Jailbird
Episode 10
Eyes now swing to the man of God.
He tries to speak, but nothing comes out. That is new
to the congregation, and it blows them off.
No one knows that the revered pastor threw out his
imprisoned son’s things.
Mrs. Lois Bawa suddenly sees the pity on the faces of
the congregation, and sees that it is going to affect her
husband’s ministry.
She quickly steps forward, angry eyes boring into her
son.
MRS. LOIS
(furiously)
He didn’t throw out your things, Chris! I did! I was
sickened by the atrocities you committed, not only
against my brother, your own uncle, but in harming that
poor girl too! I was hurt, I was angry, and I was
humiliated. God forgive me, but in that instant I was
not a pastor’s wife, definitely not a Christian. I was a
hurt and humiliated mother, and I was human! I’m
sorry now! I wish I hadn’t done that, but I couldn’t
help it!
There are murmurs of approval from the congregation,
and once more the anger is directed at Chris, and the
reverend breathes a sigh of relief, once again saved by
his wife.
Chris looks at his parents for a long time, and then he
speaks quietly.
CHRIS
You have done well.
His words are like a whiplash that makes his mother
wince inwardly.
She looks stunned, and for a moment tears glitter in her
eyes.
Chris then reaches into his pocket and brings out a
twenty, two and one cedi notes.
He walks forward and drops them into the glass offertory
tank standing on the platform which already contains
some offertory money.
He straightens and looks at his parents again.
CHRIS
You sold my house. You threw my stuff out. I just put
all the money on me into your offertory bowl, father.
Now, as I stand here, I don’t have any money on me.
All I have are these clothes I’m wearing. They are the
clothes I was wearing when I went to prison. They’re
the same clothes I’m wearing now. Like I said, you
have done well.
He turns and slowly descends from the platform.
Every eye is on him, and they are all mostly filled with
anger and hatred.
Junior, aware that his mother’s attention is now focused
on what is happening, suddenly slips from her grasp.
He picks up a lunch bowl on the floor and quickly runs
towards his father.
EFFE
(sharply)
Junior! Come back, Junior!
Stan Bawa stands up and looks at his brother with
venom.
STAN
(icily)
God forgive me, Chris! But I hate you! I really hate
you!
Junior, who has reached them, looks at his uncle with
sudden tears in his eyes.
JUNIOR
(tearfully)
Why do you hate my Daddy, Uncle Stan?
His little voice, loud and clear, carries through the
church, and its innocent hurt tones cuts through most
hearts, reminding them suddenly that they are in
church, and they are supposed to be Christians who
should show love.
Stan looks down at Junior, and his face is contrite
immediately.
STAN
(voice filled with sincere remorse)
Oh, Junior, I’m sorry, son! I didn’t mean to-
He reaches out to hold the boy, but Junior shies away
from him, and then he stands in front of his father and
looks at the broken man looking down at him.
JUNIOR
(in a strong but trembling voice)
I don’t hate you. I love you, Daddy!
Chris cannot speak.
He looks down at his son, and he cannot see his son
because sudden tears blind him.
He is strong against the hatred of his family, but his
son’s love breaks his back, and for a moment his legs
almost does not support him.
He nods, and then he steps quickly past his son, and
walks on, and his son runs after him, shouting, crying,
and telling him to stop.
Chris stops, turns and falls to his knees in one swift
motion. Junior runs into his father’s arms and embraces
him tightly.
Chris crushes his son to his chest, and buries his face
in his son’s neck …and then Chris cries like a baby.
He doesn’t make a sound, but his huge body shakes as
his heart is broken to bits by the love of his son.
Effe, who has been following her son, stops and looks
on.
Chris gently pushes Junior back.
The little boy reaches out and wipes tears from his
father’s cheeks, and then he picks up his lunch box
from the floor.
He opens the box and brings out a big sandwich and a
sachet of Fanmilk.
JUNIOR
This is for you, Daddy.
Chris smiles through his tears.
He takes the sandwich and breaks it into two. He hands
half to his son and then he takes the Fanmilk.
CHRIS
(lovingly)
There’s a problem, Champ. How’re we gonna share
this one? It’s soft, if I cut it up….
JUNIOR
Wahalaaaaa!!
Chris laughs then.
CHRIS
(smiling)
You know what? You keep the Fanmilk, Champ. I’ll
eat the sandwich.
JUNIOR
No, Daddy. I want you to have it. I have a lot at
home.
Chris hesitates, and then he bites the Fanmilk, sips,
takes a bite of sandwich, and then he stands up.
He nods at his son.
CHRIS
(tremulously)
I love you, Champ.
Junior does not speak because tears are falling down his
face again.
It breaks Chris’ heart, and he turns away quickly and
leaves the church auditorium.
Effe walks forward, at first intending to hold Junior, but
the boy shrugs her hands aside and walks back dejectedly
towards where he had been sitting.
After a moment Effe turns and leaves the church. She
sees Chris walking towards the entrance, and she begins
to run after him.
When Chris walks out of the huge gates of the church he
sees Baaba’s car parked across the street, and she is
leaning against it.
She is dressed in a fetching white skirt and blouse suit
with a black inner, and she looks very beautiful indeed.
He looks at her for a long time, and then he pushes the
rest of the sandwich into his mouth and drinks all the
Fanmilk.
He opens a dustbin near the entrance, drops the empty
sachet, and then he crosses the street and stands in
front of her.
She smiles into his face.
BAABA
Hello.
CHRIS
Are you stalking me?
She smiles gently.
BAABA
No, Chris. I’m a member of the church too. When I
saw you in that drama with your father I suspected you
might eventually need a lift somewhere, so I drove out to
wait for you.
Chris gives a shuddering breath, and a look of such sheer
dejection crosses his face that the smile drops from her
kind face, and she moves forward and suddenly puts her
arms around his neck and holds him tightly.
Chris holds her, grateful for her warmth and her kind
heart, and for being there.
He hugs her tightly, and when Effe comes out she sees
them like that.
She gives a sudden intake of breath, and stands looking
at them.
They do not see her as they eventually part and enter
the car, and Baaba drives away.
Effe recognizes the painful thuds of her heart, and on
her face is a stunned incredulous look.
She had not felt that way in a very long time!
She had not felt those pangs, and had even forgotten
how it feels like to have those jealous bouts!
She gives a shuddering breath, and as she turns away
there is a little furrow of worry on her beautiful
forehead.
She knows that at that stage of her life, the last thing
she should be feeling is jealousy …over Chris, the man
who had humiliated and hurt her so, the man who had
ripped her heart to pieces!
EFFE
(hoarsely)
I’m not going to allow you to do this to me, Chris!
Not again, not ever!
To be continued
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