by Jane Aimee
Gold of Ophir
Jane Aimée
Dedication
To the Holy Spirit, my Teacher and Guide.
To Nkeh Nancy, a special friend.
Copyright Jane Aimée 2017.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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About this story
Thirty year old Bethany didn’t imagine marriage would take that dreadfully long to come by. She is panic-stricken and becoming bitter as the prospects of marriage look slimmer. She faces pressure from within and without. She is tired of being without a ring on her finger. God places different individuals in her life, but will Bethany receive the influence they are supposed to exert upon her?
The part played by Bethany and other characters make this novella suitable for singles of all age groups.
Disclaimer
This story and its characters, places, business and names of churches, are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names or true life scenarios is fictitious or coincidental.
Table Of Contents
Chapter One – Felicity, the Assistant Pastor
Chapter Two – Do beliefs matter?
Chapter Three – Another Woe
Chapter Four – A birthday party
Chapter Five – The frustrated teacher
Chapter Six – Accused!
Chapter Seven – Get the Fisherman's attention
Chapter Eight – Barry. F. Bessome
Chapter Nine – Gold of Ophir
Chapter Ten – Daphne's calmness
Chapter Eleven – A ring on my finger
Chapter Twelve – Ms. Loretta of Moyaka
Chapter Thirteen – Flying on Eagles' Wings
Chapter Fourteen – A Nervous Breakdown
Chapter Fifteen – It's him my heart loves
Chapter Sixteen –The ring on my finger
Chapter One: Felicity, the Assistant Pastor
"I have done some adjustments in the choir, and Faith will be coming in as lead singer and master of the choir whilst you are re-assigned to the children's church. That department is leaky ever since the kids' Pastor left and you are the right person I think should join the other kids' teachers and caretakers."
Bethany remained quiet for several seconds, trying to determine whether the decision by the Assistant Pastor was reasonable. She had not anticipated that decision when the female cleric asked to see her in the office after church service that Sunday.
"But Pastor Feli (--)"
The young dark lady was interrupted by the look of finality in the Pastor's face. "That's your new assignment, Bethany. I want you there. You'll meet the church secretary for materials and further inquiries as you may need."
Bethany thanked the Pastor and left the office, greatly displeased with the decision. She stopped in front of the next door. There were a handful of people there, waiting to see the Senior Pastor. Seeking his authority was her only recourse against the new assignment. But then she hesitated, feeling uncomfortable with the thought of making an appeal to him. How do you appeal to a man against his wife?
Disappointed, and with no other proper alternative, she went out of the building. There were scores of people around but she didn't spot George, who she had expected to see waiting for her after church. She stood at the entrance and let her eyes look all over. She didn’t see him. She went inside the building; there were still some people inside. She looked around but still didn’t see George. More saddened, she slowly walked out and away from the church property.
The Grace Tabernacle, Green-Way, Beaumont, was home to a little over six hundred adult members, besides children. Bethany was three years old in the congregation. Because of her commitment to the church, and what others called the anointing on her life, she had been entrusted with the role of the lead singer and choir mistress. She was unofficially the church music minister.
She loved it; the congregation loved her too. The decision by Pastor Felicity to reassign her was not only unacceptable to the lady but was going to get the disapproval of many in the church.
~~~~
A taxi dropped her in front of home, a small apartment building on a housing estate in the First London neighborhood in the Beaumont city. She shared the apartment with her friend Daphne.
Their living room was moderately furnished –a sofa, an armchair, a coaster, a reading table, two side stools, a flat screen television and a book case. The floor was tiled with ceramics. White lacey curtains and blinds hung on the window and doors to the two bedrooms, making the appearance look very beautiful.
Bethany was too weak to eat. She lay on the sofa, waiting for her housemate and Big sis– as she regarded Daphne, who had gone on a long weekend to the Moyaka Home For Girls.
It was late in the evening when Daphne came in. Bethany immediately set the table for dinner, while narrating what had happened with Pastor Felicity. As they ate, the two ladies speculated on the reasons why the Pastor could have taken such an out-of-the-blues decision. The female cleric had always loved the young lady's singing, and always insisted on her leading most of the times even when Bethany felt others should be given the opportunity. Even if a change in assignment was warranted, the Pastor would have, in normal circumstances, consulted and gotten her consent.
Bethany had the intuition that the decision was not taken from good motives, though she had not gotten any hint from the Pastor's voice or gestures. Daphne was cautious to concur; it wasn't in her nature to be hasty in making truth out of assumptions. She advised Bethany to take the new assignment calmly, but the discontented girl still desired an appeal against the decision.
"I will talk to Pastor Carl. That is the only option I think I have."
She expected Daphne's approval, which would give her reason to override her convictions. But she was mistaken.
"You do not dare pit a Pastor against his Assistant, especially when they happen to be husband and wife. It is better for you to submit, even in dissatisfaction, than to bring discord into the marriage."
"I wish I attended your church. But I thought the Lord asked me to stay at The Tabernacle."
"You don't even know the facts and you are already regretting your stay there? I think it's too trivial to cause worry."
Bethany didn't think her friend was correct, but she was not offended. Their relationship was deep, having started three years back, from the first day Bethany came to work in Beaumont as a Teller in the City Investment Trust. She knew no one there and had very little money. She had met Daphne in the dark streets, and she had taken her in, to spend the night before looking for a place of her own the following day. But that night lasted for years.
Beaumont was a metropolis, with a population of over five hundred thousand. It was home to many churches. Bethany had attended a majority of them to see which one she liked and had settled for The Tabernacle, and that didn't interfere with their relationship a bit. Not until then did she express regrets about not following her housemate to the Golden Gate Fountain Church.
"I hate working with kids, Daphne," Bethany spoke after a long pause. "I don't fit in the children's church. I guess you don't sympathize with me because you are a teacher and love being around children."
Daphne laughed. Her friend was right about her love for children but she would not agree with her opinio
n that the Teller and aspiring singer could not work with kids.
Bethany continued, "apart from working with figures, the next best thing I know how to do is write songs and sing."
"Bethany, at the moment you have no option, do you?" She didn't.
They finished eating. A tired Daphne went to her bedroom. Bethany lay on the sofa to think about George.
~~~~
At the parsonage that Sunday evening, Pastor Felicity served Mrs. Gotlieb her favorite Egusi pudding and white yam. The visitor friend was a light-complexioned, stern looking, albeit jolly, grey-haired woman in her fifties. The two women were at least ten years apart in age – the visitor being the older – but bosom friends. Mrs. Gotlieb always had every Pastor's wife for an intimate friend.
Many times she and Pastor Felicity would have a good discussion, with several agreements and amicable disagreements.
"Mrs. Gotlieb, I needed peace," the Pastor confessed. "I admit I'm a jealous person, but it was a necessary measure. From the day Carl stood up at the pulpit and commended that girl's voice, I can't stand her singing again. Sometimes I think I'm wrong but I can't help it."
"You should be jealous over your husband. I was jealous with mine when he was alive."
Pastor Felicity's touch of guilt for her action was relieved when she heard it was acceptable.
"But I hope she doesn't stay away indefinitely." Mrs. Gotlieb said. "She's good, you know."
The lady Pastor indirectly avoided the suggestion. "Mrs. Gotlieb, you know, a vocation like ours does expose one to many uncomfortable situations. The other day, I read in the papers about the affair of a certain Pastor with one of the church workers. I think it said the wife is seeking a divorce. It got me worked up. Only the woman loses in such cases. The man is quick to remarry."
Mrs. Gotlieb watched as her friend removed fruits from the refrigerator. Felicity was a tall and elegant lady, one who knew how to take care of herself. She had four children. But Pastor Felicity always made sure that she looked as young as possible.
"I understand. Try and keep your husband. It's good for family and ministry. But I must tell you that a man who wants to have an affair would still do. It's in the mind and desire, Pastor Felicity."
"And opportunity too, Mrs. Gotlieb, which is where I come in – to disrupt it. Carl said he believes she would make a good Pastor's wife. That is why I want her very less noticeable around the pulpit. We shouldn't knowingly give room for the devil, should we?"
"What if Carl wants her back in the choir?"
Pastor Felicity was uncomfortable with the question, but she was anticipating his reaction to the change. She explained her plan to inform her husband about the change and make sure it was irreversible. Mrs. Gotlieb showed her surprise, and the cleric justified: "It is good for family and ministry, Mrs. Gotlieb. The Tabernacle doesn't lack good singers."
Pastor Felicity then cleverly changed the direction of the conversation. She knew Mrs. Gotlieb had a favorable rating of Bethany and she sought to destroy it before her friend would want the young woman back in the choir and on the stage.
"Mrs. Gotlieb, do you think beautiful and truly dedicated Christian women should be single for a long time?"
The older lady answered in the general voice, choosing to ignore the perceived insinuation. "I know these-days girls. They set too high standards that no man can meet. Back in our days, we only desired a godly man; but today, they don't want much of that. They want much good looks and riches. And they forget to know that good looks don't matter much. Being without a man is worse than waiting all your life for a good looking one."
"But Mrs. Gotlieb, you think good looks are not necessary?"
"Of course they are, Pastor Felicity, but when girls want the man with the perfect nose, perfect eyes, perfect forehead and muscular arms, what do you get? Large numbers of single ladies around causing lots of trouble."
"I'd agree with you about the trouble, but I love the fact that Carl is handsome."
"Good thing you got him. Unfortunately, most these-days girls expect one that never shows up, and before they realize it, they are eager to accept anyone, I mean anyone, but none is forthcoming."
One thing Pastor Felicity liked about her friend was her reassuring nature. Never was there a time she didn't feel comforted talking with Mrs. Gotlieb. For the more than four years that she and her husband had been pastoring The Tabernacle, Mrs. Gotlieb had proven to be a true confidant.
"But Pastor Felicity, do you think it is the same experience for Bethany, – or every other single lady? Is she really setting too high standards?"
"Why, Mrs. Gotlieb. You said it yourself."
As the Pastor saw her off, Mrs. Gotlieb went again on the issue of the singer.
"Pastor Felicity, don't let that girl stay with the children indefinitely."
The Pastor laughed and said, "If she gets married tomorrow, she'll be back the day after."
Mrs. Gotlieb was sure Pastor Felicity was joking.
~~~~
The suspense George was putting Bethany through was getting almost unbearable.
How long does it have to take? I no longer have the time for prolonged relationships. I'm not too young for an extended dating period. This is still hide-and-seek. I hate the suspense.
She and George looked suitable for each other. She could hardly wait for the walk down the aisle –it had been a long wait, one which she was tired of.
"Lord, I pray that George be the right one. There is no reason why I should be single at this age. I have a job and I'm doing ok. Two of my juniors are married, with kids. Mum keeps asking me when it will be that I tell her the good news she desperately wants to hear.
"Please Lord, I pray that you convince George of your will for us and that he should open up about his intentions towards me. He is playing with my emotions."
Impulsively, she sent him a Sunday evening greeting text message, and waited impatiently for its reply. The wait was in vain. At past ten o'clock, after having checked her phone uncountable times, she put it off and went to bed. She found it hard falling asleep, but when she finally did, her dreams rewarded her. They were filled with George the entire time.
When she put on her phone after devotions with Daphne in the morning, she was still hoping that George's reply would come in. He must have seen the message later, when she'd gone to bed.
The reply did not come.
This is unusual. Her stomach churned as she took a taxi to work.
Chapter Two: Do Beliefs Matter?
The break room at the City Investment Trust branch at Beaumont city had the usual smell of coffee. It was 10 a.m. and a good number of the staff of one of the city's biggest financial institutions was in for the mid-morning break.
Kaleb talked loudly –he was known for that by his colleagues. It was also customary to hear him whispering, to avoid being overheard by the Manager, about his preference for something alcoholic.
"I wish a day will come when hierarchy will give us something more energizing than caffeine – something alcoholic."
Boyd, seated next to him laughed at the joke. "Alcohol is neither an energizer nor advisable in work environment."
"Boyd, hierarchy could do a study on that. Let some of you be given caffeine and some of us the alcoholic content, for a month. Then let them evaluate mood and effectiveness at work for both groups. I bet you those on the second group will have performances shooting through the roof."
The others, except Bethany, laughed at his description of the graph plot for his best results group. She listened with absentminded attention. She was not interested in Kaleb's talk because it was useless. Additionally, her imaginations as to why George did not reply her text made sure she was not amused.
Felaï, the naïve, newly employed housekeeper never ceased giggling and fidgeting with her muffler as she listened to the conversations.
The atmosphere during coffee break was always dominated by Kaleb's talk, and sometimes no one knew with certainty if he was j
oking or serious. If it was the latter, his gestures and mannerisms would not agree with his words, thus he had passed for the company's comedian.
"And colleagues like our dear young Felaï would be so energized and warmed up from the inside that they would cease wearing mufflers even in the heat of the day."
No one in the room remained without a laughing face, even in the smallest degree, except the comedian, whose face was as straight as it could be. Bethany shared the awkwardness with Felaï. The shy lady bowed her head and then gently pulled the muffler off her neck. To ease the awkwardness she felt, she decided for another cup of coffee.
"Please, Mrs. Yahfeh, pass the container of sugar this way," she said to Bethany.
"Felaï!" Kaleb shouted, "Don't repeat that mistake again. Don't come between Miss Bethany Yahfeh and her luck. Did you see any ring on her finger? I wanted to put one there but she turned me down on grounds that I am not a spiritual guy."
Felaï turned her look towards Bethany. The latter, unruffled by the comment, was looking straight at Kaleb. The undeterred comedian continued talking.
"I was initially intimidated by the fact that she is taller and a bit fleshy than me, but her stronger point against me was that I am not spiritual."
Bethany got up and left. It was useless to engage Kaleb to an argument because it would be like adding fuel to fire.
Later in the afternoon during his break period, Kaleb came to the front of his co-Teller's glass booth, when no client was there, and leaned against its walls.
"Bethany, you think I make a lot of cheek-in-tongue comments, don't you? Sometimes I can be serious. I often use humor, humorously though, to get the message across. I would want to know from you my chances of success before I embark on such a serious journey. Would you consider me if I meant those words?"
