BN Book Excerpt: In Our Own Ways by Yejide Kilanko

Senami watched as Fadaka modified into an historic adire dress, cleaned off her build-up, and eradicated her jewelry. All Aunty Kike’s instructions. It sounds as if, the plainer your dressing, the extra spiritually connected you turn into. 

“While you occur to transfer on this offended verbalize, you’ll sabotage the prayers,” Senami said in a soft tone. 

Prayer Saboteur. Fadaka kissed her enamel. One extra title for Pseudo Mama to throw in her face. “I’ve urged you to please high-tail away me alone.”

After retaining her hair with a shawl knotted under her hair, Fadaka picked up her overnight uncover and moved in the direction of the door. 

Senami blocked her path with his palms stretched out. “Hug? I esteem what you’re doing for us.” 

As soon as she urged him optimistic, Senami remodeled into a further-attentive husband. He did chores sooner than she said the relaxation. “Your aunty’s waiting.” 

Senami sighed as he moved out of the style. 

Aunty Kike spoke up when Fadaka picked up her car keys from the table. “Leave that on the support of,” she commanded. “The bridge to the church washed away in the middle of last month’s heavy rains.” 

“Nevertheless how are we going to uncover there?” Fadaka asked.

“There is something of us call public transport,” Aunty Kike said. “We are going to design discontinuance it to Loburo and stroll the relaxation of the style.” 

Fadaka changed into once no longer in a trekking mood. She grew to turn into to Senami. “Can I park nearby?” 

“I wouldn’t design discontinuance my car,” he said. “It received’t be there in the morning.” 

Fadaka dropped her keys. “Then maybe you will beget to mild force us.” 

Senami started scratching his head. “I’m sorry I’m able to’t. Within the morning, I beget a in actuality significant industry assembly.” 

“Fadaka, now we must high-tail,” Aunty Kike interjected in an impatient tone. 

Quiet, Fadaka gave Senami a unclean see. One evening, and it would possibly perhaps perhaps most likely presumably perhaps well all be over.

***

A deep orange solar sank below the horizon as Fadaka held up her dress and ran across the busy four-lane Throughway at Loburo. Minutes later, she and Aunty Kike walked as much as a weathered concrete bridge. 

Didn’t Aunty Kike verbalize the bridge had washed away? She glanced on the girl. Her brooding expression conveyed that she changed into once no longer inaugurate to questions. They stepped off the bridge, and she followed Aunty Kike down a wide, untarred road that regarded as if it would possibly perhaps perhaps most likely presumably perhaps well haven’t any stay. Fadaka’s toes ached as they walked past incomplete constructions overgrown with wild bushes. She must beget skipped over her irritation with Senami and insisted he give them a trudge to the church. 

Lastly, they arrived on the stay of the avenue. Aunty Kike stopped in front of an unpainted bungalow. Fadaka changed into once relieved that the wide wood plank placed across the inaugurate gutter held their weight. 

On account of the fading light, Fadaka squinted on the signal in front of the constructing. The courageous dusky lettering learn: ONE CHANCE CELESTIAL MINISTRY. 

The empty courtyard astonished Fadaka. Where had been her fellow miracle seekers? “It’s mild,” she said. 

“That is the set Prophet Ananias conducts his particular prayer classes,” Aunty Kike said. “The predominant church constructing is on the next avenue.” 

“What enact you mean by particular prayers?” 

Aunty Kike broke their ogle. “Deliverance classes for barren girls.” 

They grew to turn into on the sound of footsteps. A stout middle-veteran man walked out of the church constructing. Barefoot, the perimeter of the flowing, pristine white robe he wore changed into once the color of grime. 

Aunty Kike’s expression grew to turn into bashful. “Greetings, my Celestial Lordship.” 

Prophet Ananias grinned. “Sister Kike. I beget urged you several times. I am a servant, a mere messenger. Such lofty titles belong to winery labourers who are increased than me.” 

The prophet’s mouthful of keen, spike-care for enamel made Fadaka recoil. 

The adoring light in Aunty Kike’s eyes glowed. “Yes, Prophet.” 

She gave the pot-bellied prophet a nearer see. Food fasts would possibly perhaps presumably perhaps no longer be weapons in the man’s spiritual arsenal. The prophet grew to turn into in her path. “You desires to be Sister Fadaka.”

***

On the trip bank, the prophet stretched out his hand. Fadaka skipped over it. She gasped after entering into the chilly water.

Prophet Ananias tugged on Fadaka’s arm, and they also waded extra into the trip. When he stopped, the water changed into once several inches above Fadaka’s knees. 

Within the murky light, the prophet’s face blurred. Nevertheless she will be able to also mild smell him. The musky odour grew to turn into her belly. To ease the tightness in her chest, she took a deep gulp of air. 

The prophet started giving her a bath, buzzing as he rubbed the sponges in circles on her skin. As he scrubbed Fadaka’s face, gritty charcoal particles from the soap obtained into her mouth. She spat them out. 

The prophet pushed his hand between her thighs and scrubbed onerous. Fadaka cried out. “Please…discontinue.” 

Prophet Ananias panted. “Um…now we must make certain that it is doubtless you’ll presumably perhaps well also very successfully be ready to receive the visitor.”

Fadaka frowned. There changed into once going to be a visitor? 

Seven times, the prophet circled the sponges above her head. He threw them some distance into the trip. Fadaka’s enamel chattered from the chilly as she watched the sluggish water carry the sponges away. 

Prophet Ananias’s surprising exclaim made her jump. “Any individual praise Jah Jehovah!” 

She stared at him as Aunty Kike’s loud hallelujah echoed in the distance.

_

In Our Own Ways is written by Yejide Kilanko and revealed by Account Rupture out.