MELINOE

Befriending

chapter 17:

We reached the Church. It had simple ancient architecture. The place around was pacific. A huge bell hung from the not so high ceiling at the entrance. There was a big house, just next to the Church. Rather, it seemed attached to the Church. The door to it was wide open. As there was no guard around, curious me tried sneeking in. "What are you looking for, young man?" a man's voice sounded close to my ear. I turned back immediately. A tall, fair gentleman with grey-black hair and rimless rectangular glasses in a milky white robe, and a cross hanging in a long, golden chain from his neck, was smiling at me. "We're so sorry Father, my son was just curious.." Dad apologized. With a strange, unnatural laugh, the Father replied, "I didn't mind at all. That's home to many orphans and also other abandoned adolescents. My daughter Jenny will be very happy to show you all around the place. Come inside."

Father Andrew and dad walked in. I followed them. "So how's new home? And this place?" Father asked. "We really like the place. Looking forward to a healthy living here," Dad uttered. Their words got fainter as they walked far ahead, and I continued with my slow steps and keenly observant eyes across the walls and the ceiling of the Church, I'm stepping inside for the very first time. It was 4pm and the Church was merely empty. Until I found a tiny girl sitting in the middle of the 2nd row on the right. A tiny person covered in all yellow, with a red scarf covering the head and brown hair flowing down from the scarf on her back, end of which couldn't be made out. A big round black frame almost covered her tiny face, as she prayed with hands folded and eyes closed. She had a tiny basket beside her with fruits and flowers that were peeping out from the regular hollows at the side of the basket, though it was covered on top with a kerchief. I sat down in the left row. Dad and Father Andrew continued with their conversation, standing in the front. "But what actually happened Officer Dan? Why getting Rayan into University now? After f i v e y e a r s ?" Father Andrew's curiosity overspilled. My morose inner self woke up and I drew my eyes off them. I started to fidget with my pendant that used to happen automatically when many thoughts flushed my mind and mixed emotions crippled within me. I looked blankly at the podium in front. "He got into wrong company in his teenage days and got little out of track in life. But after losing his mother, he gradually changed and now he is completely fine and so, we decided to shift here and start everything afresh," my ever-honest Dad let out the truth. Father Andrew patted Dad on the back and gave an acknowledging nod, "My daughter Jenny is also in the same University. I'll tell her to help Rayan out there. Don't worry." "Oh thank you, Father," Dad smiled.

When I turned my head to the right, that row was empty. The tiny girl had left. I too felt like going out and avoid this elderly men-talk. When I came out, I caught that girl struggling with her scarf stuck in the bush. She was shaking her head and pulling the thorny branches frenziedly. I went near and untied her scarf and took that off. She then took out the thorns and turned back at me, "Thank you so much!" "You're welcome," I smiled. "By the way, this is Nikki Gilbert," She drew her hand out towards me. "Hi! I am Rayan Jesse McClain." We shook hands. "I know," She replied. My expression of doubt probably made her continue. "It's a small town and news spread like fire. You are new immigrants here, and nobody is left to know about that," the girl with her small face and sparkling eyes from behind her huge, round, black specs said. "I see. And who's this Jenny? Father Andrew had been always talking about her. And that she is in J.J.University as well," I asked. "She's Father's adopted daughter and he loves her a lot. And ya, I'm also in J.J.University," Nikki said, adjusting her scarf on her free hair. "Oh wow! Great! I already made a friend then," I replied. "Ya, b'bye! See you there tomorrow!" She smiled and left. I just hoped that I get to see Jenny the next day too.