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1THE HOLY GRAIL MINISTRIES
Itumeleng stands on the podium as the rest of the youth group members sit upfront waiting for the next instructions from her. She has been very harsh these days, she was in her own bubble about the revival maybe that is where all the stress came from and that is why she cut anyone did not perform to standards off.
Itu: you guys must understand how much this show means for the ministry… how much it means for the bishop. You cannot do just as you please. Read your scripts and make sure to deliver the best!! Anyone giving off less than that is obviously going to be axed off the show, just as I did with Palesa and Thabo.
Cindy: I hear you, but some of us just do not have the talent. And some of us are talented and wish to execute the script the way we see fit. We just don’t understand the harsh criticism and hate that comes with trying a different approach. Really, what is that about?
Itu: your point is?
Cindy: maybe give us time and stop chasing people out of the team.
Itu: wow… well then how about you excuse us Cindy, since you have so much to say. After all you are the worst performer so far.
Lesego: Tumi! Itumeleng!
Itu: not now, Lesego! I cannot stress enough just how important this showcase is. We are telling a life story of the bishop and how he grew the church. As much as I understand that is something great and something to be praised. Why are you guys so unenthusiastic about something of such grand scale? Are you even worshipers and members of this church or you’re just some of the people who pretend? Maybe you’re part of the hate groups that spread rumors about the bishop in the streets who knows?!
Lesego stands up to snatch her friend away from the podium as she fumes going on and on insulting the members of which some one by one stand up to leave. Too late for damage control because she seems to have said every word she wanted to say.
Lesego: what is wrong with you? That was totally uncalled for!
Itu; I thought you were my friend! What is this behavior from you?
Lesego: I am your friend which is why I am doing this. You were way out of line just now. We are people too, we are not perfect, we need time, patience. maybe if you considered----
Itu: stop right there. You are not the one the bishop expects grans results from. You have never planned anything. You don’t know the pressure I am under right now. I’ve spent countless nights and days working on this to perfect it, but things are just not going my way. Just how much work does a person have to put it to get what they wat? Do you know how much it hurts when things don’t go the way you want after a lifetime of things always working out? You don’t relate di you? Because all you ever do is follow me and---
Lesego: and now you’re going off at me because--- girl, bye! I am done with this. Come talk to me when you’ve calmed down and have less insults to throw my way.
Lesego leaves the room while Itu sinks to her knees feeling a sharp pain in her chest. She still did not understand why the youth members were so bad at executing things the way they were supposed to be executed. The bishop ignoring her calls and texts all week maybe was the reason for her outrage and image downfall. Just who does he think he is? She gets on her knees to pray but is disturbed by a car revving into the yard. She looks up and it is the bishop’s car, he is finally back from the studio. She walks with anger fueling up inside her as she nears where the car is parked.
The bishop man exits the car with the most annoyed face she has ever seen. He signals her to follow him into his office.
THE BISHOP’S OFFICE
He takes off his jacket and hooks it on the wall, goes to sit on his chair with the same ice-cold expression from earlier on. He looks at her up and down and stands up. He walks closer to her and stands behind her, snaking his arms around her waist and whispering into her ear. She shudders at his touch almost forgetting why she came her in the first place but forces herself to talk before she forgets.
Itu: why did you ignore me all week?
Bishop: is that what you’re here for?
Itu: I just don’t understand your reaction and all your actions in fact. I thought you said you would---
Bishop: would what? I sent you money to take care of it. why are you still here with that? I don’t why you are so attached and distressed about it. It’s just a lump of cells. Maybe you would feel better if I took care of it myself.
He presses on her stomach hard making her wince and jump away struggling to get away from his strong hold.
Bishop: I have a reputation to upkeep. I chose you to work here because I saw potential in you. Let’s not get caught up in fantasies and ignore the reality. Get rid of that and get back to your senses. You are not fun when you’re like this.
Itu: I thought you were a man of faith, a man who abided by the bible, a man of God. Why are you doing this to me?
Bishop: I am still a man of God. Nothing has changed. John 15, I am the vine, and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers, such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Itu: 1st Corinthians 6:19-20, ‘… do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.’
Bishop: you do not get to lecture me about the goddamn bible!! I am the bible!! You shut up and go do what you have to do. I am sure you know just what I am capable of, you do not want me to do this myself! Do you want me to interpret what I just said to you? Do you know what happens to useless branches that do not bear any fruit?
Itu: yes bishop
Bishop: what happens to them?
Itu: they are thrown away to wither.
Bishop: thrown into the fire and burned. That is exactly what will happen to you if you do not listen to me. Listen to me sweetheart.
Itu suddenly rushes out of the office with tears streaming down her cheeks. It hurt more that she could explain. After so many years together with the bishop she has never thought even for a second that the man who promised her the world would betray her like that. After all these promising her marriage and a happy life, he went and did this. How does he expect her to have an abortion, get rid of their child and act like nothing happened when he is the same man who wanted to have a child with her? What ever happened to practice what you preach?
What happened to the sweet and loving bishop?
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