Wounded Pilgrim 12

A REQUEST

He moved aside to pick the call from Brother Eliezer whom he knew by now was no longer on honeymoon. Apart from the quick greetings between them Brother Eliezer was inviting him over to his house for a meal and also give him the money that he owed him. Now that was good news to him but he had some bad news to deal with here at the hotel with some Sister Elvina.

Out the one thousand shillings note that Bartholomew had the change from it was just four hundred shillings. That was the money he had hoped to spend the entire week as he waited for the month end to arrive with its benefits. To begin with he had not given any offering in the morning owing to the fact that he had only just that one thousand shillings note in his pocket. Now he had been generous with his six hundred out of it to buy Sister Elvina lunch only for her to request to keep the change.

He wanted to protest to her but his mouth was heavy to let him do so. So he decided to keep silent on the issue and think of how he would get back to his house and later go visit Eliezer whose house he knew was not very near to his own house. On the outside he wore a happy face which at times would be smeared with a broad smile from time to time. Deep inside rage and annoyance was burning wondering when he would be out of his predicament.

Soon a happy Elvina was done with her food and they all stood up to leave the place. It was long since when someone treated her like that she thought. First it was the lunch and then next was the cash. To her that Sunday was a blessed one. Just outside he almost bumped into Brother Eliezer who was crossing to the other side of the road to get into his car.
“I see you got company Bartholomew” he started with a cunning smile.
“Not really we were just from church and we just passing by here to get some lunch.” Bartholomew responded.

“But the church way far down there” Eliezer went on before laughing alone.
“I would appreciate if you dropped me on your way to your house if you are really going that way” Bartholomew requested him.
“What about her?” Eliezer asked.
“Actually the vehicles to our place are just across the street” she replied. Soon she was across the street and the two brothers were in the car heading to Eliezer’s house.
“I see you have shifted to a bigger house” Bartholomew commented when they were in the house.
“I had to now that my house will be a destination of relatives and friends like you” Eliezer responded. “And now before I forget here is your money though not the whole amount”
Bartholomew was very happy for that gesture that his heart melted as he imagined how the debt had affected him financial and now he was just recovering from it. Lingering debts were a source of discord among brethren in the recent past. One time a brother went visit a brother whom he lent money only for the brother who was still in bed to threaten him to doing him something bad he was going to sit there waiting for his money. Such stories often scared Bartholomew to the core.

“I hope you won’t mind waiting for my wife who had just gone to the saloon. I know she will probably at seven o’clock.” Eliezer went on when he noticed how Bartholomew was restless. Poor Bartholomew was very hungry and here it was like Eliezer knew he was satisfied. As they were talking a young man he had seen from afar off in church entered followed by Sister Happiness. The young man was carrying some shopping as he came in.
“He is Richard or Rich for short my young brother” Eliezer introduced him just before Bartholomew could ask who he was. They embraced each other and he also got to shake hands with Sister Happiness who was happy just like her name. She wore an elegant dress that glittered as she walked about.
“I hope you will eat my food before you leave with brother-in-law” she said as she served him with some orange juice.
“But it is just half past five and I was just leaving. Besides where am I going with your brother-in-law?” Bartholomew asked them sharply.
“Honey didn’t you tell him?” she turned to her husband.
“Sorry my mistake, we need you stay with my younger brother who just arrived this morning from home” Brother Eliezer told a surprised Bartholomew.