THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 1 – 10
EPISODE 8
Neither of them said a word to each other as they left for her house. She kept thinking about her house and what would happen to her if her house was affected by the fire. All her belongings and documents was in that house. Where would she start from?
“Relax.” Pete told her quietly when he saw how tensed and restless she looked.
“Relax? How am I supposed to do that when all my documents might have turned to ashes already? I wouldn’t be in this situation had you not chosen last night for your nefarious act!” Kathleen snapped at him angrily.
“Miss Okorie…”
“And you know what? You can fire me if you want to.” Kathleen added angrily. She glanced back when she felt Amanda’s hand on her arm. The kid didn’t say anything, but that in itself spoke volumes.
Her face softened and she took in a deep breath when she saw the worry in the kid’s eyes, “I’m sorry.” She murmured to Amanda before turning to look outside the window.
The rest of the drive to her house was silent, and by the time they arrived at her street they could see the telltale signs of a fire outbreak.
Few properties that had been rescued were all outside in front of the compounds, and there were debris and broken buckets lying around. Her eyes was fixed only on her compound, and as they got closer she could see the blackened look of their building, and the burnt roof.
The moment the car came to a halt she ran out of the car and dashed straight for her room, but was stopped by her neighbor, Iya Yekini, before she could get into the house, “Aunty office, sorry o, nobody get your number to call you.” She explained apologetically.
Kathleen’s breath caught in her throat and she muffled a sob when she saw her door, or rather what was left of her door hanging loosely on its hinges, “What am I supposed to do?” She asked herself in a shocked voice as she slowly made her way to her room to see if she could find anything useful that wasn’t destroyed by the fire. She frowned when she didn’t see her box. At least if it had been destroyed by the fire, she should see a trace of it.
“My husband manage carry your box out…” Iya Yekini explained from the doorway, making Kathleen turn to look at her hopefully.
“He did?”
“Ehn, he break the door enter your room as the fire begin spread. He say make he help you save the bag where your books dey.” She explained.
“Ah! Thank God! How I for do?” Kathleen cried as she hugged the lady. “Thank you. Where is your husband? So I can thank him too.” Kathleen asked, looking around.
“He carry some of our things go him brother house go keep.” She explained with a smile.
“Thank you o. I’m very grateful.” Kathleen said as she followed Iya Yekini who handed the box to her. Now all she had to worry about was where to stay. Sharon’s place was very far from the office.
Pete was at least glad that she had her documents with her, and he was grateful that she hadn’t passed the night in the house, and most especially that he hadn’t left Amanda there with her. The last thing he wanted was for Amanda to experience something like this.
“I’m sorry about your house.” Pete said, breaking into her thoughts.
“Thank you.” She said rather stiffly as she fished inside her handbag for her wallet and handed Iya Yekini, Five one thousand naira notes, “Please help me give this to your husband. Tell him I’m very grateful. Thank you very much, I’m really grateful.” Kathleen said before walking away with her box.
“Miss Okorie, please wait!” Pete called as he hurried after her, “Where are you going? Maybe I could give you a lift.” He offered with a concerned frown.
“Why? Are you suddenly feeling guilty that you caused this?”
“Does it matter why? Just stop with the attitude already and get into the car.” Pete snapped at her angrily and snatched the box from her hand.
“I’ll just go over to my friend’s house. I think I’ll squat with her until I can sort myself out.” Kathleen said with a shrug.
“You can’t just barge in on your friend, you have to give her a call first and be sure she can accommodate you.” Pete reminded her.
“Sharon won’t mind. We have been friends since forever.” Kathleen said confidently.
“The lady with you at the mall?” Pete asked when he remembered he had heard that name before.
“Yeah. That’s Sharon.”
“Fine, just get into the car. You can call her while I drive.” Pete suggested with a sigh as he dropped her box in the backseat beside Amanda, while Kathleen got into the front seat of the car.
“Where does she live?” Pete asked as he drove out of the street. He wasn’t sure he wanted Amanda around that Sharon. Sharon seemed too razz and was always speaking pidgin. He didn’t want her to influence his daughter.
“Abule egba.”
“That’s far from the office and even farther from my house.” Pete protested, but Kathleen ignored him as she dialed Sharon’s number.
“How far? Your room was affected by the fire, abi?” Sharon asked the moment she took the call.
“Yes. I was hopi…”
“This girl, where were you when your house was burning? Abi you go vigil come sleep for pastor house?”
“I was at my boss’ house babysi…”
“Wait! That your handsome boss? You slept at his house?” Sharon asked with a joyful screech making Kathleen wince as she tried to reduce the volume so Pete wouldn’t hear what Sharon was saying.
“It’s not what you think.” She explained in a small voice.
“Allow me to think what I want to think o. If it’s not what I think, we will make it what I think.” Sharon said excitedly.
“That’s not why I called, can I squat at your house until I sort myself out?” Kathleen asked with a sigh.
“Ah! That one will be difficult. I’m living with my boyfriend now and you know the kind of person you are, you can’t live with us…” Sharon said apologetically.
“Oh! I understand.” Kathleen murmured, the last thing she wanted was to stay under the same roof with two fornicators. How could everything just change in one night? She couldn’t believe that she was homeless.
“What about your boss? You can stay with him and just keep babysitting, you know?” Sharon asked conspiratorially making Kathleen hang up. She bit her lips nervously as she thought of what to do. She didn’t have enough money to lodge in a guesthouse, and the only person she could live with was Sharon.
Pete could guess that she had just been disappointed by her friend when he saw that her face had fallen.
“Don’t you have a boyfriend?” Pete asked curiously. Usually when ladies passed through such distressing situations the first person they called was usually their boyfriend, yet he noticed she had made no attempt to do that.
“Of course I do.” Kathleen lied without thinking. Old habits really died hard. She really didn’t want him to give her that pitiful look people often gave ladies of her age when they say they’re single, and she also didn’t want him to pick any sort of interest in her because she is single.
“Really? So why haven’t you called him? And why aren’t you going over to stay at his place?” Pete asked curiously.
Kathleen being a good liar didn’t think to think twice about it. The lie came naturally to her as though it hadn’t been years since she stopped telling lies, “It’s a long distance relationship, and he works on weekends. I’ll tell him about it when we talk at night.” Kathleen said. Lord have mercy on me for lying, she prayed silently.
“Oh! I see. You could stay over at my place if he doesn’t mind. The boys quarter is empty.” Pete offered when he saw the distress on her face. “It works for everyone… you especially. You could go to work with me in the morning, no need paying transport. And for me, it makes me worry less about having to pick you up Everytime I want you to watch after Amanda. It’s a win-win.” Pete added with a shrug when he saw the hesitation on her face. He could tell she wanted it but was too proud to take it so easily or admit it.
“I can’t stay there for free…”
“I wasn’t asking you to stay there for free. I noticed you’re a good cook. Teach me how to cook, or help around the house in exchange.” Pete said, flashing her a smile.
“I’d rather pay for it with money instead of such services.” Kathleen said with a shake of her head. She didn’t want to get entangled with him, especially not after he had showed her how much of an immoral je.rk he could be.
“Money?” Pete asked with a chuckle, “No offense, judging by the state of where you lived before now, I doubt you can afford to pay me for my boys quarter, so I’ll suggest you swallow your pride and accept my offer while I’m still being nice.”
“You can’t just show up in my house and interfer with my service hours. I don’t like missing church.” Kathleen said.
“I can, and I will. You work for me, and it’s part of our agreement. The agreement you signed.” He reminded her, “I’ll suggest you start getting used to streaming the services online. Besides, my house is far from your church, I can’t have you leaving the house late in the evening or returning late. I’m very security conscious.” Pete added.
“Unless it has to do with clubbing or immorality, I suppose?” Kathleen asked, unable to stop herself. This one was devil’s first son obviously.
“You’re quite unforgiving and judgemental for a Christian, don’t you think?” Pete asked, sounding more amused than angry.
“Daddy? What is immorality?” Amanda asked from the backseat, reminding them that they weren’t alone.
“I suppose your caretaker would prefer to explain that to you.” Pete said with a chuckle, “Go on, tell her what it means.” Pete urged making Kathleen swallow nervously as she turned to look at Amanda with a smile.
“It means when people do things they aren’t supposed to do.” Kathleen said with a small smile.
“Things like what?” Amanda asked, making Pete laugh out loud, “Things like what? Please tell us, Aunty Kat.” He asked in a tiny voice making Kathleen glare at him.
“Don’t worry darling, you’ll understand as you grow older.” Kathleen said with a sigh. Was this going to be the pattern of her life now? When she had asked God for change, this definitely wasn’t what she had in mind.
.
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God is a miracle worker, he can makes you loss all you have before he change your life for better. Any difficulty you’re facing now may be your stepping stones to greatness, just watch and pray.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 1 – 10
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