Family Way

Sorry guys. Took a really long break. I can't apologize enough. So I'm gonna give you a story I wrote today. Enjoy.


I got in just at the nick of time. Sunday school was just about to start. Despite the cold weather, My forehead and armpits area was already wet with sweat as I had run to church. I scanned for her among the people who were seated but she was absent. I did not know whether that was a good or a bad thing. I shoved that thought at the back of my mind.

 "Praise the Lord."

"Halleluyah!"

"Let us pray. Father Lord we..."

Nneka let out a shrill cry or was it laughter...

Everyone turned and looked at her. Even people from other Sunday school classes turned to look at her.

I looked into her eyes, my eyeballs trying holds hers in questioning. I was not Alagbada ina who had eyes of fire. But I have earned enough respect from my teenagers to demand compliance from them, even with my facial features. But today Nneka stared right back...

With no shame.

And a small, mocking smile was right there on her lips. Or maybe it was just me.

"Father Lord we thank you for your word we are about to listen to, I pray we'd be doers and not hearers only in Jesus name..."

Only two people said 'Amen'. I raised up my head. What's going on this morning? I thought. I raised my head and frowned as I verbalized my thoughts.

"Sorry sir, it's the weather." Temi said. The teens laughed or giggled, the gentler ones just smiled.

'It's weather for two...' said Nneka looking straight into my eyes.

"Ha!"

went many mouths. Others opened without a sound.

"in the church?!" some continued. Others burst forth into fresh giggles.

I looked at Nneka and she looked right back.

"What's going on?" I thought.

"Or did she tell her?" My thoughts were going round and round, I almost took no notice of what was happening right in front of me.

"Nneka," went Lara, a very serious minded teenager, "You are not serious at all, you don't know you are in the house of God."

"Ah ahn, what's your business? Was I talking to you?..."

"It's okay. Let's continue" said some of the class members. Others just murmured.

Heads from other classes were turning.

"Keep quiet!"

The church head usher had come up from behind to hush the class.

They all complied.

He then turned to me and said,  "Mr Stephen, is anything the matter with your class?"

"I don't know o. I met them like this"

"Please take charge of your teenagers, you are distracting other classes."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir"

I turn to the now quiet class and ask them to open their Bibles.

TO BE CONTINUED.