"No, God, let me handle it. I’ll teach this good-for-nothing boy not to mess with me. Who did he think he was?"

Isaiah was having a heated argument with God as to why he should not deal with this school mate, who had tried his patience beyond limit. No, not heated argument. Angry monologue was more correct, because the spirit of God was quiet as he raved and resisted when God had told him to walk away for the sake of peace.
The source of his anger was his senior by one class, who loved to bully. That seemed about the only thing Festus knew how to do. Festus was huge and took advantage of his size to terrorize classmates with smaller build. Junior students were the most unfortunate as they were his usual prey.
Festus taunted and jeered and mocked till his prey’s self-esteem was dragged across the rocks all in a bid to spur the person into a fight with him which he most likely would win. If a fight was granted him, he was never held responsible, even though such sport was a grievous offence in the school, all because he “had legs”.
Isaiah was fed up. He had turned the other cheek countless times, ignored his jabs, avoided certain corners of school Festus set up shop, and walked away certain times as well to evade his Festus’ antics but all to no avail. Now he stood before Festus, though at a distance, as he threw derogatory words and made snide remarks. Better to think Festus stood before him, though it didn’t seem so because of the disparity in their sizes. But it didn’t matter much because he was more strength than size, unlike Festus. He still worked out regularly even though he’d stopped street-fighting.

He looked at Festus with an expressionless face but seethed with anger underneath as Festus continued his diatribe. All Isaiah needed to do was throw in a sentence even Festus couldn’t handle and ignite the fight the bully had been spoiling for. Would be a good way to beat him up and consequently shut him up once and for all.

Ah, yes. “Mummy’s boy” would do the trick. 

Isaiah relished the thought of putting Festus in his place and bade his time as Festus kept on. Isiah’s anger was gathering momentum as he watched Festus but his face gave nothing away.

“Look at him, holy holy. They’re always the ones that are usually worse off. Hypocrite!” Festus jeered.

Isaiah finally lost his cool and went into a rage that he gave expression to.

  Did you hear that, Lord? I’ll show him today.

Isaiah threw the words that would go in for the kill at Festus and as soon as they left his lips, he heard in his spirit;

 “You used to be Festus, before I saved you”.
Isaiah went still as the words pierced his heart and he was so filled with shame and remorse that he went on his knees. 

Dear God, what have I done?

Festus knew what Isaiah had done and he was so furious his body shook as his feet ate up the distance towards Isaiah. Festus’ mother always shielded him from trouble and he hated having to prove himself. He was old enough and his mother’s attention made him sick. Mummy’s boy? Festus landed punch after punch on Isaiah that told clearly what he thought of that statement. It didn’t matter that Isaiah was on his knees before he got to him. It was too late for repentance.

Isaiah shielded his head as Festus rained blows upon him but his heart was sorry. He used to be on the giving end of the blows and he remembered why he transferred to this school in the first place.
He had been like Festus, hiding his insecurities behind fisticuffs and at one time beaten a student to near unconsciousness. He was sent to the counselor’s office while the disciplinary committee met to decide the course of action to be taken. While he was sorry for the state Julius was in because of him, he had not been repentant that he’d beaten him at all.

Mrs Brown, the school counselor had droned on about the school’s rules and regulations and the consequences of his action and whatnot. He’d let his mind wander but it came back in time to hear her say;

“I know you’re hurt for some reason, hence your actions. Hurt people tend to hurt people. But it’s no excuse for what you did…” 

She’d led him to Christ that day and though the school threw him out, he was a changed person from then. How could he have fallen so? He was overtaken with grief for his actions. He had thrown petrol on a fire instead of dousing it.

I’m sorry, Lord, his heart cried. 

He repented and asked God for forgiveness, as well as strength to withstand temptations such as this. He prayed for forgiveness for Festus too, all of which he received with faith.
He felt peace envelope him. He looked up at Festus from his crouched position and held off another of Festus’s blow, quickly overturned Festus’ fists in his hands and apologized for his actions. Festus was shocked to his bones.

About four teachers arrived at the scene at that moment and saw Isaiah’s bruises as well as Festus’ astonished face. He looked shocked as though he couldn’t believe his eyes. Shocked or not, they were not going to let this one slide. He gotten away with too much as the Principal’s son. Two teachers took him away and the others shooed on-lookers and selected escorts to take Isaiah to the school clinic. 
Soon enough, the disciplinary body assembled. Their verdict was three weeks suspension with community service and an handwritten apology to Isaiah.

At the end of school that day, Isaiah was waiting at the gate for Festus. After apologizing to Festus, he asked, “How did you do it?” Isaiah smiled and responded, “It’s Jesus.”


OYINOLA PRISCILLA
MBBS SET 2019