(Episode 1)
Her body was still warm when Inibehe arrived the hospital with his elder brother Pastor Mfon, who had just picked him up from the airport.
As he walked on the hallway, he looked at things strangely, as if he’d never been there before. He had been in RCC Missionary School in London for just four years, and now, coming back home to Nigeria, almost everything wasn’t familiar anymore. His elder brother looked a bit chubby, and his accent had changed.
“Why are we in the hospital, is everything fine?” Inibehe asked in concern.
But his brother nodded and said, “mom has cancer. She wants to see all of us.”
“This isn’t good.” Inibehe said abruptly.
He was the second son of his mother, while pastor Mfon was the first. Their only sister Sifon came when no one expected her. But lady Valerie Okoko, Inibehe’s mother had so much to happy about in having a female child. She was going to groom all her children in missionary schools, whether they wanted it or not. But all she wanted was for them to grow and die in the Lord’s vineyard. “It’s where life is my children.” She said.
Inibehe had just finished writing his final exams in Missionary school when his father called him to get a ticket and come to Nigeria immediately. He didn’t give him reasons, he just gave an order.
Inibehe’s heart trembled when he saw the crowd of people in his mother’s ward.
They were all pastors, bishops and reverends.
They all gathered around Lady Valerie.
“He is here Mom” A female voice said shrilly. That was the only voice that sounded familiar to him It was his sister’s. She walked as fast as she could and hugged him tight, weeping softly.
“Mom has been really sick Ini, I missed you.” She said and hugged me again.
Inibehe didn’t know what to say; if it was to cry too, or just watch what was happening.
“She will be fine.” He said with certainty as he held his sister’s hands.
His father’s hands held his shoulders, “Welcome my son.”
He hugged his father and then swiped at the rivulets of sweat running down the sides of his face with a crumpled blue handkerchief.
It was the first time Inibehe hugged his father that way.
Bishop Cosmos Okoko had been a strict man , strong, agile man all his life. He was feared and respected. Being the founder of RCC worldwide had given him so much, he had legacies and was known to be a great achiever. He’d made his three children pastors and given them his big churches outside Nigeria to lead.
“Your mother wants to see all of us.” A sneer licked the edges of his words.
“I am here.” Inibehe said. He left his father’s arms and walked slowly to where his mother laid. She had oxygen tube connected to her nostrils.
Despite the ravages of the pain, Lady Valerie could still open her eyes to see her most beloved son. She was bald head and ugly. Inibehe realized that it was more than what he thought. He stared at the woman who had been his mother, and carried him in her arms for years. She used to be beautiful, elegant and delectable until cancer came knocking her down. A worried expression deepened the furrow between his eyebrows.
“Mommy…” He called out weakly and held her hands tight.
She took out the oxygen tube from her mouth and then said weakly,
“I have just few things to tell my children and my husband.”
His elder brother pastor Mfon brought out a recording camera from a bag and placed it on the air, recording every sentence and words his mother made.
“I want to thank you all for making me proud.” She coughed and then continued “My husband will mourn me for a year, and then remarry for the sake of the church. My first son Mfon will Move to the church branch in America and be there to lead it well.” A nurse suddenly appeared and injected a greenish liquid into her veins. She left within a minute. Lady Valerie continued after she closed her eyes for moments. “My daughter will marry Pastor Usoro Oscar my god son in whom I trained and they will take care of the church in London, while my second son Inibehe Okoko will be married to my god daughter Uduak Ebebe, and then they will chose the church branch they will serve the lord. Uduak is a virgin, I have trained her well for you my son.”
Inibehe’s heart was beating when his mother was talking, but it suddenly stopped when she mentioned Uduak Ebebe, his childhood playmate.
Inibehe suddenly became annoyed, he then asked critically, “Why Uduak mommy?”
“Do not ask questions!” A pastor in the midst of the people who were gathered in the room yelled at Inibehe.
The oxygen tube was placed back on Lady Valerie’s nose.
He stared at his mother, the disquiet he’d been feeling all morning intensified. His desire to leave that scenario was strong enough to surprise him.
Watch out for Episode 2.