Mummy, don't do...", she cut him short again, this time with a perfectly delivered slap to his left cheek. It was then that Pastor Mbaka finally spoke, his tone barely audible to Nelson, both from the anguish in the voice and the resonance of the slap.
" Nelson why? Why have you decided to disgrace your mother and I like this? We have shown you love and tried to bring you up in the way of the Lord but all you have brought to this house is a bastard, a demon. You ingrate!" His last words came out in a vicious tone of anger that made Nelson retreat. He kept his eyes to the floor and tried to salvage the situation.
"Daddy, I only did it once, and she's the only girl, I swear", the absolute futility of his words hit him immediately he finished speaking them and apparently, it hit his father too because he wiped his eyes, stood up and started approaching Nelson menacingly.
"Now listen young man, I have been a pastor for almost two decades. Even before you were born. And the church plans to ordain me a reverend this year. I will not let you ruin all that I've worked for. I don't care what happened between the both of you, you are not responsible for that pregnancy. Can you hear me? Aisha is a known whore in school and you're not the only boy she's had sex with. You used protection and there is no way the child could be yours. It is either what I just said is true or you cease to be a son of this house, so you better know what
to say when we go over to their place tomorrow". With that, Pastor Mbaka stormed into his room and Nelson's mother followed still trying to control her emotions.
As Nelson lay on his bed that night, he remembered his father's warning verbatim and the full extent of his dependence on his father dawned on him. He knew some one like Bruno could still seriously consider rebellion but such was not the case with him. His last thought before he slept was how much he liked sleeping in that bed.
*************************************************************
At exactly three o'clock the next afternoon, Nelson, Bruno, Pastor Mbaka and his wife arrived Aisha's abode. At first, Nelson's parents objected to Bruno accompanying them for the sake of confidence but Bruno tactfully used his charm that worked on all ages to assure them of his reliability and furthermore stress that Nelson needed him to be there. Bruno and Nelson had discussed the issue extensively and concluded that it would be better for the child to grow up with Aisha and her parents. So many times during the ride, he wished he had pulled out or remembered before they did it but the running engine was a constant reminder that it was too late to wish and he had to clean up his mess.
Nelson was surprised and impressed by how composed and neutral Aisha's parents were in receiving them, considering the circumstances of their visitation. They were treated to a light course of snacks which Aisha and Nelson's parents left completely untouched. But eventually, Aisha's father inevitably set the ball rolling.
"Immediately my wife got pregnant with Aisha, I left the north because I did not want my child growing up around those paedophiles that would betroth a foetus if they found it beautiful enough. I wanted her to be ripe before experiencing the physical and mental stress of matrimony, but Allah had other plans. Pastor, both our children have misbehaved and it has led to a catastrophe, but it does not have to remain one. The way forward is to come together and support their union as well as we can, insha Allah", He spoke with a thick Northern accent that showed literacy and experience. It almost convinced Nelson to marry Aisha. His father seemed to be taking some time to frame his response and finally he spoke.
"You have spoken well Alhaji, but I think there is a slight misunderstanding here". Pastor Mbaka paused as the previously massive tension in the room seemingly multiplied. However, he continued.
"My son, Nelson, is not responsible for Aisha's pregnancy ". His declaration was greeted with hysterical exclamations from Aisha's mother. Aisha stood up and ran into a room, sobbing, while her father showed no emotions, he just stared into space motionlessly.
"Awusubilahi! What do you mean?" Aisha's mother asked seeing that had husband wasn't going to say anything .
"Your daughter is a whore. The whole school knows it. She probably got that thing inside her from someone else and tried to push it onto my son after cajoling him to her bed. But thank God he used protection and as we all know , condoms are not sieves. The pregnancy is not for Nelson". Nelson heard Aisha slam the door after his father finished talking . He knew she was too offended by what he has said to even come out and defend herself. Nelson tried to imagine what she was feeling, and in that moment his mind wandered. He remembered a Sunday service his father had preached at, his father had spoken about love and how much the world lacked it, the part where his father had passionately encouraged acts of love and selflessness replayed in his head. Nelson remember another sermon in which his dad had encouraged responsibility stating that inability to bear the consequences of personal actions would put a person out of favour with both God and man. In that same moment, Nelson realized that his father was a hypocrite and a coward. He glared at him with resentment hating both the man and himself for the fact that he was just thinking about Aisha’s feelings for the first time since the whole saga began. Aisha’s father seemed to notice his countenance and spoke “Nelson, do you have something to say?” he asked gently.
" Nelson why? Why have you decided to disgrace your mother and I like this? We have shown you love and tried to bring you up in the way of the Lord but all you have brought to this house is a bastard, a demon. You ingrate!" His last words came out in a vicious tone of anger that made Nelson retreat. He kept his eyes to the floor and tried to salvage the situation.
"Daddy, I only did it once, and she's the only girl, I swear", the absolute futility of his words hit him immediately he finished speaking them and apparently, it hit his father too because he wiped his eyes, stood up and started approaching Nelson menacingly.
"Now listen young man, I have been a pastor for almost two decades. Even before you were born. And the church plans to ordain me a reverend this year. I will not let you ruin all that I've worked for. I don't care what happened between the both of you, you are not responsible for that pregnancy. Can you hear me? Aisha is a known whore in school and you're not the only boy she's had sex with. You used protection and there is no way the child could be yours. It is either what I just said is true or you cease to be a son of this house, so you better know what
to say when we go over to their place tomorrow". With that, Pastor Mbaka stormed into his room and Nelson's mother followed still trying to control her emotions.
As Nelson lay on his bed that night, he remembered his father's warning verbatim and the full extent of his dependence on his father dawned on him. He knew some one like Bruno could still seriously consider rebellion but such was not the case with him. His last thought before he slept was how much he liked sleeping in that bed.
*************************************************************
At exactly three o'clock the next afternoon, Nelson, Bruno, Pastor Mbaka and his wife arrived Aisha's abode. At first, Nelson's parents objected to Bruno accompanying them for the sake of confidence but Bruno tactfully used his charm that worked on all ages to assure them of his reliability and furthermore stress that Nelson needed him to be there. Bruno and Nelson had discussed the issue extensively and concluded that it would be better for the child to grow up with Aisha and her parents. So many times during the ride, he wished he had pulled out or remembered before they did it but the running engine was a constant reminder that it was too late to wish and he had to clean up his mess.
Nelson was surprised and impressed by how composed and neutral Aisha's parents were in receiving them, considering the circumstances of their visitation. They were treated to a light course of snacks which Aisha and Nelson's parents left completely untouched. But eventually, Aisha's father inevitably set the ball rolling.
"Immediately my wife got pregnant with Aisha, I left the north because I did not want my child growing up around those paedophiles that would betroth a foetus if they found it beautiful enough. I wanted her to be ripe before experiencing the physical and mental stress of matrimony, but Allah had other plans. Pastor, both our children have misbehaved and it has led to a catastrophe, but it does not have to remain one. The way forward is to come together and support their union as well as we can, insha Allah", He spoke with a thick Northern accent that showed literacy and experience. It almost convinced Nelson to marry Aisha. His father seemed to be taking some time to frame his response and finally he spoke.
"You have spoken well Alhaji, but I think there is a slight misunderstanding here". Pastor Mbaka paused as the previously massive tension in the room seemingly multiplied. However, he continued.
"My son, Nelson, is not responsible for Aisha's pregnancy ". His declaration was greeted with hysterical exclamations from Aisha's mother. Aisha stood up and ran into a room, sobbing, while her father showed no emotions, he just stared into space motionlessly.
"Awusubilahi! What do you mean?" Aisha's mother asked seeing that had husband wasn't going to say anything .
"Your daughter is a whore. The whole school knows it. She probably got that thing inside her from someone else and tried to push it onto my son after cajoling him to her bed. But thank God he used protection and as we all know , condoms are not sieves. The pregnancy is not for Nelson". Nelson heard Aisha slam the door after his father finished talking . He knew she was too offended by what he has said to even come out and defend herself. Nelson tried to imagine what she was feeling, and in that moment his mind wandered. He remembered a Sunday service his father had preached at, his father had spoken about love and how much the world lacked it, the part where his father had passionately encouraged acts of love and selflessness replayed in his head. Nelson remember another sermon in which his dad had encouraged responsibility stating that inability to bear the consequences of personal actions would put a person out of favour with both God and man. In that same moment, Nelson realized that his father was a hypocrite and a coward. He glared at him with resentment hating both the man and himself for the fact that he was just thinking about Aisha’s feelings for the first time since the whole saga began. Aisha’s father seemed to notice his countenance and spoke “Nelson, do you have something to say?” he asked gently.
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