TALES BY ALEX
ONE WRONG TURN EP5
if you missed EPISODE 4 clickhere!!!!

Episode 5
We got to church quite early, as it is our usual tradition. The compound was already bubbling with life. Different brands of cars packed around, reflecting the social status of the parishioners.
The entire compound was saturated with human activities, hawkers and petty traders displayed their wares anywere it would be visible.
People walking to and fro the walk ways, dressed in different attires. Some were simple and elegant like me, others were extravagant and flashy. Some modest and decent, others wild and provocative.
This was a typical Sunday service, the good, the bad and the ugly all meet here, some to worship the lord, some for entirely different reasons.
Which group do I belong to? I wasn’t sure anymore. I used to be a good girl, but the thoughts that have preoccupied my mind for the past two days, makes me doubt my own self.
Normally, everyone will go his seperate way as soon as we arrived. My mum and dad would find a seat, Osas will meet up with the man servants, while i join the alter girls. Ighalo was always a freelancer.
As i alighted from the car, i made towards the entrance to the church hall.
“did you not hear what i said this morning”? My dad said rather loudly.
“you are sitting next to me hence forth”
I did not want to cause a scene, so i stoped and waited for them.
My parents had a knack for picking seats at the front. This means i had to walk almost the entire length of the hall. The different eyes staring at me made me shy. I notice men, old and young staring at my butt, or looking up at my cleavage. I scanned through the audience hoping to catch sight of Ehis.
Mid way through the hall, i spotted Ruth among the crowd. I fixed my eyes firmly on her, hoping she would turn towards my direction.
She sighted me from her position. I’m very sure she would have come towards me, if my parents weren’t in front of me. My mum hated Ruth and Hannah. They weren’t the most decent of girls anyway.
She made a sign with her hand, to notify me that she will get in touch.
I marched along with my parents, with my head up high, trying not to notice the eyes starring at me.
We got a seat at the front row and settled in, waiting for service to start. Friends and wellwishers stoped by to greet my parents. I was really uncomfortable sitting beside them.
My eyes kept roving about the hall, hoping to see Ehis. He was nowhere to be found.
I turned round, to look directly behind me, i scanned face after face discreetly.
A little tap on my shoulder brought me back to my senses. I turned round to see who it was.
It was Osato, my little friend. Though just 10 years old, he was a little too smart for his age. His mother is a friend of our family.
He greeted my mum and dad, and sat quietly beside me. Osato has always been fond of me. We had developed quite a bond. His sitting close to me did not raise any suspicions.
I could feel him nudging me with his arm several times, so thought the space between us was too tight for him.
I tried to move away a little. Just then, i noticed his palm outstretched, between our tights. There was a neatly folded sheet of paper on it. This has to be a message, i was sure of it.
I looked side ways towards my parents, they were deeply involved in a discussion with the catechist.
I snatched the note from Osato’s palm, and hurriedly tucked it inside my bible.
Osato got up, and hopped away. His mission had been completed.
I opened my bible slowly, looking for the page were i had hidden the note.
I spotted the white paper, and pretended to be reading my bible. The message was short, but It’s very content excited me.“Behind the house of Mary, please wait till service starts”
I became impatient after reading those words. I couldn’t wait for the d--n service to start. I kept adjusting myself on my seat.
Although there was no name on the note, it was Ruth’s handwriting. The “house of Mary” refers to a small building at one corner of the church compound. It had a statue of Mary built inside. People usually go there to pray.
The sight of the reverend father walking up to the alter made my heart beat faster. The time to leave is gradually coming.
The reverend welcomed everyone to the day’s service. People scrambled to find their seats around. The entire hall was rowdy for a while.
Slowly, normalcy was starting to return. Everyone sat down, and the day’s service was opened with a hymn.
My heart and soul were completely detached from the church. All i could focus on was how to leave the hall without arousing my parent’s suspicion.
I got up from my seat, and moved closer to my mum. I bent down and whispered into her ear.
“i want to buy sanitary pad, my period has suddenly started”
“didn’t you know it would start today? Are you a small child, she answered in a rather irritated tone.
“it happens unexpectedly sometimes”, which was a lie.
My mum put her hands in her purse, and brought out a #500naira note
“hurry before you stain yourself”
I get to accomplish my mission, and also get paid for it, I thought to myself as I made my way out of the hall.
A feeling of eagerness, and excitement coupled with a little guilt dominated my heart. I wondered if Ehis was waiting for me there.
The church compound was much quieter now. The walk way was nearly devoid of people, save for a few people who were probably on a mission too.
I headed straight for the house of Mary. I could see a car parked almost behind the house, a black, Toyota camry, it had tinted Windows making it impossible to see who was inside.
Ruth was standing right next to the car as I approached. She opened the door to the back seat, and waved at me to go in.
My heartbeat raced as i saw Ehis inside the car. A smile enveloped my face. I could barely hide my excitement. He smiled back at me, and hugged me really tight.
He held my chin, and drew me closer to himself for a kiss. I closed my eyes, anticipating the taste of his lips.
A hard knock on the car window sharply interrupted our kiss. It was Ruth, she was trying to warn us of something.
I looked around, and saw my mother walking towards the house of Mary, with fury and haste, clutching on to my bible.
It suddenly hit me, i left the note in my bible. My mum must have found it. God, I’m in trouble again I said to myself.
Ehis saw the troubled look on my face. He smiled, and told me to calm down. Ruth will take care of this.
I doubted him, my mum was quite a detective.My heart almost came to a stop as my mum approached the car. I was quite uneasy. Ehis put his index finger across my lips, telling me to be quiet.
My mum walked up to the house of Mary, and began to look around. She went inside the building and came out. She came around the back, towards the car.
She headed straight for Ruth, who was leaning on the car. I bent down quickly, to avoid her eagle eyes. Ehis assured me again that my mum couldn’t see us from outside.
“where is Ella”, she asked, looking around suspiciously.
” I don’t know ma, i haven’t seen her today” Ruth replied.
“young lady, don’t tell me lies, are you not the one she is planning to meet here?”
” me? No ma , i don’t know were she is o”
” who wrote her this note?” My mum asked as she handed the note over to Ruth.
“Oh, ma its me, but i gave it to her last week. We were suppose to have a rehearsal here during service. You know she is in the legion of Mary,”
“so what are you doing here now”? My mum probed further.
” we just finished another rehearsal here just now, i’m about to leave now.”
“so were are the others then?”
“they have all gone, i was just checking myself in the mirror, that’s why you met me ma” she said, pointing at the car’s side mirror.
My mum looked at Ruth, with an expression of disgust on her face. Frisking her from head to toe with her eyes.
Ruth was heavily made up, she owned every single make up accessory a woman can have, and she had no restraint about using them. My mum hated make up.
“oya, get inside the church, mass has started” my mum ordered.
My mum stood, as Ruth began to walk away slowly. Ruth was a talented liar. Weather her lies were premeditated, or spontaneous, it was hard to tell the difference.
When Ruth was out of sight, my mum took a walk around the car, perhaps admiring It’s beauty. I could see her through the tinted windows. My heart sank when she bent down, and adjusted her headtie, using the side mirror. Perhaps she would have seen me if she turned.
As my mum walked towards the church hall, i knew it was time for me to leave. I have been gone for nearly 15minutes. The longer i stay here, the closer I am to getting caught.
As soon as my mum was out of sight, i told Ehis I had to go.
“But common, she is gone now, we can spend a little time together, i really miss you Ella.” Ehis said, in his usual gentle and pleasing voice.
As tempting as those words sounded, i knew i really had to go. If i take long, i don’t know which excuse to give my mum. I have never been good at lying.
“Ehis, I’m sorry, i have to go, my mum will come looking for me again.”
“but when can i see you again? I ll like to hang out with you” He asked, with a sad look on his face.i don’t know, I’m only allowed to go to church and school, i can’t leave the house”
There was a look of disappointment on Ehis’s face, he seemed a little frustrated. Deep down in my own heart, I’d love to hang out with him. But there was nothing i could do about it. My parents were everywhere.
“what if i pick you up from school?”
I greeted the question with a look of confusion on my face,
“how? ” i asked. Still very confused.
“i ll come and pick you with my friend’s car during break, i ll bring you back quickly. No one will notice you were gone. Ruth will tell you how to leave the school.
My mind went blank for sometime. i know Ruth and Hannah usually sneaked out of the school during breaks, but i had never followed them. I had no reason to. I still wondered how they were able to leave and return unnoticed.
I have always participated in the goodies they bring back from where ever they go.
I was really scared, but i had to accept. It was worth the risk, so i thought.
I unlocked the door, and attempted to leave, Ehis held me back, and pulled me closer to himself.
There was that look on his face again, and the pink lips. My heartbeat raced again. My head wanted to go, but my heart had a different plan.
I was still consumed in my thoughts when I felt his lips on mine. It was wet, slow and passionate like the first. I felt the flutter in my stomach again.
He began to move his hands towards my bosoms. I was scared and uncomfortable. It took every muscle in my body to hold his hand, and break the kiss.
“Not today please, when I see you on Monday” i said as I tried to leave.
“We ll continue from here, Promise?”
“yes”
“okay” he said, licking his lips in a seductive manner. I never knew what that meant. I had no idea what i had just promised.
As i walked towards the hall, me eye ball kept dancing from side to side, incase someone had spotted me coming out of the car.
As i approached my parents seat, my heart began to beat faster. I felt like a thief, i just hoped the guilt i felt in my heart hasn’t registered on my gave. I stole a quick glance at my mum’s face. She was still holding on to the note.
“when did Ruth give you this?” She asked as soon as I sat.
“last week.”
My mum gave me a long suspicious look, and turned her attention to the alter.
I was really nervous, but all i could think about was meeting Ehis on Monday. I had made him a promise, even if i barely understood the nature of the promise.
To be continued....

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