywhere, apart from Papa's place of worship.

"Do you think we should go?" Sarah continued.

"We are already on our way to Papa's house of worship. I don't want to be in trouble," Chloe replied at once, voicing her discomfort about the idea.

"We won't be in trouble," Sarah assured her.

"We plan to get home as usual, even if we have to leave early." Chloe knew she could not convince Sarah to change her mind. Chloe followed like a sheep led to the slaughter.