As they got ushered into the huge chapel auditorium, Esi realized that people stared at her queerly.
“Maybe they’re seeing us here for the first time, that’s why.” She thought to herself.
Somehow she felt at peace when she entered the chapel. Caleb however struggled to settle. During the sermon, he dozed off so much that Esi had to be pinching him and jolting him.
During the time for the announcements, first time worshippers were asked to introduce themselves to the congregation. Esi and Caleb did so, and Esi let the church know that they wanted to fellowship with them. They were then asked to wait behind after church service.
At the end of the service, the two got to meet the pastor of the church, Pastor Marfo, who welcomed them and introduced Esi to a certain woman, then Caleb to a certain young man as well.
“Aunty Stella and Brother Francis are the shepherds for the new members,” the pastor told them. Esi was excited about that.
The shepherds took their contacts then promised to give them a call. However as they were about leaving, the lady shepherd called Esi aside then said to her, “Uhm maybe you didn’t realize, but your cleavage and thighs are showing, my dear!” she said with a smile.
“Please why? It is bad?” asked Esi innocently. Those were her kind of clothes and she found nothing wrong with it.
“You know, this is church o!”
“O yes please! I’m sorry… this seemed to be the only appropriate dress I found!” Esi explained
“Okay then. Try and find something much better than this next time, okay? No hard feelings my dear!”
Esi felt embarrassed; she realized that it probably had been the reason why people stared at her when she entered the chapel. She however thanked the lady shepherd then left for the house with her brother.
THE CHARGE - EPISODE 9
4 DAYS LATER
“Caleb, have the church people gotten in touch with you?” Esi asked her brother who was behind his laptop playing a game as usual.
“Uh huh! The shepherds, right? The guy got in touch…Why do you ask?”
“O… Nothing. Mine hasn’t gotten in touch yet. Well she promised that I’d get to hear from her… I don’t know but I want someone to talk to”
“Oh girls! You people can be so needy and emotional!” Caleb said. “Mum is around… Go talk to her?”
“No… she never is ‘available’ even when she is available… You know that!”
“Well then try and sort it out yourself. Besides I don’t know for these church peeps! Even this shepherd guy who is supposed to be checking on me seems to be bugging me already.”
“Why?” Esi asked
“He’s been getting in touch alright, but whenever he does he goes like Ei how is your sister? Is your sister there?” Every time he’s asking about you! I’ve even blacklisted his contact! Maybe he’s got ulterior motives that the pastor doesn’t even know about! He wants to feast on the sheep” he said sarcastically.
But Esi somehow wasn’t bothered about that. She really needed someone to talk to. She decided then that should she not get to hear from the lady shepherd, she would meet her on Sunday then speak with her.
Sunday came; Esi hadn’t heard from her shepherd or had anyone from the church call her or come look for them. After church that day she went to see the lady shepherd.
“Auntie Stella!”
“O Hello… uhm sorry I forgot the name!” she said to Esi.
“I thought she said she saved my contact the last time.” Esi thought to herself.
THE CHARGE - EPISODE 10
“O Hello… Uhm sorry I forgot the name!” she said to Esi.
“I thought she said she saved my contact the last time.” Esi thought to herself.
“The name is Esi please!”
After exchanging pleasantries, Esi let Aunty Stella know that she wanted to speak with her.
“Please can you spare me some minutes of your time? I think that I would like to talk to you concerning something. ”
But just when the lady was about making time for Esi, she got called for a meeting. Esi told her then that she would wait till she's done with the meeting. She was getting overwhelmed with her parents’ attitude at home and she really felt the need to talk to someone. Caleb however left and went home.
For about 1 hour Esi patiently waited. As she waited, wondered why no one bothered to even share a smile with her or even come close to find out from her how she was doing, especially since she was obviously a new member and didn’t know anybody in the church.
“Is it with how I’m dressed again today?” she wondered.
After about 30 minutes, she saw the lady who came to call Auntie Stella for the meeting.
“Excuse me please! Is Auntie Stella still in a meeting?” she asked
“O Stella? She already left! She left about an hour ago!”
#TheCharge
Dorothy Budu-Arthur
Watch out for THE QUENCHED DISIRE on moday,27th June,2016 on www.kofibless.blogspot.com
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