She nibbled at the food without relish and absent-mindedly shared in the jokes. The delay in the release of her result was bothering her and the prospect of spending another year at home, had her going. “Anything on your mind, honey?” She hesitated. “Yes, mom.” “What is it?” “Mom, I… I do not know how to… to say this, but… but I… I, all my friends have received their result notification slips except me. I… I hope they have not withheld my result.” “Now, that is no way to talk. It is the lie of the devil. Never affirm negative. Do not even entertain such thoughts. Nothing is wrong with your result. The delay may be due to error in our postal system. Remember, what you believe works for you. It does not matter what you believe, the law still applies. So, you should be mindful what you entertain.” “Maya,” May said. “The Bible says death and life are in the tongue’s power and they that love it shall eat the fruit.” “I’m sorry.” “You‘d better not only be sorry, be different.” She frowned. “How, Mom?” “You have to unlearn to learn. You rediscover to recover.” She nodded. “Instead of confessing negative, what should you do?” May asked. “Pray, confess the word of God and believe.” “Good. Putting it in proper perspective, the Bible says when men are cast down, thou shall say there is a lifting.” “Have you prayed about it?” “No.” “Why?” “But… I… I thought God… God should know. Is He not all-knowing and all-seeing?” “Well, He may be, but that does not make it right. Prayer is a spiritual law. It is the only way we communicate with God. Besides, God will not give us what we did not ask for, even when He knows we need them. Am I understood?” “Yes.” She fixed her gaze on her. “You’ll do it?”  “Yes.” “When?” “Before I go to bed, I guess." “Why then? Why not now?” Her eyes widened. “Now?” “Yes, now.” “Okay,” she fell on her knees and handed everything over to God. Throughout the rest of the evening, Mary chattered about her new school and the forthcoming convocation ceremony and how exciting the Bible school experience had been, and how she intends to be an international preacher like Myles Munroe, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Bishop David O. Oyedepo and all other world greats. Her father nodded, his eyes radiating with love and admiration. “Do you know what, Dad?” He raised his brow. “What?” “Maria has joined the Bible school.” Maria is Mary’s best friend. “That’s good!”  “Yes, dad.” “I’ve always known that girl was up to something good,” her mom said. “Any mother would be proud of her. Won’t you consider that as an option?” “But mom, I’ve got to have a calling first,” she cried, sad it had come to that. She dreads going to the Bible school like she dreads the rattlesnake, although it was glaring she had a calling and she knew it. “And who told you don’t have a calling, darling?” “Dad, I… I.” “Look, we all have a calling, and a Bible school does not mean you will end up being a pastor. It is only a preparatory ground for Christians who want to live a victorious life in Christ here on earth. The Bible in 2nd Timothy 2: 15 admonish us to ‘study to show ourselves approved unto God’.” After dinner, they retired to the sitting room and sat down to listen to the evening news. However, before the nine o’clock news began, there was a power failure. Being late September, the weather inside the sitting room was hot, so they went outside to the small veranda in front of the house to take fresh air before retiring for the day.
                                ***
Jeff placed the guava in the hole and covered the roots. As he pressed the soil together to harden the ground, he heard footfalls and the rustling of dry leaves behind. He turned and there she was in a long, flowing gown, which covered virtually every part of her body except her face. Even a headgear characteristic of the Deeper Life fashion covered her hair and ears. His heart raced and his mouth turned dry. It always did whenever he sets eye on her innocent, baby face and forget-me-not eyes. “Hi,” her lips curved into a nervous smile. He ran his eyes across her body, taking in her every facet in one brief scan and felt her blushing under his gaze. "Hello!" He couldn’t trust himself to say more than that. Seeing her so unexpectedly fazed him. She had a hold on him. “Uhm… uhm… is Ella at home?” “No, why do you ask? Is it Ella you want to see or me?” “Uhm… uhm…,” she hesitated. “I… I don’t know… Yes… I ... I was on my way to fellowship when I… I,” she stopped. “When you saw me,” he finished for her. “No, not exactly.” “Don’t lie.” “I’m… I’m ....” He came close, close enough for her to perceive the aroma of his manly body, and the curious trembling began again. It always did whenever he is close to her. Feelings she couldn’t explain always take hold of her, make nonsense of all her self-defenses, and resolve to stay sane. “Did you do it?” he searched her face. “Do what?” “Pray for me?” “Yes.” “Thanks. Will you always do it?” “Yes.” He took her hand, and she began to shake like a leaf in the wind. “Maya.”  “Yes.” “I’dlike you to know you’re the best thing that ever happened.” She sensed a strange inflection in his voice, she knew he meant it, and she felt it too. She could feel his heart beating hard against its rib cage and the love burning so clear and fierce in his eyes. She shivered, shifting from one foot to the other as she drew endless maps on the ground with her right big toe. He has a hold on her, you may call it love or the ‘Jeff’s effect.’ She swallowed hard. “But… But, I thought we’ve been through this a million times before? I can’t marry you. Why can’t you get that?” He looked at her with a disconcerting glance. “What was that again?” “You’re not born again, and the Bible says we shouldn’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers; based on that alone, I can’t marry you.” “If I get born again; what are my chances?” he asked, not because he meant it, but because hewas desperate to win her love. “I… I.” “Maya.” “Yes.” “Do you love me?” “Yes, but…” “There’s no ‘but,’” he stopped her. “You’re not born again. You must receive Christ first.” “I know, but….” “But what?”  “I…I mean that I will soon come to the end of my tether?” “Soon?” she jeered. “And how soon will your soon be soon enough?” “Two years and we are still fighting and quarreling as if we met yesterday,” he sneered as he washed off the dirt and mud. “Yes, and that’s because you insist on having your way.” “What does that mean?” “You know what I’m talking about. Stop pretending.” He grinned. “I don’t. Why should I pretend?” “Why do you find it difficult to accept that there’s no life outside Jesus Christ?” He ran his hand through his hair. “I wonder when this cat-and-mouse game will end.” “It’ll end as soon as you are ready to accept Jesus Christ.” “Won’t you come in for a minute?” She shook her head. “No. I’m going to fellowship. I don’t want to be late.” “Please, even for a second. I promise not to waste your time.” She stamped her foot hard on the ground. “Oh, no, not today.” He took her hand and she melted under his touch. “Please.” Something about Jeff stirs deep emotions in her, something she could not put her fingers to. He was like poison, going through her system and breaking her defenses down. Over the years, she has come to realize he was an extrovert, gay and clean through and through, and when she discovered he was intelligent, a complete gentleman, down-to-earth, and never tried to pressure her into having sex and content with only a good night’s kiss, she stuck to him like glue to paper. As their relationship blossomed, she realized he was tied down with a lot of wrong doctrines, philosophies, and mindsets. For example, he does not believe in being born again, speaking in tongues or that one could live a spirit-filled life here on earth. To him, being good, attending church services and just doing your own thing your way, hurting no one was all that life demands. Therefore, she vowed to win him over to Christ. She trembled under his touch. “Okay, but you’ll promise not to waste my time or… or try to… to…” she broke off. “Touch you,” he laughed. She blushed. “How many cigaretteshave you smoked today,” she asked as she stepped into the room. "Let me see," she counted the cigarette butts. They were six in all! “Six! And how much is that?” “I don’t know,” he grumbled. “Sixty naira, I guess. Why do you buy death with your money?” He sank into the only chair in the room and ignored the question. “Won’t you take the weight off your feet?” “You have not answered my question.” “I will once you sit down.” She looked at him, and then at the bed and back to him again. The bed was the only seat left. He had taken the only armchair in the room, leaving her with no other option other than to sit on the bed. She smiled. She knew his game, but she was determined to beat him to it. “No need. I’ll soon leave.” “You should sit down, even if you are staying for only a minute. At least, courtesy demands you do.” She looked at the bed again. Shrugging, she crossed the room and sat down onthe edge. She knew from experience he would stop at nothing until he had his way. “Okay, I’m seated. Now, answer my question.” His ran his eyes over her, devouring her with his eyes. She shuddered. “You look beautiful.” She blushed. “Thanks, but that doesn’t answer my question.” “What was your question?” “Why do you buy death with your money?” He stood up from the chair and joined her on the bed. “I like your dress. Who designed it?” “Oh, stop prevaricating and answer my question.” “Don’t tell me you don’t know the designer?” She shifted away from him. “I don’t.”Fashion and designers’ stuff made no sense to her. Her only preoccupation was making heaven and nothing more. “Let me see,” he said and fumbled with her collar, his hand brushing against her skin. “Oh, it’s Ralph.” She melted likecandle wax and a thousand butterflies fluttered at the pits of her stomach as his hand touched her skin. She closed her eyes and tried to shake off the feelings. “Take… take your… your hand off… off me," she cried.     “Good designer," he said and pushed the label back.  But… but you promised not… not to touch me. Are you not breaking your promise?” “I am… I’m sorry,” he said in a croaked voice. “But…but you’re not making things easy for me.” She sat up. "How?” “Look, it’s not what you did but what you have refused to do that’s driving me crazy.” The skin around her face squeezed. “What do you mean? What did I do?” “Don’t get me wrong. I mean you… you,” he shook his head. "Make me go gaga.” She sat up. "I… I don’t understand.” “Tell me a love story?” he changed the topic instead of answering her question. That is another reason she likes him. His intelligence and ability to interpret moods never ceases to amaze her. He seems to know when a joke was out of place. Nevertheless, she saw the trap and stood to her feet. “I have to be on my way.” He jumped to his feet. "But why? You just got here.” There was desperation in his voice. She chuckled. “Don’t forget I’m going to fellowship.” He scratched his head. “I know but… but it’s still too early for fellowship. Stay a little while, please.” She looked at the wall clock. “Oh, be serious. I want to do my hair first. That’s why I left home early.” “I know, but… but you’ll stay for fifteen minutes at least. That’s the least you can do for me.” “Fifteen minutes?” she cried, her eyes widening. “I… I can’t….” “Why? Do you… do you know when we’ll see each other again?” She looked at him and realized he was right. It could be a long time before they could see each other again. “Okay, I’ll give you ten minutes.” “No. Fifteen minutes, and not a minute more.” “No. Ten.” “Ten? Okay,” he shrugged. “So, what’s it by your time?” He consulted his watch. “3:15 pm.” “That means I am leaving by 3:25 pm, right?” He nodded.