Stepping into Maggie's shoes 25

PART 25 S.I.M.S
(STEPPING INTO MAGGIE’SSHOE)
©️OpeyemiOjerindeAkintunde

Big Daddy had slapped Big Mummy in my presence, and all Big Mummy did was to walk away. She went into her room and locked herselfup.

BigMummywasmymum’seldersister,Ihadgonetospendtheholidayatherhouse, when I was 8 years old. She didn’t have kids of her own at that time, so she always wanted me at her place during theholidays.

When Big Daddy slapped her, I expected her to return the slap or fight him, but Big Mummy didn’t do either. I later asked her somequestions...

“Big Mummy, why did Big Daddy slapyou?”

“We had a fight just like you have fights with your friends in school.” “Then why didn’t you slap himback?”
“Well,fightinmarriageisverydifferentfromeveryotherkindoffight,fightinmarriage has to do with a lot of emotions and when not managed it can be disastrous even to thepointofdeath...IfIhadslappedBigDaddyback,itwouldhavefueledhimmoreto keep fighting. So the best thing to do when one’s husband or wife is ready to fight, is to leave their presence because at that point they are mad and can doanything.”

The moment Apostle slapped me and I was about to reciprocate, the Lord brought back to my memory this scene from my early age, and just like Big Mummy did, I ran to my room and shut thedoor.

Big mummy was right, Apostle was stronger than I was, if I had slapped him, it would have infuriated him to slap and beat me further. A lot could have happened and somehow on the headlines it would be written that “Pastor Happy died of domestic violence.”

Even if Apostle would be prosecuted, my precious life would have ended. It was time toavoidthelioninApostle,soIwon’tbedevoured.Whateverhewantedtodowithhis life was his business. Big Mummy had told me back then, that most men and women whowerevictimsofdomesticviolencecouldhaveavoidedsuchiftheywerenottrying to get back or fight the person abusing them. She told me the best thing to do was to run away from the scene and avoid doing things that might aggravate theviolence.

I avoided him like a plague for about two days. I set his food on the dining table and retired to my room before he came out of theroom.

On the third day, around 6pm in the evening, I noticed some movement in the living room, I decided to peep. I saw Apostle lighting some scented candles on the dining table like someone setting up a romanticdinner.

My heart did swell up in gratitude... Finally, he was back to his senses andhe wanted to make up for his error of physically abusingme.

I rushed into the toilet, I freshened up, applied little make up and wore a tight fitted short gown waiting to be called upon. I didn’t want to spoil his fun, so I stayed in my room waiting to hear a knock at mydoor...

Iwaitedandwaited,butsuddenlyIheardthesoundofacardrivingintoourcompound. I peeped through the window and to my utmost shock, it was Mrs. Beecrofts’car.

My heart dropped. So it was Mrs. Beecroft my husband had planned this dinnerfor?

“God,whyisthishappeningtome?Whyareyouwatchingthewickedprosper?”Iwept bitterly.

Istayedintheroomnotknowingwhattodo,butveryquietly,Istartedhearingthesoft blues from the living room. I opened the door to the room very quietly and I saw my husband and Mrs. Beecroftdancing....

I walked down the stairsquietly...

“Do you care that God sees you?” I said as tears flowed voluntarily down my face. “Leave us to God and let God be the judge” Mrs. Beecroftanswered.
Thatgotmemad...andthenascripturedroppedinmyheart...thatwasit   even
JESUS reacted once in a violentway...

I went into the store and brought out a very sharpcutlass...

“What are you doing?” Apostleasked

“ExactlywhatJesusdid,whenpeoplewerebuyingandsellinginHisFather’shouse...
Since God has not been talking to you, I plan on standing in gap and speak some sensesintoyourbrainMrs.Beecroftorwhateveryournameis,ifyoudon’tgetout
of my house now, I promise you I will use this cutlass on you, and guess what, I will havenothingtolose,becauseyouwillbetheonethatwillhaveinjuriesonyourbody. Number2,youwillhavetoexplaintoyourhusbandandthesocietywhatyouaredoing atmyplaceatthistime,whichofcoursewillbeasurprisetoyourhusbandwhodoesn’t know that you are here, so make yourchoice!”

“I told you not to marry her, I told you to look for a village girl, but you told me she looked calm, and since she is psychologically imbalanced, she won’t be aproblem...
can you see?” Mrs. Beecroft said as she picked herpurse.

As she was moving out of my house, I took a broom with my left hand and was sweeping herfeet...

“Lord, I sweep away the spirit of buying and selling from this house in Jesus’name.”

Apostle was enraged; he was coming close tome...

“Apostle, don’t even dare, you slapped me and I have not been able to reciprocate, don’t force me to reciprocate with this machete in selfdefense.”

“You arecrazy!”

“That was exactly why you marriedme.”

Instead of him coming towards me, he ran after Mrs. Beecroft. She was not ready to listen to him as she insisted he opened the gate forher.

I knew what was best for me, I ran into my room and locked myself in. I didn’t want any physicalabuse.

He came in shortly and started banging my door, but I refused to openup... “Apostle don’t waste your time, I am not opening this door” Isaid.
Then the unexpectedhappened....

Apostle started weeping like ababy.

I decided to be human and open thedoor....

On opening the door, I met himsobbing...

“Why? Happy, please I know what I am doing is wrong, but my not doing it drives me crazy. I know I am going to hell, but I pray daily for mercy. I can grant you a divorce if youarenotgoingtocooperatewithme.Mylifeisdependentonmehavingintercourse with otherwomen.”

“Why? Are you in acult?”

“No, God knows I am not diabolical, this feeling is a part of me I cannot control. It is a spiritual force that is stronger thanme.”

“No, if you surrender to God, He will help you overcome thisforce.”

“Happy!, you can’t be preaching to me, I have read the complete Bible 12times.”

“But the Spirit behind the words of the scripture is not existing in your life, the Bible without the Holy Spirit is just a mere story book in yourhands.”

Then he suddenly raised his voice like someone possessed by ademon...

“Isaid,don’tpreachtome.”OutofAnger,hestartedpushingmeoutofthehouse.He pushed me out of the house and just like Big Mummy had taughtme...

“In marriage, you don’t struggle with an enraged man, at that time he is more deadly than a hungrylion.”

I obediently let him push me out till he completely pushed me out of thegate...

“Apostle stop this, stop it” I said but the lion in him was not listening. He shut the gate asIstoodoutsidemygatebarefootinaskimpygownandamadeupfacelookinglike a cheap callgirl.

I had no cash on me, no phone to call a taxi,nothing.

Idecideditwastimetogovisitingmymum,herplacewasabout2hourstrekfrommy home and since walking was a hobby for me, I startedwalking...

To becontinued