Wounded Pilgrim 18
THE HOUSE ON FIRE
Bartholomew had no
option but to open the damn door because it was the only option for if the lady
continued to knock persistently like that. He wondered if there was an
emergency yet it was barely night. Whoever it was, must have been in dire need
of him yet deep down his heart he knew he was no doctor on call nor ambulance
driver or even a fire engine operator.
“Who is it?” He
called out just before he opened the door.
“Just open brother!”
said the female voice outside the door with some sort of pain. It was alarming
and Bartholomew reached for the door handle without a second thought.
“Oh my God!
Sister Happiness, what a surprise visit?” He was surprised and clueless at the
same time for visit. “What brings you to my house sister?”
“Can I come inside
so I can explain it properly?” she asked him rather unexpectedly and he realized
she was still standing outside the where she had been while she known.
“Excuse my manners.
Yeah you are welcome sister” he moved aside and she came in and sat on one of
the couches facing the door. “Are you with someone?”
“No am just alone.”
“We! We! We! Am in
for some risky business again?” He was getting disturbed. “You better be quick
sister since I don’t want any drama at the moment.”
“I promise I will
be quick Bartho!” She said as she made herself comfortable on the couch. She
looked around the house which was the first time she was stepping in as much
she knew where it was located. Bartholomew moved in a couch beside hers and
began to scan her like he was seeing her for the first time. As much as the
dress she put looked well pressed and fairly new she was looked less fairer than
when she was before getting married. He remembered when he approached her after
a service and praised her for the way she played the piano. She was really good
at the piano to the point that her home church felt so bad seeing her go to her
matrimonial home and leaving the piano in the cold.
Apparently Richy
had moved in to stay with Eliezer and Happiness in their two bedroom house.
Happiness used to wonder why Eliezer was not offering his kid brother a stay in
his guest bedroom till now. After Richy ran to them claiming he had been gotten
a blow from Bartholomew she was moved and convinced that it was true. Her
husband knew better. He was silent and smelling a rat till he confirmed his
fears that Sunday morning when they were to be meeting at the pastor’s office
in the afternoon he saw the swollen jaw on the accused Bartholomew.
“Here have some
juice” Bartholomew said as he handed her a glass of pineapple juice to drink.
She refused at first but after he insisted she took it. It was long since she
got such level of hospitality from a gentleman. Her husband rarely did much
like that.
“Now since all
that history you know we all made things right, things started getting pretty
tight at the house”, Happiness went on. “Eliezer and his kid brother weren’t
talking much to each other and guess who was on the receiving end.”
“Sister Happiness
off course”, Bartholomew replied quickly.
“You know what it
is like living with two brothers in the house treating each other like morons.
They rarely talk to each other and when they do it is disgusting” she went on.
She turned on her
side and lifted her skirt slightly which sort of made Bartholomew feel weird.
He turned away in disgust.
“What are you up to
Sister?” He managed to ask.
“I want to show
you something…”
“Wait!
Before you do it, aren’t you …” he cut in.
“Eliezer’s wife!” she finished for him what he was about to
say.
“Please say it instead of showing it to me” Bartholomew
found himself saying to which she agreed to.
“Okay my left leg is hurting from a kick I received
last night.” Happiness said amid tears.
“Oh my goodness! Did you run into thugs last night?”
“I leave with them”
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