Wounded Pilgrim 18

THE HOUSE ON FIRE

Bartholomew had no option but to open the damn door because it was the only option for if the lady continued to knock persistently like that. He wondered if there was an emergency yet it was barely night. Whoever it was, must have been in dire need of him yet deep down his heart he knew he was no doctor on call nor ambulance driver or even a fire engine operator.

“Who is it?” He called out just before he opened the door.

“Just open brother!” said the female voice outside the door with some sort of pain. It was alarming and Bartholomew reached for the door handle without a second thought.

“Oh my God! Sister Happiness, what a surprise visit?” He was surprised and clueless at the same time for visit. “What brings you to my house sister?”

“Can I come inside so I can explain it properly?” she asked him rather unexpectedly and he realized she was still standing outside the where she had been while she known.

“Excuse my manners. Yeah you are welcome sister” he moved aside and she came in and sat on one of the couches facing the door. “Are you with someone?”

“No am just alone.”

“We! We! We! Am in for some risky business again?” He was getting disturbed. “You better be quick sister since I don’t want any drama at the moment.”

“I promise I will be quick Bartho!” She said as she made herself comfortable on the couch. She looked around the house which was the first time she was stepping in as much she knew where it was located. Bartholomew moved in a couch beside hers and began to scan her like he was seeing her for the first time. As much as the dress she put looked well pressed and fairly new she was looked less fairer than when she was before getting married. He remembered when he approached her after a service and praised her for the way she played the piano. She was really good at the piano to the point that her home church felt so bad seeing her go to her matrimonial home and leaving the piano in the cold.

Apparently Richy had moved in to stay with Eliezer and Happiness in their two bedroom house. Happiness used to wonder why Eliezer was not offering his kid brother a stay in his guest bedroom till now. After Richy ran to them claiming he had been gotten a blow from Bartholomew she was moved and convinced that it was true. Her husband knew better. He was silent and smelling a rat till he confirmed his fears that Sunday morning when they were to be meeting at the pastor’s office in the afternoon he saw the swollen jaw on the accused Bartholomew.

“Here have some juice” Bartholomew said as he handed her a glass of pineapple juice to drink. She refused at first but after he insisted she took it. It was long since she got such level of hospitality from a gentleman. Her husband rarely did much like that.

“Now since all that history you know we all made things right, things started getting pretty tight at the house”, Happiness went on. “Eliezer and his kid brother weren’t talking much to each other and guess who was on the receiving end.”

“Sister Happiness off course”, Bartholomew replied quickly.

“You know what it is like living with two brothers in the house treating each other like morons. They rarely talk to each other and when they do it is disgusting” she went on.

She turned on her side and lifted her skirt slightly which sort of made Bartholomew feel weird. He turned away in disgust.

“What are you up to Sister?” He managed to ask.

“I want to show you something…”

“Wait! Before you do it, aren’t you …” he cut in.

“Eliezer’s wife!” she finished for him what he was about to say.

“Please say it instead of showing it to me” Bartholomew found himself saying to which she agreed to.

“Okay my left leg is hurting from a kick I received last night.” Happiness said amid tears.

“Oh my goodness! Did you run into thugs last night?”

“I leave with them”