MY FIRST LOVE – a novel
By: Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
(Day 1)
Eyimofe Eyituoyo sat with his daughter, Ama in the office of the secretary of Bright Future Elementary School, filling out the visitor’s form as requested by the secretary in order to see the owner of the school.
The thirty six-year old single dad, an Engineer with Sloane Oil Company had just moved to Victoria Island to be close to his workplace and he wanted to get Ama registered into one of the schools in the neighbourhood. Schools were on summer vacation but would be resuming in a week’s time for a new session.
Soon, he was through with the visitor’s form and returned the small paper to the dark-complexioned lady with braids.
“Alright. Just a minute please.” She told him with a friendly smile.
The lady picked her pair of glasses from the table and wore it. She got up and walked to the adjoining door on her right with the name plate – Proprietress. Knocking briefly, she opened it and entered, closing it gently behind her.
Eyimofe’s only child, seven-year old Ama who wore a white top on a short blue jeans skirt with a white pair of socks got up from beside him. She had spotted the books, toys and games on two round tables in a corner of the room separated by a panel. As she walked over to see them, the sides of her white snickers with blue stripes blinked multicoloured lights.
Mofe, as most people called him looked round the air-conditioned, cream-coloured office adorned with six vintage armed guest chairs. It was tastefully furnished and clean, with a small TV on a bar in a corner. The windows were closed as the air-conditioner was on but the drapes were pulled back to allow in sunlight.
His eyes went to the different frames on the walls. One was of the school’s pledge. He read it.
We pledge to care for every child like our very own, teach them diligently and give them a good foundation to make them successful and responsible in life.
Mofe liked that. He saw the mission of the school which hung in a white frame beside a photo frame. He read it also.
Our mission at Bright Future Elementary School is to provide a safe and caring environment for children to learn, grow and discover their abilities which will make them useful, successful, respectful and responsible in life.
Mofe was impressed. He had been impressed from when the security officer at the gate opened the black gate for him and he drove his opaque blue Acura TL car into the large compound of the school. The main building with a blue roof was painted cream but brown at the bottom. Mofe also liked the fact that it had a playground with swings and slides, and a basketball field with a spectators’ stand.
Two of his colleagues in the office had recommended the school to him when he told them he needed a good school for his daughter in the neighbourhood. They told him it was a good Christian school and their own children attended it. The Christian part didn’t matter to Mofe. What mattered to him was their recommendation that the school was good and his daughter would be in good hands. He hoped so.
Mofe’s eyes went to the name plate on the secretary’s desk. It read – Anna. He also noticed the frame at the back of the secretary’s chair with the message – In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:6.
Anna must be a Christian too, he thought as he looked away from the frame. It was okay to believe in God, he guessed. He wasn’t an atheist himself. He went to church when he had to especially on the last day of the year, and he believed God existed somewhere, watching over everyone. God was not an important part of his life though.
He sometimes wondered why people get very serious with religion. Even his mother and his three siblings: Toju, Alero and Tofe, were now born-again Christians, whatever that meant, and anytime they had the opportunity, they did not fail to let him and his father know that they were praying for them to become born-again Christians as well. If the females in his family became religious, he could still try to understand that, but why should Toju, his only brother join them? That, he could never understand! Religion was more a woman-thing, in his opinion. Before Toju became a Christian, he was full of mischief and got into trouble a lot. Mofe didn’t approve of that and warned Toju several times to be careful but he preferred that Toju to this new one.
Well, all of them could continue praying for him. He had no problem with that but he wouldn’t want them to try forcing him to change to be like them. That, he would definitely not allow. He liked his life the way it was.
To be continued.
To appreciate the LORD GOD – the real Author, Giver of life, and Rescuer, … and you the readers, comments about Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi’s ministry will be posted throughout this month.
Additionally, excerpts from her novel MY FIRST LOVE will also be posted throughout this month of May!
Read these comments, read the books, and be blessed.
To purchase hardcopies of these books, contact us on WhatsApp +234-8023000773
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If you have friends and loved ones, then you do have people you should bless with copies of these interesting and life-changing books.
It’s All About You – Jesus! Every praise to our God … ????????
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