BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Sarah woke up this Sunday morning and the normal aroma of her daughter’s food didn’t get to her room. She became angry, she was used to Becky serving her Toast and Hot Coffee every Sunday morning before they leave for church. She stood up, grabbed her robe and dashed off to her room. She knocked on her door aggressively and rushed inside without waiting for her response.

”Becky! What is wrong with you? Don’t you know today is Sunday and you are still wrapped on your bed? You better get up and fix breakfast for me before I unleash beating on you this morning!” She lashed out angrily. Without waiting for her response, she went out and slammed the door behind her.

Becky had been awake, she didn’t sleep throughout the night. She cried all through and blamed her mother for her woes. She knew if she come back, it would be disastrous so she stood up reluctantly and walked to the kitchen. Her face was swollen from too much tears and lack of sleep. Her thoughts were all over the place as she quickly fixed breakfast then took the tray to her mother’s room.

The sight of her mother reminded her of the pain she went through yesterday. She blamed herself for telling her about the recurrent nightmares. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have gone to the devil’s home that has brought her this sharp pain. She was in the bathroom lost in thought when she heard her mother scream her name. She rushed out and put on her cloth. She quickly went outside to meet her.

”Good morning Ma. She greeted her mother but Sarah was not just in the mood.

”What is good about the morning? You have wasted all the time, the Devil in you that want to make me miss Pastor David’s sermon won’t prosper today. Open the gate for me before I hit you with this bag!.” Sarah responded harshly.

Pastor David was the new head of their church, he just got transferred in months ago. He was young, handsome and whenever he climbed the pulpit, the church got lost in his sermon and/or good looks. The church’s old members came back and the congregation have doubled since he came but nobody knew about his secret. Sarah and Becky got to church late but they were able to secure a seat very close to the front to her delight. Becky wasn’t interested in the church anymore - she used to dance to songs, pray hard but the mojo is gone. As soon as Pastor David climbed the pulpit to preach, the congregation stood up happily. Becky couldn’t look up, her heart got broken at the sight of him.

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Pastor David smiled at them, he told them to sit. He started with exaltation before sermon.

“Today, I will be talking to you about one of the ills in our society; RAPE.”

Becky looked up, the topic felt like a big hammer just landed on her head. ”How dare he come up to speak on this topic after what happened last night? She thought and immediately, tears came down her eyes. She couldn’t control it any longer and her mother didn’t even notice, she was lost in David’s sermon. She stood up and went to the loo. This was the beginning of many secrets out of the bag.