[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 01)

Episode 01.

No part of this story should be edited or copied without proper acknowledgment of the writer.

My name is Love. I grew up seeing my father distributing suspension in church to his members like a free gift. My father was a very stern pastor. Sometimes I do hear people in the village parading with his name calling him wicked. I can’t count the number of times he has canceled weddings when he finds out the bride is pregnant, no amount of pleadings will change my father decision.
“I was sent to groom and prepare for the Lord a generation of decent, spotless, and godly people and not filthy beings for the next coming of our savior and that I must achieve! My father will always brag whenever his fellow pastors advises him to lessen his hands on his members.

At home he handles us with iron hands because we have to be a good example to other children in the village.
“Its not a mistake that I have only two children. I personally told your mother to stop once you were born Love so that I can open my eyes well on you and your brother. I won’t be alive and see you two bring me shame and bring my hard work to nothing, no way! My father will always shout us at home with any little mistake we make.

I and my brother got very scared to make mistakes and tried our best to live our lives to the standard our father gave to us but I had a problem. I was not good at all with Physics and mathematics as a science student. Though I had no interest in science, but as I said earlier, my father gave us a standard already and the way we must go even in the choice of what we will study.
My brother who had interest in cars, and he will always be found at the mechanic shop looking at the way cars are being repaired. My father screamed out and casted the spirit of mechanism from him with enough beatings when he found out, saying the Lord said he should be a lawyer.
We were both struggling in academics and worked extra hard to meet up.

At school when I opened my book and saw the test score, I just heaved and closed the book very disappointed that I failed with my legs raised up. Because of my father stern attitude, the teachers will always separate me from the other students when its time for tests and examinations.
“Malpractice or asking your friends answers in the hall is a sin, that’s what your father do preach right? They will remind me.
It was becoming tiring for me. I could not make friends nor mingle with people so that they won’t influence me according to my father.

My case was more interesting because I am a female child,
“Don’t let a boy come close to you so you won’t get pregnant, was what my parents told me. I feared suspension and stayed off even though I had questions running in my head with what I do hear from my biology teacher.

“Love you’ve failed again? Cecilia asked as I covered my head on the desk crying.
“I don’t know what to do, soon the mock exams will start, I replied.

“Don’t you think you need a teacher? Like a home teacher I mean, she said.
“My father won’t accept, I said.

“Just explain things to him and try to make him understand, don’t forget no one will help you during the exams, Cecilia said and it got me more scared.
I and my brother were in the same class because we started school together. According to my mom they didn’t have the money to enroll him in school when he was suppose to start, we had to start together when the money finally came.

As we strolled back home I complained to Pius about my poor grades in school and he just smiled like it was nothing,
“I don’t understand, what’s funny? I asked him.
“What do you want me to say? He asked back.

“You have nothing to say? I asked him.
“Love I have nothing to say, why not go tell your parents who pushed us to where we don’t know where its taking us. Imagine me sitting down to read different literatures what for? Pius asked and I breathed out.

“The mock exams is coming up, if we don’t pass we can’t enter the next class na, I said.
‘Does it concern me? No should I kill myself? The shame will surely go back to him, I wonder how he will keep his face when his two children fails with high rank, Pius said and quickly walked away from me and I could sense that he’s really angry.

My mother returned from the market and I decided to talk to her, unlike my dad she has a small spot to listen to us even though we will be wasting our time because she will have to still discuss with her husband.
“Mommy please you know I am trying hard, help me talk to daddy, I need a home teacher, I told her.
“Love you know that is not going to happen, how many hours will this home teacher have with you? She asked.

“Mommy I don’t know but if i want to be honest with you, my grades is very poor, I replied.
“I’ll try my best anyway, she said and left the kitchen and I breathed out.

That night we left our rooms for prayers, my father just fixed his eyes on me that I began to wonder what I’ve done.
“What is this home teacher I am hearing? He finally asked.
“Daddy it’s……… “Are you reading your book! How special is your brain that I have to pay for a home teacher and a school teacher! He shouted and I closed my eyes shaking.

“She wants to start now to have a home teacher and you’re supporting her, when she gets to the university what will she ask for? This home teacher will it be free? He asked referring to my mom.
“But she’s complaining her grades are low, my mother replied.

“Is it our fault? Did our parents then or did we know what is home teacher at our time? Didn’t we struggled to pass the way we can? This children are too relaxed, in fact get up let’s pray! He shouted and we sluggishly stood up and that was the end of a home teacher.

After a week I heard our seniors are organizing an extra class for us free. I was most excited and that morning before I left for school I told my parents about it,
“I need you back to this house before 3pm, my father said.
“But daddy the class begins after the school is over, I can’t be home before 3pm, I said.

“Did I tell you to attend any class? My father asked.
“But daddy why are you doing this? This class is beneficial for me as a science student and our exams is coming up soon, is it bad for the students to gather us up and teach us what they know ahead of the exams? I asked and my mother cleared her throat.

“When will you be coming back? She asked.
“An hour late, I replied.

“Dear please let her attend, its still part of learning right? My mother asked but he was quiet.
“Please na, they are almost late for school, my mother said again looking at the time as we waited for him.

“And you Pius you have no extra class? My father asked.
“There is, but I’m not interested in it, he replied.

“Very good, She should not be interested also, my father said to my mother.
“But they are in different class, isn’t the science class more difficult? My mother asked.

“That’s what they make you believe. Anyway you can attend but don’t dare to come back late, my father said.
“Thank you daddy, I happily said and left with Pius.

We were barely 10 of us who attended the class and it made it easy for the students to attend to us and made us understand. I felt very comfortable with my seniors teaching me, it was penetrating better especially when the senior boys prefect comes up to teach Physics.
Within a week after I started the class, I saw improvement and I was doing well with the assignments they do give after every teaching.

I saw myself interacting with my classmates which was not so, and I was so close with the boys prefect and we go home together because Pius was not waiting for me.
One day as we walked home together I saw a member of the church who I greeted very well and she responded well also and we passed.
That evening I was doing my assignment when my father got in very furious,

“Love, who is this boy you’re always seen walking and smiling with on the road? My father asked.
“Hey daddy that’s our boys prefect, I replied

“So what? You will have to hold hands together and walk side by side laughing? Do you know that is appearance of evil? My father asked.
“Daddy we didn’t hold hands o, we just walked and talked, I replied.

“Talked about what exactly that all your forty two teeth will be showing huh? He asked.
“Daddy its thirty two, I corrected and I received a slap that fitted my face.

“Yes correct me and ignore the question I asked you. Let me not see you with that boy and Enough of the extra class! He shouted and walked out and Pius just placed his hand under his chin looking at me as I cried holding my cheek.
“Aunty Amarachi actually reported you, Pius said and I looked at him and sniffed and stormed out of the house and got to her place straight up.

“Why are you this wicked and a jobless gossiper? Can’t you do something better in your life than reporting people? I asked facing her.
“What do you mean by that? She asked.

“Oh stop pretending! Because you saw me walking with a boy you reported me to my father for what exactly? I asked.
“To stop you from getting pregnant and get suspended. Oh oh oh you’re even raising your shoulders high because I called your father to look at you huh? Truly you have no respect for elders, she replied.

“Mind your business woman, look after your own children and leave me alone! I shouted and left her compound while she clapped her hands behind me.
When I got home I saw my mother coming out from the kitchen,
“Where are you coming back from? She asked but I looked away still very angry.

“I am talking to you! She shouted.
“To aunty Amarachi place, I told her to stop gossiping, I replied.

“Is Aunty Amarachi your mate? She asked.
“Oh she knows like that and she can’t stop being an idle gossiper? I asked back.

“Wonderful! I can see all she told me very visible now. So you even insulted someone old enough to be your mother Love? My father asked coming out and I just scoffed.
“I didn’t insult her but called her to order, let her stop intruding into other people business so that the size of her nose will reduce, I replied and left to the use the other door to enter my room.

I heard my father ranting and vibrating the whole house but I didn’t care. Stopping me from the extra class or talking with Solomon was something I was not planning to do, I just knew from that day I was no longer that obedient lamb that can be kicked around.
To Be Continued… . .