I was in my sitting room, when Chika informed me that Mummy calls for me. When I entered the house, everywhere was dark but for tiny light from Mum’s phone which vaguely lighted up the sitting room. Almost immediately Mummy instructed Chika to switch on the power generator. Suddenly, the darkness gave way to a bright light that threatened my sight. I had to close my eyes and open them again in other to get used to the light. As soon as the sitting room was illuminated, my attention was caught by the two giant bibles Mummy was holding. The look on her face shows that she was there for real business. Another thing that made me feel uncomfortable was the fact that she asked Chika to excuse us. Ours have been a one happy family where matters are discussed freely in the presence of everyone. However, I sat beside Mummy and she handed one of the bibles to me and in a clear unemotional tone, instructed me to open to Romans 8:35-39.

“I am there Mum.”

“Read it aloud.”

“35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God , which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“Kelvin, is there anything that will separate you from the love of Christ?” Mummy asked.

“No Mum.”

“Son, are you sure?”

“I’m very sure Mum.”

“Alright, open to the book of 1 Corinthians 6:18 and read.”

“18. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committed fornication sinned against his own body.”

“Go to the same book of 1 Corinthians 10:8 and read.”

“8. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand”

I was no longer at ease. I almost urinated on my body but I summoned courage and took permission from Mummy to go and ease myself. I spent longer time than necessary trying to figure out what to do. But I know there was no way out. I had to sit through that torture in the name of reading the scripture until Mummy decides to deliver me. Of course I knew that preaching must surely follow after the reading. Immediately I stepped out of the lavatory; the drilling continued.

“Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3.”

“3. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.”
“Lastly 1Corinthians 7:2.”

“ Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband”.

“Son, I advised you to get married. Have you done anything about it?”

“Mummy I am still praying about it.”

“You are still praying, that is nice.” Mummy said in an unusual calmness.

“Kelvin do you have a lover? Are you committing fornication?” Mummy asked suddenly, raising the tempo of her voice.

I shook involuntarily when mummy asked the question. I was confused for some minutes but I managed to regain my composition and refuted the accusation.

“Jesus, have mercy on me!” I exclaimed

“Mummy how can you ask such question? Does it mean that you don’t trust me?”

“Kelvin, the Holy Spirit cannot lie. There is something unclean going on around you.”

“No Mummy. It is not me. Not at all,” I lied.

“Anyway, let’s not drag it. I will advise that you retrace your steps. It is written in the book of Isaiah 1:18:
Come now and let us reason together, said the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”.

“Meditate on this scripture and take a positive action for the sake of your soul.” Mummy warned.

“Mum I have heard you. But be assured that nothing sinful is going on.”

Mummy changed the topic and started enquiring about my business and life generally. At that point, she invited Chika to come and join us. Lots of rib-cracking jokes were hacked by Mummy which made Chika laugh heartily but my laughter came bit by bit; of course I laughed uneasily.