Father - In - Law
Tayo wakes up again from a mosquito bite. He slaps his face, but he misses again. It has been a long night of trying to coexist with these creatures. The cool harmattan air from the night did not stop the blood sucking creatures from feasting. The last batch of mosquito coils run out and he could not be bothered to replenish his supply in the afternoon. He did not need to. “Perhaps there are no mosquitoes in the big city”, he muttered to himself.
Tayo sits at the edge of his bed and reaches out for the letter underneath the mattress. The letter is slightly soaked as his sweat from the night drenched the envelope. He pats dry the envelope and opens it. After all his service in the local parish in Osogbo, he could not believe his eyes. A transfer letter to the Lagos Parish. Although he read the letter as soon as the postman dropped it off at the parish, he kept reading it in hourly intervals as if he expected the writings to change.
He has been on the waitlist for a transfer to the parish in Lagos for several years and finally his request has been approved. Tayo fancied the city life. He just felt that there was something beyond the walls of Osogbo. He was amused by the fast-paced life that he heard others talk about in Lagos. Tayo carried the hurt of not being chosen by his father to go to Lagos at an early age despite being the oldest son. His youngest brother, Yemi went instead to live with Uncle Bola because he did not pass his exams. He failed miserably. But Yemi passed. Yemi went instead.
Tayo could not wait for morning to come so he could get on the early bus to Lagos. His dream was finally coming true. His bag was already packed for Lagos. He got out of bed, got ready and cleared his room of his belongings for the next priest who was going to take his place. He approached the bus without looking back.
After the ten-hour long bus ride and a taxi ride, Tayo arrives in the parish. Other priests were there to welcome him. “Village Priest? I’ll help you with your bag” a rusty voice shouted from behind him. “My name is Jonah, welcome to St. Paul’s Parish.” Tayo disliked the term “village priest”. He worked so hard to come this far only to be addressed as “village priest”. He was not amused. Tayo had to deal with Jonah. He was like a bug that just won’t go away. Soon enough, Tayo learns that his admittance to the Lagos Parish is conditional and it’s contingent on how well he performs. Jonah rubbed him off the wrong way and it is even more upsetting that he would be on the board to review his performance to determine whether or not he gets to stay in Lagos. Tayo did not adjust well. He always had lengthy meetings with the Father on how he needs to improve.
One evening, He noticed a young boy leaving Jonah’s quarters. He was the same boy he bumped into the other day. The young boy dragged his feet and avoided eye contact. Tayo took a good look at him and almost stumbled on a rock. The boy picked up Tayo’s wallet and said “Father, you dropped your wallet”. Tayo muttered “Thank you” under his breath.
Tayo: I didn’t see you at mass last Sunday.
Young Boy:I have been busy Father.
Tayo: Is there anything you want to talk about? I am sorry I’m not chastising you.
Young boy stops him abruptly
Young Boy:I have to go Father, nana is waiting for me.
Young boy walks away, holding his derriere. Father Tayo stared at the young boy until he disappeared in the dark.
Tayo has a flashback moment of that evening and recognized the young boy’s voice from several days ago.
Young Boy: (kneels at the screen)
Tayo: (recites prayer)
Young Boy: (Begins confession with a sign of a cross)
Bless me father for I have sinned, it has been a month since my last confession and I accuse myself of the following sins. Since then I have been impure with a man…
Tayo: Please speak up
Young Boy: I have been impure with a man…no a woman
Tayo: (coughs) sorry go on
Young Boy: I have been impure with a woman. I have disobeyed my grandmother and been disrespectful a number of times in this past year. I missed Holy Day Mass last Sunday.
Tayo: Are these all the sins you remember?
Young Boy: Yes Father. For these sins and all those I cannot remember, I humbly repent and ask for absolution, counsel and penance.
Tayo: (recites words of penance)
A week later
Tayo is invited by the board a few days after he notifies the head of the parish of the evidence he has gathered on Femi.
Tayo sits facing the five priests. The Archbishop seated in the middle addresses him.
Father: We’ve investigated the details of the issue you’ve presented against Father Femi. Father Femi has been a great addition to our parish and it will be sad to see him go. We have decided to transfer him to another parish.
Tayo: Most Reverend…
Archbishop: I am still speaking.
Tayo: I am sorry Your Grace.
Priests seated at the table share glances and whisper under their breath. They stop whispering as soon as Father’s voice fills the room again.
Archbishop: Your application has been reviewed and we have considered you to be a good fit. You have passed the evaluation. You are welcome to stay in our parish. Father Pious will take you to your new quarters.
Tayo: The period of evaluation is not until year end Your Grace.
Archbishop: The decision has been made. Indeed, God gives grace to the humble.
Tayo: Your Grace, and the boy?
Archbishop: I would like to make you aware that your stay in this parish is contingent on how well you perform your duties, I mean your confession duties discretely. I assume this should be common knowledge (stares at Tayo dead in the eye).
The priests seated look at each other and raise their arms and nod their heads.
Tayo: Yes, Your Grace but… (Tayo utters uneasily)
Archbishop: I shall not be repeating myself. May the Good Lord help us all to protect the image of the church.
All men signed the cross. Archbishop storms out of the room, the others follow.
Tayo remains seated at the same spot with his head bowed.
Tayo takes out of his pocket a flimsy piece of paper and looks at it. He had ripped this page from the newspaper a few moments before.
It had the following bold inscription:
“Call to report issues of abuse – 887 567”
He lifts up his head to exhale and sees the young boy in the distance, staring back at him through the frameless windows.
Tayo looks in the opposite direction and rips the paper in several pieces and walks out of the room without looking back.
Church bell rings.
