ANOTHER KIND OF DIAMOND (42 page)

That was another grand occasion, she said glancing through the papers.

You are right! I feel the same way! The outcome exceeded my imaginations, Ache confirmed.

How much did it raise?

At the last count, 2.8 million but we are expecting that more donations will continue to trickle in though.

Oh yes! 2.8 million isn’t bad at all. That young man turned out a big blessing to the church after all, continued Mrs. Ache.

I know! It’s true about what they always say; never judge anything by outward appearances! I say this because the first time I set my eyes on him I had my reservations. I thought he was one of those that make things difficult for everyone you know. But being a man of God I overlooked that and from the way things turned out, I’ve been proved wrong.

Oh well, you do have some points there because I felt exactly the same way at first. Oh yes! I had my reservations too but just like you, I’ve been proved wrong. He is simply not what we thought. After all, first impression could be wrong. I can see that within the years he has made even more remarkable improvements. The church never had it so good in twelve years as we have it these nine years Barry Pickles joined in. Mrs. Ache said.

He’s done well! Two orphanages built in six years, all very well maintained and in perfect conditions. That has never happened in the history of our church, Ache confirmed.

To God is the glory! Mrs. Ache continued. My tour of the orphanages last month opened my eyes to a lot of things, you know. Nowhere else in Johannesburg could I find any other orphanage like the ‘Parenting Demands’ and ‘Borne Abroad’. Those sure stand out among the rest. Seeing these homes made me conclude that Barry is a great asset not only to our church but this society as a whole. Now, this latest project of his is another great idea that I’m so proud of and I can’t wait to see it come alive, Mrs. Ache continued while struggling to get lunch on the table in time. And I think everyone made the right decision at yesterday’s function by choosing him to head the Building Committee in the new project because that will give him even greater opportunities to accomplish his goal. He even told me while I was talking with him that he is forming another unit to manage the funds for this latest project and I thought it was a great idea.

The idea this time is to help get kids off the street and give them a home you know. Is great! This is exactly the kind of thing we need in today’s society where many parents seem to be negligent in their primary duties of giving their kids good start in life. He has written so many articles, pamphlets and tracts too to compliment his establishments. What a bright young man with a sense of purpose! I’m really proud of him! Look at one of the articles he wrote recently, titled ‘Help him grow’. It’s amazing! I was going through it at the end of service when Frank handed them over to me and I found it quite interesting. You might want to take a look at it yourself when you have the time. Oh, he’s done really well. Having to go through school while running a successful store the way he does, and then giving time to all these? That’s no ball room dance. All I can say in sum is this; Barry is that son every man prays for, the Rev. continued.

But this thing about his wife, continued Mrs. Ache. I don’t really understand what is going on with that beautiful young lady. It is true good men end up with bad women and vice versa.

I disagree because sitting here before you is a good man that found his match in a woman. Both laughed over that before she bent over and gave him a peck on the chick. But wait a minute! Mrs. Ache said. I don’t recall seeing Barry in church today.

Yes! I noticed too. Quite unlike him! I hope he is ok! Added Ache

You know what I think? He was too tired to make it ‘cause that yesterday’s event was really busy and I saw him running all over the places taking care of business. That would be too heavy on any one, continued Mrs. Ache.

I think I should give him a call after lunch and see how he is doing. What do you say? Her husband asked.

I think is a good idea!

But while the Aches talked at their home, Wallis was sitting in his study browsing the Internet in search of nothing in particular. This is his own stress management therapy which he turns to too often these days.

He was on it when his house phone began ringing and he picked it up reluctantly. He wasn’t really in the right mood for issues at the moment but then he considered that the call could be from his wife or someone from the church, so he pushed himself to act against the fact that he wasn’t feeling any better right now than the helpless kids he is desperately struggling to rehabilitate.

Wallis’s original plan was to go to church this morning but for some reasons he couldn’t find the strength to get out of bed, so in heavy heart, he laid back and succumbed to nature.

The issue this time is this, when he got home from the fund raising event he labored for so much yesterday, his wife was not home like it happens many Saturday nights. May be is the ever presence of his friends and their wives at the church occasions he attends and the fact that he never shows up with his wife or that he felt he was losing track of her completely that bothered him most. But finding his home empty when he returned in the early hours of this morning, he quickly got ready for the night and tucked himself under the blanket on a bed which has become no different from what a bachelor lies on.

It is no longer secret that he and his wife lead separate lives like two strangers under same roof and as the man of the house an urgent need to put his feet on the ground and bring Isabel back to her senses to save his marriage continued to hunt him.

Eventually, Isabel got home at about 4am Sunday morning from supposedly another Saturday night ball at Penney’s but unknown to Wallis it was yet another time spent with Billy in his own Mansion.

The moment she came into the bedroom and laid beside Wallis, his heart began to pour in calculated attempt to let her into his exact feeling. I think you give too much time to this lady Penney and I don’t think you are being fair to me at all. It’s time to wake up Isabel. You just can’t continue this way.

And she flayed up, just like Wallis thought. Here you start again, she began. I don’t know what you want from me, Walls. How often do I go out, eh? One Saturday in a month I go party at Penney’s house, that’s all! You know Penney, don’t you? I already introduced you, right? You remember the day I took you to her house, don’t you? You can’t expect me alone in the house while you go for all these church stuff, okay? Besides I’ve asked you several times to come with me to Penney’s but you refused. So, what else do you want me to do, ah?

Come with me to the church! Wallis said in all firmness.

And I say no just like you refused to come with me to Penney’s.

Isabel! How come you never listen when I say something to you? You are always so defensive about everything, why? What is really going on?

You know what is going on Wallis. I’m being myself that’s what is going on. I’m the way I am, okay? And there is nothing I can do about that. I don’t even care about all these shit you bring up every time I want to get some rest.

Listen, you need to change your ways and I mean you need to do it now, Wallis persisted. You very well know we can’t continue living this way! We‘ve been married for years now and what could have made this place more like home than having children brought forth and raised in it but you don’t seem interested even though you know is the best you can do for me. I help a lot of other people’s kids, you know that. And because I’m involved with all these projects with kids and stuff, I see a lot of them all the time. I often have it in my head that is about time I start seeing my own flesh and blood too, okay? I used to think that because we were living in a small house, it wasn’t so convenient, so I had to spend a fortune to get this house. I spent even more to have a Nursery added because I wanted to encourage you Isabel, but even that did nothing to change your mind. This house is not what is meant to be, no! Rather than house of joy is now too large to manage alone since you do nothing to help out at all. I had to hire two house keepers, I hired someone for the gardening and all that, yet you don’t appreciate anything I do. What else do you want Isabel? No I’m serious. Tell me what you want me to do to make it better for us and I’ll do it. I really want us to make this work.

I don’t need anything from you, okay? All I want is this; listen to me right now Wallis; I’ve told you many times that I’m not gonna wait until it’s too late before I start anything that I want to happen in my life. But do you care about what I say? No! All that matters is what you want! Besides I need time to figure out certain things.

Things like what? Wallis asked in genuine concern.

My personal matters, okay?

Isabel, anything personal to you is also personal to me.

Not with the way you go about things these days Wallis. You already chose your way and Isabel doesn’t’ fit in any more. That’s why each time you talk to me you act like I’m some kid. But no! You might have hooked up with an under-aged girl but she is grown now. We don’t even have common goals, understand? You want a large family, I want only a child and that will happen when I’m ready. But for now, Wallis what I’m gonna be doing is Isabel ‘cause I’m not thinking about kids’ stuff or anything like that, and you know why? Is because I’m not ready! May be I’m not even the right kind of woman for you, get what I am saying? You probably need someone like that so called wife of your pastor you always say all the nicest things in the world about, ‘cause I know in my heart I’ll never become someone near what she is like. And since she is your idea of a perfect woman, find someone like her and marry her, period! You’re probably wasting your time dealing with me, especially as I’m not ready right now to give you the only thing that matters to you in this whole wild world, kids! If you ask me, Wallis I’ll say divorce won’t be a bad idea at all.

Divorce? Isabel, do you know what you are talking about? Can you even listen to your own voice right now?

Why not Wallis? I think is better we go our separate ways since I’m not good for you. I can’t give you kids that you desperately needs and I do all these bad things that you loathe so much, so why would you continue to have me as your wife, eh?

You’ve gone far enough Isabel. You better watch what you are saying to me right now, okay?

I’m serious about what I just said and you gonna see that I mean business ‘cause this time is not gonna be all talk and no action.

What are you planning to do? I don’t understand you anymore Isabel! I think someone is putting things into your head and you better get away from that person as fast as you can before it is too late. I may be forced to start dancing along with you if you don’t reason with me.

Perfect! Why not do just that, eh? What are you still waiting for? Come-on! Dance with me Wallis! Dance with me to quick ending.

Ok! You have done it! You’ve forced me to the wall and this is where the table turns. From now on we have it your own way, Wallis said.

Thank you Mr. slow learner! I don’t think I even wanna lie beside you right now so I’m getting out of here.

You better not leave this house this time in the morning ‘cause that means going for the last straw, Wallis reacted, visibly angry now.

At long last you’ve woken up to square up with reality, ha? What I don’t understand though is why it took you so long, she said before she went, dressed up, took the keys of her car and left the house.

Wallis looked at the time piece on the wall just for the records and it said 5: am. And as he lay on watching her walk away and considering her actions, he was convinced she has gotten involved with some kind of a dangerous animal out to deceive and ruin her life. But how can he prevent the doom he sees not too far off. Go after Isabel right now? He quickly discarded the idea because of his understanding of the kind of person he is dealing with. Doing that will only escalate the whole matter and could even end up in such a scene that would attract South African Police, so he continued to lie in bed.

And Wallis’s assumption about his wife was not wrong. Isabel may have certain ways of her own, but her association with Penney has rubbed off on her a whole lot. Is like what happens when evil jams a willing spirit and chaos follows.

Once Isabel got into her car she dialed Penney and quickly their conversation starts.

Hey babe! What’s going on! Penney who was up with a Movie in her room said.

Isabel went ahead narrating the hell of a life she is leaving under the same roof with Wallis as usual; can you imagine him telling me to go with him to see this Pastor’s wife so she can teach me how to live my own life? Can you even begin to imagine that? Penney laughed out real loud before she went ahead with more instructions.

You know what I’ll do if I’m in your shoes?

What! Isabel asked giggling.

Divorce him! What do you have to lose girl. He has lots of money and you can come out with so much just like I’ve done successfully twice now. Girl, life is a game of chance and you’ve to learn to play and win. Here is your chance staring right in your face, so take it!

Like you read my mind girl! I already told him that this morning Isabel added. Anyways I even fell for him for some reasons, understand?

What reasons other than his money? Penney asked with a chuckle.

Don’t worry about it anyways!