SCATTERED BY FIRE : EPISODE 1 – 10
SCATTERED BY FIRE ?
Written By Tosin Ezekiel
Episode 7
Pastor D was about to give Ella a welcoming hug for saying Yes when his phone began to vibrate again.
But he pressed the power button to reject it, he thought it was Nneka, he went ahead to hug Ella. You know that hug? When you got a yet!
They were in the sitting room discussing, after some minutes the phone began to vibrate again, before it rang, Pastor D cut it.
Ten minutes later it rang one more time, this time, Ella said, “Check your phone, sir.”
Pastor D reluctantly checked.
“Oh goodness, it’s 7:30 pm. Chris would be in church waiting for me. I have been neglecting the alarm I set since.”
They both rushed out to go. Ella went to her house that she would prepare food for Chris while Pastor D ran to go to the church.
When he got to the estate’s gate, Nneka and Chris were alighting from a bike. Pastor D became sad when he saw Chris with Nneka.
He waited at the gate, Nneka greeted Pastor D at a stone’s throw while Chris came to his father.
“Thank you so much, “Pastor D said trying to end the conversation there from afar.
Nneka gave Chris a letter which he put in his pocket to give his father. But Chris didn’t remember to give Pastor D. They both trekked back to the Estate. When they got to Ella’s apartment, Chris went in while Pastor D went home.
The next Sunday service, Pastor D was looking brighter. After the service, he waited to meet with the marriage council of the Church to express his desire to marry Ella.
He jammed Nneka at the door and faked a smile, at least, to express his appreciation for the last time.
“Thank you so much, Sister Nneka. I appreciate what you did last time. I am very poor at keeping to things like that, but I am walking on it,” Pastor D said this referring to being poor at obeying alarm.
Nneka only smiled and nodded in response. Pastor D went ahead to sit before the conference room waiting for his turn.
The Church Amebos were spying when they saw Pastor D sitting before the church conference room. They all knew what that meant.
Joy said, “Nneka, see Pastor D.”
“I saw him, we just greeted,” Nneka replied Joy and drew her outside the church telling her something secretly with a smile.
Daddy Nneka and other leaders in the marriage council took time before they entertained Pastor D. They kept him waiting until they were about to go.
When it was his time, he expressed his desire and they listened quietly. The assistant pastor spoke first, “How will you ever mention marriage at this your backsliding state,” the pastor said and looked at other leaders in the meeting. Daddy Nneka nodded.
“And who did you say you want to marry?” The assistant Pastor added.
Before Pastor D could reaffirm the name as Ella, Daddy Nneka spoke in a harsh voice, “We disciplined you on account of immorality and you have the gut to now tell us you want to marry the same lady?”
“Excuse me, sir,” Deacon Ige interrupted, “let us be clear and true…” He stopped and look round, “Pastor D, please, excuse us.”
Pastor D left the conference room and Deacon Ige continued his speech, “Let us be clear and true, the discipline is not based on immorality and we didn’t have enough time to pray or deliberate it. We are not all in support of the discipline by the way.”
Daddy Nneka became harsher, “What do you mean, are you questioning our decision, the church decision?”
It was turning into an argument already.
“Brethren, this shouldn’t cause a commotion,” one of the elders stood up and said, “we are one, don’t let us take this personally.”
The council was divided into three, those who were against Pastor D and Ella, a few people who liked him and many others who were indifferent, they were neither on this side nor on that.
The next Sunday, Pastor D waited for the council’s feedback, but his matter was pushed aside and was told to wait until the discipline was lifted. The discipline had been for some months. It was clear they wanted to silence Pastor D and delayed him.
SCATTERED BY FIRE : EPISODE 1 – 10
Two weeks later, the assistant Pastor was promoted to be the senior pastor and without waiting, he appointed a new youth Pastor in place of Pastor D.
Meaning, even if pastor D was restored, he couldn’t be the pastor again. His monthly allowance that had been cut before was totally stopped. It was such a hard moment for a single father to survive with a boy without a job. But thanks to Ella.
Despite all these, Pastor D persisted in going to the marriage council but he was no longer entertained.
SCATTERED BY FIRE : EPISODE 1 – 10
Some days later, Ella shared the news of her new relationship with her parent and they said Pastor D should come and do the wedding as soon as possible.
When Pastor D went to see the parents, he begged that he was waiting for his church to relinquish his discipline.
“Young man, my daughter was born in my church and I want her to wed in my church…”
Ella then narrated to her parents the full gist of their plight so they could bear with them, but the father got angry instead and said,
“I wanted to give you the honour of marrying in your church because you are pastors but hearing this, I don’t want again. If you are not ready to marry in my church forget it…”
Pastor D started begging that he should be given some time. Ella joined in begging her parents.
The father spoke, “Ella, I have some questions for you, and young man, I want you to listen carefully.”
Daddy Ella: How old are you?
Ella: I am 34, sir
Daddy Ella: How many guys have you brought home for marriage?
Ella: Three, sir.
Daddy: That idiot that I employed who stole my money and ran abroad, you were in a relationship for how many years?
Ella: Three, sir.
Daddy: How much did we lose on him?
Ella: 14.2 million, sir
Daddy: let’s not talk about the guy who married your friend. Now, God is bringing someone ready and you want your overzealousness to delay you?
I know you are both ministers in your Church but I am not in support of a long-term relationship at your age.
Young man, I am ready to spend for your marriage, if you want my daughter, focus on your happiness not on religion. Go and think about it and get back to us in a month’s time. Otherwise, I would assume you are not ready.
I have some business meetings to attend right now.” Daddy Ella said as he stood up.
Pastor D and Ella went home in Ella’s car, they were on low keys…
SCATTERED BY FIRE : EPISODE 1 – 10
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