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9
9A FEW DAYS LATER
THE HOLY GRAIL MINISTRIES
THE BISHOP’S OFFICE
After a restless night Lesego enters the bishop’s office complaining about bad pain on her abdomen. The reoccurring dream about snakes too has been bothering her. The salts and oils don’t seem to work anymore.
Lesego: I think something is wrong with me, I have not been feeling well for a few days now and I’m getting worried.
Bishop: what’s the problem?
Lesego: I keep have reoccurring dreams of a snake, blood and other horrifying things. Its hard falling asleep at night. I even fear falling asleep.
Bishop: the things I gave you, have you been using them…did you tell anyone about them or us?
Lesego: only my friend, Cindy… she happened to visit my house and saw them, so she asked. I did not know that was a big deal.
Bishop bangs the desk with his fist and stands walking quickly towards Lesego. His hand lands on her neck in seconds and he keeps it there chocking her for a good minute.
Bishop: see what you made me do?! Do you see what the hell you just made me do?!! I thought I made myself clear. I chose you because I trusted you, because I thought we would have something special, how can you be so careless…with everything?! With us?! Lesego!!!
Lesego: I—I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.
Lesego shakes in fear as the bishop raises his voice every time he speaks. She gasps and hold back her cough with her hands still on her neck. The man huffing and fuming with anger besides her scares her that she wants to leave the place. In attempt to ask to be excused, the man puts his hand on her thigh and squeezes it tightly with force making her whimper in pain.
Bishop: I want you to bring your friend with you here tomorrow evening.
Lesego: but---
Bishop: the rules?
Lesego: never question the bishop.
Bishop: because?
Lesego: bishop knows best.
Bishop: thank you, now leave. I have a visitor coming in soon.
Lesego: yes, bishop.
Lesego pulls her skirt down hiding the marks on her thighs and leaves the room feeling her breath shortening. A memory of Itumeleng plays in her mind relentlessly. She gasps for her defeated and leaves the premises.
THE MALEKA HOUSEHOLD
Boipelo looks in the mirror one more time before she leaves her bedroom. She steps out and is met by a crazy looking Reitumetse in the living room. She looks thoughtless and stuck in her own world, so she approaches and shakes her shoulder.
Boipelo: what is wrong with you, you’ve been quiet the whole day.
Reitu: just missing my sister that’s all.
Boipelo is taken aback by the comment as she did not expect it. She sits down for a second and tries to take the conversation further, but Reitu closes up.
Boipelo: I miss her too, sometimes I even hear her voice, her laugh and even smell her even though she’s not around. I pray every night that I see her in my dreams. I know you miss her too baby. We will be okay, I promise, I may not know when, but we will get there. For now, let’s take baby steps.
Reitu: I know… and I’m happy we’re at a stage where we can finally talk about her, say her name and keep her memory alive without breaking.
Boipelo: I am happy too. I am happy that I have such an intelligent, warm and understanding daughter. I know I have been very hard on you, especially during the mourning days, I was very unreasonable and closed you out even though you were hurting just as much as I was if not more. I disregarded you and focused on my pain, I was selfish and only thought about myself. I am sorry you had to be the parent at such a moment.
Reitu: I understand MA and thank you for the apology even though it was not needed.
Boipelo: I just wanted to say it… get it off my chest.
Reitu: understood, but--- where are you going at this time of the evening, it’s almost dark outside?
Boipelo: oh, I have an appointment with the bishop.
Reitu: what? Why?
Boipelo: something about me going back to work and other things you don’t have to know…
Reitu: Ma?! But why his house though? Couldn’t you go to the office just like everyone else who makes an appointment with him?
Boipelo: he’s only free this evening and it’ll be too late to go to his office by the time of the appointment. Either way what I want to discuss with him must be in the First Lady’s presence, I’m their employee after all.
Reitu: the first lady?
Boipelo: the wife of the bishop….
Reitu: whoa… okay. Since I can’t stop you, just go then. But please, be safe. I’ll call to check up on you. I don’t trust--- just be safe and pick up when I call.
Boipelo: I will be safe and back before you know it, but I won’t pick up the calls. I’m the parent here, remember that.
Boipelo ups and leaves after having a light conversation with her second daughter. It hasn’t been that long since her first daughter’s burial. She still feels somehow but knowing she has Reitu consoles her, a lot.
THE MOHLALA HOUSEHOLD
Mfundo wears an unreadable expression as she sighs making her way up from the basement. Something is clearly bothering her. She throws herself on the couch and call one of the helps to bring her something to drink. The bell rings and is answered before the guest is let in. an unexpected guest enters her lounge starting her a little bit.
Boipelo: Mme Bishop, good evening. How have you been?
Mfundo: great, the Lord has been amazing to my family. And how have you been holding up with everything?
Boipelo: it’s getting better.
Mfundo: I can’t begin to express the sadness I feel and how much my heart breaks every time I think about what happened. We had such great talent; your daughter was an amazing person, and I can’t believe she left us to be a star in the sky. God’s will really hurt us sometimes. She was such a bright young woman, with ana amazingly bright future ahead, again, please receive my condolences and my pardon that we could not make it to the final ceremony.
Boipelo: there’s no need to apologize for that, you are busy people. You have a flock to lead, and I am not complaining in any way.
Mfundo: you’re such a wonderful soul. You are a great woman, not many are like you.
Boipelo: I feel blessed to get such compliments from the first lady.
Th helper enters holding a small bucket with Mfundo’s favorite wine and a glass in the other hand. She puts both the items on the coffee table in front of them and pops the bottle open. She pours out half a glass and hands it to Mfundo. Boipelo frows at the sight but keeps her thoughts to herself as she’s not here to judge anyone.
Mfundo; can she get you anything?
Boipelo: just water.
Mfundo: okay, bring her water please. The bishop will be here soon, we can chat in the meantime. He told me about your meeting.
Boipelo: oh…
THE HOLY GRAIL MINISTRIES
THE BISHOP’S OFFICE
The bishop sits amused as the young girl in front of him goes on telling the story of how things have been going in her life, sharing her feeling and her future plans.
Isabele: things have been great at school too, so I am really grateful.
Bishop: I see, so how have the things that I gave you been treating you?
The girl shifts uncomfortably on the couch and looks around the room. She keeps quiet for a good minute until the bishop asks her again.
Bishop: are you okay?
Isabele: they have been great--- they are g-good.
Bishop: you cannot be lying, right? This is the house of the Lord; we do not judge here. Matthew 11: 28-30 says ‘come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest’, what do you think this means?
Isabele: it means that God forgives and tells us we must come as we are to him and not hide ourselves.
Bishop: amazing! But most importantly, it also says we must show ourselves to Him, with all our guilt and sins and He shall forgive us. Understand?
Isabele: yes bishop.
Bishop: so, what do you want to tell me?
Isabele: I have been having sinful and unholy dreams for the past couple of days. My body has been feeling some way and I may have engaged in sinful activity in the name of reliving myself.
Bishop: sinful activity?
Isabele: mastu—rbat---ion.
She says and covers her face with her hands in embarrassment. Never in a million years did she ever think she would confess to doing such in front of the bishop. The bishop walks up to her with a small bottle in his hands, he removes her hands from her face. She cups her face and makes her look directly into his eyes.
Bishop: that is nothing to be embarrassed about. That is perfectly natural. As much as I am a bishop, I was once a teenager and I understand everything about being one. The emotions, feeling and hormones are all over the place and that’s what makes you perfect. You don’t have to be shy; I can help you pray about it, keep using the things I gave you and you will be okay. Come see me every time these dreams occur or when you feel like you need to relieve yourself. I can help--- in many ways that one.
His hands move from the face lower to the chest, he unbuttons her shirt and removes what’s underneath.
Isabele panics and tries to move away from the man but her manages to hold her in place.
Bishop: don’t panic, it’s okay. I will not hurt you. I am helping you. This is all for you. This anointing oil will help with everything, you will be more relaxed after. Remember, you are a special kid, the chosen one to serve the Lord, you are the temple of the Lord. This is to help keep you safe and prepare you for your future duties as someone who is anointed by the hand of God.
He pours a few drips of the oil into his hands and massages her chest paying attention to each breast going to the back. he repeats the motions going back and forth until he is satisfied, he looks at her up and down and snakes his hand around her waist tying her down and leaning closer to her face.
Bishop: do you trust the bishop?
Isabele: I do.
Bishop: then good, all is well. This is all for the Lord. Relax.
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