Nnamdi

It was 5:00am in the morning according to the church clock, the service was over. Little children lying on the floor were being woken up by their mothers. The choristers were packing their chairs together and those who had no reason to stay behind were already outside with their belongings.

People like me.

I stood up from my seat. Dusting my clothes in the process. The whole hall gave off that peaceful kind of vibe. Or was it the somewhat almost perceivable joy that was evident on the faces of the congregation that was still left in the church.

"Young man, can you please excuse me?" A deep voice called out to me as I was walking out of the church.

I paused and turned around. It was the pastor who preached at the service. Dark skinned, short haired, full white teeth and a some what small stature. Adored in a two piece black suit and tie and almost gave off a regal aura.

"Yes sir." I said.

He then smiled and lead me towards a staircase that I hadn't noticed was situated at the corner of the hall. The staircase led to another room that had two doors. Each door had various stickers on them, both old and knew.

"Grace is sufficient Ministry." Pastored by Pastor Herman Damijo. Followed by the picture of the very  man in front of me on a sticker dated back two years ago.

Pastor Herman, opened the previously locked door and a wave of cold air came over me as I walked in.

The first thing that caught my attention was the big framed picture of Jesus Christ hanging directly above the office chair and table, the table held a Bible, some files, a cup which held some pens and rulers and about three bottles of oil.

There was a black two seat sofa at the other side of the room, and a shelf which held at least more than 20 books. And a mini refrigerator close to the said shelf. All these were accompanied by fayrouz green walls and a 24HP air conditioner which made me realize why I felt so cold.

"Young man, please have a seat."
I suspiciously sat on the sofa, wondering what on earth was going on.

"This is the first time I am seeing you here. Did you buy chance travel from somewhere to Abuja here?" He asked me.

"Yes sir."

He smirked as he picked up some stray files on his desk. If I didn't know better, I would think he had ignored my answer but with the quick reflex action of raising his head and looking at me directly into the my eyes.

"Well, no wonder I'm just seeing you for the first time. So why did you decide to visit this part of the country?" He requested.

I pondered on my what I was going to tell him. Should I lie? I asked myself countless times in less than a minute. Was it really worth it lying to a man of such spiritual status? After all, I doubted he could help me. So I ate humble pie and let the words fly out of my mouth.

"Sir, it's very complicating. I'm actually from Delta state. I and my friend came from Warri specifically, she is having some paternal issues and I offered to help her out." I said trying to be as formal as possible.

"Can you please be more elaborate?" He asked again nicely.

"Don't be scared child. There is no problem that God cannot solve. There is no problem that is too big for him to crack. He is the ultimate God and there is nothing he cannot do. It doesn't matter who you are, he will help you." The man told me.

Pastor Herman looked at me with soft eyes one last time. As if trying to see more that I was putting on. The stare was so intense and so strangely calm at the same time. Like he was assuring me, it's going to be okay.

I explained to him. Every single detail. From Efe's father's scandal. To my accompanying her from Warri to Abuja. To our separation. Everything started leaving my chest as I kept telling him all that was in my chest.

He was very attentive. Looking at me directly into the eye as I said all my encounters I had in the going to a week trip. It was mad fulfilling.

When I finished, he put his two palms under his chin, as if contemplating on what to tell me. I waited for five whole minutes before he spoke.

"Young man, what's your name?"

"Nnamdi, sir." I replied promptly.

"First of all, what both of you did was very risky and is not suitable for these kind of situations. The girl in question, shouldn't have ran away from the place she was living in. If not that God positioned you on the road she was passing that night, she would have been kidnapped or even raped or worse, killed. But it has been done."

I let all that sink in. True, I wasn't thinking logically about everything. I forgot that we lived in Nigeria, where everything has to be done with logic.

"I'm sorry about that sir. It just happened and I felt the need to help her."

"But now, you both fought and you don't know where she is. And when she asked you that question, why did you give her such reply?"

I wasn't even sure myself.

"What were you thinking, my dear boy? Even the Bible says that we should not be hasty with our tongue. The poor girl had actually trusted you, and you being a stranger even made it more hard for her to trust you. You know, she may had struggled with her comfort zone before telling you about herself. Is that how you paid her back?"

I didn't know how to answer the question and I had a very blank expression on my face. One would feel that I wasn't even remorse but the invisible cloud of guilt pouring on my head wasn't giving it away at all.

"Nnamdi, the girl was right with asking that question. You gave her na answer, now that she's gone, what are you going to do with yourself? Have you asked yourself that question?"

Not really. Did I?

"And besides, don't both of you go to school? How can you both go on a wild goose chase and abandon your studies like that? Where are your parents?"

"Sir, I don't have a mom and my dad is in Delta state with my Grandmother." I spoke under my breath.

"What do you mean that you don't have a mom?"

"Well... My mom abandoned I and my father and my father decided to squat with my grandmother for the mean while. And to answer your previous question, I don't go to school. And as for Efe, she didn't really shed light on her school life."

"I'm sorry to hear that son. How long has it been?"

"Since I was three years old. I'm eighteen now."

Pastor Herman looked at me with so much pity. He then looked under his desk and opened something u felt was a drawer. Brought out a piece of paper and a small RSV Bible and handed them over to me.

"Nnamdi, as much as I have a lot of things to tell you, I'm going to let God do the talking. On that paper is a list of scriptures I want you to read on that Bible, and my number is at the back. I want you to find Efe and when you do, make sure you call me.  I'll be here to help."

I had never owned a Bible before, not to talk of reading one. It was a very strange feeling. Like I was about to sense something that would change my life forever.

"Thank you so much sir. You've read been of great help to me." I said with great joy in my heart.

He nodded and smiled. With satisfaction in my heart, I got up from my seat and was set to leave when he called me back.

I turned from the door and looked back at him, He reached into his trouser pockets and brought out some notes which I could not believe were money.

"Here, have this." He handed me the money.

"It's past 2:00pm already and you should be very hungry. And I pray for you that you find solace in the Lord. Like I said , if you need any help, you can always call or find your way here."

I didn't know when I started shedding tears. No one had ever been so kind to me on the first meeting. For once, I felt special and loved.

I cleaned the tears as I held the money, as if he was going to change his mind and take it away.

"Thank you sir." My voice was tightened and I couldn't even hear myself.

"You're welcome son." He said and I happily left his office.

As I stepped out of the church, I felt like a whole new being. And one thing was on my mind.

Finding Efe.

Hello.
I'm sorry.
I haven't updated in almost a month.
I'm sure that's why people hardly read my books because I'm so slow.
Hope you forgive me.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
God bless you 😉