The Visitor - Episode 1

See all episodes here »

“So you are really not going to talk to me” Mrs. Adetutu James heard
her husband, Joshua say. She was looking at herself through her
compact mirror while dabbing her powder on her face when she heard
him say that. She looked at her husband who was staring at her and she
eyed him before going back to look at herself in the mirror. They were
in his car and it would soon be time for them to leave the car and go on
with the day’s job.
“I really cannot stand this silent treatment you are giving me Tutu”
Joshua complained.
Tutu looked at her husband, even though he was getting old and
turning 50, he still had the looks, the looks that made her fall in love
with him the very first day she met him. The looks that made her see an
innocent, God fearing man that was just trying to make it in this world
of sin but now, she doesn’t even know what she is seeing anymore or
who this man is. It’s like she was staring at a complete stranger.
“What do you want me to say to you Joshua?” She asked him.
“Anything… I can’t stand this silent treatment” He said, pleading with
his light brown eyes but Tutu had learned to not believe those eyes
because just as they are stunning they are also deceitful.
“I really am not in the mood for your drama Joshua, I just want to be
left alone”
“Tutu can we at least talk about…”
“…and I would love for you to respect that” She said putting her mirror
back into her black bag.
“The congregation has started singing praise and worship. You should
go to them, Pastor” She said making emphasis on the word ‘pastor’ in a
mockery

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-visitor

. Joshua sighed as he opened the car door and got out, Tutu stayed for a while and stared out through the front glass of the car as
she looked at the members of the church file in to the church smiling at
each other. As soon as Joshua got out of the car she saw Tony, the choir
master rush to greet him, she sighed as she got out of the car.
“Ekaro Mummy” Tony said half prostrating.
“Tony, how are you?”. She greeted.
“I am fine ma. How are you?”
“I am fine thank God”
“Mummy you are looking nice oh. The Lord is really shining his face on
you”
Tutu smiled as she looked at her husband whose expression was hard
to read.
“Thank you Tony. We give Him all the glory”
“Well Daddy, I have to go in, worship has started.”
“Okay Tony, I will see you inside” Tony bowed his head slightly as he
joined the people who were strolling into the church with joy and
laughter on their faces.
Joshua walked to the other side of the car to where Tutu stood and
they looked at each other before they walked together to the church.
City of God Church was founded by Joshua and Tutu and it started as a
house fellowship in their one-bedroom apartment and Joshua initially
started the fellowship as a way to bond with the brothers and sisters in
Christ because the church they attended at that time was a Mega
church and Joshua felt that the church didn’t care for its members
because of the fact that it was big and so he started his fellowship. Tutu
loved and craved those times of fellowship in their house. It was
beautiful, it was pure, it was divine. She felt more in tune with God
there than anywhere else and she knew Joshua felt it too and that was why she was not surprised when Joshua told her that he got a revelation from the Lord that he should start up a church. Tutu, not
knowing if it was the right time to start up the church but being a good
wife agreed to it. After all he did say that he got a revelation from God.
Many people were excited to find out that Joshua was going to start a
church and just like a child getting excited over a toy, Joshua was
excited about starting a church. It was his little baby project. Slowly but
surely, the church started growing and in a blink of an eye became one
of the most popular churches in Lagos perhaps not popular enough to
be on Television but popular enough that everyone knew about it.
It was all clean and pure when it all started and Tutu enjoyed every bit
of it and always encouraged her husband but suddenly everything
changed and now the ‘Mummy and Daddy in the Lord’ that the church
had come to love and cherish had a secret so grave that they could not
share it to the church. Tutu wondered how Joshua felt so comfortable
preaching after what they had done but perhaps his heart has become
so cold that nothing gets to him, not even what they did.
As Tutu entered the church with Joshua and saw the people
worshipping, her heart felt heavy, she felt like a heavy load had been
placed on her shoulder for her to carry, only that it is not a heavy load
but a secret. She sat down at the front pew of the church that was
reserved for her right next to the one reserved for her husband, Joshua
sat down right next to her and bowed his head down to pray. She
caught herself rolling her eyes. After he was done praying they both
stood up and joined in the praise and worship. The chorus leader sang
with so much enthusiasm and hopped around on the elevated pulpit as
he sang the popular song “Lift Him Up” and the congregation was on
fire also as everyone moved their body to the rhythm of the beat. Tutu
swayed from side to side and tried to sing along but her heart was so
heavy that she decided to stick to swaying from side to side
***
She was in the church; she didn’t bother to stand up because there was
no need to. She enjoyed watching the people praise God. It reminded
her of her past, how she was as naïve as they were right now.
An elderly woman beside her that was dancing tried to make her dance
by using her big bum, she rolled her eyes and stepped to the side a bit,
when the woman saw that she was not interested in dancing she
tapped her and said “My dear, God is good oh, you have to dance and
thank Him. I know your generation does not like God but…”
The visitor did not wait for the woman to finish talking as she grabbed
her bag and went to another seat in the church.
As she was settling down on her new seat she saw the pastor and his
wife enter the church and her heart skipped a bit.
They were exactly who she was waiting for.
She watched them closely as the wife went ahead of her husband and
sat down as well as when the pastor himself sat down and bowed his
head down to pray. She rolled her eyes but then she also caught the
pastor’s wife roll her eyes. Maybe they thought about the same thing.
Perhaps all is not well at home but then how can all be well at home
with a husband like that?
But maybe the wife was also not as innocent but then won’t they all
find out in the end.
It was almost time for her to strike.
And she was ready.