GRUMPY AND THE PRIEST : EPISODE 11 – 20
Episode 15
By Faith Lucky.
Nina laid on her bed with her new teddy on her legs. She laughed before clicking on the red button and it made a beep.
“Hi teddy.” She said funnily.
“Hi” she heard a tiny female voice and looked around in shock. There was nobody else in the room with her.
“Did you just say something?” She asked the teddy, abacked.
“Yes, nice meeting you” replied the teddy.
“So, Theo was right afterall? But how possible? How come you can talk?”
“I’m a special talking teddy”
She turned it from left to right and gasped, still finding it unbelievable.
“This is really strange to me. I’ve never seen a talking teddy before”.
“What’s your name?” The teddy asks.
“I’m…I’m Nina. And you?”
“I don’t have a name yet. Maybe you should just call me talking teddy”.
Nina turned it from left to right again and shook her head.
“This is really amazing. Like seriously. But, anyway, I’m still glad having someone as unique as you.you . and since you were given to me by Theo, I’m gonna call you Theodora.”
“Theodora! I like it!’ The teddy exclaimed and Nina laughed.
It really looked funny to her.
“Tell me about yourself, Nina.”
“About myself? There’s a lot to know…”
GRUMPY AND THE PRIEST : EPISODE 11 – 20
School had been really boring for Nina as Alvin and Emily still didn’t show up. Even June was not in school.
Theo had bee busy and didn’t really have enough time for her and she felt like running mad from all the depression.
She missed Alvin so much; much more than Emily and she felt so guilty because she felt he was being punished for her sake.
She sat by the pool in the evening, cogitating, when a call came into her phone. .she looked at the number and discovered it was a strange number.
“Hello?” She said reluctantly after picking the call.
“Hi, Nina. it’s Alvin.”
“Alvin?”
Her eyes beamed . and her voice sounded more lively.
“Alvin where are you ? Are you alright?”
“Yew, yes. I am. Meet me in front of the cathedral. I’ll be waiting for you”.
“Okay sure. Uhm…could you do me a favor? Please get me some cupcakes on your way there.”
“Just come over Nina”.
And the call ended.
Nina sprang on her feet excitedly and ran to her room. She found something nice to wear and hurried to the car, whistling as she did. She was so berserk and couldn’t wait to see Alvin. It was a good thing he finally found a way to call her.
Her car stopped in front if the cathedral and there she sighted him, also standing beside a car.
Without hesitation, she jumped out of the car and ran up to him, embracing him tightly.
Alvin felt a little surprised but didn’t say anything about it.
“I’m glad I finally got to see you. I’ve been so worried about you, Alvin. I tried calling but it wasn’t going through” she said without a pause.
“Sorry about that .my mom seized my phone. I only got to call you through June’s phone.”
“Oh, June! What happened to her? She hasn’t been in school”.
“Noting. She was just having a minor illness but she’s fine now”.
Nina stared at his hands and noticed he wasn’t holding anything.
‘What about the cupcakes I asked for?” She asked.
“I didn’t get it. I think you’ve been consuming excess sugar”.
“Huh? Come on Alvin. What’s wrong with you? You’re such a kill joy” She said and flicked him on the head.
But she noticed his countenance wasn’t too bright.
“By the way, Alvin. I’m so sorry for the other day. You got scolded because of me. I didn’t…”
“Nina, there’s something you should know.”he cut her off, now making the brood look on his face more obvious.
“What is it?” Nina asked curiously, feeling a bit worried too.
“The priesthood results are out.”
He gave a pause before rounding up the statement.
“I was taken”.
Nina’s hands fell from his as a cold string ran across her chest.
“You…you were taken?” She stuttered. “You’ll be leaving?”
“Yes; a day after tomorrow”.
Nina remained silent, staring at him.
She could feel some liquids in her eyes , but she didn’t let it out.
“Are you okay?” Alvin asked, holding her hands again.
“Yes, of course. Con…congrats. I’m happy for you.”
He smiled and brushed his hand through her hair.
“Why don’t we spend some time in the church?” He asked and she nodded, absent mindedly, though.
She followed him to the small church thy normally used and sat in front of the keyboard.
She watched him keenly as he connected it and could notice the seething frustration in his expression. Getting to know he was about leaving enfeebled her a lot.
He connected the keyboard and returned to sit with her. He also could notice the caprious brood on her face.
“Give me a song” he told her as he touched some of the keys, producing some light sounds.
She just managed a smile and shook her head and he began singing:
?”she’s a perfect lady
Eyes white as snow
Lips pink as rosseate
Hair dark as Ebony
Skin fair as the sun
And can never be chapped.
She’s sitting next to me
About to weep
Because I didn’t get her some cupcakes”?
That was when Nina could think of laughing as she laughed and hit his hand from the keyboard.
“You’re crazy Alvin”.
“Am I?”
They ended up laughing together.
“Sing me something else” she said to him as she relaxed her head on his shoulder.
“Something like what? Something like Jingle bells?” He asked and she chuckled.
“Something sweet, Alvin” she said in an endearing tune.
Alvin smiled at her again and started singing while playing the keys.
?”If I could wish for one thing
I’ll take smile that you bring
Where ever you go in this world I’ll come along.
Together we dream the same dream
Forever I’m here for you you’re here for me
We could live in the world of our dreams”?
“Alvin, is that a wish?” She asked, lifting her head up a little.
“It’s just a song” he replied fraily.
She placed her head back on his shoulder and sighed.
“Sing me more’ she said.
“I…”
“Please Alvin. Just sing”.
“Okay…”
GRUMPY AND THE PRIEST : EPISODE 11 – 20
When they were done from the cathedral he had insisted on taking her home in his car.
They had been sitting at the backseat and she had remained quiet throughout the drive. She only said something when Alvin asked a question.
They stopped outside her gate and he followed her out of the car.
“Will you be coming to school tomorrow?” She finally asked as they stood in front of the gate, avoiding his eye contact.
“Tomorrow’s weekend Nina” Alvin replied.
She bent her head and sniffle a little.
“Okay . goodnight” she told him and turned to leave, but he held her back.
“Nina, are you alright? Is something bothering you?”
She gave a feighed smile and rubbed his hand.
“Te Quiero Alvin” she said in Spanish. “Que tesientas de la misma manera tamblen”
Alvin flinched.
“What was that?” He asked, confused.
“I meant goodnight” she replied and embraced him.
“Bye”.
“Bye Nina”.
And she left.
Alvin kept thinking about Nina even when he got home.
He could hardly fall asleep.
Thinking about the dead look on her face when she heard he was leaving made him sick. He knew she was deeply affected by it.
He also thought about the Spanish words she had told him before leaving. He didn’t understand any of it. But he remembered she had said something like ‘Te Quiero.’
He took his laptop and googled it and the reply he had gotten left him stunned.
Shockingly and unimaginably, it meant “I love you”.
“You sound sad Nina. What’s the problem?” Nina’s talking teddy said to her along a conversation.
She was sitting with it on the bed and was trying to use it as a distraction to avoid crying.
“Alvin’s leaving” she replied sadly.
“Leaving? To where?”
“To begin his training as a priest.”
“Oh-Oh. But aren’t you happy about it?”
“No. Because he’s sad.”
“Don’t you want him to leave?”
“Yes. I want him around. I don’t want him to do. He’s my best friend.”
“But what about Theo? Wouldn’t his presence be enough?”
Nina sighed pathetically and kept quiet.
“Don’t you like Theo?” The teddy asked.
“Of course I like him. He’s my fiancee after all”.
“Aren’t you happy over getting married to him?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“But don’t you think Theo might he your soul mate?”
“Soul mate? How?”
“I have a great idea Nina. Why don’t you Carry out a love test on Theo?”
“A love test? What’s that?”
Nina was beginning to forget all about her sniffling.
“You’d ask for three signs and if Theo is able to carry them out accurately, That makes him your soul mate.” The teddy replied and nina gasped.
“That’s a good idea. But…what happens when he’s able to carry out the signs?”
“It means he’s your soul mate and you’d have to give him a kss at the end of the day.”
“Huh? A kss?”
“Yes, Nina. So, let’s go. Name your three signs”.
Nina heaved and cleared her throat before speaking up.
“Okay. First, I’d want Theo to repeat the cloth he was putting on on Tuesday.”
“Tuesday? What cloth was that?”
“It was a white turtle-neck with a pair of black jeans. It was so cute and made him look so charming.”
“Wow! Okay. The second one.”
“Secondly, I want him to take me to the beach.
“And thirdly, while at the beach, I want him to order my favorite American meal.”
“Really? And what’s your favorite?” Asked the teddy.
“Oh-Oh. That should be a secret for me and me alone.”.
“but why? I thought we were friends?”
“Of course we are. But I just don’t feel like telling it to anyone.”
“Okay, if you say so. Let’s watch out for tomorrow then.”
“Right. Goodnight, Theodora. I love you” Nina said as she gave it a peck.
“I love you too, princess. Goodnight” the teddy replied and Nina switched it off off, producing a beep as usual.
“Love you too, princess. Goodnight” Theo said on the other end of the line as the call went dead after a beep.
He smiled with complacency and laid on the bed to sleep, getting ready for the big day ahead.
GRUMPY AND THE PRIEST : EPISODE 11 – 20
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