CAUGHT IN THE WEB

EPISODE 3

WRITTEN BY: EUNICE ISEOLUWA OYEKUNLE

 

(CLICK HERE EPISODE 2)

I quickly stood up to check who the visitor was, my parents followed suit. When I opened the door, I was so surprised to see Pastor Joe and his wife, Evangelist Magaret.

 

 

 I wasn’t expecting their visits.

 

 

 The last time that they visited was when we were still young converts. After then, they never appeared. I knew that it was a planned visit that my parents had with him. They were not in any way surprise to see him.

 

 

‘’Peace be unto this house.’’ The pastor greeted. He was beaming with smiles. The glory of the Lord was indeed revealed over his life.

 

 

His wife was so short and plumpy. A black turban was used to cover her shoulder while she tied her head with a black scarf.

 

 

She wore a fitted white gown which had button round the neck. Her shoes were so small that it could accommodate her tiny legs.

 

 

Her gap-tooth was evident and her pimple was revealing as she smiled widely. Everyone liked her because of the way she dressed. Her facial expression was another thing that people liked about her.

 

 

They both sat on the big couch that was directly opposite to where Dad and Mum were siting.

 

 

It was so glaring that my parents were happy to see him.

 

 

Mum gave me a signal that I should serve the visitors with something.

 

 

In the next five minutes, I returned with two chilled bottles of coke, with four pieces of meat-pie on a blue glass tray. I placed it carefully on the yellow ceramic table that was close to them.

 

 

‘’Thank you my daughter, God bless you’’. Mrs Magaret prayed

 

 

‘’Amen’’, I muttered. It was so obvious that I was sad. I hate to be placed in the dark.

 

 

‘’ Young lady, how far with your admission?’’ Pastor Joe asked as I sat on the stool that was beside mum.

 

 

‘’ I am still processing it sir’’. I said lamely.

 

 

‘’This is your year in Jesus name.’’ Pastor prayed while everyone of us said a resounding amen.

 

 

‘’What next now?’’ I said in my mind.

 

 

‘’Mr and Mrs Akolade, how is business?’’ Mrs Magaret asked

 

 

‘’Fine oo, glory be to God. At least we are eating good food, we have a roof and we are wearing clothes, not rags.’’ Mum said while everyone laughed except me. My mouth was bitter.

 

 

I did not see anything funny about what mum just said.

 

 

After several silence, Pastor Joe spoke again.

 

‘’My daughter’’ His gaze was focused on me. Before I knew it, everyone’s attention was fixed on me. I felt uneasy.

 

 

 

‘’What does the bible say about forgiveness’’.

 

 

‘’That we should forgive does that offends us even as our father in heaven forgives us’’. I replied almost immediately. I was prepared for any question that the pastor wanted to throw at me.

 

 

Everyone seemed impressed at my response.

 

 

Thank you dear’’. The pastor said while I wondered why he was thanking me.

 

 

Radiance, just like you have said. Your Dad needs your forgiveness’’ He dropped the bomb again and my heart skipped a bit. I couldn’t take it easy any

More

 

 

‘’My dear, calm down’’ the still small voice said. I could hear it clearly. I had

 missed the voice indeed.

 

 

I calmed down a bit.

 

 

‘’Mr Akolade, you can now speak’’. Pastor said

 

 

Dad cleared his throats. The presence of the pastor and his wife seemed to

give him a little confidence.

 

 

‘’When you were five years old, your mum travelled to Kano, her younger

sister’s place for her wedding ceremony. It was only you and I that were at home.” He said, stopped talking for a while and then he continued.

 

 

“I deceived you that I was going to a neighbours house. But on the contrary, I went to my room to get a red mask on my face and pretended that I had gone out. I wore a short khaki and a black shirt.”

 

 

“I subtly entered into your room, covered your face and lied with you. You tried to scream but you couldn’t. I had covered your mouth already.” His voice quivered as he started crying.

 

 

Everyone was silent.

 

 

‘’Dad, you mean that you were the demon that raped me twelve years ago? Oh my God! You defiled me, your own daughter and you expect me to forgive you just like that?’’ I stood up angrily. I was so annoyed.

 

 

 

‘’ My daughter, I forgave you so that you will forgive others.’’ The Holy Spirit said to me.

 

 

 

‘’But this is difficult. This is sheer wickedness’’ I muttered, crying

 

 

‘’Radiance, what your father did to you was painful. But you have to release yourself from the effect of bitterness and unforgiving spirit by forgiving this man, your father’’ Pastor Joe said.

 

 

Hot tears started rolling down my cheeks as memory of what happened to me twelve years ago dawned on me. It was a bad experience that I hated to remember.

 

 

The experience made guys to freely touch me while I enjoyed it.

 

 

The experience exposed me to the devil’s attack.

 

 

God, it isn’t easy to forgive.

 

 

 

‘’It wasn’t easy for me to die on the cross of calvary for you but I did, because of my love for you and also the whole world. I heard the calm voice again.

 

 

 

‘’My daughter, when your father told me about what happened last week, I was sad but through the help of the Holy Spirit, I forgave him. He was a sinner then. In fact, everyone of us were sinners. But at one point or the other, God met us and forgave us.”

 

 

‘’It wasn’t easy for your Dad and I to tell you what happened. The holy spirit instructed us to tell the pastor about it. That is why pastor is here. Please, forgive your father’’ Mum said tenderly

 

Forgive

Forgive

Forgive

Forgive

 

The still small voice kept pricking me heart.

 

 

‘’Don’t forgive him! He doesn’t deserve your forgiveness. He raped you at a very tender age. Don’t forgive him. Commit suicide because there is no reason why you should live’’.

 

 

I heard a contrary voice.

 

 

 

‘’NO! you have every reasons to live. I died for you so that you will live. I forgave you so that you will be able to forgive. Your soul is precious to me.’’ I heard the calm voice again.

 

 

I wasn’t sure of what to do. I was really pained in the heart.

 

 

‘’My dear daughter, please forgive me’’ Dad said kneeling down.

 

 

Surge of emotions filled me. I looked at my Dad sympathetically. The one through which I came into this world. He sent me to primary and secondary schools.

 

 

‘’He has a lot of faults, but he is a new man! He is a new creation!

 

 

‘’If the son of man set you free, you shall be free indeed.’’ I heard the soothing voice again.

 

 

I ran to where my Dad was kneeling. I held his hands to the amazement of everyone. Dad’s hands were cold, he was shivering.

 

 

‘’ Dad, I forgive you. If God could forgive me, I forgive you Dad.’’

 

 

Everyone clapped while my Dad gave me a huge hug that I hadn’t received in a decade.

 

 

He was the happiest of everyone.

 

 

I was happy as well.

 

 

‘’To err is human , to forgive is divine.’’ Pastor Joe said happily.

 

CLICK HERE FOR EPISODE 4