JUST A LITTLE SIN - Episode 25

“Hey Tom, where have you been? We returned from church over three hours but you weren’t home…” Yoara asked calmly while still ironing his clothes

Chumi turned to me waiting for me to talk with an eye raised impatiently and the other eyes at the pack in my hand.

As I try to speak, Ellie looked up from the television and said quietly yet calculatively while pointing at the food pack in my hand

“Aunty Chumi, that’s the kind of food pack uncle Jons brings for us. Is always yummy and delicious…”

She wanted to say something else but Chumi hushed her with her scary eyes and the little girl went quiet and returned her gaze to the television

“I went to church, thought I told you in the morning..” was the only reply I gave Yoara.

Chumi scuffed loudly

“Yes, you did but most church closed around 12 to 2pm. This is 4:30pm. That was why I was a bit worried. But is good you’re home..” Yoara said

Chumi flee up.

“Is that all you’re going to say my love? Look at the time he’s coming back from whereever he went to and you agreed that you will caution him properly when he returns today. Is that all you’re going to say? No, this is not right..”

“Just let it be Chumi, let’s not give room for the devil this evening. He’s home now and that’s all that matters..” Yoara said trying to calm Chumi so that she won’t start another war on my case.

“Nobody is giving the devil any room but we have to call a spade a spade, Tomasi is very rude, lazy and wicked. He just thinks he can go and return as he please in this house. He does not even follow us to church but goes to another church and I’m not even sure he went to any church. He left since morning before everyone and returned this late and you are not doing anything, tomorrow he will do worst and it continues like that. If you’re afraid of speaking to him, I am not. If he has to live with you, which is temporary then he has to be responsible. I won’t tolerate this nonsense when I finally moved in with you as your wife so everyone has to be aware and understand that there are things I won’t take or allow to slide…”

I walked to the center table in the sitting room and dropped what I returned with.

“Yoara are you hungry, I brought back some good food. A friend and church member took us out for lunch after church and also bought a take home food for us..” I said to Yoara as I continue to pretend like Chumi is not even there

“That’s very kind of the person. That’s more like brotherly love among members of Christ body..” Yoara said as he paused from ironing and walked down to the table.

“Is not a brother that took us out, is a lady and usher in the church that I attend. Let’s call it sisterly to brotherly in Church..”

Yoara laughed and hit me gently on the back as I began to unpack the whole food that Omie filled into the pack.

“It smell so yummy, I have eaten that before, is very delicious..” Ellie said as she put her attention at the food.

“So, everyone is ignoring me now right? nobody is taking my word in this house. Yo, I expected better kind of behavior not this. You’re a minister and your lazy brother brought home food after he was gone the whole day and you don’t know where, he even mention is a woman that bought it and instead of you to rebuke him, you left what you’re doing to join him in feasting. This is way too pathetic. I’m totally disappointed…”

Yoara took another bite from the chicken lap in his hands, he paused from chewing and said.

“Tomasi is an adult and do not lie, or let me say hardly lie. if he says the food was from a kind church member then so it is. Chumi, what goes into us does not defy us is what comes out, remember Peter in the Bible, when God laid down the sheet and ask him to feast and he called the food unclean, God had to educate him in that regard. Meaning what we eat does not defy our spirit man but our actions and words has more powerful effects on us, so we should watch our tongue so that it doesn’t set the entire body on fire. Come over and have some taste, this actually taste really good and there’s enough for us..”

She sighed angrily and looked away. “You would have allowed me to cook for you since you’re hungry not jumping to your brothers tasteless food. You know my cooking beats all this food you’re eating with him..”

“Offcourse my darling. We’ve been home over three hours and you kept saying you will cook but waiting for Tomasi to return so he will go and buy something for you. I asked you to use what we have in the house to prepare the meal before you leave but you rather wanted more food items. You remember I said I was going to go buy whatever you need after I’m done ironing before Tom came in. Well, Tom has saved the day and saved you from stress too. Please come let’s eat..”

“Aunty Chumi, can I go and have a taste too. I’m hungry” Ellie said.

“You’re hungry? But you are the one that ate all the sandwich I made this afternoon. Alright, come over let me give you by myself..”

Chumi shamelessly came, picked up one of the untouched pack of food and returned to her seat, while Ellie went to join her.

I could have collected the food from her but because of Yoara and also little Ellie I totally ignored

I’m not very nice, especially to people like Chumi.

She must be thinking I’m cool and will continue to take in everything she throws at me but that’s where she miss it.

In no time she began to devour the food with Ellie.

Since I wasn’t hungry, I Left the food for Yoara and went inside to change over.

While I was inside I heard them talking with a mouth filled with food.

“This food is a bribe, he has used it to bribe us so that we will keep shut but he has forgotten that I will never let him lazy around here or eat where he didn’t sow. He has been eating free food from you but not ready to get a Job so that we can also eat from him. This thing he brought is nothing, I’m not moved at all. I still detest the fact he’s jobless and lazy. How long will this continue? My love, you need to be bold enough and scold him for all this annoying behavior. If I’m going to be your wife then you need to listen to me, we will be getting married soon.. I can’t have a grown adult like your brother eating my food and annoying me every second. I was waiting for him to come back and go to buy something because he needs to play his houseboy role in this house atleast, I can’t do everything and he will come back to eat…is not done. You need to take action as a man..”

“I should throw my brother out? Is that what you want.. will that make you happy? Yoara asked

“I’m not saying you should throw him out but he’s a man and will definitely survive out there in the street. He can’t continue living here with us, especially when we finally wed because I can’t tolerate it…”

“You need to please stop with this Tomasi issue which I don’t see as anything, that’s all the topic you focus on anytime we’re together. He’s my brother and I can’t throw him out into the street. That’s not the kind of person I am, also I’m a minister of God and you’re too, we should be kind and accommodating that’s what differentiate believers from the world. Tomasi will do same for me if he was in my shoe, the Bible said we should love without limit because in love there’s no hate. Is a sin to frustrate and make living unbearable for a person just because you don’t like him or her…”

“I don’t see anything I do as sin. Don’t preach to me, the person you should be preaching and converting is Tomasi but you will rather keep quiet and he do as he please. The same Bible said we should not allow anyone to take advantage of our meekness like Tomasi is doing..”

Yoara was quiet, I guess he was chewing food but later said “I don’t know where such verse is in the Bible, maybe you show me..”

I quietly came out of the room. Did they think I’m deaf that I can’t hear them because although Yoara try not to be loud but Chumi said everything loud enough.

I looked at Ellie who was still eating and said

“Hey Ellie, you mentioned uncle Jons bringing you the same pack. Is it your mumm…oh sorry I mean your Aunty Chumi’s friend, the one that has a lot of money and will be your second Daddy..?

Ellie who was really enjoying the food, nodded before she quickly caught Chumi’s eyes

I moved to a chair and said without care

“…While babysitting Ellie she exposed some secrets, I’m sure Yoara will be shocked if he discovered what the secrets are but anyway, I will be minding my business while digging up more of it. The last thing I want is my brother to fall victim into the wrong hand. No matter how you try to cover a deep secret it will still finds its way out of the box. Is good to be transparent in life Chumi, don’t you think..?

Yoara stopped eating and looked from me to Chumi.

“What are you talking about?

Chumi stood in defense and said “I don’t know what’s he’s talking about. This your brother is really going nut, he needs to be checked into a mental home. I think I should be leaving now with Ellie, the night is almost here…I will call you my love when I get home..”

I continued slowly yet firing at my target.

“I thought you church people supposed to pray to God for a good life partner, I’m somehow disappointed because I supposed to know God through your lifestyles but instead is actually an outsider that’s trying to guide me through that, and is just with her kind action. Alright Ellie, maybe when you come next time you tell us more about your second daddy “uncle Jons” and also who your first Daddy is..oh wait let me guess, is your first Daddy uncle Yoara?

She didn’t reply as Chumi picked up her bag and head to the door.

“… your aunty Chumi should be called mummy like you wished for right? Calling her aunty doesn’t make a single sense when she is actually mummy. I don’t even know if I’m making any sense right now..”

Chumi shut her whole eye ball at me but unfortunately for her they’re just eyes and can’t do me anything.

She bid Yoara goodnight and left.

Yoara sat as he try to understand what was going on.

“I kept suspecting that something isn’t right but I still can’t place a finger on it. Wait a sec, is Chumi seeing another man which you’re aware of, Tom? Yoara managed to ask

“Please don’t ask me such question Yoara before you all will say I was jealous and bitter and decided to break your relationship apart. Please direct whatever question you have towards your woman and sort it out…not me..”

I walked away leaving him to think, is really a good time to put things right.

He won’t hear the rest from me. Chumi has troubled my life way too much, maybe is time for her guilt to torment her too.

Is payback time for Chumi.