Β© Ayo Omolayo
I took my bath and put on my school uniform. Everyone was busy preparing for school.
When it was 12am last night, Susan came to wake me up. I quickly told her to leave me alone and get lost.
She was shocked by my attitude and tried to insist, but I shouted at her. She moved back in surprise and left to get Ella.
Ella came in and asked me what was wrong? I turned my back to them on the bed and didn’t say a word. Susan climbed the bed and wrapped her hands around me.
I didn’t resist. I guess I was seriously looking for someone to comfort me. She rubbed my back gently and whispered to me in my ears that everything was going to be alright.
“Susan leave her! Let’s go and pray!”
“Why?” She asked.
“Daddy said he wants to handle her by himself!”
A pinch of fear sprang up in me, but my pride was not making me humble myself to asked her what happened or what did God tell her.
As they were both leaving I decided to tell her how determined I was to rebel against God.
“I am ready for anything! Even if God wants to kill me, let him go ahead. I’m ready!” I said as they made to leave.
“Juliet no! Don’t say that! Please Juliet! You cannot fight against the Almighty!” Susan pleaded.
“Susan, my mind is made up! I cannot serve this God anymore! I have chosen my way!”
“No! Don’t say that!” She replied in a trembling voice.
“I have said it! Whatever wants to happen let it happen. I’m not afraid of the consequences.”
“Juliet you don’t know anything!” Ella said and chuckled.
“Ezekiel 22:24. Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and will do it.”
“I don’t care! I’m ready to die! I don’t care who kills me!”
“Do you know how mummy got that scar on her stomach! You think you can handle the judgment of God? Mummy that you see serving God today, you think she wasn’t stubborn than you?
Infact, you need to learn stubbornness. Mummy was so evil to the point that she killed a human being! What have you done that you’re claiming you want to wait for God to throw you into the belly of the whale before you repent?”
You’re still a baby! An innocent baby girl. You don’t have heart for what you’re bargaining for. Stop this nonsense Juliet!”
I didn’t say a word. I was shocked to find out that mummy was once a murderer. How did she find mercy and grace? Today, she’s a blessing to our generation. She’s on a trip to South Africa for a revival meeting. The world has felt her impact and they are calling her all over the continents of the world.
A person who once killed a human being. I really need to know what happened to her that led to that scar. I can’t believe part of what she did in the past was killing a human being.
The door closed while I was still thinking about these things. And with that, I waved the thought aside and held on to my greatest expectation, death. I was seriously waiting for death right now. I just wanted to die.
That was what was on my mind before sleep took me away, just as I wanted.
I opened my eyes to the ray of light coming from the window. Did I wake up from a sleep in the dream? I stood up and looked around. The room was bright, it was daybreak in the dream as I hoped.
Susan came in dressed in her school uniform. I was not ready to say anything to her in the dream world, so I kept mute and continued looking around for the school principal.
“Good morning Julie angel!” Susan greeted.
“Are they here?” I asked.
“Who?”
“The principal!” I answered.
“What principal?”
“The principal of Broadway academy!”
“Oh! Yes he did! But I sent him away!” She said with a warm smile on her face.
I looked at her with a feeling of disappointment.
“Why did you do such a thing? I was seriously expecting him to show up!”
What kind of dream was this?
“Juliet are you okay?” Susan asked.
“I don’t understand that kind of question.”
“This is 7am in the morning. Who are you expecting to come and see you this early. Besides, I was only joking when I said I sent the principal away. I was just trying to play along,” she said grinning.
“Am I dreaming or is this reality?”
“This is reality babe! You better snap out of everything you were thinking and get ready for school!” She said and left the room.
I still thought I was dreaming, but the reality of the room and the clock, the brightness of the early morning sun, made me realize this was reality.
I was shocked. I always had a dream or an encounter every night. Why was today different? I can’t remember the last time I slept and woke up without having a dream or something. What happened? Especially this night when I was seriously looking forward to meeting the school principal.
I decided to let go of my disappointment and get ready for school.
I took my back pack and left the house. Immediately I came out of the house, I met Romeo at the gate.
“Good morning my sister in Christ!” He said smiling.
“Good morning!” I answered with a frown on my face.
“Haaa! Are you still angry with me?” He asked.
“I’m not! Just go! I’ll catch up with you!”
“Haa! Why na! I came here to join you!”
“Robert please! You don’t have any idea of what is happening to me! Just don’t meddle with things you know nothing about!”
“Jesus! This is not Juliet speaking! No! Something has left you! It’s so glaring. That aura! That thing that makes you so special and attractive! That thing that made you look exceptional and lovely! Something has left you!”
“I’m glad you know! So can you please go in peace to school? God bless you so much, Mr Thompson!” I replied sarcastically and walked passed him.
He went mute and watched me go. I began my way down to school and didn’t look back to see the expression on his face. In no time, I felt his hand around mine as he held them.
“What are you doing?”
“Whether you’re mean or not, you’re still my sister! I’m not going to love you only when you’re a good person! Jesus tells us to love unconditionally. If you stood by me when I never deserved it, then I must be ready to stand by you when you also don’t deserve it.”
I wanted to push him away, but now that it was obvious the Holy Ghost had nothing to do with me anymore, I was seriously dying to have someone to shower me with love.
I guess he was an alternative. So I just used him as an emotional support. I was feeling so empty within me. I wished none of what happened last night happened. I wished I could reverse the hands of time and correct my mistakes. That would be awesome.
We got to school and settled down. Soon, it was time for assembly. We all went out for assembly and as usual the Principal asked a student to share God’s word with everyone. I knew I wasn’t qualified so didn’t border coming out. I noticed how students were looking at me from their lines with expectation, but what do they know? I was stylishly looking around to see if Fejiro was already in school.
Soon the assembly was over and we all settled in Mr Clifford came in to teach us. Immediately he came in, he gave me a mischievous grin.
The class stood up to greet and I did the same as well.
“It has come to the notice of this school that seniors are too big to do their assignment. So we teachers have decided to take assignment seriously.
Those of you who did not do your assignment will be seriously dealt with.”
Immediately, I remembered when the thought that I was given assignment came to my mind. I regretted not attending to the thought immediately it sprang up.
“All of you, submit your assignment!” He ordered.
Books were sent across to him.
“If you know you didn’t do your assignment, do us a favour. Save us the stress of locating you and come out sacrificially!” He announced.
A few number of students came out, almost everyone did the assignment. I didn’t know how to bring myself out that I didn’t do the assignment. It would be so embarrassing. I was contemplating on what to do when Mr Clifford came and stood before me.
“Come out now! You bloody liar!” He grabbed me and dragged me out.
“You didn’t do your assignment and you sat down as if you did it! Shame on you! I can’t believe that a child of God would be able to make an attempt to deceive me!”
The class burst into laughter.
“Na so na! Dem go dey preach as if na dem holy pass. But see as she wan deceive us this morning. God don catch am!” A girl commented.
I was surprised. I was like how did Mr Clifford know I didn’t do the assignment?
“All of you kneel down!” He ordered.
I felt humiliated in front of the class. I saw the look of surprise in Romeo’s eyes. He didn’t expect what happened to happen.
Mr Clifford taught the entire period while we were on our knees. Immediately the period was over, he took us out to the school field.
“All of you frog jump!”
“Haaaa!” I shouted.
“Will you shut your mouth?”
“But sir! You’ve already made us to kneel for almost one hour. Why go ahead to punish us any further?” I asked.
“How dare you talk to me like that?”
I realized I had fallen into the trap he was looking for.
“I’m sorry sir!”
“Infact, the rest of you go inside! I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget in your life. You will know how to respect your teachers!
Class, a christian that cannot respect her teachers, is that one a Christian?” He asked the others, who were now happy I was the sacrificial lamb.
“No!” They answered cheerfully.
“Go to your classes my friends!” He said.
“Thank you mummy G.O. You’re the best!” A girl said in mockery.
“I’m sorry sir!” I apologized.
“Shut up your mouth! He barked and spanked me on the back.
“Frog jump now!”
I knew no amount of pleading was going to help me in this situation. So I started. I felt like dying on the spot.
The guy was walking right beside me as I did it. If I tried to stop, that would mean heavy spanking. So I would have to continue. I jumped to the end of the field and back with serious pains in my legs.
I cried and begged him to forgive me, but my pleas fell on deaf ears. Once I tried to stop to rest a little, I would receive heavy spanking. The guy was not even willing to pity me.
“What have I gotten myself into. God please help me!” I said admist tears.
“Haa! You told him to leave you alone! You cannot serve him! So don’t you dare call him when you you need help.” Came that arrogant voice.
“Go to your class!” He finally said.
I fell on the ground, weak and exhausted. I only braced myself with my hands so my white top doesn’t get stained.
My hands and knees where dirty. I struggled to stand. Walking was a serious struggle. I wept like there was no tomorrow.
“God please kill me!” I whispered.
But the more I mentioned God, the more I had a feeling that he wasn’t listening to anything I was saying.
I managed to struggle and drag my aching feet to the school tap to wash my legs. I took off my white stockings and turned on the tap.
Immediately the tap started running with full speed. I had to shut it down and try to turn it on a little so the water can flow out gently.
As I attempted to shut down the tap, the handle broke. The water ran with speed spilling everywhere. I tried to shut it down but it didn’t. So I stuck my finger into the hole of the tap. The water directed itself to my face and bathed me from head to toe.
I was soaked badly, dripping wet. I continued fighting to shut down the tap. A good amount of water had flooded the area.
“God please help!” I said crying in frustration.
“Leave God alone!” Solve this problem by yourself!” Came the arrogant voice.
“Holy spirit please!” I said and struggled to stuck in my finger. The water spilled on my face.
I cried.
“Please! Holy Ghost! Help me!”
There was no response from him. I was so devastated.
Suddenly the tap stopped running. The flow stopped automatically. I was shocked.
I looked around to be sure anyone was around, that was when I saw Romeo waving at me from the other end where the tank was located.
“Haaaa! I forgot to go over there to shut it down. How could I have been that stupid? I would have saved myself all this stress.
“Who poured all this water here?” I heard the angry voice of one of the school teachers.
“Oh God! What kind of life is this? Frome one problem to another!”
To be continued…….
When we abandon God willingly, many things in our lives begin to go wrong.
Life outside the comforter is nothing but endless struggle.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
Verse 13. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Verse 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Verse 15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
This scripture means, suffering as an innocent person because of the name of Christ is wonderful and a blessing to a Christian.
But it is not good that you are guilty of what you are being punished for. As a student, don’t let your lecturer punish you because you didn’t do your assignments, missed classes or tests. That one is not suffering for righteousness sake.
As an employee, don’t let your boss shout on you because of something you did wrong and render certain disciplinary actions.
If at all you will be treated badly, let it be because of the name of Christ, not because of the bad thing you did and you’re receiving what you deserve.
Please you guys should sympathize with Juliet, she’s been going through a lot lately.
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Let’s see what happens in the next episode. Something is about to happen that will shock everyone of you.
