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
@ multtalentedp.blogspot.com
#twoweeksstory

Thank you Dank Sukriya Ahsante Gracias (add your own in the comments below)

TWO WEEKS - Episode 11

Vicky went back to class afterward. But, she felt so confused because Annie had already left campus and she had no one to talk with about what was going on.
When it reached noon and the professor had concluded his lesson, she remained sitting on her bench, staring bluntly at the stage.
Emeka’s voice coming next to her, was the only thing that drew Vicky from her thoughts.
“Aren’t you going for lunch?” he asked.
She turned to him. “Hey. Amh, I don’t feel like taking anything. I think that, I’ll go to the store and return back at 3 for the next class.”
“You should take something.” He suggested and rose from his bench, carrying his clear-bag. “Let us walk out together. There’s a booth that sells great food just outside the gate.”
She took some time to make up her mind and then packed her stuff in her bag, ready to go.
They strolled silently out of the lecture hall to where the booth was. A lot of students surrounded the booth, eating with their bare hands or calling for their order.
Vicky stared at the scramble. She noticed then that, there were a lot of people in that school. Back in Africa, she could know the names of at least everyone within the campus but  here, it was like, every day, there were newcomers.
“What can I get you?” he asked.
“Maybe a hamburger. Thank you.”
“Okay.” He said and joined the small commotion.
A few minutes later, the two were walking silently along a quiet craggy path that stretched around the campus to the dormitories. Students and teachers moved here and there making the ground quite live.
“So, what’s bothering you?” Emeka asked after an almost prevailing silence.
“Do you believe in God, Emeka?” she asked, twisting her head to face him.
The question got him a bit off guard. “Yeah. Why?”
“Do you also believe that, he can give you an objective to pray or to worry about someone who you don’t even know very well?”
He nodded. “Yeah. That is possible. In fact, we ought to pray for everyone.”
“I know that but, this case is different. In this case, it’s particularly one person and I think that, I am failing. I do not know what to do.”
Emeka took some time in silence, finding words to advise her.
She sighed. “Everything is going wrong. I don’t understand God’s message or at least, if there is even a message. Maybe it is my instincts that are guiding me.”
“But, what does the Bible say? I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go. I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8. Have you taken advantage of an opportunity to ask God for directions?”
“Yes. I do that a lot of times.”
“Then there must have been something that God told you. Work on it. Vicky, do not do anything humanly possible, ask God. Ask God for instructions regarding your matter, be it small or great.” He said and added, “I will also pray for you. Will you come to the fellowship tomorrow night?”
“Yes. It’s also my turn to lead the praise.”
“So, that’s it then. Take the opportunity to ask God.”
She nodded. “You are right. There’s also this word that says in Isaiah 48:17 that, I am the LORD your GOD who teaches you to profit who leads you in the way you should go. Now I understand that, God means each and every clause of the word. He should lead me in the way I should go, not my emotions or my instincts or people.”
He smiled. “Good.” He said and looking around, spotted an empty rock bench at some meters off the path. “Can we go there and pray?”
She glanced at where he pointed at. “Alright.” She nodded and they began straying from the path.
“You know one thing about praying, value any moment you get to do so because, you do not know whether at that time, God will encounter you and or will heal you.” he said.
She nodded in support. She had never reasoned that way before. “Yes. You are very right.”
They came to the bench and sat facing each other.
“So,” he begun. “We are going to ask God to teach us and instruct us and lead us in the way we should go.”
She nodded and shut her eyes.
He led the prayers which also encouraged Vicky a lot.

                                                                              #

Some miles away, Wayne limped to Mr. Hurts’ office; a stern black professor who was also one of the hardest men Wayne had known to exist within Ortegun.
With Linda gone, Wayne had a hard time requesting for leave to see his mother. After a difficult process in the secretary’s office, he turned into Mr. Hurt’s office.
“Good afternoon sir?” Wayne greeted, standing in front of Mr. Hurts’ desk.
The man turned to Wayne from a file in his hands. “Just the man I wanted. Here are with me all the assignments of class 100, where is your group’s, Mr. Harts?”
Wayne sighed. “Forgive me sir. I have come to ask you that we may delay to submit the work. I received a call from home that my mother is in a very bad condition.” He begun and placed the paper on the professor’s desk. “Please, may I leave to see her?”
The man frowned. “What is wrong with your class? You think that, you can give excuses just to leave campus and avoid responsibilities?” he bawled. “I already signed a Leave for Miss Earl and that was only because Professor Earl asked for it.” He said that and pushed the paper off his table. “Bring me your group’s work in thirty minutes or prepare for Supplementary.”
Wayne glanced at the gate-pass on the floor, feeling very bad. “Sorry sir but, my mom is very sick.” He added, pleading to him.
“Submit your work first and I might consider you.” Professor Hurts replied, focusing on the assignments on his desk.
Wayne sighed and picked up his paper, about to leave.
“I see here that your group is also the first one to present a case.” Mr. Hurts added, catching Wayne’s attention.
Wayne did not know that. “We are?”
“So there, you have got a lot of work. Bring those documents quickly.”
Wayne sighed again and left with devastation.

                                                                              #

He could not get the work done in thirty minutes like the professor demanded but, he submitted it in his office later that evening.
Mr. Hurts scheduled his group to present on Friday of that same week so, Wayne had no choice but to remain in Ortegun. Throughout that time, he did not cross paths with Vicky especially because he could not lead the jog team because of his leg injury.
He still suffered terrible nights and consequently more horrible days. He constantly avoided to face the uncertainty of his mother’s condition. He thought that, she died and he did not want to reach home to confirm that. Whenever his father called, he shut his phone. Apart from drinking and smoking, he worked on his group case. The same group did not care about anything but, he disregarded that. 
On Friday, he stood alone in front of the class, unlucky for him, Gregory (the other serious person in their group) was sick and could not make it.
Mike and Posh were around but, they were too afraid to stand in front of the class.
“You’re on your own?” Mr. Hurts asked, sitting on the front seats along with the rest of the class.
Wayne sighed and nodded.
“Where are the others?” The professor asked.
“Annie is out of town, Greg is sick and so are the rest.”
“So, are you a defense attorney or a prosecutor?” Mr. Hurts asked, deciding to overlook Wayne’s excuses.
“Prosecutor.”
“And who will defend the poor mouse in that cubicle?” Mr. Hurts asked, throwing a glance at a cube on the table with an isolated rodent.
“Amh. The class?” Wayne replied, wondering if that would be the right answer.
Mr. Hurts laughed cynically. “Mr. Harts you are obviously not serious with your work. Give me a jury.”
Wayne gulped with fright but, at that time he did not care what happened to him any longer. “You.”
Mr. Hurts perused on the group file in his hand, maybe he did not hear Wayne’s answer as the class laughed. “So, what is your accusation?”
“Its color.” Wayne replied.
Mr. Hurts raised his eyebrows at him. “Why’s that?”
“It’s brown. It should be white, right?”
The class broke into a laughter.
Mr. Hurts chuckled too. “Alright. Get on with it.”
Wayne took in a deep breath and begun, first, eulogizing the creature in front of the class and then, accuse it for being born brown. 
5 minutes while he was still speaking, some of the students begun yawning while others were murmuring about their own stuff.
15 minutes later, Wayne concluded his case with more than half of the class, being occupied with their own business.
Mr. Hurts himself was staring anxiously at his wrist watch. “Time is over Mr. Harts.” He announced.
Wayne sighed. “I’m done.” He said, picking up his mouse cubicle.
Mr. Hurts turned to the rest of the class. “Anyone willing to defend the mouse?”
There was silence. In fact, they were hardly aware of what was going on.
Mr. Hurts turned to Wayne. “Get back to your seat.”
Wayne nodded and left the stage.

He spent the night in the club but, without his friends. Saturday morning Wayne went back to Mr. Hurts’ office to ask for the leave only to find that he had flanked more than 10 points in his course work.
“How?” he asked Mr. Hurts, after receiving his grades.
“You’re also the last in your class.” Mr. Hurts informed, as if he was pleased with it.
Wayne sighed. “Can I go home?”
“No. Not after that awful report. I will not support this stupidity.”
“My mom is dying professor and for all I know, she is already dead.”
The professor sighed, rubbing his chin in thoughts. Maybe he wanted to believe Wayne. “Don’t you have a phone?”
“It’s my mother sir.” Wayne retorted, sounding very emotional.
“Okay.” He agreed, finally. “But, bear in mind that, you will be putting your future at risk if you are not back and rectify this nonsense piece of work.”
Wayne was silent he did not want to curse him at that moment.
“Where’s your leave?” Mr. Hurts asked, extending his hand with his pen to the end of the desk.
Wayne felt his pockets for the gate-pass and took out his phone and identity card. “Where is it?” he wondered out loud. “I kept it…. Aaw.” He sighed. “I left it with my friend.” He said, referring to Mike. Wayne slept at Mike’s place two nights back, in preparation for the Friday presentation and, Mike took Wayne's stuff for his own amusement.
“Oh great. So, your ticket to see your dying mother is with the other dude?” Mr. Hurts asked, mockingly.
Wayne tried not to express his offense and said. “I’ll just call him or get it myself.”
“Make that outside my office and quick because, it is a half day and I’ll be leaving at noon.”
This is so unfair. Wayne thought. “Sir, please? Bear with me now, for a mother.”
“Astrophe, if you realized that, maybe you would have brought the gate pass.”
Wayne sighed and left the room, emerging into the lobby which was also partially crowded with people moving here and there.
He tapped the dial pad on his shattered phone and placed it against his ear.
The call kept ringing without being received.
He tried again. “Damn this guy is high again!” he cursed, rubbing his brown hair back in anxiety.
The call was not received.
“I hate this!” he shouted and lowered the phone.
Before he could retry, the screen flickered into Chris’ name and begun buzzing in Wayne’s hand.
Wayne gulped.
What happened? He asked himself.
He had not talked to his brother for over two years and his calling meant that something wrong happened to their mother.
He watched the screen blink off and sighed, leaning back on the door of Mr. Hurts’ office.
He knew then that, there was no need to go to Ohio any longer. It was obvious that, his mother was dead. He never went to see her. She must have died cursing him.
It was over. His life was full of terrible disaster.

End of PART I of this story.
stay tuned for more right here @ multtalentedp.blogspot.com to find out what happens next?
Comment anywhere online about this story with the hashtag #twoweeksstory

Thank you, Danke, Gracias, Merci, Sukriya, Ahsante, (add your own in the comment button below)