“Juliana, somebody came from town this morning to inform us that Joyce is dead. Story had it that her corpse was found beside the road. We want you to tell us what you know concerning her death,” Mr. Ben told her.

“My daughter dead! I am finished,” Juliana cried out.

“You have not answered my question. I was made to understand that she told you about a particular work she was doing. What is that work?”

“It is house help job,” Juliana answered.

“You mean that it is from house help job that she got money to buy lands and you even have an extra to celebrate birthday? You are yet to say the truth. Our major concern is how to bring her corpse home. By the time we are done with that, we will come back for you. If you did not tell us what happened to our daughter, you will have us to contend with,” Mr. Ben threatened.

Juliana rolled on the ground and wept,” It’s a lie, my daughter cannot die. Joyce come back to your mother. I don’t want hollandaise wrappers again. I am not celebrating birthday again o. All I want is my daughter.”

*****
Nnenna’s friend was so happy to see her when she arrived. She was amazed at how good Nnenna was looking and even the boxes of clothes she brought back.

“Nne baby, you are really looking good,” Chinasa hailed her.

Nnenna let out a faint smile without saying any word.

“Look at your skin, very fresh. See your new hair-do. See boxes” she started counting. “1, 2,3,4,5,6 boxes. Nnenna, what are inside this boxes?”

“They are my clothes and shoes.”

“Six boxes of clothes and shoes for ordinary house help. Those people are nice.”

Nnenna nodded her head in agreement.

“But why did you leave them?”

“Nasa, I am not getting younger. Is it house help job I will do all my life?”

“You are right my sister. It’s just that jobs are hard to come by. I feel that you should have hold on to the one you have.”

“That is not a problem. I was able to save some money when I was there. I can start a business for myself, if I wish.”

“Wow! That’s nice. With everything I have seen, don’t you think I should consider this kind of job if I should see one?” Chinasa asked.

“Listen to me, all that glitters is not gold. One of the worst mistakes I made in life is this job that God just delivered me from. Before you start some of these jobs, you might be made to take an oath not to reveal what you saw there. I am saying this because you are my friend. I will not say more than this.”

Chinasa became scared when Nnenna mentioned oath taking.

“Sorry, did you say oath?” Chinasa asked.

“Shut up my friend, don’t be a terrible host. Go and give me food,” Nnenna joked.

“My dear, please forgive me,” Chinasa pleaded and rushed to the kitchen.

On Sunday, Nnenna followed Chinasa to church. Towards the close of the service, Pastor announced that all first timers should come before the altar for prayers. Nnenna was reluctant to go but Chinasa encouraged her. She later matched to the altar.

“Young lady, how are you?” Pastor asked with smiles.

“I’m fine Sir.”

“Please can you tell us your name and the person that invited you to church?”

“My name is Nnenna. I was invited to church by my friend, Chinasa.”

Chinasa stood and shouted, “Praise the Lord.”

The congregation echoed, “Hallelujah!”

Pastor prayed for Nnenna and encouraged her to continue fellowshipping with them.

Stanley one of the ushers in the church had noticed when Nnenna walked into the church that morning. The church is a fairly large one, that it is not easy to know all the members. However, Stanley was sure that it was Nnenna’s first time of worshipping with them. His line of thought was finally confirmed when pastor made that announcement for first timers. It also afforded him the opportunity to get the information he needed about her.

Stanley was a handsome young man. He is a banker by profession. The way he discharges his duty as an usher in the church made the pastor and majority of the members to love him. The ladies in the church also see him as a suitable suitor. Little wonder that they were flocking around him.

But Stanley tries his best to keep them at arm’s length. Of all the girls in the church, Sandra was the most daring. She promised herself, that no matter what it took, Stanley must be hers. She made trouble with any girl she saw around Stanley just to scare them away. The only challenge was that Stanley was not even aware of some the things that Sandra was doing.

Immediately after service, Stanley walked up to Chinasa, though his target was Nnenna.

“Sister Chinasa, how are you?”

“I’m fine sir,” Chinasa answered with smiles.

“Sister, how are you doing?” Stanley reached out to Nnenna.

“I’m good, thanks,” Nnenna answered.

Chinasa was actually excited at first because she thought that Stanley came for her. But she later realized that Nnenna was his target.

“Sister, it’s nice having you in our midst. I hope you will continue to fellowship with us,” Stanley asked.

“Definitely” Nnenna answered.

“My name is Stanley. What of yours please?”

“I am Nnenna”

“Wow! What a coincidence. Do you know that’s my cousin’s name and you both really looked alike,” Stanley told her.

“That’s nice to hear,” Nnenna replied.

“Please, if you don’t mind, can I have your phone number?”

Nnenna was reluctant but Chinasa signaled her to oblige him. She later gave him the phone number. As soon as Stanley was through with them, Femi came to greet too.

“Hi Angel,” he reached out to Nnenna.

“Good afternoon sir,” Nnenna greeted.

“Chinasa, so you have this kind of beautiful sister, and you hid her from us,” Femi said.

Chinasa blushed without saying a word.

“Good afternoon my dear sister. Hope you enjoyed today’s service,” Femi asked Nnenna.

“Yes I did.”

Some other young men also came to greet Chinasa and Nnenna before they finally left for their house.

Nnenna could not help but commend them for the show of love she witnessed.

“Nasa, I must tell you that I love your church. The love that exists among you is commendable. See the way they were coming to greet you.”

“My dear, I have not been experiencing this kind of love before now. Is like you are the magnet that is attracting the iron,” Chinasa told her with a mischievous wink

“What is that supposed to mean?” Nnenna asked, rolling her eyes.

“It means, I should be getting ready to give you out in marriage,” Chinasa joked.

“You are not serious,” Nnenna told her.