Church Chronicles: Part 1

Four: Sinking Claws

In order to keep the distance between Mandilakhe and Pastor Mike a reasonable one, I began attending conferences with him even though I still didn't understand why he wouldn't take his wife. That was one helluva mystery, one that I wasn't really interested in solving as yet. Mission number one was to get Mandilakhe a job and see if he's really sleeping with Pastor Mike because of the provision or he just liked him.

When he sent me his CV I realized that he wasn't stupid, he was a very smart kid. His school results were top standard, and when I called all three of his references they all spoke so highly of him. So I went to my manager with that CV and asked if we could take him as an intern once he finished his studies or we could offer him a weekend job. Anything between those two would be appreciated, his CV was taken and I was told he'd be called once something came up so I let it be.

Mrs Ndizi called me to set up a meeting for both of us, in the church so I came out of work and went straight to meet her. We sat in her husband's office, door closed.

"I'm sorry for dragging you here, midweek. You must be tired", she said with a broad smile.

"When the pastor's wife calls, you drop everything", I answered jokingly and we both laughed.

"I wanted us to uhm, talk you know, get to know each other better"

"Oh really?"

"Yes, I mean, you'll be working hand-in-hand with my husband so I do have to know and understand you, what you do, I know where you live but you know, all the other stuff."

Okay... I wasn't really sure what that meant but I answered her.

"I'm just a debt collector, there's absolutely nothing special about my job I mean I just do cold calls most of the time. I have two friends, one sibling and one parent, my mother."

"Mh, I've never seen your mother, where does she stay?"

"She lives in the rural parts of the province, Transkei"

"She never visits?"

"She seldom does, but I visit her whenever I can. On my leaves and day-offs sometimes"

"Mh, any special person I haven't met?"

"Uhm no, I'm not married ma'am"

"Well are you dating?"

I smiled at this question, well in my mind, yes, I mean...

"Well no, I'm just too busy to be splitting myself between work and another human being"

"Hay Yandi, uyadingeka umlingane ntombi"

"Oh hay baby, not everyone wants to get married", we both turned at the voice of her husband. The door was still closed when he spoke, obviously, he was eavesdropping because we weren't loud, and when did he arrive? He walked in and kissed his wife's cheek and then sat down next to her.

"What are you two gossiping about in my office?"

She rolled her eyes at him smiling "you mean our office" she added.

They flirted for a while and I just sat there, smiling at my new set of nails. What else was I supposed to do?

She cleared her throat and then they went dead silent, I looked up and she was smiling at me, "We would like to invite you for dinner, Saturday at 7 pm" she said, excitedly. Her husband's eyes bore deep into my soul, I swallowed hard. Why was I suddenly uncomfortable?

"I uhm , I have plans this Saturday ma'am"

"Oh... Okay, Sunday then?"

"Sundays are my resting days, let's rather reschedule for next weekend"

"Okay then, I'll hold you to it"

I nod with a smile, that meeting was over the minute Pastor Mike walked in. This was just a formality.

**** **** ****

I took late lunch at work because I had to accompany Pastor Mike to his meeting at his pastoral friend's house.

They were warm and friendly, I spent most of the time with the pastor's wife because the meeting was private, it took place in the study.

"So, are you currently permanently employed or you're solely his PA"?, the pastor's wife asked enthusiastically.

"I'm permanently employed ma'am"

"How do you juggle?"

"I guess I know how to manage my time and his diary as well"

"And your spouse?"

"I don't have one"

"Kids?"

"None"

She nod, looking impressed... Or suspicious? I don't know.

"Your mam'mfundisi is a very good friend of mine, we went to varsity together"

"Mmh, really?"

"Yeah"

"Well, maybe you should visit our church sometime", I invited her with a hint of excitement.

"Haha, I wish. My husband doesn't like visiting churches, even if those churches are Pastored by our very close friends. Something about alters he says"

"Oh-Kay"

"But we do attend birthday celebrations and anniversaries... That sort of stuff"

"I see..."

Mh, alters she said.

That left a question mark in my head, after the meeting Pastor Mike suggested we grab lunch. He was paying so I didn't decline the offer to free food (and a little bit of more time with him). We placed our orders and our conversation started on a lighter note, very relaxed and unnerving until he brought up the spouse subject as well. It seemed as though marriage was a very big part of the Christian life, almost everyone I had spoken to ever since I had started being serious at church would bring this up, and it seemed to shock all of them that I wasn't married yet. That I had no children yet.

It could have been me but on our way home, he seemed more relaxed than I'd ever seen him, maybe the meeting was successful. I dropped him off at his house and went home.

**** **** ****

After that meeting, we began to spend more time together. We'd have lunch meetings, dinner meetings, and all sorts of meetings at least two times in a week. We were really getting close, and so far our ethical standards were in check. Well, until he kissed me one night after he dropped me off at home.

We had gone to a conference in Queenstown driving his car, so he had to drop me off before driving back home and it was really late I couldn't even give him the option of taking me to the taxi rank. He parked outside my gate and walked me inside the yard, we were still chatting, well finishing off the conversation we'd had in the car. We stood a few centimeters apart as we said our goodbyes and before I could turn to leave, he kissed me and I froze.

He took a step back, waiting for me to say something, and when I eventually got the words I asked "What just happened?"

He sighed and ran a hand over his face.

"Mfundisi?"

"Yandi... I..."

And then he trailed off.

A part of my brain urged me to walk away, but another part of it had my feet stuck on the spot. I took a deep breath and a step closer to him, lifted my chin up, and planted a kiss on his lips. It might have been a moment of weakness for him, but it was now very clear that we were on the same page. I had to grab that opportunity with both hands as immediate as it had presented itself. We kissed right there, my gate closed behind us and we continued with what we were doing until I pushed him off a little...

"This isn't right... You're married and you're my pastor. I'm sorry"

I grabbed my bag, opened the gate, and vanished behind it before he could say anything else. My mind told me he'd come back for more. Well, he had to come back for more.