THE MYSTERIOUS PRAYER ROOM
EPISODE 5
I woke up with a dizzy head. I needed a long and warm bath. I dragged myself to the bathroom and stared at the big mirror. There were dark pools under my eyes due to lack of sleep.
I looked so much like my mum. Height, stature, pointed nose, curved lips and a porcelain skin. While mum was the jovial and easygoing type of person, I was more reserved like my dad.
I undressed myself, filled the bath tub with warm water and got in. It felt so relaxing. I closed my eyes as I enjoyed the warmth of the seeping water around my body. At that moment, I forgot all my fears and worries while basking in the euphoria of seeing a new day.
After what seemed like an hour, I got out of the bath tub. I went into my closet and picked out a suitable wear. I chose a denim short and a pink crop top with “smile” printed on it.
Yes! That’s what I intend doing today: SMILE!!!
I went downstairs after I got dressed and headed for the dining room to have my breakfast. I met my mum at the dining, already having sandwich and coffee for breakfast.
“Good morning mum”, I said while I sat beside her.
“Morning darling. How was your night?”
“Hmmmm… It was fine, I guess”, I replied while I cringed inwardly at the thought of what happened the previous night.
Unlike mum, I opted for cereal. I picked up a cereal bowl, poured some cornflakes and added milk to it. I munched gently.
“Adel, your dad called earlier and said he’ll be returning home tomorrow”, mum said.
“Wow! That’s great. I’ve missed him”, I replied.
Inwardly, I was elated because I’ll finally ask my dad some questions about the recent happenings in the house.
Mum finished her breakfast and left the dining to her room. I sat there in peace, finished my meal and took a stroll out to the garden to search for Temi.
…………………………………………………………….
I saw him watering the flowerbed. He was wearing a worn out coat which was stained with dust, a small woven hat and a boot.
“Hi”, he said, beaming at me.
I gave a sheepish smile in return.
“What made you visit the garden this beautiful morning?”
“Last time I remembered, this is my father’s house and I have a right to visit anywhere I want to”
Except the prayer room though, I thought within me.
“Last time I remembered, you don’t visit the garden in the morning, Adel”, he said while giggling.
He drop the hose he was holding, wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and was heading out.
“Where are you going to?”, I asked.
He gave me a puzzled look and said, “I need to get some fertilizer from the store”.
“Wait… Please I came to see you”
He stared at me for a second and burst out laughing.
“You came to see me?”, he laughed again.
I was offended and felt it was a wrong idea coming here.
“I’m sorry”, I said. As I made a move to turn back and return to the main house, he held my hand to stop me.
My heart skipped a bit as I felt his touch.
Staring straight into my eyes, he said, “Adel, what is it?”
“What do you know about the prayer room?”, I asked him.
He released my hand and kept quiet.
I repeated my question again and finally, he said, “I was 4yrs old while you were 2yrs. I was young so, I can’t really remember or say much. But one thing I know is, the ‘prayer room’ as your parents call it now, was not always a prayer room. The room belonged to Miss Laura your nanny”.
“Miss Laura? I have never heard of her”, I said.
“You won’t”, he replied.
“Why?”
“She died”, he said.
“What killed her?”, I asked further.
“I can’t really say; I was young. I once asked my dad about her and he only told me that she died when she was 16yrs old. He never told me how or where she died. As a matter of fact, dad warned me not bring up the discussion again”, he replied.
Strange!
But why did my parents lock up her room and decided to name it a “prayer room”?
Why did they never tell me I once had a 16yrs old nanny?
So many things were not adding up. Each day, these mysteries get more complicated.
I thanked Temi for his time.
“Adel, be prayerful”, Temi said as he went out to get the fertilizer from the store.
I walked back to the house, entered my room and started surfing the internet.
Next: THE MYSTERIOUS PRAYER ROOM EPISODE 6
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