TWO WEEKS - Episode 19

As in all the Sundays, Wayne went to Boston to visit his girlfriend.
He was happy when the nurse told him that, Sasha was awake. He went up to her room, paused a few seconds outside the ward door and, prayed before he got in.
He pushed the door open slowly and revealed Sasha sitting on the bed, with her legs hanging on the air. She bent her back, reviewing a couple of photos.
Wayne smiled. He knew immediately that they were the photos that he took with her the previous week. Thinking about the past week, he admitted that, a lot had changed in his life since then. Though there were no physical changes, the emptiness and the grief in his heart had disappeared.
She must have noticed the incomer because, after a few seconds, she turned her head to the entrance.
“Astrophe," she called in a low voice.
He beamed at her and shut the door behind himself, walking toward the bed.
“How are you doing?” He greeted, offering her a side kiss.
“I’m better” she replied.
He pulled the metal chair that usually hanged around in the room and sat facing her, relinquishing a bag with her gifts at the corner of the bed. “Really? What does the doctor say?”
“He says that, I have been responding well to the therapy. More than he expected.”
He laughed a little. “Not therapy. That’s Jesus.”
She raised her eyebrows in queer and almost whispered. “What?”
“I have been praying for you,” he told her charmingly.
She broke into a grin that made him seem a bit foolish. “You have been praying for me?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
She managed a short laugh. “Okay. Thank you, I guess.”
He was silent for a few seconds. At that time, he thought that, he needed to declare his interests. “Sasha… I have to tell you something.”
“More surprises? Tell me.”
He shook his head, chuckling. “Alright. I know that, you used to see me as this person who is, well, a gangster maybe, an alcoholic… but, I have changed now.”
She grimaced and eyed him for a while. “Clearly. You weren’t the preppy kinda guy.”
He broke into a laughter and felt his khaki trousers. “No, no. It’s not the recent dressing style. In fact, I’m still working on it. I want to get suits. I’m a lawyer, you know?”
She nodded and sighed with exhaustion. “So, if it’s not the style then, what’s changed?”
He turned to the bag at the foot of the bed and picked it up, taking out his Bible from it.
She laughed. “Oh my God. You are a Christian?”
He turned to her. Inwardly, he felt a little bit shy to admit so. “Sasha, God has helped me with my nightmares.”
She laughed again and ended up coughing.
He held her quickly, releasing the Bible on the bed. “Are you alright?” He asked in panic.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” She said, giggling.
“Let me pray for you,” he offered, recalling the lesson of exercising faith in church.
“No!” She retorted, jerking his hands with unexpected strength.
He gulped, staring at her in amazement. “Sasha. I’m only going to pray for you” he said, indignantly.
“I’m okay!” She snapped. “And I honestly do not agree with your Bible things.”
Wayne was very upset by her attitude. He begun to regret going there. Inwardly he wondered what he should do. Holy Spirit, please guide me? He asked.
She picked up the Bible and returned it to his lap. “Take that back. Let’s talk about other things.”
He sighed. “Sasha. Tell me why you don’t want to hear about God.”
“He doesn’t exist.” She replied quickly.
He frowned. “Why do you think that?”
“If he did, Astrophe. I wouldn’t be here right now.” She said, struggling with a lump of tears in her throat. “I wouldn’t be sick while all of my college mates have already begun their internship and are on their way to earn their careers.”
He sighed first. “Sasha. Have you ever welcomed God in your life? Have you ever entrusted your life to him?”
“I sang in church choir!” She cried. “Yes. When I was a little girl. I praised his name and, I thought that, he was a good God. But, he let me live such a seeming perfect life, only to kill me before I even graduated.”
Wayne took her hands. “Sasha. I can’t say that, I know much about God but, all I’ll tell you is that, he’s not who you say he is.”
“If not then why am I here?”
“Maybe you didn’t know him as much when you were a little girl and, he wanted to get you to this point so that, you can turn and serve him newly.”
“What are you talking about?” She asked with tears flowing her eyes.
He was delighted to take his Bible again. “I was reading the Word of God and I was so happy to come across this word...” he said, shuffling the Bible pages.
She was silent, frowning at him with impatience.
“Job, chapter 22 verse 21. The Bible says; Agree with God and be at peace, thereby good will come to you.” He read and turned to her whose eyes had widened with amusement. “So, there. There is no peace or good without knowing God. All the lives we live, we humans are being too self-centered, thinking about ourselves and not knowing that, it’s all about God. God wants us to know him and because, he is so bigger than ourselves; the things that we see to be impossible such as the treatment of Leukemia, are very much possible. He makes us go through trials so that, we can remember him and get the peace that we need.” He said and smiled, feeling refreshed as the words came out of his mouth. “God is going to heal you, Sasha, the minute you accept to turn to him.”
Sasha was silent; considering his words. “I used to read the Bible when I was a kid. I never came across that verse.”
“See? you need a Bible. I was watching CBN on Thursday evening and, I saw many people recover from various sicknesses, after turning to God. God can heal you too. Allow him to.”
She looked down and sighed. “But, I’m going to die.”
He lifted her chin to face him. “No. Don’t say that, please?” He requested her. “You are going to live. I am going to pray with you.”
She smiled a little, feeling comforted by the hope that he provided.
“Now, I can’t be coming here every night and I will go to Ohio next weekend to see my mother. So, all I’ll be doing is, sending you Bible verses and sharing with you some of the sermons of our pastor cause, I have them recorded in my phone. Will you be faithful to follow them?”
She took in a deep breath and nodded.
He smiled and gave her a long warm hug. “You’re going to be fine, Sasha. Tonight’s improvement is the first sign.”
“I hope so Astrophe” she said somberly.
He drew back and grasped her palms. “Let’s pray.”
She nodded.
He begun to pray by inviting God into the room and ask for his forgiveness. He sensitively asked God for her healing and for the healing of his own mother. Halfway through the prayers, Sasha was crying, asking God to start all over again with her. Wayne was touched and hurt by each tear she shed but, deep inside he was sure, Jesus was many times, touched by the pain, she was going through.

                                                                              #

Vicky had a full house the next morning. After Sunday’s show, she became more famous than ever before. The people who already knew her took the liberty of telling others that, she was the baker of the renowned Prettiz. So, guys, girls and even older guys and girls, visited her apartment for a pack of Prettiz.
She was still in her sports clothes, wearing a green apron over her sweatshirt, selling out her final packs to a couple of ladies when, Wayne arrived.
She had not seen him after the previous afternoon; not in the morning jog. He waved at her from afar and she smiled back at him.
“5 dollars?” One of the ladies asked, catching Vicky’s attention.
“Yes dear.” She replied.
The lady took out some money from her purse and handed it to Vicky.
“Thank you and God bless you.” Vicky bid her.
The girls left and Vicky sighed with exhaustion.
She was standing behind the window of the kitchen that connected to the living room where most of her visitors arrived to. They picked the stuff from that window.
“Hi," Wayne greeted, standing outside the window.
“Hallow,” She replied “how was your night?”
“Ah. Better than ever.” He said proudly, nodding.
“That is good. How can I serve you?”
“Four of those Prettiz I think. I also would like to talk to you.”
She turned to her counter and gave him a bag with four of the buns. “That would be, a buck.”
He gave a lopsided smile, taking out the cash from his wallet. “How has business been going?”
“As you can see, I have more customers. I thank God. Tithe pays off.”
“Tithe?” He asked, exchanging his money for his order. “Is that a new ingredient?”
“No. Tithe is the ten percent for every earning. For example if you earn a hundred dollars, you take 10 percent of it to church.”
He raised her eyebrows in amusement. “Ten percent. Oh. So, you say it pays off, how?”
“Because, you give to God; that means trusting God with your money. You know, God knows that, money can rule over men’s heart so, he wants us to trust with him. When we give tithe to church, we honor God’s word and he blesses our finances.”
He nodded slowly. “I will try that out though, I don’t have a job.”
“You can tithe your allowance. From the college or your family.”
He scratched his head and remained silent. Family was a sensitive topic to him then.
She glanced at the door and seeing that it had stayed for a while without opening, she turned back to him. “You had something to tell me?”
“Oh yeah.” He said and turned to the entrance then back to her. “Where can we talk?”
“Come inside.” She replied and took off the apron, turning to the kitchen.
He rounded the wall and entered the room, then pulled a chair and sat behind the round table, opposite her.
“Well, it’s about Sasha.” He said and waited for her reaction. She seemed to be caught a bit off-guard. “And my mother.” He added quickly.
She became mild.
“Vicky. I know that you are a prayerful person and I can say one of the few sensible people left on this earth. I trust you.”
She grinned. “Thank you. I give glory to God.”
“Amen to that.” He agreed and added. “So, my mother. She is suffering from Cancer. The last time that I communicated with home was a couple of weeks ago and my dad told me that, she had less than a month to live. That was before I received Jesus and now I know, admitting God into my life changes everything. So, I hope that, she is still alive. I look forward to see her at the end of the week after receiving my grades.” He paused getting more sensitive as he went on. “I am asking you to pray for me.”
She nodded. “First of all I would like to say that; I am happy that you believe that she would be alright. Our God is a miracle worker. He is a healer.” She said warmly and added. “I will pray for your mom, Wayne. And because, it’s very important, I will also fast to ask God for her recovery. However, since they are agreement prayers, you should also join in the fasting prayers.”
“Oh I will be praying. But, fasting you say? How does that work?”
“You can exempt yourself from the things you love to eat for a couple of hours while focusing on praying for your mom. If you can, you can also stay without food for up to twelve hours while praying for her.”
“Oh. I’ve never tried staying that long without food. You have?”
She smiled a little. Yes, fasting was her lifestyle. But, she wasn't going to brag. “Listen. There are many kinds of fasting. As you read the Bible, you will find that out but, basically there is; fasting from the things you love to eat, maybe sugar or candy. There is also fasting for hours without food but, drinking water; that mainly covers twelve hours. Also, fasting twelve hours without food or water; three days consecutively without food or water, seven days likewise and forty days without food or water and etcetera, basing on one’s own agreement between himself and God.”
“Oh. 40 days. That’s a long journey.”
“Yes but with a tremendous outcome.”
“I don’t know if I like sweets and well, I already stopped taking alcohol so, I’ll try out for the twelve hour fasting but, taking water.”
She nodded. “It’s alright and a nice step. When would you like to start?”
“Tomorrow. Is that okay?”
She nodded. “I’m ready. Do you already have a timetable for praying?”
“Yap,” he said. “I go to my ghetto twice in a day for personal prayers.”
“That is good. You can also request for God’s presence wherever you are.” She said and rose from her seat, turning to her shoulderbag at the one end of the table. “And what’s wrong with your girlfriend?” She asked, taking out a couple of plain papers and a pen from the bag.
She sat with the items at the table.
“Sasha. She is suffering from Leukemia. She was sicker when I saw her last week. I prayed for her and when I visited her again yesterday night, she was better.”
Her face became pitiful. “Oh. I am so sorry for her. But, she is going to be well. God is going to handle her health.”
He nodded and sighed. “So, you can see? There’s a hell of problems that I’ve been facing."
“She is going to be fine… Astrophe?”
“Oh.” He said, realizing for the first time that he had kept that truth from her. “Yeah. That is my first name. I was born as Astrophe Harts, the Wayne came in Ortegun when I was desperately looking for a way out, to hide from my past.”
She was silent for a short while, battling within herself to ask the next question. “You seem to have a complicated past, right?’
He drew a deep sigh before nodding in agreement. “Yeah. A long terrible story.”
She seemed sorry. “Ever thought of lifting the burden off your shoulder?” She asked, meaning to share.
“I would share my things with Sasha but, she also has a lot to bear. She was about to graduate see? But then, she fell sick and after diagnosis the doctors found out that, she had Leukemia. She was hospitalized and has been there for more than 7 months now.” He took a moment to add. “That and my mother’s condition has managed to make my life very miserable.”
“But, now you’ve met Jesus,” She reckoned.
He nodded strongly. “Yes and after the personal miracles I have experienced believing, I am sure that he will change my life and heal those I love.”
She smiled. “Surely he will.” She said and turned to the paper in her hand. “Have you ever come across Hebrews 11:1?”
He searched his pockets for his phone. “No. I know the Hebrews. They are the Israelites, right?”
“Yes. It seems that, you have been reading.” She reckoned.
He laughed a little. “Yeah. I finished the whole Genesis. Apart from John, of course. And I also perused other books. The Bible is very sweet.”
“Ezekiel 3 says so.”
“Thank you. I will check that out.” He said, scrolling his cellphone screen. “So. Hebrews 11:1” he repeated.
“Exactly.”
“It says here that… I shall read in the name of Jesus.”
“Amen.”
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things yet unseen.” He read and raised his glance to her. “I read this word to Sasha last week. Yesterday, I saw the the improvement.”
“Amen. God is a wonderful miracle worker.”
“Yeah. And you know, it was like, a voice speaking inside my mind telling me to open to this very verse.”
“It wasn’t just any voice. It was the Holy Spirit. After you receive Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God enters your heart and advises you in the Way to living a life worthy of praise and glory to God.”
“That is amazing then.”
“The Spirit also guides you in your studies.”
“What will I have to do to get that guidance?”
“Simple. Pray before you study.”
“May I have that?” He asked, glancing at the paper in her hand.
She passed it to him.
“And the pen, please?" He requested.
She gave it to him and he begun to note down.
“So. Pray. Give tithe and what else do I do to make a good Christian out of myself?” He asked.
“Hebrews 11:6”
He turned to his phone. “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” he glanced at her. “Wow. Faith is everything aye?”
“Yes.”
He noted down. “And what else?”
“Colossians 3:16.”
“Mm. Lets’ check that out.” He said and scrolled on his phone, asking “is it in the New Testament?”
“Yes. Just after Philippians.”
“Seen it. Okay. 3 verse 16. The Bible says in Colossians; Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” He read and noted that down. “So, I have to be reading the Bible often?”
“Yes. Get addicted to reading the Word of God and to pray.”
He nodded. “I will exercise that and await the results.”
“Surely you will.”
He dropped the pen on the table. “Thank you very much. Anymore?”
“Surely. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Show kindness and love to all men.”
“Oh. Jesus said that.”
“Yes. In John and all the other Gospels.”
He took the pen again and wrote on the paper. He tapped his phone as he did and after a while, retreated the pen. “Thank you very much.”
She smiled receiving it. “You are welcome.”
He pushed back his chair, rising. “Well. I’ll see you later during practice.”
“Okay.”
“Bye.” He said and walked out.

Victoria turned to the table afterward and made silent prayers. “God. Thank you for my recent success," she begun. “I can finally begin to save for my new laptop and buying a new phone.” She paused to add, “I am asking you to intervene in my friends’ lives; Wayne, Annie. Annie left more than two weeks ago and we haven’t heard from her since. Her father was ill and she left because of that. Wayne’s mom is also sick and he is worried about finding her alive when he has to leave next week.” She sighed. “God I believe in you as a healer as your word says so in Exodus 15:26. I request for the healing of Wayne’s mom. You know how much she means to him. Please show yourself in his life and rectify it as you see fit.”
She continued praying until half an hour later and she left the room, to prepare herself for classes.

                                                                              #

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

TWO WEEKS - Episode 10

7:00am
The clock was reading when Wayne woke up that morning. He went over the events of the previous night in his mind; his terrible nightmare: attempt to drug himself: his father’s call: his leg’s piercing and his phone shattering.
Nothing was going right. And now, he was lying on that bed on precisely the time when he should have led the jog team, got the plastic bags for his friends and got ready to submit his assignment.
He lived such a terrible life.
He twisted his head at the thought, turning around to face the waiting couch at the end of the room and Vicky sitting on it wearing a pink blouse and dark trousers.
She rose at the glance of his and just then he noticed that, she begun to get slimmer and her curves became more distinct.
But, that was not as important as this, “Get me coke".
She paused, making a queer face. “Wayne. You are awake that is great. Are you alright?”
He tried to sit up and held his right leg in agony.
“Let me help you.” she offered, drawing closer to the bed.
He reluctantly allowed her to support his back as he sat up, stuffing some pillows behind him.
“I’m so sorry.” She said, sighing.
“It’s okay.” He said, turning from his leg to her. “Get me coke.”
“Is that a soda?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. It’s gin. Now, please get me one. I’ll pay you back.”
She frowned. “Wayne. Sorry but, I will not get you that.”
“What is wrong with you!” he shouted, making Vicky feel the room shaking around her. “I am not like you! I am not happy, joyous, spiritual or, all that stuff!” he added, very aggravatingly. “I’m suffering! I am in agony and I can’t live with it. Get me gin!”
Vicky trembled afterward. She thought that she was out of wisdom to respond to his torturing words.
Just then the door opened and she turned to embrace the sight of the yellow haired boy in his usual dark leather outfit. He carried a bottle or wine in hand.
“I hear someone say, coke.” He greeted, laughingly.
“Mike. Thank you.” Wayne said, gladly.
Vicky took in a deep breath. She did not know what to do but, the thing upset her.
Wayne received the bottle and glanced at Vicky. “Why are you still standing there? You want some?”
“Wayne.” She begun. “Alcohol is not the answer.”
He chuckled, removing the lid and taking large puffs.
She sighed deeply.
“I think she likes you man.” Mike said, eyeing Vicky with his lazy eyes.
Wayne broke into a laughter. “Good one, Mike. Don’t you say that, we should welcome her to our hood?”
“Enh she’s too ugly.” Mike replied rudely.
Vicky sighed again, looking for the right way to approach the situation.
She turned to Mike. “He needs breakfast alright? Coke, or whatever you call it, is not breakfast.”
Mike narrowed his eyes at her. He expected that she would reproach him for getting him the drink on the basis of religion.
“Yes.” Vicky said to Mike. “He must be hungry.”
“I’m hungry for this.” Wayne interjected and Mike laughed at that.
She turned to him. “I don’t drink but, I know that, people don’t take wine in the morning. Please, let him get you coffee and sandwich.”
Wayne was silent, thinking. He turned to Mike afterward. “Do you have cash?”
Mike nodded. “Yeah.”
“Get me Five Guys Hamburgers then, I am starving.”
Mike shrugged and nodded. “Right on," he said and left.
Vicky turned to Wayne. “Can I put that away for you?” she asked, glancing at the bottle in his hand.
“Why should I trust you?”
“Can I trust you?” She asked instead.
“I haven’t asked you to help me with a drinking problem, I love this. It helps me calm my nerves.”
“But, you don’t need any nerve calming.”
“What makes you think that? You haven’t got into my head to realize what I am thinking. I am-” he begun and paused, hesitating to go on.
“There’s a time when we think that problems are heavily weighing over our shoulders but, the Word says that; for every matter there is a time and way though man’s troubles lay heavily upon him.”
He puffed his drink again. “So, you also have words for everything.”
“I don’t. God does.”
“Cut, the crap. You ain’t going to get me to be like you.”
“I am not struggling to make you a Christian Wayne.”
“So, what are you doing?”
“Convincing you to try out a better solution for your problem.”
“Okay. I don’t like admitting that, I have problems but, I already have so, we will go on this way. What solution are you offering me? God? Some beliefs?”
“Let’s begin with hope.” She asked, occupying an empty seat beside his bed.
He watched her closely for a while. The alcohol, which already got into his head, transfigured the images he was seeing.
She noticed that, first. “That thing you’re holding is a lie. You’re being eluded into thinking stuff that do not exist. The devil doesn’t want you to be in your sober mind to comprehend all the great things that, God means for you to do.”
“That is crap.” He said, breathing alcohol on her face.
“What isn’t to you, Wayne? Your problems or the gin?”
He turned to the bottle and held it a little far from him. “Maybe both.”
“What has been the way to fix things?” She asked again. “The gin?”
He turned to her. “No.” he replied, a little earlier than she expected. He waved the bottle to her. “Please put it aside.”
She grunted before receiving it. Was he coping that quickly?
He got the bed sheet off himself. “You are right. I haven’t been taking this the right way. Maybe, I have also been so rude to you.” he added, struggling to get his legs off the bed. “I have to face my problems like you said. I have to go to Ohio.”
She swallowed, getting a bit off guard by his decision. “Wayne, you are still not well.”
“No. My mom is…” dying. But, he hesitated to say so. “I have to see her. My father was calling me last night. Something must have happened. I have to go.”
Vicky was lost. She did not know whether to support him or to decline from doing so.
Oh God please give me wisdom. What do I do? Are you already done with him? Is that what he must do? She asked herself inwardly.
He turned to her. “Vicky. I’m sorry for behaving like a jerk toward you. Really, drinking in the morning is ridiculous even I should have known that.”
She was silent, lost in her own thoughts.
He supported himself on the rail of the bed, padding his feet forward.
“Where are you going?” She asked.
“Back to my apartment and then I’ll request a leave to travel to Ohio.”
“Wayne. You are not completely well. Ohio must be far from here.”
“Yeah. That’s why I’ll take the plane.”
She sighed.
“Okay. See you around or something.” He said and left, in her watch.

                                                                              #

TWO WEEKS - Episode 5

Wayne wriggled and turned over on his bed that night. After a whole while of struggling in a night mare, he woke up with a shout and begun panting.
He popped out his eyes in the night light and felt his face to wipe off the sweat that was leaving his body.
He shut his eyes and took in long deep breaths to calm down.
He was very depressed by the terrible dreams that he usually had. Even when he was boozed, it did not keep him from having difficult nights.
He stretched himself to a nightstand at the head of the bed and picked up the receiver beside a clock. He glanced at the time.
2:30am
He pressed some buttons and waited while the phone rang.
“Hallow?” a lady’s voice came.
“Excuse me for disturbing you this late ma’am but, you told me to call you if I had bad dreams again.”
“It’s okay, Astrophe.” The lady replied and sighed with exhaustion. “Tell me what did you dreamabout?” she asked, yawning.
Wayne exhaled. “I saw myself in Ohio. It was heavily raining and I came to see my mom. I held her in my hands and then, Chris came.” He paused, closing his eyes. “He pointed a gun at me and said that, he was getting back at me for everything. Suddenly I was a young boy and I could not defend myself.” He sighed. “I have never felt so terrified in my life.”
“I’m so sorry, Astrophe. Okay, have you been taking the sleeping pills like I told you?”
“Not today. But, they have never kept me from having these nightmares.”
“You know Astrophe, your dreams are the product… of your subconscious. Deep inside, you are scared and perhaps, really defenseless. Has anything happened to you recently?”
“Yes. My father called me and told me that, my mom is dying. She has a month to live.” He said and sighed.
“How did you take the news?” she asked when Wayne remained silent.
“I dismissed it from my mind. I rather not thought about it.”
“So then, you haven’t realized how much it affected you,” the lady reckoned.
“I guess, I am really scared that she is going to die. I don’t know how to react simply because I am helpless in solving the situation. I cannot save her life, I cannot keep her from dying.”
“Oh Astrophe. I can understand your grief but, try to use the time you have left to go home and make things right. Spend the time with her. Make her feel how much you love her. Tell her your fears and needs.”
Wayne rubbed his forehead drawing a deep sigh. “But, Chris is there. His presence just irritates me.”
“What if he acts kindly to you this time, for the sake of your mom?”
“That won’t change the fact of the way I feel about him.”
“Astrophe, be willing to make an exception. If you go home and face your fears, you might overcome the terrible nights you are having.”
Wayne was silent, undecided.
“I’ll give you a pass tomorrow, how’s that?” the lady asked.
“No ma’am but, I’ll come to you when I am finally ready.”
“Okay but, remember another thing, it’s okay to be weak.”
Wayne furrowed her eyebrows at that. “What?”
“Yes. Even a mascot leader, can have weak spots every now and then. Talk to people. Especially those who are ready and have the time to hear.”
“I’m lost Mrs. Earl.”
“You know, there’s this person who seems to be so composed. She has high self-esteem and she is very stable. Maybe you can talk to her.”
“Ma’am. I don think that I-” he begun but, the lady cut him short.
“I know it’s hard to trust a person who’s just too new to you. But, try to make friends with her. She is a very nice person.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“One of our new students. She is residing in the apartment that Annie likes to use.”
“Oh men, you are not talking about, that fat African girl?”
“So, you’ve met but, Astrophe? Do not make rude remarks about people’s appearances.”
“Ma’am. Thank you for the chat. Good night.”
“Astrophe?” she called but, he hang up.
This lady is so weird. He thought and turned around to replace the receiver on its place.
He pulled the sheet above his head and shut his eyes to sleep again. Thinking about Mrs. Earl’s silly idea was a better lullaby, to get him to sleep.

                                                                              #

I have to fast. Annie thought when she woke up in the middle of her first night in New York City. If I am not standing, that guy and his friends will win the bet. I need spiritual strength to tackle this. God will help me.
She turned on the bed and stared at the darkness. It’s not the way that I had expected to spend my first day in America but, I’m writing my history. She told herself and begun murmuring. “If I also jog while I don’t take much, I will get into good shape soon. My mom always wanted me to lose weight.”
With that, she sat up on her bed and stretched her hand to a lampstand where was a lamp. After struggling to light it to no avail, she sighed and placed her hands on her lap, shutting her eyes.
“Oh God. Please help me?” She begun to pray. “I am supposed to be thanking you for making me realize my dreams and I do but, here I am, praying for the challenges that I just met on my arrival.” She sighed. “I would like to hold on to you. I don’t want to leave you Lord Jesus. I don’t ever want to trade your love and grace for all the money or luxury in the world. As you’ve said; what will it profit a man if he gains the world and in the end, forfeit his life?” she sighed again and opened her eyes. She was scared. “I am so far away from home. There is no one watching me. But, you are.” She shut her eyes again. “Please guide me as you’ve said; I’ll instruct you and teach you the way you should go, I’ll counsel you with my eye upon you. You are everything to me Lord. Even if I am far from my mother and father, you will be my parent here.”

She made a cross sign and continued in prayers until her bedroom door burst open and light from the corridor drew her concentration.
“Vicky!” Annie called.
Vicky made a cross sign and opened her eyes to glance at her friend.
Annie was already in her sportswear. “What are you doing?” she greeted Vicky. “It’s already 5:00am. Get your sports gear quickly and we can go for the jog.”
Vicky raised her eyebrows a little. “I didn’t realize that, time had gone that fast.” She drew the bed sheet off her body.
“So it has. Do you usually wake early back home?”
Vicky got her legs on the floor. “Only when I had early college classes.”
Annie released the door knob, furrowing her eyebrows. “You have once been to College before?”
“Yes.” Vicky replied and suddenly dismissed the topic. “So, the jogging…” She said and turned to her duffel bag below the bed. “I have a tracksuit.”
“That will be fine.”
Vicky opened her bag and took out a black jumpsuit with a knee-length pair of shorts and a matching vest. She took out its sweater and tied it around her waist.
She turned around to Annie. “How do I look?”
“You know, there are some outfits which make you look slimmer.”
“That’s funny. My mother tells me that too.”
“Okay. I’ll grab our bottles. Come, follow me quickly.”
“Okay.” Vicky agreed and bent down to fetch her pair of white sneakers.

                                                                              #

TWO WEEKS - EPISODE 2

Meanwhile, in Manhattan and in the college club, a guy brought a tray with beer glasses and laid it on a table in front of a couple of guys and girls around his own age.
The peer welcomed him with a lot of cheers.
“It’s on the house men!” He called, as his friends picked up glasses from the tray.
They sat in a corner of the large club which also had a loud music playing. Some youths danced and hang around on various corners, sharing romantic intimacies.
The first guy picked his own glass and tasted the drink with his eyes closed. He shook his head as the sip of it run through his throat and down to his stomach. “This is good.” He commented to his friends.
“Yeah Wayne,” A girl replied, after having a puff of her own glass.
She wore a dark leather backless blouse and short matching pants. Her hair was dyed with purple and white and she had plenty of ornaments on her body.
Wayne sipped again, taking plenty of puffs this time.
“Guys? What do you think of the first year intake?” a boy with yellow hair dressed in a cape, asked.
“Ah. They are okay.” Another girl, a brunette and the only differently dressed among the group replied. She also did not have a glass in hand. Gradually, she wagged her head to the music that filled the hall.
Having almost emptied his glass, Wayne turned to the second girl and walked to the couch, dropping down to sit close to her.
“Annie. Tell me seriously, when are you really, going to be a part of the hood?” he asked, loosely holding his glass in front of her.
She grimaced and pushed his hand away. “I don’t drink.”
He offered her a silly grin. One that told Annie, he was up to something stupid.
Like she expected, Wayne dropped the glass on her lap and before she could panic, he forced himself on her to steal a kiss.
The rest of the group laughed and cheered as she struggled to free herself from his heavy body.
She only succeeded when she bit his lip.
“Ouch!” he whined before she slapped his left cheek.
The boys laughed loudly.
Wayne grinned devilishly at her. “Ah. You are a feisty… one.” He said just when his phone buzzed in his pocket.
“You! Never do that to me again!” Annie rasped.
Wayne in turn rose and took out his phone from his pocket. He turned to Annie after checking it. “I will be back.”
“Who’s is it Wayne?” The yellow haired boy asked.
Without replying, Wayne, abandoned the noisy hall and entered the men’s room to receive his call.

                                                                              #

“Hallow Astrophe?”
“Yes father?”
“Tell me, where are you son?”
“I’m at college. You know that.”
“I know but, I have been looking for you since morning. I also sent you a lot of voice messages and there has been no reply from you.”
There was an impatient sigh. “Well, we are talking now, ain’t we?”
There was a disappointed sigh. “Okay. Your mother is sick.” The man said and paused for a reaction from the other side but, there was silence. He sighed again and went on. “The doctors have said the cancer has reached to a certain point that, even chemotherapy is not going to help her survive. Your brother is here and we wanted you to come to Ohio to see your mother and perhaps, make her feel that she has all our support.”
There was a short pause before Astrophe came. “I will think about it.”
The man later sounded angry. “Astrophe. There is no thinking about anything. Listen, your mother is dying and I am telling you to come home so that we may be together. For her.”
“Father. I have school and besides that, I don’t want to see Chris.”
“This is not about Chris son, it’s about your mother. She needs you.”
“Listen dad. I love mom but, if Chris is gonna be there then, I ain’t coming.”
“Astrophe. Better sort out your differences with your brother and right now, come to show that love you feel for your mother.”
There was silence.
“Son?”
“Okay dad. I will think about it.” He repeated.
“Please come home quickly son. I’ll send you money through your account.”
“I don’t need it. I have a credit card.”
“No. Better not to use your credit card often. You could fall into debts if you don’t pay up. I’ll send you the money tomorrow. Let me expect you by the end of the week.”
There was a short pause. “Tell me, how critical is she?” Astrophe asked, sounding very sensitive.
“Your mom?”
“Yes. How long does she have?”
“A month. Maybe less.”
There was a deep sigh.
“See son? You have to come and see her.”
“Bye dad.” Astrophe replied and hang up.
He paused, leaning on the wall of the men’s room with the phone in his hand. The condition of his mother added to the tragedy in Astrophe’s life.
He had a long feud with his brother simply because, they always disagreed on everything.
Sometime later, his brother went to live in another state and when their mother begun getting sick with cancer that ate her up, Astrophe or Wayne as he called himself in Ortegun, discovered the involvement of his father with his secretary.
Their home was always hostile and full of fights; between Astrophe and Chris, Astrophe and dad. But, whenever their mother showed up, they pretended to be alright.
Mrs. Harts was not all that deaf or blind in her house either. She argued with them for arguing with each other. Soon, she resisted therapy and medicine and became bitter with life.
Astrophe’s only consolation was the gang he headed when he begun taking studies in Ortegun. They were carefree persons who knew how to party and to have fun.
Recently, they admitted Annie into what they called ‘Hood’.  She was the daughter of a professor who also taught psychology in their University. Annie was their latest and greatest conquest.  
Now, hearing that his mom was sick and about to die, Astrophe was lost. He kept on queering why everything had to be that way. He cursed himself, his family and life itself. There was no relief anywhere. None except in coke.
As the thought came to mind, he left the bathroom and returned back to his friends.

                                                                #