Echoes of my youth

Chapter four

"What have you done son, why did you disobey me."

"Am sorry ma'am, I don't know what's wrong with me, please don't let your anger affect me"

I pleased.

" There's no way back from what you did, you will die without achieving your dreams "

"Hand over your rosary to me"

" please ma'am, forgive me "

But it was too late, she snatched the rosary she gave me and disappeared.

I immediately woke up and saw everyone still asleep. I just had an encounter with my headmistress. she looked so angry and furious at me. I immediately reached out for my rosary to see if it was taken, but it was there. I sighed and said a little prayer before going to bed.

If my friend Elijah was here I would have shared this nightmare with him and ask for an answer. The next day I immediately went for confession.

After making the sign of the Cross I began my confession

"Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been a month since my last confession. "

"What is it my child, speak " the priest answered

" I didn't steal, but I think am paying for the sins of my past. I had a dream yesterday and I saw my headmistress, she's late actually "

"Am listening son"

"I once made a promise to her, that I won't steal or do anything that will offend God. She sounded furious with me in the dream and said I would die soon. she also collected a Rosary she has given me for protection at all time"

"Are you with the rosary" he asked

"Yes father" I replied.

"Give it to me"

In which I did.

When he held the rosary, he shook his head and said

"My son, the spirit of this rosary has been taken away spiritually. it's just a mere instrument"

"You have to embark on a penance"

"You are to serve the church especially pastoral work and stay away from sin" he added.

"Ok father" .I replied. Relived

"Go son, your sins are forgiven"

And I left after saying the act contrition

After the confession, I felt peaceful and full of joy. I went about my daily activities, I was accepted by people, they would trust me with their belongings without any fear of stealing or betraying their trust. All thanks to the friendship I had with my best friend, Elijah.

Back home, things weren't going well for my parents, my junior brother had stopped school due to inability to pay his school fees. all attention were shifted to me to make the the family proud. The other siblings hawk pure water to Carter for themselves.

My first term examination was below average, I didn't expect to pass even one single subject, but I scaled through, As a sign of appreciation, my Dad bought me a Bible.

"Use this to find your most valuable treasure" he said to me

Till date that Bible still remains my most cherished treasure after the rosary.

Going back to school for the second term, my parents gave me their best wishes and told me to act in accordance with the school rules and regulations and don't falter.

I still went about my usual business, I felt that sense of belonging, my classmates were all happy to see me, we would gist on what we did during the break and what we tend to achieve as a team. It was going well. I felt welcomed back again.

I immediately got a new bunk member, his name was Arnold, a brilliant guy who had a nack for writing and drawing, he was the one who taught me how to express myself through writing, In no time I started writing short stories, but I was so bad with drawing that I didn't bother to venture into that.

I didn't talk about the constant bullying I was receiving from either my classmates or seniors

The was one of them, Jeremiah, he was a notorious bully that no one ever challenged. he would take people's food on their dinning in the refectory. he also hated confrontation from anyone.

my first encounter with him was during those time were I stole people's property, he said he loved what I was doing and wanted be my best friend, but I bluntly refused his proposal.

"Nobody has ever refused my offer.who do you think you are?". He said

I didn't know when I received a Slap and two of his gang members pounced on me.Before people would come to my rescue I was beaten to stupor.

I narrated my ordeal to our senior perfect, hoping he would intervene but nothing was done.

There's were also time's that I would be singled out by my classmates during break time, because maybe because of any stolen item, since I was widely known as a pickpocket. or because of my appearance, I was ridiculed. But I picked no offense on that.

Life without Elijah Ekok wasn't easy, I grew fond of him, but I was still grateful for having Arnold, I learnt a lot from him.

The term was better than the previous one, I attended classes, Mass and other functions wholeheartedly. During my spare period, I would visit the fathers lodge to wash their clothes, utensils as part of my penance. I felt alive again.

Remember when I said that entering the seminary was a big mistake, Yes I was right. And also when I said that I felt someone was watching me, It could be the boy or something else.

7th February 2005 remains the most darkest moments in my life, prior to that infamous day, I started receiving revelation of someone in my family was about to die, first it started with me seeing my mom being shot by someone, or my father having a fatal accident that took his life instantly. I got so scared that I would reach out to my chaplain to help call my parents so that I could break the news to them. but I was brushed off. He would only tell me to pray that it's just temptation from the devil to stop me from not fulfilling My obligations to serve GOD and humanity. instead he gave some silly task of washing his clothes everyday, According to him, God will see the pure heart in me and intervene on my behalf. Was this the only solution he could think about, my parents are in danger and here this priest is exploring my weak state.

Every night the same dream came and still the priest refused to see reason in my anguish.