TWO WEEKS - Episode 14

Vicky was frying buns when Emeka arrived. She wore a purple dress under a white apron. Her hair was also covered with a cooking hat.
When her door knocked, she was rolling dough into a flat circle shape to make a chapatti.
“Come in. It’s open.” She called from the kitchen.
The door opened and Emeka got in. “My Oh my. What is that smell?”
Vicky laughed. “Maandazi, coconut flavored.” She replied.
Emeka drew to the kitchen window and greeted her in Igbo.
Vicky, who already learnt from him Igbo words, responded.
“It seems so sweet.” He said, glancing at the frying saucepan on the cooker.
“That is correct.”
He looked back at her. “So, how much are you selling for one?”
“Two for 50 cents.”
“Isn’t that too cheap? They will be too good.”
“Well, that is because, it’s my first time.”
He nodded. “Okay. I will call my friends and get you customers then.” He said, taking out his phone from his coat pocket.
“So, did you find a place to sleep over?” She asked.
“Yeah, yeah. We are going to squeeze ourselves in the apartment of our other friend.” He said before going on air with his buddy. “Yeah? Come here now… Campus… nowhere else now. Campus! ... Yes. In the… this?” He turned to Vicky.
“Backster.”
“Yes. Backster building. Eh and… bring some money… the sixth… Okay. ” He said and hang up. “He’s coming. That was Okonkwo, the guy I came with from Nigeria. We have been buddies since we were young.”
She smiled. “Nice.”
“Hallow?”
They all turned their heads to the main entrance.
Wayne walked in, wearing a maroon shirt and dark trousers. He carried Vicky’s Bible in his hand.
“Hey?” Vicky called.
“Hi. What’s up?” He replied and glanced at Emeka.
“Hi.”
“Wayne. This is Emeka. He is my friend and we go to the same class and church. Emeka, he is Wayne, my friend.”
“Nice to meet you.” Emeka said first.
Wayne nodded. “Same.”
“Oh!” Vicky snapped, leaving the dough. “Excuse me. Please, help yourself on the seats.” She said before turning to the cooker that was opposite her.
“Smells nice.” Wayne commented, not wanting to retire to the red sofas in the living room.
Vicky took out the buns from the pan and placed them in an empty vessel. She then turned off the cooker and took the saucepan with the oil, to a spacious place on the kitchen counter.
“Are you done?” Emeka asked.
“No. But, I can finish later.” She replied, washing her hands in the sink.
“I brought your Bible.” Wayne called, looking somewhere else within the living room.
“Please come in.” She asked, serving some cups on the dining table inside the room.
Emeka was the first to enter the room. Wayne followed, dragging himself.
“So, would you prefer coffee or tea?” Vicky asked when she placed the vessel with hot buns on the table.
Wayne was standing at the kitchen threshold. He glanced at the aromatic bites on the table. “Coffee will be fine.”
“Coffee.” Emeka replied.
“Okay.” Vicky agreed and fetch a flask from the counter.
Wayne walked forward to sit opposite Emeka. He waited patiently as Vicky poured the hot coffee into the cups and closed the flask with the lid to join them for the brunch.
After she had sat, she joined her palms together. “Emeka, please bless the food.”
“Amen.” He replied and shut his eyes. “Our father who is in heaven. Thank you for this meal. Thank you also for the generous hospitality of Vicky. Please bless that the meal gives us strength to do your will. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.”
“Amen.” The rest replied and opened their eyes.
“Thank you.” Wayne said first to Vicky, picking up his bun and cup of coffee.
“Welcome," she replied.
“Yum. You are a very good cook" Emeka commented.
Vicky smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“This is very good" Wayne said between bites.
“Thank you," she replied.
“Oh. This reminds me that, I promised to get you bags for packaging your food products," Wayne said.
“Oh. I already got them.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Oh. Have you begun selling them?”
“I am starting today.”
“Good, so how much am I eating here.”
She laughed. “No. It’s free, right here on my table but, it will be fifty cents for two if you would like to leave with them.”
He grinned. “Thank you. If they are around tomorrow morning I’ll pick them up after the run.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“What do you call your products?” Emeka asked.
“Prettiz.”
“O alright. Vicky Prettiz.” Wayne said.
Vicky grinned. “That is even better.” she said and sipped her coffee. “So, did you go through John Chapter 1?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He said, stretching his hand toward the Bible on the far end of the table where he had placed it. He passed it to her.
“John is among my favorite books in the Bible" Emeka said.
“Jesus has spoken a lot in John" Vicky said.
“Oh. He has?” Wayne asked.
“Yes,” Vicky assured him. “When you proceed to the next chapters, you will see everything.”
Wayne nodded. “I also read Genesis. It’s amazing.”
“Truly," Emeka agreed. “And very interesting. Genesis describes the foundation of the world creation and also, the beginning of God’s promise; a covenant that he made with Abraham that we partake through faith, this day. The Bible says in Hebrews 11 that, Abraham believed in God and his faith was reckoned to him as righteousness. We are Abraham’s descendants through faith.”
Wayne was slightly confused. “Abraham’s children? Not God’s children?”
“God blessed Abraham, Wayne. And Israel, a blessed nation of God was Abraham’s offspring. Abraham pleased God that is why he blessed him and his descendants forever. We are enjoined into the blessings through faith, so we are called Abraham’s children” Vicky explained.
“So, are we also God’s children?” Wayne asked.
“Yes. Through Jesus Christ.”
“And you are telling me that God loves us like he loved Abraham.”
Vicky nodded strongly. “Right.”
Emeka had taken out his phone and placed it on the table, tapping it. “You know, the Bible says in Romans 4:16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants- not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham for he is the father of us all” He read and glanced at them. “Abraham believed God and his faith was counted as righteousness. When we believe, we are also counted righteous and heirs of Abraham.”
“I guess I have a lot of reading to do.” Wayne concluded and took another bun.
“Do you have a time table?” She asked.
“No. I never thought of having one.”
“It will be essential for you if you could also, organize the way you will spend your time. That way, you will have a time for reading the Word of God, to pray as well as other activities like studying and hanging out.” Vicky suggested.
Wayne nodded. “That is a good idea. I should be able to come up with something.”
Emeka emptied his cup. “I think that, I need a timetable too.”
“And resolutions like; what you want to achieve by the end of the year.” Vicky added.
Wayne was silent. He did not think that he had any resolutions. He never thought of anything.
“So, back to John 1...” Vicky said, opening the Bible carefully so as not to spoil it with her oily finger. “He says that; in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” She read and turned to the rest of them. “Now we know that the whole world was created with word which God uttered according to Genesis where it says that,” she opened to Genesis 1. “The earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face waters. And God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light.”
“And John 1 verse 3 says; all things were made through him and without him was not anything made that was made.” Emeka added, scanning his smartphone next to his cup on the table. “So, by the Word of God, the whole earth was created.”
Wayne glanced at each of them in turns and then asked, “So, I figure that, God just said the word and some things came up?”
“Everything actually” Vicky said.
Emeka nodded. “And that’s where saying good things come in. Because, words have got the power to create; given that, God created man according to his own likeness and image.”
“I read about that; God creating human beings according to his own image.” Wayne said. “So, because after receiving him, he gives us the power to become his children does that mean, we become like him? In a way or something. Is it possible?”
“The answer to that question comes from Psalm 82.” Vicky said, shuffling the pages of the Bible. “The Bible says in Psalm 82:6; I say, 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you' Although he was talking to the Israelites, this verse includes us through faith in Jesus Christ.”
“You already told me that, after becoming a child of God, I am entitled to his blessings and protection and that I can ask him. What other benefits do I enjoy from being a son of the Most High?” Wayne asked, glancing at Vicky.
“God has everything to offer.” Emeka helped, gaining Wayne’s attention. “Only he, holds the promise for you, for this lifetime and for the lifetime to come.”
Vicky nodded. “Let us go to Isaiah chapter 9 and read about Jesus Christ.” She suggested, turning the Bible pages.
Emeka tapped his phone. “Which verse?” he asked.
Wayne watched him closely. Emeka must have had a Bible app.
“Isaiah 9 verse 6. The Bible says; for to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.'” Vicky replied and read, then turned to Wayne. “So, Wayne, he is a counselor that means, he will teach you; how to walk about in life, and to serve him. He is a Mighty God that means, he is a miracle worker. Jesus is going to reveal himself in your life as a healer, a helper and more than that. Jesus is also an Everlasting Father that means, a shoulder for you to cry on; also, a provider for all your needs. Again Jesus is the Prince of Peace; he admonishes love and peace to grow and fill your heart; peace and love big enough to affect everyone around you.”
Wayne was touched by the peace. His relationship with his brother came to his mind. He wondered if God was able to fix it. He nodded. “Right. This God seems very powerful.”
“More than we can imagine.” Vicky added.
“So, how come we don’t feel him sometimes?” Wayne asked.
“That only happens when we don't believe.” Emeka helped.
Wayne turned to him. “So, everything is all about faith?” He asked.
“Faith that eventually count us as righteous people.” Vicky said.
Wayne turned back to her. “You also told me that, before asking God we have to ask for forgiveness. What does God count as wrong and what does God count us right?”
“Sounds like a question for Galatians chapter 5.” Emeka said and tapped his phone.
“Who is that? Another apostle?” Wayne asked him.
“Paul. An apostle of Christ Jesus, though not among the twelve disciples; he went to various places to preach the gospel. Among these places was, Galatia. So, sometime later, he sent them a letter. It’s now a book in the Bible.” Vicky explained.
Wayne nodded.
“The Bible says in Galatians 5:19-21, I shall read in the name Jesus,” Emeka begun and paused for an ‘Amen’ from Vicky. He read; “Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.” He read and paused to add. “Those are the things that God wants us to leave behind. The next verses talks about the fruit of the spirit; things we should observe. Galatians 5:22-26 says; But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such, there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking one another, no envy of one another.”
Wayne scratched his head and took out his phone from his trouser pocket. “Can you please share with me that app? You’ve said a lot of things, I don’t think that, I heard everything.”
Emeka nodded. “Sure. Turn on your Bluetooth.”
At that, Vicky rose. “Excuse me for a minute.”
“It’s alright.” Wayne replied.
She left the room.
“Is it on?” Emeka asked and added quickly, reading the ‘available Bluetooth device’ on his phone screen. “Astrophe?”
“Yap.” Wayne replied.
“Okay. It’s coming.”
“Accept.” Wayne murmured and relinquished his phone on the table.
Emeka continued tapping his phone. “Oh. He won’t make it.” He said to himself.
“Who?” Wayne asked.
“My friend. He was supposed to come and we can buy Prettiz from Vicky.”
“Oh. Sadly, I didn’t carry a lot of cash. I have gotta get to the subway to see a friend.”
“Thank you. I can talk to Vicky and she will just give me some-” he said before placing his phone against his ear. “Hallo?” He greeted and there was a long reply. “Today? … no I’m in campus… Okonkwo is at Paul’s house… Okay. I’ll call him… okay. Seven. Okay.” He hang up. “We have a group discussion.”
Wayne nodded. “All the best men. Which faculty are you in?”
“Science. I am taking Biotech with Vicky. And you?”
“LL.B, second year.”
“They say that law is difficult.”
“They said just right.”
Emeka chuckled and pushed back his seat, rising. “When this lady comes back, please tell her that I really had to run.”
“Don’t you discuss together?”
“No. She is in another group and I think that they meet on weekdays.”
Wayne nodded and Emeka hastily left the room.
He heard Vicky converse with Emeka in the living room. Probably, she asked him why he had to go. After some seconds, Vicky reappeared in the room. She carried a wrapped book.
Wayne emptied his cup, staring at the table. “Your friend had to go.”
“I met him outside.” She replied, reoccupying her seat.
She placed the book on the table, close to his hand.
He glanced at it. “What’s…” he asked, scrutinizing the front cover, “a Bible?”
“Yap," she agreed. “Revised Standard Version. I picked it for you.”
He drew his head back in slight shock. “Why? You didn’t have to spend your money on me.”
“I’m okay with that. It is for a good cause.”
“Seriously. You don’t have to get yourself so worked up, it’s only for two weeks.”
“Maybe but, you have to be growing in the spirit during that time. The Word of God will feed you with the knowledge of God.”
He took up the Bible and unwrapped it. “How much did you get it for?”
“5 bucks.”
“I will replace it to you tomorrow is that alright?”
“No. I don’t want you to. Take it as a gift.”
He begun to peruse it. “I don’t take it being my birthday. Besides that, you need the money.”
She sighed. “Wayne. It’s fine.”
“I insist. I’ll replace your cash tomorrow.”
She rounded her eyes with impatience and agreed. “Okay.”
He placed the Bible on the table. “Okay. The buns are great but, John one isn’t finished yet.”
“Yes.” She agreed and opened her own Bible.
She shared with him about John the Baptist and how he played the role of baptizing Jesus. She also named to him all the twelve disciples of Jesus, eleven of whom became Apostles (James, John, Andrew, Bartholomew, Peter, Philip, Matthew, Judas the son of James, Thomas and James the son of Alphaeus, Simon called Zealot) and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
At around 7:35pm, the review had ended and they both closed their Bibles.
“Was that a lot for one day?” She asked, wrapping up the conversation.
He sighed with exhaustion. “Actually, I think I have to work on that time table to schedule a time to be reading.”
She smiled. “Do that. It will be essential for you.”
He nodded in agreement and pushed back his chair, rising. “Now, I have to get going. I still have a long journey ahead of me.”
She raised her eyebrows at him. “Sasha.” She reckoned.
“Yap,” he agreed.
She grinned.
He turned around to leave just before she called him.
“Yah?” he asked.
“Do you happen to know where the music hall is? I was told that, it is in the West circuit.”
“Oh yeah. It’s just opposite our faculty building; if, you have heard of The Derby.”
“I haven’t heard of that. Anyway, we have band rehearsals tomorrow and I need to get there around seven.”
“I can show you tomorrow morning but, you can sing?”
She grinned and nodded.
He chuckled. “Gimme a wrap.”
“What’s that?”
“An a capella.” He explained.
She laughed with a little embarrassment and said. “Okay. I will sing this verse from the book of John.”
“No Lady Gaga or something?”
“No.”
He nodded. “I hear you.”
She parted her lips, beginning to sing.
“These things, I have spoken to you
That in me, you may have peace
In the world, you have tribulations
But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world

“Peace I leave to you,
My peace, I give to you
Not as the world gives, do I give you
Let not your hearts be troubled
Neither let them be afraid.” She concluded and added. “Then, we repeat the refrain.”
“Wow!" He said, with obvious astonishment on his face. “You are fantastic.”
She smiled modestly. “Thank you.”
He grinned. “Okay. I’ll see you around right?”
She nodded.
He exited the room and left.
Vicky turned to the table and begun to pick up the used utensils. Half way through, she paused, thinking about the events of that evening. She smiled to herself because of the change in Wayne. He accepted Jesus Christ and he actually came to the Bible study. Truly, God is wonderful.

                                                                              #

TWO WEEKS - PART II

#2

“… if you lay gold in dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, and if the Almighty is your gold, and your precious silver, then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows. The verse 28 of Job 22 says; you will decide on a matter and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.” A black pastor preached with emphasis in front of a mass of about 200 college students.
“Amen.” The congregation chorused.
“People, you have to understand that, for you to pray and for the Lord to hear you: for you to decide on a matter and it be established, depends on you making God your gold, setting him as the first priority in your life. Ask yourself, what is first priority in my life? Is it your family? Is it your boyfriend or girlfriend? Is it your favorite TV program? Have you valued these so that, you avoided to pray, to come to church or to hear the words of God? Is God first in your life?” The preacher went on and paused, wiping sweat that wet his face. “Children of God, we need God more than what we think. The Bible says in Matthew 6:33; seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Put God first in everything you do, ask him for directions. Tell God how much you need him. He is able to fix your family, he is able to fix your education, your life; only if you let him.”
“Amen.” Most of the congregation members shouted.
Vicky sat among the front rows, nodding often to what the pastor said.
“Allow God to be first in your life, people. Let him in in your spiritual life, welcome him in your family; allow him to lead you and to guide you. Tell God, please lead me in this. And Our God, who never lies, will surely make you prosper in all that you undertake.”
“Amen!” the crowd cheered.
After the end of the sermon, a blonde walked to the stage and took the mic. “Thank you pastor. Indeed, as we have heard, we are supposed to put God first in our lives so that, we can access all the blessings that he has already entitled us to.”
“Amen.” The church replied.
She went on, “I have my own example in this, a long time ago; when I was still a teenager, I begun to allow God in my studies. I had a very difficult problem in Math and then I just started praying before beginning my prep. In time as I did so, I begun to automatically solve at least five questions of Math before revising my courses. My grades started elevating in the Assessment tests and I remember that, a year later, I embraced an A plus in my Mid-term exam.”
“Amen!” the church roared.
“Now can we please stand up? Yes… Please stand up for the glory of God.” She asked, as a pianist on one side of the church, begun playing music. “As the song keeps on playing. Let us meditate on the greatness of God. Let us ask him to give us the ability to make him first in our lives. Only he has the ability to change our hearts.” She said and paused, glancing at Vicky seated at the front seats. “Vicky, please come lead us through the worshipping.”
Vicky nodded and dashed to the stage, receiving the mic from the other lady. “Let’s shut our eyes.” She begun, closing her own eyes. “Tell God how much you need him. Tell God that, you can’t live without him. Forget all that weighs your mind. Put it all behind you and allow God to enter in and do his fixing.” She said as the music raised, filling the room with the worshipping atmosphere. “God is more important than anything we need right now. He is the only one who has the power to fix everything. We need Jesus. We need him.” she added and begun to sing;

“I have decided, to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back, no turning back.
Oh no turning back, no turning back…

Most of the members begun mourning, pleading to God Almighty for his presence in their lives.
They prayed for a while with the presence of the LORD flowing in the church.
After concluding the service, Vicky resumed her seat whereas, the first girl walked forward to close the mass with prayers.

“Congratulations, Vicky.” Emeka came behind Vicky and told her.
She spanned around to face him, pulling her shoulder bag well over her shoulder. “Oh. Thank you Emeka.”
“Seriously, you have a very nice voice. Why didn’t you tell me that you could sing?”
“Amh. Maybe we never had the time to discuss that.” She replied modestly, holding a smile on her face.
He grinned back at her. “I also sing.” He said before a guy joined them.
“Hello brother, sister.” The guy greeted enthusiastically. He was averagely short and had, dark brown hair. “You should join the band.” He said to Vicky.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
He stretched out his hand for an arm shake. “I’m Kyle.”
“Vicky.” She replied, shaking it.
“Can you be coming for the rehearsals every Monday and Thursday at 8?” Kyle asked, when their hands parted.
Vicky took some time, reviewing her schedule in her head. “Amh. Yeah. My shift ends at seven so, alright.”
“Great. Then, I‘ll be seeing you from tomorrow night.”
She nodded, smiling. “Thank you. Where?”
“The music hall. It’s in the West Circuit.”
“Okay. I will surely find it.”
Kyle smiled at her, nodded to Emeka and walked away.
The two turned to each other afterward and begun leaving the church.
“It’s amazing that you always save time for God.” He said.
“Well, that’s also what the pastor just preached, making God first in your life," she replied.
He smiled a little. “Yes. Exactly.”
The continued silently, exiting the house of God and begun walking on the sparsely crowded lane that stretched around the campus.
Vicky looked around the extended compound around her. She saw some girls strolling together, holding smoothies. Just then, her initial thought of starting a food business, came to her mind. “You know, Emeka? Just last week I agreed with my friends to start selling food stuff around the dormitory.”
He turned to her. “Oh. That is great. Are there any procedures to follow?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think that, I’ll make more money that way than the one I get, working at the CD store.”
“Food business is one thing that will always have profit.”
“Yeah. Because people have to eat, right?”
“Yes. So, what happened and you could not start anymore?”
“Ah. One of my friend had an accident and the other left after her father became ill.”
“Oh. I am so sorry for your friends. So, you haven’t had support since then?”
“No.”
“What do you need to start the business?”
“We already made a budget of at least 13 dollars. My other friend also offered to get plastic bags for the packaging.”
“Alright. Need any help?”
“No, no. I am contented with just telling you.”
He laughed too. “What will you be making? Any African food that I might know?”
She giggled. “Oh, you miss home food too?”
“Yeah. I miss Garri. Have you ever heard of that?”
“Yes. I had a couple of friends from West Africa. We shared a lot about our cultures. That was before even coming here.”
“Yeah. So, Garri is cooked from meal of cassava plantain. I don’t think that I can get that flour here.”
“That will definitely be hard.” She replied. “Maybe in the large supermarkets, out of campus.”
“Maybe.” He agreed and thoughtfully added, “we should really start a center for African foods.”
She smiled. “Great idea. I will put that thought in my prayers.”
He begun to laugh just when he felt his trouser pockets. He took out his phone, halting.
Vicky halted too, watching him.
He checked the cell phone. “Sorry a bit.” He said, tapping. “Chai!” He exclaimed, frowning at the phone.
She was amused. “Anything wrong?”
“Nah. This friend of mine. We came together to study here now, he is telling me that, they are moving our things.”
“Moving your things?” She repeated. “From where?”
“Our stay. We live outside campus though. I don’t know what is happening.”
“Oh. I hope you fix things.”
He tapped the phone quickly and hastily pocketed it. “Let me go and see.”
“It’s alright. All the best.”
He thanked, turning around and running away.
“God please help that, it goes well with them.” She murmured, sighing.
She positioned her bag well over her shoulder and resumed her stroll, aiming to the dormitory pathway a couple of meters from where she was.
From yards away, she caught sight of Wayne’s gang.
They sat with him on a rock bench, below a trysting tree.
She paused there for a while, debating on how to avoid them. Despite this, she did have a word for Wayne since, they had not seen each other for over the week.
She decided to walk quickly but, on the only path that was just in front of them.
“Hey!”
She gasped when she heard Mike’s voice.
“It’s that African girl.” Another guy from the same gang, called.
Vicky sighed and paused, turning around to face them.
Squinting her eyes below the scorching sun, she noticed that they sat together, Wayne, Mike, another guy and Posh, the purple haired girl. Their hands were empty unlike Vicky expected. They should be carrying gin. And, from the way they kept chatting, it seemed that, they were all sober.
“Come over.” Wayne called.
Vicky took some time, thinking about that.
Wayne however, turned to his friends and they made Hi5, laughing loudly.
She approached them and agreed in her mind that, they weren’t laughing about her.
Wayne was shaking his head when Vicky arrived, telling Mike. “In all corners, man. He had no way out. That thing really got to him.”
Mike however, twisted his head to Vicky.
Wayne turned to her along with the rest of the group.
“Hi.” She greeted, boldly.
“No change.” The stranger guy said.
“Noo. She is slimmer.” Mike added.
Vicky rounded her eyes with impatience.
“Wait. So, you still hold your Christian values and stuff?” Posh asked, laughingly.
Vicky nodded to her. “Yeah. And I am very happy.”
Wayne was silent all the while, contemplating.
“How comes?” Mike asked.
“I believe in God.” Vicky replied to him. “And he is very loving and kind. There’s nothing in this world that can separate me from him. Romans 8 verse 39”
“How do you believe in something that, you cannot see?” Wayne asked abruptly. 
Vicky turned to him. “Maybe I cannot see God but, I feel his presence every day in my life.”
Wayne laughed. “That is impossible. I figure that, you are imagining things.”
“No,” she denied “You try and see.”
Posh laughed. “Try what? You mean us trying to be Christians, like you?”
Vicky turned to her and nodded. “Yes. You gave me two weeks to see if I can give up my virtues because of everything here but, I proved to you that I wouldn’t. Now, I deserve a chance to dare you to receive Jesus and follow him for a few weeks and see if not, your lives will be better.”
The stranger guy rose at that. “I’m outta here, man.”
Wayne turned to him. “Okay man. Tell Sasha, I’ll come see her later tonight.”
The guy grinned and begun to leave.
Vicky was watching Wayne. He noticed that when he faced her and said, “It doesn’t work that way. We make the bet, not you.”
“That can’t be fair. It’s my turn to dare you.” She insisted, trying to play their game.
“I can’t be wearing a tie and a shirt and khaki trousers like the other Christian guys of your fellowship.” Mike said. “Our bet did not involve any of that.”
“You don’t have to wear khaki,” Vicky assured him “all you need is to believe. The rest, God will reveal to you.”
Posh rose. “I’m out.” She announced and started off.
Vicky glanced at her and sighed.
Wayne narrowed his eyes, staring at Vicky. “Believe? In what?”
She turned to him. “Jesus.”
“Where is he?”
“Here. He is in the spirit. You can’t see him but, he has a purpose for having you hearing about him.”
“If so then, why does all this sound like phony to me?” Wayne asked and Mike laughed.
“That is the wisdom of God. He turns to naught the wisdom of this world. He brings a better life to people through their faith in his son, Jesus. A life without fear and sorrow. A life which, every burden is lightened.”
“I don’t fear anything.” Mike confessed, shrugging.
Vicky faced him. “That is good. But, you ought to be living a better life.”
“I’m okay.” Mike added. “What can your Jesus offer me?”
“Eternal life after this life and now, peace, more income and love and better performance in studies.”
“I don’t need all that.” Mike replied.
“You won’t know till you try.”
Mike rose from the bench. “Yo man, you’ll find me in the ghetto.” He told Wayne.
Wayne nodded to him and turned to Vicky who was still standing in front of the bench.
She was looking dismal as Mike left.
He wondered why. “Sit.”
She turned to him. “What?”
“I said sit.”
She glanced at the bench and sat, facing him from the end of the semi-circle bench.
“So, he is a God that I cannot see?” He asked, opening a conversation.
“Yes. But, the only that you can feel.”
“How on earth does that work?”
“When you just believe.”
“Believe he is there?”
She smiled, nodding. “You finally get it.”
He laughed. “You amuse me with your enthusiasm.”
“Test and see, Wayne. God has a purpose for you in your life.”
He shrugged. With his mother dead and his education failing, “I have got nothing to lose," he admitted.
“No. But, you have more to gain. The Bible says in John 10:10, the thief comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ” She replied.
“So, two weeks, alright?”
“Yes.” She replied nodding. “Only two weeks.”
“What do I have to do?”
“For now, close your eyes.”
He chuckled once and did so.
“Please repeat after me.” She asked. “Dear father.”
“Dear father?”
“I come to you today.”
“I come to you today.”
“Because I’ve heard about you.”
“Because I’ve heard about you.”
“I’d like to know you.”
“I want to know you.” he said instead. “That you exist.” He added and chuckled again.
She took sometime then added. “Please forgive all my sins.”
“Please forgive all my sins.”
“And make me clean with the precious blood of your son, Jesus.”
“And make me clean with the precious blood of your son, Jesus.”
“Which he shed on the cross that I may have abundant life.”
“Which he shed on the cross that I may have abundant life.”
“I deny Satan and all his works.”
“I deny Satan and all his works.”
“And I accept Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord and Savior.”
“And I accept Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord and Savior.”
“Please change my life LORD and help me to be a better person.”
“Please change my life LORD and help me to be a better person.”
“In the name of Jesus Christ I pray.”
“In the name of Jesus Christ I pray.”
“Amen.”
“Amen.”
She smiled afterward. “Okay. You can open your eyes now.”
He did and squinted.
“How do you feel?” She asked.
He glanced at her. “Normal. Dah? I didn’t feel any spiritual feeling if that’s what you were expecting.”
“It’s okay.” She said simply and begun to lower her bag. She opened it. “Please allow me to share with you the words of God.”
He stretched his hand. “You’ve got me for two weeks. Bring it on.”
She smiled a little and opened the Bible to the Gospel of John.
When she had come to the page, she noticed that he had come to sit closer to her.
“You can’t be reading from that distance.” He explained.
She was silent. She wanted to be serious.
He peeped into the book. “So, who is this John?”
“A disciple of Jesus and an Apostle.”
“What does all that mean?”
“A disciple is like a student. An apostle is a person bearing the vision of spreading the gospel of Christ. They were twelve of them in the Bible. They were also Jesus’ disciples.”
“Oh okay. Like, some kind of pastors.”
“Close enough. Only that, pastors lead one church, apostles go wherever God sends them.”
“And people like you who tell other people about Jesus, are you sent by God or something?”
“It’s the great commission given in Matthew 28. Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.”
“Okay. We’ll get to the verses later but, you are meaning that, you should make students of Jesus, all over the world, right?”
She gave up a bright smile. “Yes. But, it’s we, now.”
He laughed a little. “Okay. Let’s hear your John.” He glanced at the page. “So, the big 1 is the Chapter and the small numbers are the verses.”
“Yes.” She agreed.
“Okay. Am I supposed to cram these words like you do?”
“You have to understand and believe first. Cramming will come later.”
He nodded.
“Alright. We will read, John chapter 1, verse 12 to verse 13. ‘To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.’” She read and twisted her head to face him. “See, after receiving Christ. You have become God’s child. And, as a child, you are entitled to his protection, his blessings. You are also liable to ask God for whatever you need in life; whether it is a small or a great thing.” She explained and waited for his reaction, he was just patiently listening. “Now, the relationship between us and our Father who is in heaven is different from the relationship between ourselves and our earthly fathers. With God, we must learn to get extra close to him or rather, involve him more in our lives. We cannot see God but, we have to believe that he is there. He only reveals his greatness in our lives, when we acknowledge his presence and request for his intervention in whatever we do.” She concluded and asked. “Do you understand a bit?”
“I think that, I get that, there is a supernatural power called God. He loves us, and maybe he wants to express himself in our lives, my life. So, all I have to do, to enjoy this God is to tell God…. Something? What?”
“Just ask him.” She helped.
He furrowed his eyebrows. “What?”
“Ask can Biblically mean pray. Pray to God before doing anything.”
“Anything? How’s that even possible. I do a lot of things.”
“That’s right. And that is why we pray in the morning before leaving our beds and casually set a prayer timetable.”
He blinked. “Okay. How do I pray?”
“There’s a prayer in Luke chapter eleven.” She said, opening to the part in the Bible. “The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray and he led them through one.” She added and went on. “Though, sincere prayers are just what you are feeling to tell God at that moment, in all occasions, we ask God for forgiveness for all that we may have done wrong before we begin to ask him.”
He glanced at the ‘big 11’ and back at her. “Example of a sincere prayer?”
“What are you going through right now that you have not been able to handle?” She replied with a question. 
He glanced away and swallowed. He thought about losing his mother.
“That’s it.” Vicky said, as if she read his thoughts.
He turned to her. “Can you tell what’s inside me?”
“No, except that you are in great despair.”
He drew a deep sigh, confirming her speculation.
She glanced at the book in her hands and closed it, waving it to him. “Wayne, the word of God is living and active. It says so in Hebrews 4:12. Here, you will find more comfort than any that gin or people could provide.”
He reluctantly received the book. “Am I supposed to be reading all these?”
“A clause at a time. I recommend that, you begin with the book of John.”
“I don’t know if I have the time.” He told her.
“On the contrary,” she begun “you have two weeks.”
He grimaced.
She rose. “Will you please come with the Bible later at my place? We will review the first chapter together.”
“You gotta be kidding me. You heard me tell Greg that, I will be seeing his cousin later.”
“Sasha?” She asked.
“Ah hah.” He replied, expressing his amazement that she did not think that.
“We already have a bet.”
“Hey. I never restricted you from your personal commitments.”
“Do you have to?”She almost whined.
“To what? See my girlfriend? Yeah.” He said and added before she went on. “Wait. What time do you need me to come over?”
“Six to seven.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Okay. How long is John 1?”
“Less than two pages.”
He rose. “Let me go to my ghetto and check it out then.”
“Not Mike’s place again?”
He shook his head “Ah no. He usually gets high and I don’t want that for tonight.”
She nodded bluntly.
He rose as well. “So, you don’t need your Bible?”
“I have a Swahili one at home.”
“Oh. Home as in…”
“Ghetto.”
He gave a lopsided smile. “Okay.”
She rubbed her bag braces and nodded, beginning to leave.

                                                                              #

TWO WEEKS - Episode 7

The girls returned to their room at 6:30am and Vicky got in the shower quickly to prepare for Linda’s visit.
Annie also went to her room to shower and change but, she had no classes until the afternoon so, she plugged in her headphones and lied on her bed to listen to music until she would get hungry and have breakfast.
At 7:00 am like she promised, Linda was at the door of Vicky’s place. After a single knock, the door was opened and Vicky appeared behind it in a dark, flaring blouse and white denim pants. She let her long gold braids, dangle on her back. Her hair style, along with light facial make up and ornaments, made Vicky look beautiful.
“Hallow?” Linda greeted first.
“Good morning, Linda.” Vicky replied, opening the door wide.
“I see that, you are ready to leave.” Linda reckoned, hesitating to walk inside.
“Yes.” Vicky said. “I’ll just take my bag.” She said and retired into the room to fetch a shoulder-bag from the living room sofas. “So, will you also be teaching me?”
“No, unless you are taking psychology as a minor subject.”
Vicky wore her bag and turned to her. “I will consider doing so.”
“Okay. Have you got all you’ll need?” she asked as Vicky approached the door.
“Yes. I took a few counters for taking notes.” She begun.
“Don’t you have a laptop?”
“Oh I had but, it’s a long story.”
With her eyebrows raised, Linda nodded. “It’s alright. You can ask for a loan from the Admissions to purchase a new laptop. It is payable in three months.”
Vicky closed her door and turned to the lady. “You are in charge of admissions, right?”
“Yes. But, Bard will work that out for you.” she said and begun leading the way out of the floor.
“Thank you.” Vicky said in appreciation. She wanted to ask how much the loan was but, she refrained, thinking that she would sound very poor.
“Have you had breakfast?” Linda asked as they entered an elevator.
“No. But, I’m okay.”
“Let me guess, you are on a diet.”
“No, no.” Vicky denied defiantly. She was fasting.
“C’mon Vicky, I am a professor of psychology. I already guess that, you found some people nagging you about your looks.” She said recalling her last night's talk with Wayne. They must have met and he must have criticized Vicky's appearance.
“Maybe I have but, I have faced the situation before. I get use to it.”
“That is partly good. You have skills to counter offenses but, like you have done this morning, make effort to be fit.”
“Thank you for the advice Linda.”
The lady smiled and said, “It’s alright.”

                                                                              #

Wayne scratched his head bowing it to a clipboard. He had been staring at it for a while, ever since Gregory gave it to him.
The young man also waited in front of Wayne with his hands crossed above his belly.
The two were in a very noisy lecture hall, filled with adults clad in dark suits. The occupants moved here and there, making stories or exchanging materials. Others rehearsed for their representations.
“So, I have to do all these?” Wayne asked, raising his head toward Greg.
“Yeah. None of the group members will.”
Wayne sighed. “And here I thought of leaving.” He said to his disappointment.
“Leaving?” Greg asked. “Where to, while the semester just started?”
“I have other errands, Greg. Tell me, why did everyone back out?”
“Because, they all know that you are the best at this.”
Wayne picked up the clipboard and waved it to him. “I’m not doing this men.”
Greg pushed it back to him. “You are. Otherwise, you are going to lose points for our group.”
“But, it’s too much and really, I have to leave school.”
“Wayne, whatever agenda you have can wait. This assignment is very important. Now, you are the best at it so, take a paper and start building a case.”
“Against, animals?” he retorted. “Are we taking Biology or Law? Do you honestly think that, I can accuse a...” he vainly searched for creatures around the room for demo. “Bee or a toad about his buzzing or maybe jumping style. This is insane!”
Gregory put his hands on the table, bending to Wayne. “I am on your side men. But, this was Mr. Hurts’ idea, not mine nor the group’s. So, let’s agree to get a frog or something and take it to court.”
Wayne was silent, thinking desperately. “Why didn’t you opine for something else? Like the new freshmen intake.”
“I already told you that, it was Mr. Hurts’ idea.”
Wayne drew a deep sigh. How am I ever going to Ohio this way? He thought.
Gregory stretched himself and pat his friend’s shoulder. “You will be fine.” He said and retired to his own seat.
Wayne did not think that he would.

                                                                              #

Vicky was admitted and introduced to her new class after submitting her details at the Administration office.
Her class was full of students from America and many other parts of the world. She found herself lucky that her neighbor was a Nigerian.
He greeted her in Pidgin English and she immediately realized that. “Hi. You come from West Africa, right?”
“Yes. I’m from Nigeria. And you?”
“Tanzania, East Africa.”
“I am Emeka Akwou by the way.” He added, extending a hand.
“Victoria Saa. You can call me Vicky.”
He offered a smile. “Nice to meet you Vicky. That is also the name of my sister.”
She smiled back. “So, are you self-funded or on a scholarship?”
“Scholarship. And you?”
“Scholarship. This place is really nice.”
“Yes. It’s my dream come true.”
She grinned at that. “Me too.”
“Well, I hope that we would be good friends.”
“Sure.” She replied.
The lecturer walked in front of the hall and they turned to the stage.

                                                                #