Kenechukwu's eyes fluttered open and he blinked slowly, trying to adjust to the light of the room. When they finally did, the first thing they locked on was a figure staring down at him. Scared, he screamed as loud as he could.

"Intriguing. Is this how you intend to defeat your village people?"

The scream hung in his throat and his eyes adjusted to the figure. It was Somadina and she had this amused look etched on her face. Kenechukwu sat up and Soma straightened herself. She was in a black gown with her hands on her waist. She looked down at him with her mouth twisted. Feeling self-conscious, Kenechukwu dragged the blanket over his chest. Soma's brows knitted together and she looked around before her gaze settled on him.

"Why are you covering your chest? Are you naked?"

"I'm not wearing singlet."

"But you're wearing shorts? Abi your own penis is on your chest?"

As if he didn't know where his penis was supposed to be located, Kenechukwu raised the blanket up and peeked in. He wore a thoughtful expression as he stared into the blanket and at himself. Soma made to pull the blanket off him but he screamed and wrapped it tighter around his chest.

"What are you doing?" He demanded.

"What are you hiding?"

"My privacy."

"Your rib cage?"

Kenechukwu frowned and glared at her. "What are you doing in my room?"

"It's morning already."

"Saturday morning."

"Does it matter the day? What's our breakfast option looking like?"

Kenechukwu marvelled at her audacity. He knew for a fact she was allowed breakfast; it was his Christian duty. But he also knew the line of doing a Christian duty was drawn when the guest starts to play housemate. She had to know she wouldn't be living with him at all. but then, never mind that, she woke him up this early simply because she wanted to eat breakfast. What was wrong with some people?

"Get out of my room."

Soma scoffed but complied anyway. When the door shut behind her, Kenechukwu sighed gratefully. He got up and knelt beside his bed. He read his Bible and prayed. In his prayer, he tabled his problems before God before proceeding to remind God that he was his son and nobody else's. Next, he prayed for the protection of Zikachi, grace and blessing on his Uncle, his wife and daughter; grace to not fall into Chinaza's trap and a safe whooshing of Somadina back to where she came from. He thanked God for listening to his prayer and stood up to go to the bathroom. Stopping at the door to the bathroom, he decided to exercise because a little exercise never hurt anyone.

He decided a push up was a better one to start with. He laid on the floor with his stomach touching the floor. His hands slapped down on the floor and he attempted to lift himself up. It was a real struggle after the first one. His arms trembled a lot and his lower body refused to cooperate. Kenechukwu sighed and got up from the ground. Some things were not meant for everyone.
He hit the shower and whistled a tune only he knew about. He got dressed in khaki shorts and black shirt and headed downstairs. Somadina was sitting at the foot of the stairs. On seeing him, she got up and clapped her hands once.

"Behold, the man of the hour. I almost died of hunger."

Kenechukwu walked past her and she followed behind him. He walked into the kitchen with Somadina behind him dropping request of what he should prepare.

"Try Indomie and egg. Toasted bread with egg sauce. No, no, fried yam and Pap or Golden Morn."

Kenechukwu pulled open the cupboard and brought out a pot. He settled on making Indomie since it'd be quicker to cook.

"Have you eaten any of those things?"
Somadina scoffed. "Do you really think we're suffering? I'm a beauty of the gods, we get offerings every time."

Kenechukwu poured water into the pot from the tap and place it on the gas. He turned on the gas and looked up at her. "I thought you're a messenger of the gods."

"I am. When I go back to the village, I am a beauty of the gods. But right now, right here with you, I'm a messenger of the gods and that's it."

Kenechukwu walked over to the top cabinet and pulled open the drawer. He brought out four packs of Indomie and walked back to the kitchen island.

"So you're what? A multipurpose plan?"

"And you're what? One of those creeps that live in a big house alone?"

Kenechukwu tore the Indomie sachets and emptied its content into the boiling pot of water. He quickly chopped onions and peppers and threw it inside the pot. In no time, their breakfast was ready. Somadina settled into the dining table in the kitchen and waited patiently for Kenechukwu to dish their meal. Kenechukwu dished out the meal quickly and placed a plate of hot steaming Indomie before Somadina who smiled in gratitude. He sat down and they ate in silence. He had his day mapped out, he'd go see the pastor and seek advice and then he'd call Zikachi and tell her what the pastor said. He missed not calling Zikachi in the morning and it had something to with letting her sleep because she went to bed late. Stupid fashion camp.

"Have you reached a decision?"

Kenechukwu raised his head and found Somadina looking down at him, her plate empty. She ate fast.

"About what?"

"Coming to the village to pay tribute to Ani and Amadioha."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Somadina sighed. "Listen Kenechukwu Nwodo, if you don't come back with me, you'll know misfortune like you've never did."

"I am a child of God and no weapon formed against me shall prosper."

"I think you'll find that it will prosper."

"The Lord doesn't forsake his righteous."

Somadina nodded solemnly. "Forsake? Let them fall into adversity? What difference does it make to Him? Doesn't your Bible mention a Job? Are you more righteous than Job? As a child of the gods, it's only natural you go and pay reverence to your parents. Your unearthly parents."

"I need to see my father."

"Now we're talking."

"Not Amadioha. Not that I'm agreeing to Amadioha being my father."

"God?"

"My father."

"I thought he died."

Kenechukwu stood up with a frown printed on his face "I meant my uncle."

Somadina nodded in understanding. "What's he supposed to do? Listen Kenechukwu Nwodo, nothing can stand between you and your village people once your period of grace expires. I assure you, your village people will come down on you in a force that will put the ten plagues to shame."

Kenechukwu stood up and hurried out of the kitchen. Somadina stood up and followed after him. "Listen Kenechukwu Nwodo, don't be rash. Just respect yourself and do what is right. Come back to the village with me."

She didn't follow him as he went up the stairs. He didn't wonder why; he was too busy thinking about his uncle. Once in his room, he grabbed the keys to the Hyundai and hurried back down. Somadina met him there and tried to convince him to come back to the village with her.

"Kenechukwu Nwodo, look let me tell you, Beatrice Anyawu tried this same nonsense you're doing. She ended up losing everything and her life included. Don't let your ego be the end of you."

Kenechukwu opened the door and the last thing he heard Somadina say before shutting the door was, "at least come back early and cook afternoon food."

He stopped and turned back to open the door. She must have convinced herself that she was going to stay her for a long time. He opened the door and found her standing in front of it.

"Ah, thank the gods you've returned to your senses."

"Please be gone before I get back," was all he said and shut the door.

Kenechukwu got into the car and drove to the gate Pam had already opened. He halted once he was almost outside to greet Pam.

"Oga, good morning."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"I trust your night was blissful."

"It was alright."

Kenechukwu nodded. "Have you eaten?"
"Yes sir. Thank you, sir. I hope you slept well."

Kenechukwu nodded again. "I did. Thank you. Bye bye, take care."

"Bye bye. Drive safely."

Kenechukwu nodded and drove into the empty street. He loved his estate. Everyone minded their business and would rather die than put their nose where it wasn't needed. They also minded their business to the point where being your brother's keeper was none existent to them. Wasn't it last year that Iya Benji heard screams from the next compound but did nothing because it was none of her business. It was God's grace that saved Michael from being pummelled to death by his then girlfriend. And they said only females were abused.

***

Chinedu Iheanacho, Kenechukwu's Uncle turned father, was a short man with potbelly. He had dark skin and was bald. He laughed as if it was the last time he was going to do it. And each time he laughed, the corner of his eyes crinkled and tears gathered in them. The sound of his laugh, once it hit your ears, drew laughter from you. Unless of course you were the one being laughed at. He held onto his stomach whenever he found something incredibly funny the way he was doing now.

"So let me understand something," his uncle said amidst laughs. It took a while but he was able to calm himself. "There's a girl in your house that brought a letter from your village people."

"Yes."

That set his uncle off again. They'd been at this for a long time now and Kenechukwu was starting to regret encouraging his Uncle when he laughed at Ezinne. Usually, Kenechukwu would laugh along. He believed his uncle's laugh was contagious but now he understood why Ezinne never laughed along.

"Daddy na."

"Oya sorry, sorry. So this letter, what does it say?"

Kenechukwu handed the letter to his uncle. The older man picked up his glasses and wore it. His eyes skimmed through the pages and at one point, His uncle's laugh played again.

"They said you're not even fine," and then he was on again. He laughed so loud tears dropped from the corner of his eyes. "Ezinne would be sad she didn't witness this one."

"Where's Ezinne?"

"Who knows these days."

Kenechukwu sighed. He wished Ezinne was around to help him. She'd laugh no doubt, but at least she won't be laughing after every two second. He should have just gone to the pastor.

"What about mummy?"

"She said she coming since in the morning. It's approaching midnight and she's nowhere to be seen."

"It's still ten o'clock."

His uncle rolled his eyes. "Who's Princewill?"

"I don't know."

"Have you tried imagining their roofs? It's almost as if they don't have one. Imagine the millions of bucket set in every corner of the room. They put the business in bucket business."

"What should I do?"

"About what?"

Kenechukwu looked at him incredulously. He couldn't be serious.
"Don't tell me you're taking this seriously."

"I have a messenger, a message and a theory about how I'm a child of the gods. I don't know, should I not take it seriously?"

His uncle brow rose and Kenechukwu felt the jealousy he felt during his childhood. Every one of them excluding his aunt could raise one of their brows. That was how they bonded, him and his aunt. The guild of two brows raisers.

"A child of the gods?"

"That's what she said. That my mother begged Ani for me and she sent me to her."

His uncle pursed his lips and his brows creased. Kenechukwu watched his eyes stare at a particular spot on the glass table.

"Is it true?"

His uncle raised his head to look at him. "Is what true?"

"My being a child of the gods."

"How would I know? I didn't escort your mother you know. The only thing I know is my sister stayed a long time without a child and then one day, she was pregnant."

"And you didn't think to ask her where she got a child from?"

"It's like you're mad. So what do you think I was going to do when she called me all happy and joyous about finally having a child. Should I have said, 'Oh Chinelo, where ever did you get a child from?' Listen, you're who you believe you are. End of story."

Kenechukwu nodded his head and sighed heavily before leaning back into the chair. He was God's child, he knew that but then again Soma was in his house playing spy and messenger.

"Come to think of it, I wonder where you mother got the phone to call and inform me of your conception. You don't suppose your unearthly parents gave it to her." And then he was off again. Laughing and clutching his stomach like he won't be doing it again.

***

Before Kenechukwu left, his uncle had complained about daughters who never had time for their fathers and mothers who left their husband's to play with friends and sons who once they acquired big houses and cars never came to greet their fathers. And the he laughed after he said Kenechukwu's village people thought him ugly.

Next on Kenechukwu's list of place to go was the church to see the pastor. He wasn't worried about the pastor not being in, it was a Saturday and the pastor had to be in church. It was counselling Saturday and the pastor will be talking to the church's spiritually disturbed. And if things go according to the village people's plan, he'd be among them. Kenechukwu parked in the parking lot and walked the rest of the way to the main church.

The counselling session held beside the main church in the pastor's office. Those who seek counselling were expected to sit in a waiting room that was beside the pastor's office.

Kenechukwu joined them and lowered himself into the plastic chair. He didn't even know most of the members but they all knew him. Greetings came from each of the six people in the waiting room with him. He greeted back and smiled back at them.

"I want the pastor to deliver my daughter," the woman sitting next to him said. She wasn't looking at him, but Kenechukwu knew she was speaking to him. Her eyes were watching a little girl who was playing with a doll. The little girl wore a red dress but didn't seem interested in the doll.

"From what?"

The woman looked at him now like he was asking an absurd question. He realized only then that everyone was looking at him like he was asking a stupid question.

"She's an Ogbanje," another woman said. "A water spirit."

Kenechukwu looked back at the little girl. As if realizing she was being watched, the little girl lifted her head and met Kenechukwu's gaze. Kenechukwu smiled softly at her but she didn't return the gesture. Kenechukwu wondered what the girl went through already being stigmatized for being an Ogbanje.

"You know, she's gone and returned three times now. I didn't even ask the water children for a child, I asked Ani for one."

Kenechukwu shot her an incredulous look. "You asked Ani for a child?"

The woman's face got all rumpled up, her tone changed too. "That was before I became a Christian. I was paying homage to her but that was until I realized she let the water children give me a child. Ani can be quite the comedian. I don't want my child to be a water child anymore that's why we came. The pastor shall deliver her."

"Amen!" the others chorused loudly.

Kenechukwu said nothing, he just watched the little girl. What were the odds that the little girl would have been his unearthly sister? Kenechukwu shook his head, the only unearthly thing about him was God. He was a child of God and he belonged to God. End of story.

One by one, they all disappeared into the pastor's office and each one came out with a smile. Finally, Kenechukwu and the woman with the Ogbanje daughter stood up, left the room and Kenechukwu followed them with his eyes until he could no longer see them. He was the only one left now.

He busied himself with thoughts of how to present his issue to the pastor. A long while later, the woman returned to the room.

"The pastor said he'll come and do special deliverance in our house. He said everything will be fine."

Kenechukwu smiled genuinely at her. "I'm happy for you and also you need to pray more. The God we serve will never fail us. I'll be praying for you."

The woman smiled widely at him. "Thank you. Thank you so much. Ese gan."

Her daughter held Kenechukwu's hand before looking up and smiling at him. Kenechukwu smiled back and kissed her on her hand. "Be a good girl."

"She doesn't do that."

"Do what?"

"Smile and hold other people."

She must know we're somehow related then, Kenechukwu thought. He shook his head; he shouldn't be having thoughts like this. The woman gently pulled her daughter along after telling Kenechukwu that they had to go and he should go see the pastor. Kenechukwu followed behind them and waved them goodbye as they parted ways.

He got to the door to the pastor's office and breathed deeply. He tried to shake off some nerves. Finally, he knocked and pushed open the door.

The pastor was already looking at the door with his phone in his hands. The second he saw Kenechukwu, he stood up and smiled widely.

"Brother Kenechukwu, how are you?"
"Good afternoon, pastor," Kenechukwu shook the pastor firmly and sat down after the pastor.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine, sir."

"And Zikachi?"

"She's good also."

"Good, good. So what brings you here today."

Kenechukwu dipped his hand in his pocket and pulled out the later and handed it to the pastor. The pastor took the paper and started to read through it.

"This is incredible. I never knew they wrote letters; you must be very important."

Kenechukwu told him the bit about being a child of the gods. The pastor sat up and looked at him.

"I trust you've started praying and fasting."

Kenechukwu groaned and shut his eyes. Damn Somadina, damn Breakfast and damn that plate of hot steaming Indomie.