TEARS OF AN ORPHAN
EPISODE 21
© Mary Francis Solomon
When it was 2 P. M., Pastor James drove Caleb to his workplace to pick some of his items. On reaching the compound, Pastor James was shocked. The whole place was noisy. Bottles of beer were scattered around. Some boys were smoking, and some were drinking and chatting loudly. The air was thick with cigarette smoke.
Immediately Brian saw Caleb, he was overwhelmed with joy. He ran to him and hugged him tightly, but the moment he noticed the bandages on Caleb’s forehead and arms, he stepped back in shock.
“Guy, wetin happen?? I try your number yesterday. I find you, I no see you. And why you get bandage everywhere for your body??”
Caleb sighed deeply. “Bro, na God save me o. Yesterday I drink because of wetin Angela do me. I no even know say I dey cross road when Pastor James mistakenly hit me. Na him rush me go hospital. When I wake, he explain everything give me and say he wan adopt me as him son. Na why I come pack my things and tell una bye.”
He entered the small room and gathered his belongings. When he came out, Brian held his hand tightly.
“Caleb, abeg spend the night with us. Why you go just come and go like that?? We miss you. When you recover, you go still come do the laundry work??”
Caleb swallowed hard. “About the laundry work, I go think about am. I fit come, I fit no come. But right now I need recover well. As for sleeping here, I for do am, but make I ask am first.”
Caleb turned to Pastor James, confused. “Sir, please, can I spend the night with them?”
Pastor James shook his head. “No Caleb. You have medications to take. You need to recover quickly. You can visit them another day.”
He didn’t want him to return to such an environment. In his heart, he prayed silently:
“Lord, please change these boys’ lives and draw them to You.”
Caleb turned back to his friends. “Oh, I’m sorry Brian, my guys… I get medicine wey I must take this evening. I no fit sleep over. I need recover well. But I promise — when I don recover finish, I go come spend one or two days with una.”
Brian shouted joyfully. “Yay! No wahala!”
He added, “Your guy Samu — that black American — him ask about you. I tell am say you no dey. When he call again, I go tell you.”
“Okay, thank you very much,” Caleb replied.
Brian hugged him again, and the boys took turns hugging him and giving him emotional farewells.
Pastor James thanked Brian for taking care of Caleb and giving him shelter. Caleb put his bags in the boot of the car and entered. As the car drove off, he looked back at the window and the compound he had lived in. A quiet pain rose in him. He already missed the companionship and friendship he shared with his friends.
When they got home, Caleb told his guardians he could attend the night session of the conference. Pastor James was delighted and prayed silently that God would arrest him during the service.
Pastor Mrs. Peace didn’t return home in the afternoon because the women of the church needed to stay behind to cook the night meal. The youth conference accommodated those who came from far away, and the church took care of their feeding and accommodation.
Pastor James prepared lunch for the both of them. After a while, he drove them to church.
When they entered the church auditorium, Caleb felt a pang of guilt because it had been a long time since he last attended church. The deep sound of singing and worship stirred his spirit. He found a spot in the middle and sat down. At first, he felt disconnected. But when the praise and worship session began, he saw the youth singing and dancing wholeheartedly. He stood up, gently clapped his hands, and moved his body slightly, just to feel a part of the congregation.
That night session was so powerful that Caleb was deeply touched.
The preacher spoke intensively about drug abuse, drunkenness, and immorality, vividly explaining how alcohol influences a person versus being filled with the Holy Spirit. He said:
“It is better for a man to be drunk with the Holy Spirit than to be drunk with wine. Young people today are falling into immorality and drunkenness thinking it is survival. But God’s ways bring true freedom and life.”
When the altar call was made, Caleb rushed forward without shame, knelt, and prayed silently as he sobbed:
“Lord Jesus, please have mercy on me. I have gone astray and I have left Your path long ago. I have gone deep into immorality and drunkenness. Please show me mercy.”
Even after the preacher led the sinner’s prayer, Caleb remained kneeling, still crying. The ushers guided him gently to the vestry, and Pastor Mrs. Peace and a Deacon followed him.
Inside the office, they allowed him to cry. Peace handed him a white handkerchief. After some time, Caleb sobbed quietly, sniffing back tears.
The Deacon cleared his throat and spoke: “Brother, it’s okay. I understand how you feel right now. You think that you’ve failed God and gone far beyond repair. But my brother, the Lord is merciful and has heard your cries. He is so happy right now that you have acknowledged your mistakes and repented from your old ways. So cheer up, brother.”
Peace encouraged him and showed him scriptures about God’s forgiveness. She promised in her heart to follow him up spiritually.
Meanwhile, in Ibadan, Cynthia was being properly cared for by Mr. Henry and his wife, who treated her as their daughter. They ensured she was comfortable, well-fed, and guided her to Christ.
Even so, Cynthia was still scared, especially whenever Mr. Henry was home alone. She feared he might abuse her, and her heart would skip whenever he called her or gave instructions. To protect herself, she usually stayed in her room and locked the door from inside, sometimes sleeping or reading her Bible quietly.
As she was beginning to feel comfortable and enjoy her stay, something happened.
To be continued……
Inspired by the Great Teacher.
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Stay blessed, till we meet in the next episode.
Written by: Mary Francis Solomon.