9 9 THE CONFESSION

Dralex thought for a while—dragging memories into her eyeballs and then she suddenly broke the silence that crept at the moment her Dad stopped talking. "Dad, I think Mum has refused to tell you the truth. I mean she is hiding something from you."

Eric Travis straightened up quickly on his chair and gave Dralex a stare. "Have you been eavesdropping?" He pointed to the door. "You were listening to us talk—you were behind that door, right?" Eric Travis pointed to the door and then shifted his eyes to Dralex once more.

Dralex simply nodded with her eyes steady on him. "The noise woke me up Dad and when I approached the door. The shouts didn't let me open the door—so I just stood behind it. I heard few words and that was enough to tell me you weren't happy with Mum, Dad."

Eric Travis bowed his head down, now wondering what seven-year-old Dralex had to say. "I am listening, Dralex."

Dralex sat up and her tiny voice that almost sounded like Prislla's drove in. "Exactly 20 days ago, I saw Mum and a man kissing in his car as he stopped over at our home. I have seen them do that twice now, through the window—you weren't home and when I asked Mum who he was. She never said anything but when I said he looked like Pastor Mandolin. She warned me not to tell you what I saw."

Eric Travis stood up terrified. He felt like easing himself but reluctantly ignored. His eyes were still fixed at Dralex. "Are you sure of what you are telling me?" He watched Dralex nod. "Has he entered here—this house, my bedroom? He asked anxiously.

"Not so sure about that Dad but he often stays by the gate in his car and kisses Mum—"

"Often—" Eric Travis interrupted quickly. "Did you say often? I thought you said twice?"

"Often they parked by the gate but twice have I seen them kissed," Dralex muttered.

"I see—Dralex excuse me, Daddy wants to have a quiet time."

Dralex eyes bore into him. She knew her Daddy was finding it hard to contain the burning fury within him. She stood up and backed out for a while before she wheeled around and pushing the door open, she disappeared.

As the door closed behind Dralex, Eric Travis resumed his thoughts. This time, he felt he had a sense of direction—Prislla and Pastor Mandolin.

What about them?

Are they in some sort of love affair?

Is Prislla cheating on me?

As he looked into space, Prislla words crept in, "I am never a whore but could be one if it is necessary to get another—child!"

His head dropped low as memories flooded his mind where the nut had been loosened. He struggled with his thoughts for a while with his eyes closed and never knew when he entered into an unconscious realm—he slept.

Two weeks had passed and the words Dralex told him had never ceased to hurt him.

Dralex couldn't have lied and besides, Prislla has never been so friendly after he confronted her on this.

He also noticed she had stopped Dralex favourite ice cream and tends to distance herself from her with all manner of hateful words.

As he sat in his car, his thoughts never stopped piling up. I must see Pastor Mandolin about this—I need an explanation, his thought fired. He started his car engine and drove away.

An hour later, he engaged Pastor Mandolin in a fierce conversation. "What did you do to my wife?" His eyes reddened as his hand turned into a fist. "Tell me what you did to her or—"

"Nothing, I did absolutely nothing." Pastor Mandolin Trump flared. "She came for prayer and that's all—if I can sense what you are thinking. I guess you are wrong, Pastor Eric."

He walked around for a while and stared into the eyes of Eric Travis. "And if you think the prayer hasn't worked, that's not my fault. It is her faith, perhaps weakened by her beauty and—"

Pastor Eric Travis eyed him. He knew a lot of things aren't right in the bread of life bible church. He has this feeling a lot of things are hidden from his knowledge and how the church manages to pull a great crowd, has remained a mystery to him.

He wasn't bothered about all that now but her wife, Dralex—his family is all he cared about.

He glared at him again and demanded. "What exactly did you tell that lady who came for counselling? You told her if her husband doesn't have the strength to make her pregnant, you can help out. What do you mean by that Pastor Mandolin? You are not married pastor Mandolin and you are sexually harassing and devouring women that are not your wives."

Pastor Mandolin stood up angrily. "So you go about asking my counselees what I told them—"

"You are wrong Pastor Mandolin; rather she came to me and told me what you told her. Will you deny that you did not tell her that?"

Pastor Mandolin clenched his fist as the question came again.

"Did you Pastor Mandolin? Answer me and if that is true, what then did you do to my wife?"

"Are you insane? You came here asking about a lady and now your wife—I don't understand you, Pastor Eric?" Now, he forced himself to be infuriated.

"The heart of my wife Prislla—I want it back." Pastor Eric was on top of his voice now. He seemed to be able to control his rising temper but his rising voice—

"I help intended couples marry in my church and if I am not married yet, it doesn't mean I am irresponsible and besides if you have anything against me. I am sure the member of council is in a better position to take it up and not this senseless confrontation you are putting up here." Pastor Mandolin eyes shifted as he spoke again. "Good day Pastor Eric, hope to see you in service tomorrow." He pointed to the door.

And now Pastor Eric Travis could read it in his eyes, saying. This is my office go out and stop bothering me.

He walked out slowly and shut the door behind him.

A few seconds later, his engine roared. He knew Mandolin hasn't changed a bit not even as Pastor Mandolin.

As he drove recklessly back home. He walked straight into his bedroom. He knew he has no business with the bread of life bible church anymore.

The members of the council were behind Pastor Mandolin and who else will they support on a sensitive issue like this? His thoughts shot up.

He bits his fingers, regretting the day he accepted the job.

Was it a job?

He pondered as he fell on his kneels crying. As he placed his right hand on his bible, he heard God spoke, "I have chosen you for my service not to please men but me—pray for Prislla and she will recover."

The words echoed strongly around him as he fell. And as he rose a few minutes later, he watched Prislla walk in.

He looked at her carefully, every love he used to have for her seemed to have faded away. He can't imagine Pastor Mandolin having sex with Prislla.

Did he?

His thoughts whipped hard on him.

He wanted to ignore her but the word of God that came seconds ago rode through his mind like fire burning right through his bones.

"I will like to pray for you, Prislla." He said.

Prislla stared at him angrily and walked past him without answering him a word.

He repeated himself but she ignored him and only replied arrogantly a few minutes later.

"And when did that start? I only came to the bedroom to pick my perfume."

She was about to walk out of the bedroom when Eric Travis held her back and placed his right hand on her head. Immediately he did, the Holy Spirit ministered.

"Cast out the spirit of sexual lust."

And as he pronounced those words and prayed in the name of Jesus Christ, Prislla fell flat.

Minutes later, when she woke up, she confessed she saw a dark shadow walked out of her—a shadow so thick and formless.

Was she delivered? But—