TENIOLA - EPISODE 3
(Written by Obisesan Abolade)

"Happy Birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you Tenny
Happy birthday to you"

It was the 24th day of November. The Kalejaiye's house accomodated neighbouring chidren, families and friends as the day marked Tenny's tenth year birthday. Teniola was the only child they could call theirs. Mrs. Kalejaiye had lost the ability to carry a child in her womb after she went through a hysterectomy just a year after their marriage. The doctors discovered a malignant tumour in her uterus and had advised to go through the surgical procedures to have her womb removed. Mrs. Kalejaiye had cried out her heart as she got the doctor's report. Her dreams of raising beautiful and godly children had just been shattered. What about God's promises for her life? Had God not taught her and trained her towards being a mother even while in her single years? What about the prayers she had invested into her future, were they all wasted? These and many more questions throbbed her heart as tears clung to her face. God could not have teased her with those promises, or could He?


"T-E-N-N-Y
Tennnyyyyyyyyy!!!"


They all clapped as the knife in Tenny's hand went through the cake. Her foster parents hugged her with so much joy and gladness in their heart. The warmth and comfort she got from the hug reminded her of her late biological parents. The first five months after the demise of her parents were hellish. She had wished she died along with the rest of her family, they would have continued from where they stopped on earth,  to enjoy the bliss of a beautiful family in heaven. She had missed having a twin brother, a father and a mother, and most of all, having a home. 

After the near collision with Mr. Kalejaiye that day, she went back into the kiosk she had as her home and ate the food she had stolen hungrily. She thought about her parents. Her father was a clergyman. He pastored a church alongsides her mum. They had loved God with all their heart. They raised herself and her twin brother up,  always talking about Jesus and how he loved them. Was this how God would repay them for His love? They had served him with all their life and the only way they could have died was through a road accident? Bitterness arose in her heart. She was beginning to resent the God she was just beginning know and understand. She cried again and wished she could avenge the death of her parents. 
In the midst of the bitterness in her heart, she knew her parents were in heaven. She knew they were looking at her. She knew they were sad as they saw and heard her saying bitter words to the God they loved. She wanted to die too so she could meet her parents in heaven. They had told her only those who loved Jesus would go to heaven. She could not risk dying without without to heaven, missing her parents for the second time and forever. What if Mr. Kalejaiye's car had hit her and she died? Where would she have been? Heaven or Hell? She was not sure. 

"Jesus, I am going to give you a place in my heart so that when I die, I would see daddy, mummy and Damilola in heaven. I would probably see you too, and ask why you allowed them to die."

She mutterred those words quietly in her innocence. A still voice within her replied; 

"I would restore all you have lost"

Was that Jesus? Was he promising her parents and brother would come to life? He could not have teased her with those words, or could He?

To be continued..

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jer 29:11