THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
EPISODE 38
Eric didn’t need to look too hard to see how tense Kimberly was. He was driving her car while she sat quietly in the front seat, wringling her hands on her lap.
“Is there a reason you’re always so scared of your father?” Eric asked with a concerned frown. He couldn’t understand how a daughter, especially an only daughter could be so scared of her own biological father. His kid sister Wumi was always all over their father, and their relationship often even made their mother envious.
“He is just very harsh.” Kimberly murmured before looking out of the window. The last thing she wanted was to talk about her father to a man she would be married to for just a year.
“Harsh? It’s not like he’s going to hit you, is he?” Eric asked, and was startled when she didn’t rush to deny it or laugh it off dismissively as he had expected, “What? He still hits you? At your age?” Eric asked with a frown.
“Can we not talk about that? Please.” Kimberly pleaded.
“Okay. Let’s talk about you.” Eric said, wanting to help her relax.
“What about me?” Kimberly asked with a frown which made him smile. He had noticed she frowned a lot, especially when she seemed confused about something.
“Tell me about your favorite childhood memory.” Eric said making her narrow her eyes as she tried to think about it.
“I suppose that would be my last birthday before my mom died. I just clocked seven then, and dad wasn’t around. There was no money in the house but she knew how badly I wanted to go out, so she borrowed money from our neighbor and took me to Mr Biggs. It was my first time there and she let me have anything I wanted. After that though she thought I didn’t know, but she went to building sites to carry block just to pay back the debt.” Kimberly said with a nostalgic smile.
“Huh? Building site? Women do that?” Eric asked with a frown.
“Well, we didn’t always live in Lagos you know? We lived in Delta state before moving here. My mom is an urhobo woman, and they’re known to be strong and hardworking. If you go to a building site and see women working, I can assure you nine out of the ten women there are urhobo women.” Kimberly said making Eric’s frown deepen.
“And what do their husbands or sons do while they do this?”
“Well, in almost the same way the women are strong, their men lazy and pampered. They feel entitled to be served and taken care of by their women. Most people would want to argue it, but it’s the truth. You won’t believe during my last visit to my mother’s village I went to the market with a male cousin of mine and the market women were asking me why the man was carrying the heavy bag.” Kimberly said making Eric look at her with disbelief.
“Well, I’d like to think it’s a person thing not a tribe thing. I know a couple of guys there who aren’t that way. I think it depends on their level of exposure and education.” Eric concluded.
“Maybe.” Kimberly said with a sigh as her mind returned to her late mother. It was funny how she could still remember that birthday celebration and almost every other event of her childhood. It occured to her now that the happiest moment of her life had been when her mother was still alive. She wished her mother hadn’t died so early… maybe she wouldn’t have turned out the way she did.
“I’m not sure I’m going to like whatever it is you’re thinking.” Eric said when he noticed the sadness on her face and she remained quiet.
Kimberly looked into his face and flashed him a smile, “What about you? What’s your happiest childhood memories?” She asked looking at him curiously.
“I’d say all my childhood memories are nice, but I think the one that stands out for me is the day my sister was born. I had a bet with my parents that she was going to be a girl, but my dad insisted it was a boy.” Eric said with an infectious grin which made Kimberly giggle.
“Why were you so sure?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t want a brother. I just wanted a sister and I used to pray about it a lot. So I was just so sure God was going to answer me over my parents. My Sunday school teacher then used to say each of us children have our own ministering angels that always hears us and carries our prayers to God. So I reasoned that I have an angel but my father doesn’t.” Eric said with a wink.
“So what was the bet about?” Kimberly asked curiously.
“I was going to be the one to name her if she turned out to be a girl.” Eric said with a shrug.
“You really named her?”
“Of course I did. She was a bundle of joy… Now she’s so grown and demanding…” Eric paused when his phone started ringing, and looked down at it, “Speak of the devil. I don’t know how she always manages to call whenever I speak about her.” Eric said with a grin as he took the call without taking his eyes off the road. Thankfully his bluetooth airpod was connected to the phone so there was no way Kimberly could overhear their conversation.
“You abandoned me!” Wumi said accusingly making Eric chuckle.
“Is that a kind anthem? Whenever we don’t talk for more than three days you always say that. Why didn’t you call me if you miss me that much? Don’t you know your bro is broke and can’t afford call credit?” Eric asked making Wumi snort.
“You should have thought of that before doing this thing you’re doing. I’m back in the country and I want to see you. I’m bored.” Wumi said with a pout.
“How can you say you’re bored when you have so many friends? You know I need to work to make ends meet…”
“Abeg I don’t want to hear all of that. It’s you I want to see you, you know you’re my best friend. Look you just have to make time for me.” Wumi threatened making Eric chuckle.
“Are you threatening me?”
“Is that really what you think this is about?” Wumi asked with a sigh.
“Is something wrong? Did something happen?” Eric asked with a concerned frown.
“Just create time for me jare, don’t ask me any question.” Wumi hissed.
Kimberly who had been listening quietly to them suddenly sneezed, “Excuse me.” Kimberly said after sneezing making Wumi narrow her eyes.
“Wait, are you with someone? A lady?” She asked, and then paused when she made out the sound in the background, “You’re both in a car?”
“Let me call you back.”
“No! Wait! You have a girlfriend already. So that’s why you abandoned me.” Wumi said accusingly making Eric chuckle.
“You’re just a drama queen and an attention seeking puppy.” Eric said as he kept chuckling making Kimberly wish she had an older brother she could speak with like that.
“Wait! You really do have a girlfriend? Who is she? I want to talk to her.” Wumi said excitedly seeing as Eric did not deny her allegation about having a girlfriend.
“Wumi…”
“Let me just talk to her. Is this still about the deal? Or she does she know about you? Come on talk to me nau, it’s not fair.” She complained.
“I can’t talk now.” Eric said reasonably, glancing at Kimberly who was looking at him with interest, apologetically.
“I take it that means she doesn’t know anything. Let me just say hi to her! I always allow you say hi to my boyfriends after all.” She reminded him.
“Not now.”
“If you don’t let me talk to her I’m going to go downstairs and inform mom you got yourself a girlfriend, I’m sure she’s going to be eager to hear about her too.” Wumi threatened making Eric sigh.
“Let’s strike a deal, it’s either this or I make out time for you to see me. Which is it going to be?” Eric asked reasonably making Wumi sigh. Her brother was always the logical type. But she was also sure that she was going to find out all she needed to know about his girlfriend if she met him, so she decided to give in.
“Fine. I’m not happy with you sha, but let’s meet soon.” Wumi said rather grudgingly.
“Good girl. Go and gossip with mom or do whatever you both do. We will talk when I’m less busy. Love you.”
“I love you too.” Wumi said before disconnecting the call.
“I’m sorry about that. She wanted to speak to you…”
“Oh! She did? Sorry I blew your cover.” Kimberly said apologetically.
“It’s fine as long as that wasn’t my mom. She’s worse than Wumi.” Eric said with a fond smile as he thought about his mother and sister.
“You both sounded pretty close.” Kimberly observed.
“Yes we are. Without proper introduction you’d think she was my girlfriend.” Eric said with a grin, knowing Kimberly would likely make such an error in the nearest future. He was looking forward to seeing her reaction then.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
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“Are you sure you’re okay?” Pete asked again, wondering what was going on in her head. It wasn’t like she was the type to talk a lot, but her silence this morning seemed different.
“Yeah.” She said with a nod, and luckily for her, her phone started ringing before he could say anything else, so she quickly picked it up when she saw it was an unknown number, “Hello?”
“Good morning Ngozi! It’s me Chuka. The guy from Delta that gave you a ride on Sunday when you went to buy bread and coke.” Chuka explained making Kathleen giggle.
“Did you have to introduce yourself like that? Good morning sir.”
“Yes o. I had to. Sorry I didn’t call this whole time. How have you been?” Chuka asked with a grin.
“Not bad at all. How’re you? And how has work been?”
“We thank God o. I just got a new job sef.” Chuka announced happily as he looked around his executive office.
“No wonder you’re calling me! That’s good news! Levels done change. When are we celebrating na?” Kathleen asked making Chuka chuckle, while Pete glanced at her curiously. She had just greeted the person ‘good morning sir’ abi? He wondered.
Chuka chuckled at her question, “Whenever you’re ready na. Can I come and take you out this evening? Even if it’s just fish or pizza I buy you sef at least it’s something abi?” Chuka suggested making Kathleen smile, while Pete turned to look at her again as he wondered who she was speaking with and why she was smiling with all her teeth.
“I’m not sure I can leave in the evening. My mom and sister are around…” Kathleen said, leaving the rest of the words hanging, but Pete’s eyes were narrowed now. She had told her sister she didn’t have a boyfriend just the previous night, so which ‘sir’ was she talking to? And why were they talking about going out in the evening? He didn’t have a doubt that it was a young guy, judging by the way she was sounding and smiling. Perhaps he was an admirer? He wondered with displeasure.
“Oh! I understand. When will you be able to hang out then? What about your lunch break nkor? As God has laid it in my heart to see you today, let me not ignore it.”
“Lunch break? Hmm, that should work. I’ll text you the location when we are done. But what about you? Your place of work might be far from mine you know?” Kathleen asked curiously, wondering the wisdom in his decision to come over to her workplace.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not very occupied with work yet, so I can easily leave. Plus I need to try out this car…”
“Car? Like they gave you an official car?” Kathleen asked with a grin wondering why she was feeling so relaxed talking to Chuka like they were longtime friends when they had only just met once. She decided that it was probably because of Chuka’s sunny personality.
“Yes o. One correct car like that! When I come you will see it. Oya na, don’t forget to text me the address. We will see later.” Chuka said with a grin before disconnecting the call. Kathleen kept smiling as she texted Chuka the office address, while Pete’s brow was furrowed in a frown.
Now he kind of wished Amanda was still in the car cause she would have been the one to ask Kathleen who she had been talking to. Even though he knew it wasn’t his business, he couldn’t help being curious about it.
“Your friend got a new job?” He asked after sometime.
“Yeah.” Kathleen said with a nod before looking out of the window. Now that she was done with the call, she suddenly became aware of his presence again.
“Sharon?” He guessed even though he knew it wasn’t Sharon.
“No. Another friend.” She said not wanting to give too much information.
“So how is your boyfriend?” Pete asked making Kathleen shift uncomfortably in her seat. Why was he asking about that all of a sudden?
“He is fine. He sent his regards.” Kathleen said making Pete scoff inwardly. This girl was not only a liar, but she was a very good liar obviously. It seemed like the lies dropped from her lips effortlessly. If she could lie this well, he couldn’t help but wonder what other sins she committed despite her holier than thou attitude.
“That is nice. Send my regards to him too.” Pete said in amusement.
“Thanks. He will hear.” Kathleen said with a sigh. She couldn’t count the number of times she had lied since she had met Pete. She could only pray that God will forgive her for these many lies.
“Yeah. I’m sure he will.” Pete said not wanting her to have the last word. Somehow since he heard she was single the previous night, he was seeing her in a new light but he couldn’t understand why. It seemed like he hadn’t been looking at her properly because he was scared she was in a relationship, but now that he knew she was single the scales seemed to have fallen off his eyes and she was beginning to look even more attractive in his eyes. Even her voice was beginning to sound finer now in his ears.
“So this boyfriend of yours… What does he do?” Pete asked again after sometime, making Kathleen frown in confusion.
“He’s a medical doctor.” She answered without thinking.
“Wow! That is super nice!” Pete exclaimed, impressed by how fast she was at coming up with her lies, “He must be very brilliant. How did the both of you met?”
“Yes he is. We met at a…” She wanted to say they met at a party but sighed when she remembered her dream as well as what her mother had said the previous night about using her mouth to block her blessings.
“Yeah? Go on.” He urged her, wanting to hear the funny tale she was going to spin.
Okay, it won’t necessarily be a big deal if she could just take back the lie and tell him the truth. Everyone tells lies every once in a while after all, Kathleen told herself and she took in a deep breath, “I don’t have a boyfriend.” Kathleen blurted out, making Pete look at her in mock surprise.
“What? How? But I thought you just said…”
“I know what I just said. I’m sorry. I lied.” Kathleen said with an embarassed shrug.
“What? You lied? Why?” Pete asked with a confused expression now. He couldn’t understand why she suddenly decided to tell him the truth when he had just started enjoying this.
“Why what?”
“Why did you lie about being in a relationship in the first place? And why are you telling the truth now?” Pete asked in confusion. He didn’t know whether to be glad or not that she had decided to tell him the truth.
“Just because.” Kathleen said with a shrug. There was no way she was going to tell him she had lied because she felt embarassed admitting that she was single to him.
“I see. Although for someone as churchy and judgemental as you, I’m very surprised you can even tell a lie, but then, if you could tell me ‘waka’, I guess there’s nothing you can’t do.” Pete said in an amused tone making Kathleen look away in embarassment but she didn’t say anything in her defense.
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Hmmmm, Kathleen is just given Pete much reason to doubt her faith in Christ. We believers really needs to be careful most times as people are waiting for reasons to accuse us with our words and actions.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
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