[STORY] SPOILT AT CHURCH (Episode 13)

Episode 13.

Mrs. Johnson spent weeks brooding over the issue of Kike’s misdemeanor. She came up with different reasons to justify herself on why the Pastor mustn’t know of what happened to her daughter.

How will I tell him? She asked.

What will happen to the new position as the coordinator of the virgins’ club? She equally asked.

To Mrs. Johnson, honor and position meant everything, and she would do anything to gain and retain respect. She weighed the pros and cons and got to the conclusion that, the Pastor must not know.

The issue almost led to a fight between her and her husband, who for once was bent on asserting his authority as the Head of the household. He insisted on doing what was right no matter the consequence. He had to bow to pressure after relentless fire from his wife.

One evening, Mrs. Johnson invited Mrs. Williams and her son – Jide, to the house for a meeting. It was a closed door meeting between the four, without the knowledge of the fathers. There, she revealed what happened to Kike. Before then, she had claimed Kike had a severe case of malaria and typhoid fever.

Looking at Jide in the eyes she said, “You can’t deny you did this one.”

Jide dropped his head dejectedly.

“Why are you defiling our girls?” she asked.

“Girl you mean?”

“Girls,” she repeated. “You know what I mean. Why are you allowing the devil to use you?”

“I’m sorry ma,” he pleaded.

“Sorry my foot. Look, this will be the last time you will try this. My daughter almost died from the drug you gave her to induce abortion.”

“Jesus!” Mrs. Williams shouted.

“She told me all that I needed to know. She told me it was the second abortion, in the space of three months.”

“Ore, sorry,” Mrs. Williams pleaded on her knees. Why did you have to go to that extent Jide?”

“The issue is this,” Mrs. Johnson stated. “Because my daughter was defiled and had a complicated abortion, Jide should know that he has gotten himself a future wife. With the abortion, we don’t know the state of things in Kike’s body system. Though the doctor gave assurance that there will be no problem, but who knows what might come up in the future?”

“No evil will happen in Jesus name,” Mrs. Williams prayed.

“Amen! But I insist that he has gotten himself a wife. At least if there is problem in the future, they will bear the consequence together. Thank God he’s already a graduate, while she will soon be in the high institution. I wouldn’t mind them getting married even in her hundred level. Moreover, I don’t want my daughter to have to give long explanations of how she was broken to another man.”

“I was not the one that deflowered her,” Jide grumbled.

“Hen?” Mrs. Williams said in surprise.

“Yes! She was exposed before we met. I’m not under any obligation to marry anybody. I will marry whosoever I want at the right time.”

Kike, who had all along sat like a dummy, seeming unconcerned with all that was going on around her, looked up at Jide sorrowfully. “Jide!” She called, “Your promise was that you will marry me. It is why I have been giving my body to you. Why are you saying this?”

Kike looked pitiful, pathetic and disheveled, with the ordeal she had undergone showing on her emaciated body.

“What’s even the certainty that I was responsible for your pregnancy?” Jide asked. “I’m not under obligation to marry anybody,” he repeated. “I will marry whosoever I want at the right time.”

“And you will rot in jail,” Mrs. Johnson threatened. “If you don’t behave, the Pastor will get to know that indeed, you raped Martha. My daughter confessed to me that it was true she visited you and met Martha at the gate to your house on the day you raped her. You had sex with my daughter before releasing her to go back to the coaching center. She was suspicious of what could happen between you and Martha so, she went back, peeped through a little breakage in the glass door and waited long enough to see you forcing yourself on her.”

“Ha!” Mrs. Williams exclaimed.

“If you don’t behave,” Mrs. Johnson continued, “all I will do is to expose your evil deeds to the Pastor.”

“I’m ready to own up,” Jide responded and stood up. “I have not been at peace since the day Martha was punished. I will own up and take responsibility for the pregnancy. Martha is a decent girl. More so, I was her first man.”

“Go ahead,” Mrs. Johnson said and pointed to her friend. “Your son will rot in jail. You think Professor Aboderin will take it lightly with you? After the humiliation that you put his family through. I will tell you if you don’t know. The penalty for rapists as it is, is 14 years jail term. You better sit down and hear me out.”

Jide sat back terrified. He looked towards his mother for help. She was equally terrified. She pacified Mrs. Johnson on her knees. “Ore, we are sorry,” she said. “We will do whatever you want.”

“Fine. The two of them must get married at a set time. You know Kike is my only daughter. Don’t you think I also want to be called by the Pastor the morning after their wedding? – To receive the news that my daughter’s husband called to say he met her at home. Don’t you like the way the Pastor’s wife praise mothers whose daughters are found chaste? I also want that honor, and this union will guarantee that. I know your son will not dream of eating excreta. He should never think of backing out because as my people will say, a pounded yam of twenty years can remain hot on one’s palm.

“What about my grandchild in Martha’s womb?” Mrs. Williams asked. “Now that we know that Jide had his way with her. Will it be right to allow her face the consequence alone?”

“You can go to the Church and announce that you are now a grandmother, and see how your son will waste away. If Prof. refuses to press charges, I will personally report that Jide also raped my daughter. You better borrow yourself sense.”

They agreed that Jide and Kike would marry in the nearest future. Before the Williams left, Mrs. Johnson gave a stern warning to Jide. Pointing at him she said, “Go and learn how to control your instrument. Make sure you tie it with rope, wire, cord, anything, until when you will be ready to father another child. Omo iran Kiran.”
To Be Continued… . . .