The Rita Side

"Praise Master Jesus!" "Hallelujah!!!" "The spirit is moving. Can you feel it?" "Yes pastor!" The energy in the church was palpable. Women were chanting meaningless words and men were dancing like snakes in a witch's festival. It was a strange scene for me. I had been an Anglican all my life until last month when my father died and I had no one to blame but God. I had done everything the church asked me to do. All the prayer groups and holy oil did nothing. I could not continue in a church that did not provide my most basic needs. Sister Titi, a colleague at my office had noticed that I did not make my usual silly jokes at work anymore, and she probed. I was a little embarrassed to tell her, but I was glad that I had someone to share my pain with. The least I could do was finally honor the invite she had tendered weekly since she was employed. "Come to my church," she said after asking how I was coping. It was two w...

(Inspired by Twitter writing contest) Story 1 I watched as my uncle left the altar happily with his new wife and the memories gripped me. "Come. I will buy you coke," he used to say just before he fiddled with my penis. After he forced himself on me, he threatened to tell daddy about the CD I broke if I ever spoke. It was painful, but so was my old man's belt and honestly, I feared that more. That afternoon, while people struggled with the caterers for their food, I pulled his wife aside and poured out my heart. She smiled and patted my shoulder. "We like it kinky. Join us when you can," she said and I pushed her away in disgust. How could she even suggest that? Did she really hear me clearly? Her husband was a paedophile and a rapist! How could a normal human being smile at such evil? I joined the honeymooners that night. I had no choice. The man had already destroyed me in a way that no one else could understand. As I let his wife lead m...