Checkmate Episode 23 (By Adeyoola Ojemola)

Joshua had called Pastor Dave before going over to their place that he would like to take Simon out for some fresh air. The Pastor was more than gracious about the idea. When Joshua got to the pastorium, Simon still had some house chores to finish up so Joshua had to wait. 

 

The twins were busy with him anyways. He can not imagine having twin daughters who talked so much! They always amused him and were never improper but it was so easy to see both traits of their father and mother combined in two separate places!

 

Mummy Pastor is very reserved but also very friendly. When you are close to her, she can be so open, frank, yet reserved at the same time and to mention how easily moved she can be. Little gestures touch her heart so much that she never seemed difficult to please.

 

Pastor Dave on the other hand seems to be everywhere at the same time. He is that kind of person that knows everybody and had to say one or two to everybody he met. He never mixes people’s names nor forgets peculiar details about them. 

 

Now seeing both Sharon and Shalom, at this stage, it is so difficult for Joshua to determine who exactly is reserved or the extrovert. They both seem to interchange and right now, they were both extroverts with him. 

 

‘How is Aunty Daniella?’ Sharon mentioned. Shalom retorted, ‘It is Iya Ibeji, madam’. ‘How is what I call her, your business?’ ‘You should learn the appropriate appellations for people per time’ ‘When did you learn the word appellation? Do you even know what it means?’

 

The back and forth went between them and he slightly pitied whoever tries to interfere in their banter. Thinking they have moved attention away from him, Shalom asked him, ‘Haha Baba Ibeji, you did not answer now? How is Iya Ibeji?’

 

Catching Sharon roll her eyes at her sister in disbelief, ‘ Yes, Uncle Josh, how is Aunty Daniella?’ 

 

‘My wife is doing very great.’ Thanks for asking.

 

‘And the twins?’ Shalom asked.

 

‘Madam, her tummy is not that big for two babies. How is the baby girl?’ Sharon asked.

 

‘The baby is doing just great.’ Joshua replied.

 

‘See, just one baby.’ Sharon reiterated to her sister.

 

Not minding her, Shalom, moved closer to Joshua, ‘Uncle Josh, it is not fair! How can you single Simon out for an outing? I thought we were your best girls. I trust Aunty Daniella, she would not have allowed this injustice. Simon will not let us hear word in this house again because he is going out with you without us. When will Aunty Daniella come visiting?’ Shalom said all that in one long breath.

 

Before Joshua could respond with the words, ‘Don’t worry, we will not come back empty handed’, Sharon had taken it over from her sister.

 

 

‘Ha, I miss Aunty Daniella’s grilled chicken and chin-chin and banana bread. Our baby had been taking our aunty away from us. It’s all great sha. Can’t wait to meet her.’ The young girl said with dreamy eyes.

 

Joshua wanted to respond to this and Sharon continued again. 

 

‘Since you are here, Uncle Josh, let us report Simon to you. You need to discipline him for us. Simon has been treating us badly. Can you believe he collected his face cap from me just because I told him his mood is very terrible? He yanked it off my head!

 

Can you imagine that? That also proves that what I said is correct. Puberty really isn’t treating Simon well.’

 

Joshua almost laughed out loud at the mention of puberty. ‘When did we arrive in science class, Lord!’

 

 

In all the back and forth, they still haven’t allowed him to respond to the many issues they had raised. Also, he didn’t want to interrupt as they had brought in the matter of Simon.

 

Shalom also picked up after her sister, ‘Uncle Joshua, you need to preach patience to Simon. He needs to have the fruit of the Spirit in him. He doesn’t have much joy again. Can you believe that he packed our clothes that were in a section of his wardrobe in his room and he came to dump it on our bed!

 

 

How can he be so insensitive to our feelings as his only sisters in this whole wide world? He not only dumped it on our bed, he even ordered us not to use his perfume again. 

 

 

Yes, why did you give all of us one perfume bottle? You told him that it was his own but that it will be good that he shared it with us. And he agreed o. But he never lets us spray it ourselves.

 

He is not a good giver.

 

He will just press the spray half way and that’s it.

 

 

Like Sharon said, he is being affected by puberty and that is because he is not allowing the Holy Spirit guide him. 

 

As you are both heading out, please counsel him, Uncle Josh. At least he should let us have the wardrobe space back now. The clothes are being rumpled in the travelling bags. He has to return to being a loving brother again.’

 

Joshua eventually saw where all these about Simon were headed and he wondered at the both of them and felt for Simon, really. 

 

‘So, Uncle Joshua, where are you going?’ they asked him. Joshua was determined not to answer their question. Not because they meant any harm but because that would spark another round of banter he was not ready for. 

 

Daniella was so used to their company and she enjoyed it so much. She would not stop talking about the twins even after they had left.

 

Simon noticed that they didn’t have much to say about their brother’s emotions except it concerned them but then, it shows that Simon really hasn’t been himself.

 

 

He was one to give anything to his sisters if they wanted it. But surely, things seemed to have changed. 

 

 

As though on cue, Mummy Pastor showed up to shoo the girls away. They were supposed to follow her to the market and they were still not dressed for that. The girls ran off, giggling.

 

While waiting for Simon who was taking his shower, Joshua asked Sister Vera , ‘how are you, ma? Really.’

 

‘I am well, Bro. It’s just that Simon’s issue seems to be taking a toll on us. He is still refusing to open up on what is eating him up. I have tried all I know. We have tried all we know but this time, none is working.

 

We are fixed on using the only weapon that never fails, our prayer!’

 

 

Joshua smiled at her and said, ‘He is the Lord’s. The Lord is watching over him, jealously.’ 

 

‘How is my sister doing?’ Vera asked. 

 

Joshua smiled and from the look in Vera’s eyes, he confirmed Pastor Dave had not told her about their discussion. That gave him some relief as he honestly would not like to give that a thought.

 

Also, he felt relief because considering how emotional the pastor’s wife can be, he would rather she doesn’t know. At least not yet. 

 

‘She is doing great. She went to visit someone.’ He responded. 

 

‘And how are you doing? You look like you did not sleep well. Are you fine?’ Vera asked. 

 

Joshua chuckled. ‘Mummy Pastor, I am fine. Yes I did not sleep much but I did sleep.’ A very perceptive woman! 

 

At that moment, Simon showed up with his sisters behind him. ‘Simon, brother Simon. Small perfume, na.’ They both begged.

 

Simon paid them no attention. 

 

Soon enough they were all out of the pastorium premises and Vera gave Simon and Joshua a lift before heading off to the market with the girls.

 

‘So… Shall we pay the game shop at the mall a visit then grab some nice lunch in that famous eatery there?’ Joshua saw some twinkle in Simon’s eyes.

 

‘Uncle Josh’, Simon started, ‘Can we go somewhere else? There is some place I’d really like to go and someone I’d like to meet. Please can we go there? I don’t know the place much but I have some description.’

 

 

Joshua was shocked at such an unusual request but he was not going to refuse Simon. Anything to solve this mystery about the young teenager and he was up for it. ‘Sure, why not?’

 

 

‘But Uncle Josh, please, promise me not a word to my parents at least until I am ready. Do you promise?’

 

‘You have my word, Simon.’ 

 

‘Can you call for a booked ride? The place we are going is  Gateway in GRA’ 

 

Joshua had been to GRA before. Simon’s school was in that area. He had never been to that particular estate. ‘No problem.’

 

In less than ten minutes, they were on their way to Gateway. Joshua silently wondered what was going on in the teenager’s mind and what they would meet there.

 

He silently prayed to the Lord for help and guidance as their air conditioned ride zoomed off.

 

 

Catch up on the last 22 Episodes here.

 

 

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Wheeeeew! 

God sure answers prayers that align with His will. The prayers about Simon is being answered but not in the way Dave, Vera, nor Joshua expect. What do you think they’ll find out in Gateway Estate? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

 

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Checkmate Episode 24