TWO WEEKS FINAL EPISODE

Mike was discharged from the hospital and Posh begun serving her six months public service term as punishment for her offense against Mike.
Gregory and Miley begun making preparations for their wedding and the Faith band’s CD was out.

A couple of days after Salvation song was released to the public, the dean of students, along with the student government council, called together the Faith band in their office, and organized with them to officially launch Salvation debut in the Ortegun campus so as to promote the song.
So, when the day came, the whole campus filled the open square in front of the fountain.
Banners of the band in yellow and white colors, surrounded the campus, advertising the event and the song. The class 100 members had volunteered to be agents of the Faith band and sell the Salvation CDs.
They sold more than 1000 copies in 2 hours alone, even before the band walked to the stage to sing.
Vicky was very excited as she climbed up the stage with the rest of the band, wearing white T-shirts with bright yellow bolded words of Faith at the front.
The record company crew was with them and they wore the company shirts, checking the instruments and mikes on the stage.
The people cheered when the Faith band took their positions. The band smiled, waving at the multitude that appeared like ants, spreading all over the campus lane.

The producer saw Kyle behind the brass and asked if he was alright.
“Set.” Kyle replied.
“Your friend was right," the producer said, loudly for the noise that the spectators made on the ground.
“Yes. This really is a hit song.”Kyle agreed.
“Jesus, hits.” The producer admitted. “You should write Gospel songs, always.”
Kyle laughed and nodded.
The producer abandoned the stage and Kyle looked at the others to see their condition.
There was no one behind the Keyboard.
“We're gonna have to do without.” Fred, who seemed to notice Kyle’s worry, called to him from the drums.
Kyle nodded sadly. “But, I texted him.”
“Do you think, he’d come?” Deborah asked, turning to the guys from the front.
“Let us hope so.” Another guy, Kendal replied from another mic.
Vicky looked at her friends and sighed. She realized who they were talking about.
“It’s alright. Intro, Vicky?” Kyle said.
Vicky turned to the crowd and gave them a bright smile before beginning. “Thank you all for your coming.”
“YEAAH!” The crowd shimmered.
Vicky laughed a little. “The Faith band is highly encouraged by your presence. We are so honored to have you all here and support us, pushing the Gospel of Jesus forward,” she added.
People just cried, “Faith! Faith! Faith!”
She smiled looking around the heavily flocked field. “We hope that, this song would touch and transform you. Because, there is no Salvation in anyone else except in Jesus who loved us so much, enough to die for us.”
There were mild reactions. Probably not all the crowd were convinced.
As Vicky looked around, by chance, she caught sight of Wayne.
She became puzzled to see him again after the while that he was away.
He made his way through the crowd, wearing a white shirt and dark trousers.
He begun taking the stairs at Vicky’s left side, to the stage where, the rest of the band was.
Vicky had a lot of questions in her mind at that time. Wayne was back, when did he get back? Did he know that they would have the launch of the Salvation song?
The rest of the band smiled, feeling happy to have him again.
The crowd cheered.
The crew shrugged and were amazed until someone from campus tipped them that the ununiformed man approaching the soloist on the stage, was the Keyboardist.
Vicky was happy but, her joy was replaced with worry, when she could recognize the sadness expressed on Wayne’s face.
More than that, other than the keyboard, he followed her.
Vicky swallowed and reckoned, “Wayne," when he drew closer to her.
She drew back a few steps and he didn’t look at her rather than, at the mike stand, taking hold of it.
Tears flowed from his eyes and the crowd became silent, surprised at the turn of events.
Wayne sighed first, shutting his eyes and collecting himself to say to the quiet field. “My, my mother was sick.” He said and his voice shimmered through the huge speakers that were on the opposite sides of the stage.
He opened his eyes again and glanced at the confused crowd. Most were wondering why he had to say that and some, felt sorry.
“She had cancer.” He added.
There were many gasps.
Victoria gulped. She begun to feel bad, thinking that Wayne’s mother, died.
Kyle, and the rest of class 100 were shocked.
The producer and his crew were concerned with why the newcomer had to say that. And if, he was confused. 
“This Jesus who, we are preaching,” Wayne went on, disregarding their reaction. “He healed my mother.”
There were more gasps of joy.
Vicky broke into a huge smile, beaming at Wayne who stood just a few feet from her.
“I was a waste until a couple of weeks ago.” Wayne went on, as though, he didn’t notice the elation on people’s faces. “When I received Jesus Christ, my life changed. He gave up to me what he gives to all who turn to him; the free gift of love, the free gift of healing, the free gift of peace.” He said and there were many nods.
Many people who did not believe in Jesus in the compound, were touched to accept him then.
“There is Salvation in no one else,” Wayne said. “Except Jesus Christ who died for us.” He concluded and turned to Vicky, grinning at her.
Vicky smiled and though she wouldn’t, she gave him a hug.
“Thank you Vicky,” he said before they parted.
“Glory to God.” She replied.
The crowd cheered and once again, Vicky took the mic and Wayne assumed his position behind the keyboard, greeting his friends with light hugs and arm shakes as he did.
“Amen. Thank you Jesus for healing Wayne’s mom.” Vicky said. “God is able to heal. He is able to save you. It doesn’t matter who you appear to be now. God has a purpose for you and he is able to heal you.”
“Amen!” The crowd roared. They were all convinced.
“Thank you.” Vicky said and the beats begun playing.
The song rouse a great reaction from the spectators. It became more spiritual and touching to them then.
Some people who had gone to be part of the event, were healed and they confessed Jesus as the savior of their lives.
The band sold more than 10000 copies to the approximately 14000 students and teachers who came to the launching.
They also had many viewers online and soon, the song begun to sell in Africa because of Vicky’s nationality.
Soon, what begun from an evening contention about producing a gospel song, became the most popular hit song in America, being played in Gospel and non-religious radio stations.
The record company made a lot of money, and so did the artists.
Soon, they shot the video and made concerts in West-Virginia, Texas and Europe, getting the chance to sing in front of the nobles.
Vicky already purchased her laptop, phone, bought her real-estate and a car.
She was ever thankful to God for transforming her life and indeed, it was transformed completely.
Sasha was healed and she could conclude her studies and become a doctor.
                                                                #
Now, Two weeks.
Can a man encounter God and his life not change?
Why don’t you answer that yourself by trying it out?
Accept Jesus Christ as the savior of your life by following this prayer sincerely from your heart.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for giving me your message of Salvation.
I am willing to accept Jesus today as the savior of my life.
You died for me and took all my sins.
Please transform my life and help me live it toward you.
Please lead me to notice the important things in my life.
Thank you Jesus. Amen.

After you’ve said this prayer, know that you are saved. Just read the Bible.
You can start from the book of John.
Or begin from Genesis.
I will leave you with one word from Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow; and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

More to come…

Can you guess what happened with Annie Earl?
How about Gregory and Miley?
And Wayne?
Chris?
Mike, Posh?
Oh and Vicky?
Emeka?

The story doesn’t end here.
There’s more to come so please, stay tuned for the next part of this book, titled.

“27 YEARS” Can a man remain with God even after being rich?

STAY BLESSED in Jesus’ name. Amen.

                                                             
End

TWO WEEKS - Episode 28

Back in campus, Gregory stood outside the door of Posh’s apartment.
He carried foodstuff in a bag and was there to see Posh as well as Miley, who moved in to stay with her.
Since the day before, the girls became good friends. More than that, class 100 was more united. They made shifts to see Mike in the hospital and Posh, at her apartment, to encourage her. 
When the door was opened, Posh was standing at the threshold, dressed in a black silk shirt and blue denim trousers. She covered part of her purple hair with a dark head kerchief that also matched with a small hand bag she carried.
“Posh?” Gregory greeted.
“Greg. Come in.” She invited him in, opening the door wide.
He entered the house and asked, “You are going out?”
“Yeah. To the hospital to see Mike.”
He nodded.
“How is he?” She asked.
“He was with the guys when I left. He’s making a remarkable recovery.”
“We have been praying for him.”
“Oh. Thank you. And the pastor, you know him? From the doctorate school of theology? He’s gone to see Mike.”
“It’s the right time I guess. I’ll also get to hear the words of God.” She said, smiling.
“Amen. Is Miley in?”
“She is in the kitchen.”
“Okay. I’ll just see her.”
She nodded. “Take your time.”
He thanked her and she left.

                                                                              #

Gregory put the bag on a table inside the room and took a corridor to where humming sounds came from.
He paused at the threshold of the kitchen watching Miley pick out a couple of plates from the cupboard, humming the Salvation song.
“Hey.” He greeted.
She span around quickly and greeted him with a gasp. “My. You scared me.”
“Sorry,” he said.
She sighed. “What’s up? How’s Mike?”
“Doing great. We thank God.”
“Amen. We have been praying for him.”
Gregory smiled. “Thank you for taking care of Posh. She’s more stable than I expected.”
“It’s hardly my doing. She’s been reading the Bible.”
He smiled. “God is great.”
She nodded. “Great enough to inspire me too.”
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Yeah?”
She smiled and nodded. “I’ve come to realize that, it is a waste of time; a life without God. He gives us all the important things; better performance, brighter future; overflowing blessings and love.”
He smiled broadly. “I am happy for you.”
She smiled back. “Thank you,” She said and turned back to the cupboard, storing the plates properly. “Would you like a glass of mango juice?”
Now Gregory, instead of responding with a yes or no, shook his trouser pockets and some keys sounded jiggling. “Amh. Would you like to go out for lunch?” He asked back.
She laughed a little. “C’mon Greg, you don’t have to beat around the bush. You want to know if I agree to marry you and,” she took in a deep breath, taking her time as she knew that his heartbeat ran fast.
“Yes.” She exhaled, drawing elation from his face. She laughed at that. “You should see yourself.”
“Thanks God.” He sighed with relief and walked closer to her. “Thank you Miley.”
“Aaw,” she begun, receiving his hug. “It took me time to see it but, you are the perfect man for me.”
He withdrew and smiled. “I have been praying for this over the past two weeks. That day you shut me out, I never thought that, I’ll ever have you accept me again.”
“I was wrong to reject you because you decided to follow God. There’s nothing right than that on this earth. God is everything.” She admitted.
He smiled at her, staring at her with disbelief.
She rested her forehead on his. “Let’s pray to God and set the date for our wedding. The past is gone, Greg. God is going to help us build a very good future.”
He shut his eyes. “I want us to get engaged in church. The college chapel. But, I want to give you the best wedding. One that you will never forget.”
She smiled and thanked him in a whisper.
He drew back. “Okay. I will not be able to control myself around you, Miley.” He confessed and she laughed a little. “Seriously. Get ready and we drive to Boston to see your parents and my cousin and; I’ll call my uncle so he meets us tomorrow when he arrives New York.”
She smiled with excitement, showing her teeth. “Okay. Your uncle, uncle, Matthias?”
“Yes. The Father. He always wanted me to settle down with one woman but, I wouldn’t agree until fourteen days ago. Now, I am sure that, I want to marry you, Miley. God has told me so.”
She was overwhelmed by his statement. “Thank you Gregory.”
He smiled a little and sighed. “I believe that my parents, wherever they are, they are happy for me.”
“They would be in heaven, Greg. And they are very happy for you.”
He took in her words, grinning shortly. “Amen. So, I’ll be in the living room. Can you be ready in five minutes?”
She shook her head, laughing. “I’m going to see my folks, Greg and they don’t know I’m coming with a man. I have to make phone calls, talk to my sister; plan what to take to them.”
“Oh, we can do that on the way.”
“I’d rather I do that before moving a step from here.”
He nodded. “Alright,” he said and took out his phone. “You can use this.”
She shook her head again. “I don’t want to freak mom out. I’ll fetch my phone in Posh’s bedroom.”
He grimaced. “Are your parents that strict?”
She nodded. “Yeah. You don’t wanna know.”
“Do you think they’ll reject me?”
“They’ll probably think that I should have my bachelor first before getting married but, they will be okay with you.”
“Oh. I hope I will be able to convince them that, we won’t have any kids before we graduate.”
“I’ll handle that” She told him. “Okay. I’ll just…” She begun, pointing upstairs. Maybe she meant to dress.
“I’ll wait in the living room.” He said and they parted.

                                                                              #

Posh took in a deep breath, asking God for strength before pushing the loosely opened door into Mike’s ward.
She found Mike seated on a bed, listening attentively to Pastor Pat. She knew the pastor from the fellowship house that she usually passed, heading to campus.
When the door opened, the pastor, who sat next to the bed and Mike, turned to the entrance.
The pastor smiled but, Mike seemed surprised.
“Hallow?” She greeted.
“Hallow. Come in. Alexandra, right?” The pastor asked.
Posh walked across the room and stood at the foot of the bed. “Yes. You know me?”
“He just told me about you.”
Posh glanced at Mike at the pastor’s statement. “Mike?”
“I told him about my friends. Mr. Patterson has high sense of humor.”
The pastor laughed.
Posh felt like giggling.
“Have a seat, please?” The pastor asked, waving to a chair on the other side of the bed.
Posh walked to it and sat. “How are you doing?” She asked Mike.
“Better, I thank God.”
“Where is Astrophe? The mascot leader.” The pastor asked, drawing the youths’ attention.
“Maybe he went to record with the Faith band.” Posh replied to him.
“No, he left to Ohio.” Mike said.
“Oh. I wanted to have you all together.”
“Yes pastor?” Posh asked.
“I just want to share with you the word of God. The bond between you four is very strong. I love the way you took care of each other, physically and then, spiritually.”
Posh furrowed her eyebrows. “I don’t understand.”
“It all begun with Wayne receiving Christ, pastor. We weren’t better off before. Now, because of him and Gregory converting to Christianity, the whole class has changed.” Mike said to the pastor.
Posh glanced at him and back at the pastor. “You have a word for us, pastor?”
“Yes.” The man of God replied and opened a Bible that was in his hand. “I would like to read Psalm 133 to you.”
“Amen. Go ahead pastor.” Mike told him.
The man of God nodded and begun to read from Psalm 133:1. “The Bible says; behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” He turned to them. “God blesses all relationships. Those with blood ties and those without blood ties. Verse three of the same chapter reads,” he said and added from the Bible, “for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forever more.”
“God knows our friendship?” Posh asked.
“Yes” the pastor replied. “And he saved your friend Astrophe for your sakes. God has a purpose with your lives.”
“It is amazing how God works.” Mike reckoned. “Wayne came to make me realize a life of wrong that I was living. Now, in Jesus, I’ve found peace. I just pray to get out of here and go ahead with, mending my life.”
Posh turned to him. “Wayne told you about Jesus too?”
He nodded to her. “Yap and you?”
“Yes,” she agreed. “I’ve also felt different after receiving Jesus.”
“The love of God changes us,” the pastor said.
“Yes” Posh agreed and turned to Mike. “Mike, I am sorry for what I did to you.”
He looked warmly at her. “It’s alright. It was my fault that you became upset anyway.”
The pastor glanced at the two and rose. “I will be outside with the rest of the class 100 who are here.”
Mike turned to him. “More words of God, pastor?”
Pastor Pat smiled. “Yes. I’ll be back. You two need to talk.”
Mike was silent as was Posh.
The pastor left.
There was silence for a short while, until Mike spoke.
“Do you remember the African girl?” He asked, opening the conversation with Posh.
She nodded. “They call her Vicky Prettiz. She is very famous because of her cooking and her singing.”
“She was right about God. We should never have rejected her proposal.”
“You have already received Christ, Mike, and so have I. It is not late for God to change us.”
He nodded. “I have no doubt about that. Wayne recommended that we read the Bible often.” He said and added. “Didn’t he text you that, his mom, who was sick, was immediately healed after he prayed for her?”
Posh became amazed. “No, no. I didn’t know whether his mom was sick.” She said, searching her handbag on her lap, for her cellphone. “I haven’t checked my phone,” she added, retrieving it.
“Check it out.”
“Here is one unread message,” she said, pressing the buttons of her phone. “Amh. He says; Hi guys. Thank you for your prayers. I never told you but, my ma was sick. My dad called me four weeks ago, our last night together at the college club, and told me how mom was sick and that, she was going to die. All the past week after turning to Jesus, I was praying and fasting for my mom’s healing. God enabled me to get the permit to leave campus and return to Ohio to see her. She was dying when I arrived home but, I prayed to God and laid my hand on her in the name of Jesus. My mom was immediately healed from Cancer, instantly.” She read and paused, staring shockingly at Mike.
Mike was not too surprised. “Yeah. Go on.”
“Wow.” Posh said and turned back to the phone, concluding. “I am so happy guys and relieved. I thank God for the healing of mom and I believe that, he is going to heal you too, Mike. Jesus is able and he is so good, keep asking him. Ps. Read Jeremiah 30:17”
“Amen.” Mike said nodding.
“It’s unbelievable.” Posh reckoned. “Wow, God is so powerful.”
“It’s encouraging. I wonder where we were all this time. The devil is such a liar.”
She smiled, nodding her head as she reckoned, “truly. God is good.”
"Amen." He agreed.
She read the message silently again and asked him, “Have you read this verse?”
“Yes.” He said. “The pastor’s Bible. Oh. He left it.” He stretched his left arm to the Bible beside his lap and opened it. “Jeremiah 30, right?”
“Yeah, 30, 17.” She replied.
“Amh. The verse goes; for I will restore health unto thee and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord, because they have called thee an outcast, saying this is Zion for whom no man seeketh after” he read and said,  “Amen.”
“So, God promises to heal you.” She elaborated to him.
“Yes.” He agreed. “How is your case going?”
She packed her phone. “I’m out on bail.”
“Can’t I just say that you didn’t shoot me?” He asked, indignantly.
“I confessed. I will get out of this. Thank you for worrying about me.”
He sighed. “Who is fighting for you in court?”
“I haven’t gone to court yet. There’s no need. But, Mr. Hurts is my lawyer.”
“So, who’s accusing you?”
“The police department.”
“Can’t I just file a statement to omit everything and claim that they should no longer persecute you?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know but, I’ll be fine, Mike, don’t worry.”
“No. Tell me, what is the punishment you’ll get?”
“Maybe public chores. They know that I’m in school.”
He sighed.
She looked pitifully at him. “I will be alright. I’m ready for it and besides that, Jesus will take care of me.”
“Alright.” He consented at last.
“So, how are you feeling?” She inquired.
“I broke a shoulder blade. It’s a good thing that I’m left handed.”
“Will it heal?” She asked, feeling worried. 
He smiled at her. “Of course, with God all things are possible.”
Posh smiled at her and they continued chatting for a long while.
The pastor returned later bringing lunch with him and they all ate together joyfully.
God had replaced the four’s terrible unsatisfied life with joy and peace.

                                                                              #

watch out for the final part of this story...
right here @ multtalentedp.blogspot.com

TWO WEEKS - Episode 24

PART II : FINAL EPISODE

Wayne stood for some time beside Mike’s bed. The doctors had said that, Mike was going to recover soon as, blood was being transmitted to him. 
Watching Mike lay pale on the bed, Wayne prayed sensitively for his recuperation.
At one time, he opened his eyes, glanced at Mike and sighed, making the decision of leaving and return later in the evening.
“Water.”
Wayne heard a whisper that made him turn back to the bed.
“Water," Mike murmured with his eyes closed.
Wayne broke into a short silent laugh and drew to a table beside the bed where a water bottle and a pack of cotton wool were. 
He dabbed the wool with the water and touched Mike’s dry lips with it. “Save your strength bro. You will be fine.” He told him.
Mike lifted his eyelids slowly, managing a smile as he recognized his friend. “Wayne… ma men.”
Wayne laughed. “That’s right. I’m here men.” He said before retreating the wool to its place.
Mike coughed a little and Wayne turned to him.
“Are you okay? How are you feeling?” Wayne asked him.
“I can’t feel my right shoulder. I was shot, right?” Mike replied and asked.
Wayne nodded. “Yes.”
“Oh.” Mike sighed and took some time, gathering strength to add, “do they know who shot me?”
“Yes.” Wayne replied.
“Where is she?” he inquired in agony.
“They took her to the station. Mr. Hurts is working on her bail. She will be fine and out soon.”
“It was my…” he swallowed. “My fault Wayne. Please get Posh out of there and tell them I shot myself.”
“They got the video. But, she’s going to get out.”
Mike stayed silent. He struggled to speak and shut his eyes, lazily opening them again. “I never thought that, my life will get to this.” He said painfully.
“Mike. You don’t have to continue this way either.”
Unlike Wayne expected, Mike released a tear. “I was dying, right?”
“You lost a lot of blood it’s a great thing that, I found you just in time.”
Mike smiled a little at that. “Thank you men.”
“Thank God. He has given you another chance to live. Jesus still has a purpose with your life.”
He eyed him for a while. “I see that, you’ve changed.”
Wayne smiled, nodding. “It’s God.”
“Two weeks, right?” Mike asked.
“Yes.” Wayne replied, just realizing that. “Can a man encounter God and his life not change?” he wondered loudly.
Mike looked away. “That African girl was right.” He admitted. “She never assimilated our ways. God is superior than anything. Truly, he doesn’t forsake those who cling to him.”
Wayne narrowed his eyes staring at Mike. He was amazed by the heavy words by which spoke. Was he dying or something?
“Mike?” Wayne called.
Mike turned back to him. “Yes?”
“Do you wish to receive Jesus?”
“Do you think that, he would like me? I am not worthy to be called a Christian.”
“The Bible says that, I came to call the sinners and not the righteous to repentance.” He said and drew closer to emphasize, “Mike, you are more than qualified to be a Christian.”
He swallowed, releasing more tears. “I don’t want to receive him and get back to drugs. I don’t want to be an addict, Wayne. I want to be God’s and his completely.”
Wayne nodded strongly with tears sparkling his eyes. “I am sure that, Jesus will make you, wholly his.”
Mike managed a chuckle.
Wayne smiled. “Okay. Repeat after me. Our father who art in heaven.”
Mike shut his eyes and repeated emotionally, “Our father who art in heaven.”
“Thank you because you love me.”
“Thank you because you love me.”
“Thank you for sending Jesus, to die on the cross for me.”
“Thank you, thank you for sending Jesus, to die on the cross for me.”
“Please forgive all my sins.”
“Please forgive all my sins.”
“Please help me to follow you, Lord.”
“Please help me to follow you, Lord.”
“And make me yours completely.”
“And make me yours completely.”
“I deny Satan and all his works.”
“I deny Satan and all his works.”
“And I accept Jesus Christ as the savior of my life.”
“And I accept Jesus Christ as the savior of my life.”
“Amen.”
“Amen.”
Mike reopened his eyes and so did Wayne.
“How do you feel?” Wayne repeated the same question that, Vicky asked him two weeks past when she led him through the prayers of repentance.
Mike glanced at him. “Maybe lighter.”
Wayne smiled. “And you will be healed.”
Mike smiled and shut his eyes slowly. “I think, I’m falling asleep.”
“It’s the medication.”
“It’s Jesus” Mike corrected him and dozed off.
Wayne grinned, thanking God inwardly.

#

The evening of that day, Vicky arrived the large Music hall of the Derby. She paused at the threshold staring at the empty hall.
There was a pack of seats at one side, close to a set of violin and classical music instruments. A row of the audience seats was situated at the opposite side and a recording booth with a glass entrance, was stationed just few yards behind the audience chairs.
The music hall was alone and quite. She didn’t expect to find it that way.
Nevertheless, Vicky walked in and sat at the front row of the audience, staring emptily at the violins.
She sighed.
Truly the group was occupied with the shooting that took place earlier that morning. It was not too widespread but, there were rumors of it.
Thinking about that, Vicky shut her eyes in prayers, asking God for his mercies to class 100.

“I knew I’d find you here.”
A voice that filled the hall, interrupted Vicky and made her span around quickly.
“Sorry. I startled you?” It was Wayne. He asked, climbing down a couple of stairs to the audience seats.
She smiled a little. “No. I have been worried about you.”
He smiled back, having drawn close enough to give her a handshake. “Thank you.”
“Tell me what happened.” She requested.
He sighed with exhaustion and sat next to her. “Men, I had a long day but, I thank God because, everything worked out fine in the end.”
“That is great to hear. And who was shot?”
“Oh, so I see that the news has already spread.” He reckoned.
She shook her head. “I found out through other means. The issue is merely a rumor.”
“Okay. It was Mike.”
She seemed sorrowful but, did not express surprise. “I am very sorry. How is he doing right now?”
“He is out of danger. The doctors have assured us that, he would be fine.”
She smiled gladly. “That is great and your other friend?”
He furrowed his eyebrows. “Who are you talking about? Posh?”
“So, it’s her.”
He grimaced. “What was your source?”
“God told me.”
He raised his eyebrows in amazement. “Wow. Really?”
“Yes and led me to submit your assignment.”
His mouth dropped open in amazement. “What? Now I understand why, Mr. Hurts said that, he received my assignment.”
She grinned.
“Truly, God is good.” He acknowledged.
“All the time.” She replied.
He nodded and said. “Anyway, Posh is out on bail.”
“That is great.”
“Right. Thank you for your prayers.”
“You’re welcome.” She replied smiling. “So, you said something like, you were looking for me?”
He nodded. “Yeap. I checked you at your place but, I couldn’t find you.”
“I thought we would have rehearsals. I missed the fact that, the whole band’s made of your class.”
“Oh yeah. The guys were a bit shaken by what happened. Some are at the hospital, others are at Posh’s place showing support; you understand.”
“I do and… you are here.”
“Yes.” He said and paused, to add. “I’ve got news about Annie.”
Her face became inquisitive. “How is she? How did it go in New Mexico?”
He sighed. “Her father died.”
She blinked quickly, freezing as she absorbed the news. “Oh my God,” she whispered.
“Yes.” He affirmed. “Mr. Hurts informed us that, Mrs. Earl took leave from the office to stay longer in New Mexico after her husband’s death.”
She sighed deeply. “I can imagine how much a tragedy this is to Annie. Have you talked to her?”
“I tried calling her since this afternoon and left plenty of messages. She is not reachable. I wanted to make her aware that, she is not on her own.”
“I miss her so much, I wish that I could speak to her.”
“Same here.” He said and sighed. “When are you going to have your phone?”
She scratched her head. She did not expect that question. “Well. I want to have a laptop first.”
“I can lend you money to purchase a new phone. You’ll return to me whenever you can.”
“Thank you very much. I will be fine.”
“It’s important that you have a mobile phone. I tried to reach you earlier today but, I couldn’t get to you. Now I just have to guess where you may be or, the Holy Spirit has to guide me.”
She laughed a little. “Let the Holy Spirit guide you.”
“He’s guiding me to give you a loan for a phone.”
“Come on Wayne? I will be fine.”
“And if I want to reach you while I’m away?”
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. She was puzzled by two things; him wanting to reach her and him going away.
“Don’t look at me like that. You know that, you are the only person that I can confide to about a lot of things; spiritually, socially.” He paused, finding more words. “I am going home tomorrow to see my family. I am scared.”
She took a moment to respond. He sounded really terrified and she wanted to choose her words carefully. A word came to her mind. “Psalm 37:5 says; commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will act.”
He took out his phone from his pocket and perused his Bible app. “37 verse 5… okay; commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.” He read and turned to her, surely waiting for the sermon.
“Tell God where you’re going and all about your journey. Tell him how you feel about it and just trust that, he will sustain your mother’s life and your family’s welfare. He will surely act.”
He nodded silently.
“You know, the issue about trusting is; for example when you were kid and your dad would go to work and tell you that, he will bring you a present. You would go around the house joyfully and even tell the neighbors’ kids that, you are going to have a toy or a present from your daddy.” She explained and he laughed a little. She smiled too and added, “so, with God its’ the same. Only that, he has more power and influence than our earthly fathers.”
“Yeah. You’re right, you’re right.” He agreed, nodding.
“Go to the same Psalm. Chapter 12 and verse 6.” She instructed him.
He perused the Word again. “The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure, silver refined in a furnace on the ground, seven times,” he read.
“So, there. God never lies. Trust in him and he will act.”
He nodded to that and lowered the phone to his lap. “Thank you Vicky. I want you to know that, you have been so good to me. May God bless you so much.”
She smiled modestly. “Amen thank you Wayne.”
“I’ll tell my mom about you.”
She laughed a bit. “Wow. Thank you.”
He pocketed his phone. “So, I won’t talk to you till I get back?” he asked.
“You can leave me with your number.” She suggested.
“Do you have a place to write?” He asked.
She turned to her bag to look for a pen and a piece of paper but, could not find them. “I thought I carried… oops, I left my diary on the bed.”
“Okay it’s alright then, you can call me through Kyle or either of the boys from the band or Posh.”
She nodded.
He rose. “What can I get you from Ohio?”
She grinned, making her comely face, look like a baby. “Oh. It’s not necessary.”
“Seriously, tell me, what do you like?”
She glanced away, vainly searching among the violin sets for her thing. “I’m not sure. I’m no fond of anything special.”
“Okay. What’s your favorite color?”
“Green Apple.”
He nodded. “I’ll remember that.”
She smiled brightly. “Thank you. What time will you be leaving?”
“I’ll take the first flight that leaves to Ohio tomorrow morning. So, right now I’m going to my apartment to pack and go to JFK this very night.”
“They also have local flights there?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. I wish you a safe journey. I’ll be praying for you.”
He offered a smile. “Thank you. Are you going to be here for long?”
She looked around. “Not for long. I’ll try playing a violin, I guess and then, get back to my place.”
He nodded. “Okay, good bye.” He said, bending his back to offer her an unexpected air-kiss that also got her off-guard.
He turned around and left.
Vicky paused there for a while, contemplating what just happened.
She then shook her head and rose from her seat, to try the violin sets on the stage.

watch out for more to come in the final part of TWO WEEKS right here
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TWO WEEKS - Episode 23

In Posh’s apartment, Miley sat cross-legged opposite Posh, on her bed.
Miley tried to cheer her up with a lot of stories but, Posh could not get her mind off what she had done.
Much more than that, going over her life inside her mind, made Posh realize how wrong she had been, and lost.
She just wanted to leave everything and change; maybe become a person she will be proud of or, her parents will be happy with.
Her family isolated her when she begun taking drugs and alcohol. Posh was also clinging to terrible gangs. Her daily experiences led her to start seeing things and hearing voices. She thought that, she was possessed and just did not know how peace or complete happiness. 
Now, less than an hour of receiving Christ, she knew that she was living a lie.
All the words of reproof of her family, became meaningful right then. She felt like, her eyes were opened.

One time, still hearing Miley talking in front of her, Posh asked. “Do you know Jesus?”
Miley raised her eyebrows. The question was unexpected. “Amh... Yeah. I’ve heard of him.”
“What does he do?”
Miley shook her head. “I don’t know much but, I think, he changes people.”
“Does he make us become alcoholics or drug abusers or living such terrible lives?”
Miley swallowed. “No, no. I don’t think so. But, I don’t think that, you need Jesus not to, you know, make a waste of your life… Sorry, I mean, anyone’s life. If you grew up from a family like mine, you will just be a lady. I mean, a calm person, maybe, I don’t have right words to describe what many would call, decent.”
“Can I be a decent lady?”
Miley nodded. “But, come on. Stop crashing yourself. You are a wonderful woman.”
“Maybe but, maybe with Jesus. I mean, look at Vicky Prettiz for instance? She is a newcomer but, she has already won fame and popularity for her good habits and positive influence. She is self-employed, a singer. She is always very happy.”
“Don’t long to be like someone else.” Miley reproved her, rather angrily.
“I don’t want to be like Vicky Prettiz. I just want to be happy.”
“You can be but, it’s not must that you have Jesus.”
Posh shook her head and dropped down from the bed, pacing in the room. “Look at Greg and Wayne who are so far, recent fellowship members. They are so happy. Wayne doesn’t drink anymore; Greg, he seems so happy, and they all look neat and satisfied.” She said to the air and turned back to Miley. “I want to go back to my family, Miley. I want to feel loved and wanted again. I want to be decent and I’ve seen that, Jesus does that to people who worship him.”
Miley looked a bit embarrassed, listening to Posh’s argument. She frowned later, adding, “You don’t get the good guys if you date Jesus. People also isolate you and they call you weird, just because you follow the rules that, Christians do.”
“You’re wrong Miley. What is so important about dating many men and having all the praises in the world if, you are hurting on the inside? More than that, you cannot say that, you will not get the good guys because, a good man like Greg, wants to marry you.” She said and checked her expression. Miley popped her eyes out, feeling baffled.
Posh went on. “He is like, the richest guy in class 100. In fact, the only one who has, his own, car. He lives outside campus in a very nice house and he is also God-fearing. He will not cheat on you with other women!” She sat down close to Miley and grasped her hands. “And he wants to marry you, Miley. He wants to start a family with you and you will trade all that for what? Going out with worthless guys who have no real love for, or future with you? Friends who do not have the privilege that you do?”
Miley was silent with her mouth dropped open with shock.
Posh released her, giving Miley, her back. “Life is vanity without Jesus.”
Miley shut her mouth and swallowed, literally swallowing Posh’s words. She thought deeply about them. Was Posh right?
Posh turned to Miley. “I already received Jesus. I am going to go out and buy a Bible. Maybe, one day, God will give me a better life.” She said and trod to the door.
A ringing of a cellphone interrupted her at the threshold.
Miley, who was recovering from a trance of thoughts, raised her legs up to pick her phone from where she sat.
She took in a deep breath before receiving it.
Posh turned to her from the doorway. Somehow, she knew what would follow.
“Hallow?” Miley called softly.
“Hey amh, is Posh there?” Gregory sounded, calmly.
Miley glanced at her. “Yes. Any news?”
“Mike is doing fine and out of surgery. I and Wayne gave statements in favor of Posh.”
She furrowed her eyebrows. “In favor of… do they already know?” She asked, staring worriedly at Posh.
“Yes. We saw Mr. Hurts and he made us aware that, it would have been difficult to conceal the proof from the police. He is on his way right now to the apartment with the cops. They have her arrest warrant. Please tell her that and add that, she shouldn’t get worried because Mr. Hurts is already prepared to handle the case.”
Miley sighed deeply.
So did Posh. She already that the police were coming. That was the only thing that, could have already known...
“Okay. I will.” Miley agreed to Gregory’s request.
“Thank you Miley.” Gregory said and added. “Let her not forget that, we are behind her.”
“Yes.” Miley replied nodding.
“Okay so, catch you later. We are at the station to offer all of our support. Wayne is at the hospital.”
She furrowed her eyebrows again, in queer of the pronoun he used, in his statement. “If Wayne’s at the hospital then, who are you with?”
“Class 100.”
Miley smiled. “Wow.”
“Yeah. I don’t know how they found out but, they are all in.”
Miley laughed a little. “It must be chaotic at the station.”
“Contrary to that, the guys are all clad in dark suits holding briefcases to legally represent Posh. And some of us Christians have been praying in groups. For Mike and for Posh.”
Miley was silent. Every news around her was about Jesus. What did all that mean?
“Okay so, I’ll see you,” Gregory said when she did not reply.
“Okay," Miley agreed and lowered the phone, hanging up.
She turned to Posh who still stood at the doorway. “Posh. Please take this calmly-”
“The police are coming. Right?” She interrupted Miley with unexpected calmness.
Miley nodded automatically. “And Mr. Hurts is with them. He’s promised to defend your case. Ps, the rest of class 100 are at the station to show their support.”
Despite everything, Posh found the reason to laugh. “For God’s sake, I don’t deserve all that.”
Miley rose from the bed and stood close to Posh. “Don’t say that because, you deserve every bit of attention the world could offer you. Everybody deserves a second chance.”
Posh managed a smile. “Get married to Gregory. He loves you and you can’t hide that you do too.”
Miley sighed and turned away. She did not want to talk about that subject.
“One day when you realize that, Gregory is the right man for you, it will be already too late.”
Miley turned back to her, eyeing her with fear. The words of Posh touched her.
“I lost a good guy once. I wanted to party and to have fun that also got the best of me. So, I know what I’m talking about when I say that, it will be too late by the time you realize that, Gregory is the ideal man for you.”
Miley opened her mouth to respond before the front doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” Posh said first and left, to receive a couple of policemen with handcuffs, and Mr. Hurts.

                                                                            

TWO WEEKS - Episode 22

Vicky appeared in class later, feeling quite distressed. She was worried about what she prophesied to Wayne’s professor and more, about what was going on with Wayne.
But, she dared not tell anyone. Not even Emeka though, sitting next to her in the lecture hall, he realized that, something was wrong.
She recalled Mr. Hurts’ instruction of keeping the incident under wraps.
As her class waited bluntly for the next lecturer to walk in, Vicky noticed Kyle, making his way through the occupied benches to her side.
“Oh my God.” She found herself murmuring. She just hoped that, it was no terrible news.
Emeka glanced at her and remained silent, wondering what she was worried about.
“Excuse me?” Kyle sounded at the third desk from Vicky.
She waited patiently till he arrived.
“Hallo? Hi?” Kyle greeted Vicky and Emeka.
“Hallo.” Vicky said.
“Hey.” Emeka replied with a short wave of hand.
Kyle turned to Vicky. “Hey amh, tomorrow we’ll be meeting with the record company. You, Deborah and the rest of the band.”
She nodded though, the information had not yet sunk into her mind. “And Wayne?”
“Oh. He’s leaving to Ohio. Didn’t he tell you that? I haven’t seen him since this morning, though.”
“Me neither.” She sighed.
“But, don’t worry. We already have his beats in an iPad. It will be the task of our usual producer to put them in the song.”
She nodded.
“Okay. So, nine pm sharp,” Kyle added about to leave. “We’ll meet at the usual place. The Derby.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
“Sure.” He said and turned around, leaving.
“You’re going to record Salvation tomorrow?” Emeka asked Vicky after Kyle left.
Vicky turned to him. “Yes.”
“I can’t wait to have your CD.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“Okay. And you should think about sending it to Africa. You will be the only African in the group.”
Her face lightened. “Yeah. I never thought of that. Thank you Emeka.”
He just smiled and turned back to his work.

                                                                              #

A couple of miles away, Mr. Hurts reported to the hospital where Mike was hospitalized. He was asked by the doctors to wait outside in the lobby while they operated on Mike, to remove the bullet from his shoulder.
The police had already arrived, soon enough because, the hospital refused to treat Mike without a police file.
They interrogated Mr. Hurts with the security guards and the medical personnel who took Mike to the hospital and administered First Aid to him, to prevent further bleeding. 
Mr. Hurts provided little information in order to protect his students. He already thought that Astrophe shot Mike and despite this, he wanted to protect him.
Some of the policemen left in search for Wayne; being that, he was the one who gave the information that his friend was shot.
As time lapsed, Mr. Hurts grew more and more anxious. Suddenly, he saw Astrophe and Gregory rush into the hospital in blue and dark suits.

NB: For the professor, Wayne was either Mr. Harts or Astrophe. For the rest of us, we just call him Wayne.

“Mr. Hurts.” Wayne called, approaching the professor in front of a red coach.
A policeman, who was keeping watch for either Wayne or Gregory from the reception desk, drew closer to the three and greeted the boys. “Which of you is Astrophe Harts?”
“They are with me.” Mr. Hurts said quickly, to Wayne’s amazement, and  took their side.
The officer narrowed his eyes at the professor and nodded, leaving.
Mr. Hurts sighed with relief after the officer was out of earshot. He turned back to the boys, and drew them to a hidden corner, between huge flower pots of the hospital lobby.
“Mr. Hurts.” Wayne called again.
“Who shot Mike?” Was his response.
“Alexandra Georgia.” Wayne replied, referring to Posh.
Mr. Hurts glanced at him. “Who is she? Is she in our class?”
“She always sits in the back seats. She has purple hair.” Gregory described.
“She and Annie Earl are the only girls in our group.” Wayne added.
“Okay.” Mr. Hurts said. “How did the gun end up in Mike’s hand without any prints of the shooter?”
Wayne explained to the professor the theory of Mike’s fake suicide attempt which he guessed, Mike made in order to protect Posh. That and the video evidence.
“Where is it?” Mr. Hurts asked.
“Here.” Wayne replied, taking Mike’s phone from his pocket and giving it to the professor.
Mr. Hurts went through the gallery first and then checked out the latest video. He played it at a low voice and skipped some parts.
“Where is this girl now?” He asked afterward.
“In her apartment,” Wayne replied.
“Is she psychologically fine?” Mr. Hurts asked again.
“Yes. We left her with Miley.” Gregory answered.
Mr. Hurts turned to him and said. “Okay. I will have to talk to her but,” he turned to Wayne. “We cannot avoid submitting this to the police. Otherwise, you will be held responsible for covering for assault and for concealing critical evidence which could interfere with police investigation.”
Wayne looked down. “I had more concern for Posh, Alexandra.”
“I understand that but, you can’t do anything now.” He waved the phone in his hand. “This has to go to the police and you have to go to Ohio. I will take care of defending your friend. And don’t you worry, she will not go to jail.”
Wayne furrowed his eyebrows in queer. He thought that, he didn’t hear something right. “You’re letting me go home?”
Mr. Hurts nodded.
“But, you haven’t received my presentation.” He said, in amazement.
“You’re wrong because I did. And although I didn’t check it, I’ve seen your progress now with your presumption of the suicide fake of Mike Reeds in order to cover up for attempted murder during a romantic quarrel.”
Wayne was very amused. Though he was in sorrow, he found a reason to grin.
“In fact,” Mr. Hurts added, turning to Gregory. “You all did your assignment well. Mike, knowing the key evidences to incriminate his girlfriend, picked up her gun and wiped her prints. He locked himself inside his house so at least, though the wound on his shoulder would not have verified a suicide attempt, it would have left the jury in the dark of the true criminal.” He explained. “It’s like, you indirectly collaborated in this case. Astrophe, you came to collect the last evidence and notified your friend first. Together, you and Gregory agreed to keep the proof until you met your client, Alexandra. Though, that isn’t recommended ethically, you did something.”
Greg found himself smiling.
“Thank you sir. Do you know how Annie and professor Earl are?” Wayne said and asked. The mention of his group made him recall Annie.
“Oh.” Mr. Hurts sighed. “I didn’t talk to professor Earl directly but, I know that, she asked for a leave for more than three weeks after losing her husband.”
Wayne was silent. He thought that, he skipped a heartbeat. He was shocked.
“Oh Jesus. So, Annie’s father, died?” Gregory asked, after having digested Mr. Hurts’ statement.
Mr. Hurts nodded somberly. “I’m afraid, yes.”
Wayne drew a deep sigh. “I don’t understand. She was so cheerful when she left. She came to see me in the clinic when I injured my leg a couple of weeks ago.” He shook his head. “I just don’t believe it. She must be so sad.”
“I think that, she was not aware of what her father was suffering from. From what I know, Mr. Earl was terribly ill. Professor Bard told me that, the man was clinically dead about that time when professor Earl left with Annie to New Mexico.” Mr. Hurts went on.
“This is terrible.” Gregory said.
“I don’t know. I feel so sad right now. For Annie.” Wayne confessed.
“It has been a series of tragedies for the Law department. Once this issue of Mike is calm, we’ll let the class know about what happened to Annie.” Mr. Hurts said.
Gregory nodded.
Wayne was silent. He wondered what would meet him after returning home and facing his family. He just did not want to find his mother dead. Not now when he already wanted to spend more time with her and the rest of his family. Not now when his heart had already changed. Not now when he already met Jesus.
“Wayne?” Mr. Hurts called him.
He turned to the professor. “Yes sir?”
“You have to go home and check out the situation there.”
Wayne nodded and sighed.
“When would you like to leave?” The professor inquired. 
“Tomorrow. I’ll check first how the situation goes with Mike’s health and perhaps, give a defensive statement for Posh.”
“Yes. You will have to provide a statement but, leave out collecting the evidence.” Mr. Hurts instructed.
“Yes sir.” Wayne agreed.
“I also will give a statement. Perhaps, assessing Posh’s character. In aid to the case.” Greg offered.
“Yes. Thank you.” Mr. Hurts said and glanced behind them.
The boys turned around and steeled themselves to face a couple of police men.
They walked directly to them from the entrance.
The head of them, a black officer, fixed his gaze on the two boys. “Which of you is Astrophe Hurts?”
“I am.” Wayne replied, confidently.
The officer turned to him, about to add. “You have to escort us-“
“It’s okay, Officer.” Mr. Hurts interrupted. “These boys only confided to me the person who shot Mike Reeds.” Mr. Hurts said. “Her name is Alexandra Georgia. She is their friend, my student and my client.”
The officer took sometime debating  that. “What evidence do you have to support such an accusation?”
The professor waved Mike’s phone in his hand. “This belongs to the victim. It contains the video of thirty minute duration, verifying that, Alexandra Georgia did shoot Mike Reeds.”
“I will have that.” The other officer, with gloves in his hand, said, grasping the phone from Mr. Hurts.
He stored it in a transparent bag.
“We will check that out but, Mr. Astrophe will still have to accompany us to the station.” The head officer said to him and paused to add, “We have to take his statement.”
Wayne nodded.
“I’ll go with you.” Greg offered.
“And you are…?” the head policeman asked.
“Gregory Bale. Wayne is my classmate and friend.”
The officer nodded. “Alright. We also need your statement.”
“That’s right. I am willing to cooperate.” Gregory said.
“I will go with you,” Mr. Hurts offered the boys, when the policemen begun to leave ahead of them.
“It is not necessary Mr. Hurts. We can take care of everything on our own.” Wayne assured him. “When Mike wakes up, someone has to be there to talk to him.” he added, assuming that Mike was sedated to facilitate his recovery.
Mr. Hurts nodded and sighed. “Alright. May God take care of you.”
Wayne smiled to hear the word ‘God’ from the tyrant professor for the first time ever.

The boys left and Mr. Hurts retired to the waiting couch, reconnecting with God in prayers for the recovery of his student and the welfare of the rest of his class.

                                                                              #

stay tuned for more to come in the  #twoweeksstory

TWO WEEKS - ORTEGUN SHOOTING

Episode 21

“Posh? Posh?” Wayne and Gregory took turns calling their friend as they stood outside her apartment door.
“Get out!” She sounded crying from inside the house.
“Posh please? It’s us. Your friends. Please open the door and we can help you. Please?” Wayne asked.
“I don’t need your help!” Posh cried. “Get out! Go away!”
Wayne sighed.
Greg took the floor and said, “Posh please? No one knows yet, about what happened to Mike. We want to talk to you first.”
“I killed him. I killed him!” Posh cried.
Wayne banged the door. “Posh. You have not killed him.”
“I know that I killed Mike. Stop lying that I didn’t. Now, I deserve to die.”
“No, no. Posh!” Wayne shouted, bursting the door open.
He and Gregory panted, staring at Posh with their eyes popped out.
She was struggling with a bed sheet tied around her neck and her legs hanging in the air above a turned over stool. The sheet wrapping her neck was connected to a still fan on the ceiling board of her living room.
“Posh!” Wayne cried, running hastily to grab her body and leveling her in the air.
She coughed, crying and breathing heavily.
Gregory straightened the stool and climbed it, helping to loose the sheet around Posh’s neck.
“You don’t have to do this, Posh.” Wayne told Posh, maneuvering her to a long sofa behind them.
“No.” Posh disagreed between coughs. “I’m a murderer and I killed… I killed Mike.”
Gregory joined them. “He is not dead, Posh. And neither is he going to die.”
“Take in a deep breath, please?” Wayne asked her.
She shook her head, crying. “I don’t want to live. I don’t, I don’t deserve it.”
“Don’t say that Posh.” Greg requested her. “Everyone deserves a chance to live. You do too and we are here for you. More than that, God is here for you.”
Wayne nodded to that, taking Posh’s hands. “God loves you Posh. And he has given you a chance to live again.”
She increased crying. “But, I killed him, Wayne. God isn’t going to love me. Everyone will hate me. The police are going to come after me and I will go to jail.”
“You’re not going to jail.” Wayne told him with unimaginable certainty.
She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I left the gun in Mike’s place. When the Police take the prints, they are going to come after me.”
Wayne narrowed his eyes at her statement. He did not know if he was ready to address it until Gregory did.
“The gun? It was in Mike’s hand when I arrived.” Gregory said.
She turned to him. “I just dropped it on the floor. There, inside his room. I left so quickly and left the door open. The police would have easily found him.”
Now Wayne was alert. “The door was locked. And, Mike was lying at the threshold of his corridor when I arrived. He had the gun in his hand.”
“Wait. The door was locked from the inside or the outside?” Gregory asked Wayne.
“Inside.” He replied.
Posh sighed. “I don’t understand.” She confessed.
“I think I do.” Wayne said. His lawyer instincts were now working effectively. “After you left, it is possible that, Mike dragged himself with your gun to the exit and locked the door. He wanted to make it look like a suicide though, vainly because, the wound was on his shoulder. He was probably on the way to terminate the last evidence that would be the video when, he lost strength and fell between his living room and corridor.” He said, leaving the others puzzled.
“He wanted to protect you.” Gregory concluded.
Posh was speechless. She was not sure of what to think.
“You have the phone?” Gregory asked him.
“Yes.” Wayne agreed and slightly pay his coat pocket. “But, we cannot stay with this information for long. If things get more untidy and it get into the hands of the police, we will all be apprehended for concealing vital information that could help with the case. We have authority over this video and Mike’s phone so long as,” he turned to Posh. “We are your legal representatives.”
She did not agree. “Wayne. I don’t think that, I want to go on. I don’t deserve your help or Mike’s concern. I am a murderer.”
“You are not. Everybody on this earth makes mistakes. You deserve a second chance. Mike is going to live and I am sure that, he will also be on your side.” Wayne comforted her.
She sighed deeply and remained silent in heavy thoughts.
“Posh. There is nothing that, God can’t fix. Even this situation. Believe it.” He added.
She glanced at Wayne once. “You think that… I’m… but, I’m a bad person.”
“We all are. But, Jesus died on the cross for us to take away all our sins. If you accept him, Posh and entrust him even with this matter, he is going to fix everything in a way that you will be so amazed.” Wayne assured her.
“Jesus changed our lives, Posh. He is also able to change yours.” Gregory added, standing behind Wayne, at the sofa.
She broke into a cry. “My life is a mess. I’ve never been good at anything than messing up.”
“So have I been, Posh.” Wayne told her. “But, with God, there’s a chance of recovery and living the best life no matter who you were.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, listening to her heart. For the first time, she was willing to accept the Word of God. She opened her eyes, taking a deep breath and nodded strongly. “Alright.”
Wayne smiled a bit and said. “Please, repeat after me. Dear father?”
“Dear father.” She cried, with her eyes closed.
“Thank you because you love me.”
“Thank you because you love me.”
“Thank you for sending your only son Jesus who died on the cross for me.”
“Thank you for," she sniffed, "for sending your only son Jesus who died on the cross for me.”
“I pray that his blood wash away all of my sins.”
“I pray that his blood wash away all of my sins.”
“I accept Jesus Christ into my life.”
“I accept Jesus Christ into my life.”
“And I pray that, his peace fill my heart.”
“And I pray that, his peace fill my heart.” She repeated and exhaled. She felt relieved to unleash a burden from her heart.
“Thank you Jesus.”
“Thank you Jesus.” She said and reopened her eyes.
Wayne smiled at her. “Now. Remember that, it is God who will be taking care of your matter. Don’t think about it. Since we have the last evidence, if at all the police comes to anyone, it will be after me or Greg, who were the first to find Mike shot in his apartment.” And he returned to her, her shoe.
“What do I do?” She asked afterward, calmer now.
“Stay here.” Wayne told her and twisted his head to glance at Greg and then back at Posh. “We are going to check out how Mike is and talk to Mr. Hurts.”
“Remember, Posh. Everything is going to be fine. More because, Mike wants to keep you safe. If he recovers soon, it will be good for all of us.” Gregory added.
Posh took in a deep breath and nodded.
“Wayne. Will you give me a minute?” Gregory asked.
Wayne turned to him and rose. They drew to a corner of the room while Posh crossed her arms below her chest, thinking about her life.
She wondered if Jesus would make her organized and composed like how Wayne and Gregory turned out to be.

                                                                              #

At the corner, Greg told Wayne, “do you think that, we can just leave her on her own after she just made an attempt on her life?”
Wayne was silent for a while. He realized that, he could not trust that. “What are we going to do? I don’t think that, she would be comfortable wandering with us.”
“No but, maybe we should get somebody to stay with her.”
“Who?” Wayne wondered aloud.
“Vicky” Gregory replied. “She is a good girl and well, she has a good side. She can help to clear Posh off her worries and even tell her more about God. Vicky knows how to do it.”
Wayne nodded. “Yes. You are right.”
“Do you have her number?” Gregory asked.
Wayne shook his head. “No but, I can call the apartment.”
“Do that.” Gregory told him.

Meanwhile in Mr. Hurts’ office, Mr. Hurts rounded his desk and stood in front of his seat. “Yes. What is it about?” He asked Vicky who stood at the other side of the desk.
She extended the blue file down to the desk. “This is Wayne… Astrophe’s assignment.”
Mr. Hurts frowned. “Get out of my office!”
She sighed. “Sir. He has a terrible problem.”
“Miss…”
“Victoria.” She helped.
“Whatever you call yourself! I am not accepting anymore lies or excuses from Astrophe Harts. Get out of my office, now!”
“His friend was shot!” She burst and covered her mouth afterward, she did not know where that came from.
Mr. Hurts’ eyes widened.
Though Vicky tried to stop herself, she could not help it. “A class member of yours, named Mike. Astrophe needs your help and if you don’t intervene, class 100 will be tarnished because the whole incident involves your class.” She said and paused, feeling terrorized by the words she said.
Mr. Hurts stared shockingly at Vicky.
Immediately, the door opened and Mary appeared.
Vicky turned to her along with Mr. Hurts.
“Sorry professor but, there was a shooting in the East Circuit. One named Mike Reeds, he belongs to your class, was shot and they took him to the hospital outside campus.” Mary reported.
Vicky gulped. How could she have known that?
Mr. Hurts turned to Vicky. “Thank you young lady.” He said and faced Mary. “Please consult the Dean's office. Find out if they are informed and ask them to remain confident. We cannot afford a public unrest.”
Mary nodded and left quickly.
Mr. Hurts glanced at Vicky. “Did Astrophe tell you who shot Mike or, did he do it himself?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
He rounded his desk, about to leave. “Okay. I’m going to take care of this.” He said and added. “Thank you. You can leave.”
She thanked him and left.

                                                                              #

“There is no one answering.” Wayne announced.
“So, what now?” Greg asked.
Wayne took some time, pondering over the situation. “I don’t know. We have to take the risk?” He asked.
“We have to go look for her.” Greg suggested.
“Let’s do this. Stay behind. I’ll fetch Vicky and see if I can get in touch with Mr. Hurts.”
He nodded but, he got a thought afterward. “Or, we can also call Miley.”
“Isn’t she in class or something?”
“I doubt that, there would be any class after what happened. First, we, who were supposed to present, are missing and then, our fellow member was shot.”
Wayne agreed with a nod. “Yeah. Call her in.”
Greg took out his cellphone and drew to a corner.
Wayne turned to Posh to share with her more comforting words.
After a few minutes over the phone with Miley, Greg returned back to the two and said, “she’ll be here shortly.”
Wayne nodded to him and rose. “So, we’ll leave you with Miley so you won’t have to be alone.”
She smiled a little. “Thank you.”
“Oh and,” Gregory begun and went behind the sofa to whisper in Posh’s ear. “Will you please convince her for me, to marry me?”
Posh giggled. For a moment, she had drawn apart from her sorrow.
Wayne wondered what Greg had told her.
Greg stretched his back and said to Wayne, “so, we can leave.”
“Alright.” Wayne agreed and rose from the sofa to leave the apartment.
He thanked God for winning one soul for Christ and requested for his presence in their impending journey.

                                                                              #

what happened next? stay tuned to find out.
#twoweekstory

TWO WEEKS - ORTEGUN SHOOTING

Wayne did as he was told; practicing faith, showing love and reading the Word of God. He also sent Sasha Bible verses and the sermon which he had recorded on Sunday.
Sasha followed up on the sermon and downloaded a Bible app which, she was faithful to visit frequently while in the hospital.
Greg was also praying to God for Miley to give her life to Jesus and to agree to marry him. He prayed in the spirit more than with his mind.
Every night, the Faith Band had more spectators and Kyle already agreed to take Wayne’s beats into the song.

On Friday of that same week which Wayne expected to present his group assignment, he thought of visiting his friends who he had isolated for a long while.
The morning of the day, after the jog and shower, Wayne visited Mike’s ghetto, clad in a fine blue suit. He wanted to look his best for the presentation.
He stood outside the apartment door, knocking.
There was no response.
“Mike?” Wayne called. “It’s your buddy. Wayne here.”
There was silence.
He knocked again but, to no avail. No one answered.
Wayne sighed. “He’s high again.” He reckoned and shouted, banging the door, “Mike? Mike open up! You’re going to die if you continue this way.”
There was silence.
Wayne hit the door with his side twice and it opened, bringing down a few screws from the inside locks.
He glanced at the detached bolts on the polished wooden floor and by chance, caught sight of a blood spill.
His eyes widened in shock and followed the spill to the exit of the room where Mike lay, shirtless with his chest against the floor and with a fire arm in his hand.
Wayne gasped, kneeling down to turn him over. “Mike? Mike? My God!” He cried, beholding a stained bullet hole on Mike’s shoulder.
“Oh my Jesus! Mike?” He called, hastily taking out his phone to contact someone. He hoped that, Mike was still alive. “Oh My God please pick up, pick up.” He prayed right before the call was received.
“Hello?” Gregory sounded and added quickly before Wayne had the chance to speak, “where are you man? Mr. Hurts will be here any minute.”
“Gregory. It’s Mike. I think he was shot or he shot himself. I don’t know!”
Gregory became alarmed. “What? Where are you?”
“At his apartment. He is bleeding heavily, I don’t know if he is still alive man.” Wayne said, rubbing his hair back in anguish.
“Okay. Stay there I’m coming. I’ll call the ambulance.”
“Come quick man. Please?”
“Okay, Okay. I’m there in a minute.” Gregory said and hang up.
Wayne drew a deep sigh, slithering against the wall to the floor. “Oh My God why is this happening? Please Jesus. Please, please keep him alive. I beg you, my God.” He cried.
Get up. He thought.
He couldn’t. He was too traumatized. “Not another tragedy Jesus. Please spare him Jesus. You can heal. I was told so.”
Get up. The thought came again.
He lazily got on his feet, leaning on the wall. His legs were too weak to keep himself aright.
Go to the room. The thought came and he dragged himself to the next door at the opposite end of the vast corridor which they were.
He opened the door and revealed Mike’s bedroom. The bed was untidy with white sheets on it. The floor, which Wayne thought he was supposed to look into, was normal except for a shoe which he was sure, did not belong to Mike.
He walked into the room and picked it up. It was a black leather, too small for Mike’s foot and the only one on that floor.
He glanced at the bed and noticed Mike’s phone on it.
He walked to it and picked it up.
He was looking at himself.
He furrowed his eyebrows and took some time to register in his mind that a video was being captured. He checked the length of time and found it to be thirty minutes.
He saved it and perused Mike’s gallery before he could check the latest video.
He found himself swallowing.
Mike’s gallery was full of nude pics and videos of all the girls he went out with.
He turned back to the latest video and opened it.
There was Mike. He appeared to have been holding the phone far from himself in a selfie.
“What are you doing?” A familiar voice came behind the screen. 
Wayne guessed that, she was just next to Mike.
“Taking a selfie. Why?” Mike asked, grinning to the camera.
“I don’t like that.” Posh appeared later when Mike exposed her to the camera.
Wayne sighed.
The shoe belonged to Posh.
He placed his thumb to the 15th minute of the video and there was the ceiling of the room itself and a quarrel in the background.
“I am going to shoot you Mike!” Posh sounded very upset.
Mike was laughing. “What are you talking about babe? C’mon? It was just a snap!”
“Don’t come any closer Mike. Mike I’m warning you!”
Pa!

The sound of the gunshot was enough to trigger tears from Wayne’s eyes. He dropped the phone on the bed and covered his eyes with his palms. He was so sorry for his friends.
Clearly Posh was here some 30 minutes back and she shot Mike.
Just then Wayne heard some heavy footsteps in the adjacent room.
“Mike? Wayne?” Gregory’s voice came.
There were other people as Wayne heard but, he was too desperate to respond.
Luckily, Greg noticed the loosely opened bedroom door and took it, widening his eyes to find Wayne on the bed with a shoe in his hand.
Greg run to him. “Wayne?” He called him.
Wayne took in a deep breath. “It was Posh, Greg. She shot him.”
Gregory dropped his mouth open in shock. He could not believe it. “What… how?”
Wayne waved to him the phone. The video was still playing.
“Oh My God, Mike, Mike?” Posh sounded in the background of the ceiling board view on the phone screen. “Oh… What have I done?”
Greg turned to Wayne afterward, with Mike's phone in hand. “I don’t understand. How is it possible?”
Wayne shook his head. “I don’t even know how they could have been going out. I haven’t seen them for a while.”
Gregory glanced at the video and at the door then back at Wayne. “What are we going to do with this? The police are going to be here any minute.”
Wayne sighed and rose from the bed where he was seated with Posh' shoe. He looked around the room vainly, searching for answers. He turned to Gregory. “We have to find Posh.”
Gregory nodded. “And this? If anything worse happens to Mike, Posh will be done for.”
Wayne took the phone from his hand. “We have to keep this first and find her. She must be in shock and who knows what she could do. If anything happens to Mike we’re gonna have to defend her.”
“Wayne. We are merely second year students. We have no license.”
“Maybe not but, Mr. Hurts has. If Mike goes, Greg, I’m not willing to lose another friend.”
Gregory took a moment and nodded. “They are moving him out” he added out of their discussion.
“You came with the medics?” Wayne asked pocketing Mike's cellphone.
“Yes.”
“Okay. Let’s get out of here and find Posh.”

On the way to Posh’s place, Wayne asked God a thousand times why things happened the way they did. That was another tragedy in his life.
Nevertheless, he hoped that Jesus would take care.

They came to Posh’s apartment while Mr. Hurts arrived class 100. He had placed his hope in Wayne that, he would meet up to his end of the deal, and present the best case. But, unlike the professor expected; Wayne and the rest of his group were absent.
Mr. Hurts frowned at the news of Wayne’s absence. He cursed him and blamed himself for having trusted him. He returned to his office in furious rage, neglecting his lesson with the class 100.

Meanwhile, Vicky, going to campus for her private studies before lecture,  heard a voice in her head.
The Derby.
She furrowed her eyebrows. We have no rehearsal till later tonight.
Go to the Derby, Music hall I.
Now Vicky frowned. She remembered the embarrassing experience in that quarter of the university campus.
Go to the Derby, Music hall I. The voice repeated itself.
She sighed and feeling foolish, deviated from her path to the main quarters, briskly walking to the West circuit.
She kept watch for the security guard of the other night. She did not want to see him again.
She was thankful to God for meeting different guards. She greeted them and walked into the lobby, crossing paths with older men and women and feeling ridiculous.
What am I doing here? She asked herself.
She walked to the end of the hall and before she could reach the Music hall, the voice returned in her mind. Turn left.
She turned to her left and noticed a fairly hidden exit of red swing doors. There was a label on them written.

LAW DEPARTMENT

She took the exit and entered a small hallway which had a reception desk at one end, a waiting couch opposite it; and another glass door with another label.

HOD
Head of Department
Att. Hurts Schneider

She walked to the reception and greeted an old lady behind the desk. “Good morning?”
“Good morning.” The lady replied warmly. “You’re here for Mr. Hurts? Oh you better see him quickly and give him this.” She said waving a blue file to Vicky.
Vicky furrowed her eyebrows, receiving it. “It’s a…?”
“The assignment. That belongs to Astrophe. You’re in the same group, right?”
Vicky did not know what to say. She could not avoid nodding. She then asked, “Astrophe is, in class?”
The lady shrugged. “I wouldn’t know but, Mr. Hurts returned earlier than I expected. I think that, there was no presentation. But, you, go inside and explain to him what’s going on with that assignment in hand.”
Now Vicky was more confused. She did not think that, she knew what was going on. But, she knew deep inside that something was wrong with Wayne.
He had already told her that, doing well in the presentation was his only way to see his mother.
Before she could say another word, the HOD door opened and Mr. Hurts appeared.
Vicky spanned around to face him. He was such a rigid looking black man.
“Mary, has the DFL arrived? I want you to submit the class 100 work, now.”
The receptionist picked up a receiver at the end of her desk. “I’ll check but, this girl has got something to tell you.”
Mr. Hurts waved his gaze to Vicky, who took in a deep breath and nodded to him.
“Are you a freshman? I don’t deal with first year students.” Mr. Hurts said hoarsely.  From the way Vicky looked in a sea blue dress, she was clearly not of his class.
Vicky held Wayne’s file close to herself and said. “It is very important.”
Mr. Hurts took some time, debating that. For a reason he did not understand, he opened the door to his office, walking in first. “It better be. I give you a minute.”
Vicky sighed with relief and followed the stern tutor into his office.

                                                                              #

what happens next? stay tuned to find out.
right here at multtalentedp.blogspot.com #twoweeksstory

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.

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