Wounded Pilgrim 9

THE WEDDING DRAMA

It was the wedding day finally and the dull church building and compound was lit and decorated with flowers of every manner. A few elderly sisters were in a secluded section fenced with mats as a kitchen. They were happily chatting as they peeled some Irish potatoes as well as cutting cabbages. A few brothers were arranging the seats inside the church because the sitting arrangement of a wedding was often different compared to normal days.

Slowly by slowly the visitors began to trickle in one by one and soon they were coming in groups of twos fours and even tens. A school bus, a number of vans and cars were soon in the parking lot by eleven o’clock when the pastor walked around to inspect what was going on. He wore a silver new suit and flower tucked on his left side top pocket of the coat. It was most likely the flower since it matched with his tie was the theme color for the wedding of Brother Eliezer. He shook hands with a few visitors and chatted a little with some as he moved around and finally went back to his office.

A few minutes later an alternating sound of cars hooting was heard from the main road approaching the church compound. Everyone turned to look that way and have a quick glimpse of the convoy. The worship service was already underway and those inside the church had no option but to wait till when the groom’s party and later the bridal party marched in. It was during this confusion of arranging the many cars inside the small church compound that Brother Bartholomew entered in too wearing dark sunglasses like some movie star. He took the last bench on the far right where he was sure no one would spot him to call him for some manual work. He was just sleepy and yet he needed to be in attendance.

They often say if you say something and others don’t like it they may try to sway you to their side and so you better stick to it to the end if you know you are right. That is what Bartholomew was trying to dwell on in what he was up to when he declined with call to chair the wedding committee. As the wedding was approaching he had been glad no one was giving him any pressure towards anything and he would gladly perform his duties at work easily. Deacon Musa was now the chairman to the committee for the wedding.

While many were fascinated with the show of pumper and colour as the groomsmen and maid walked in side by side Bartholomew felt it was a waste of time. The men and women were made to walk in holding like a couple though not holding hands of one another. A couple walked in from the back alone till they arrived at the front where they stood apart facing one another leaving a wide space between them where it was presumably to be a path for the groom and bride to use. After all the couples had walked in the bridegroom was next in line with his parents sand witching him between themselves. They walked till they got to the part where the parade of the groomsmen and maids began where they left him to wait for the bride who came as well with her parents. When she got to where he was smilingly waiting he took hold of her hand and got to the front. By the time they were settling down to sit and the congregation that had stood up singing was sitting too a whole half an hour or more had passed by.
“What a waste of time” Bartholomew mattered to himself.
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The pastor immediately stepped behind the pulpit to start the service for the wedding. After he had just finished reading the scripture for the day and the preaching was picking up Bartholomew saw Deacon Musa come up to him where he sat and touched him on the shoulder.
“Now how did he spot me?” he asked himself in anger. He wanted to ignore the call but his immediate neighbor touched him and reminded him that he was actually needed outside there. He looked towards the direction of the door and saw Deacon Musa still standing near the door signaling him to come over outside. He had no option but to follow him outside.
“Am not feeling well today” he began to defend himself as soon as they were outside the church.
“I didn’t know that young man, but we are in church by the time we are through you will have been healed in Jesus’ name” the deacon said quickly.

“Would you mind if I go back inside for a while?” he asked the deacon.
“It’s okay in fact I fail to understand why you are quick to defend yourself when I have not even laid down what I was to tell you.” Deacon Musa went on. “I will require you just before they come out when the wedding is over”
As he got back inside the pastor was reading something to the groom and bride who were now standing next to each other facing the pastor. He had just sat down when he had the pastor ask, “Is there any of you here who have a reason why these two should not be joined together?”
“Yes I can a see a hand at the back there, please brother come forward and have the microphone” the pastor said as everyone turned to see Bartholomew who had raised his hand walking to the front. Eliezer was shaking like a leaf while Happiness looked to the ground. Things were about to get interesting here.