The Last Fight (4)

By LAWRENCE CHITERI
Published December 8, 2009

Mother Hinda, Sister Tata and Father Zamisha are lost for words. They are people whose livelihood solely depends upon Bishop, and none of them has ever questioned his decisions. True they had divergent opinions each to themselves, but woe upon that person, who would as much as pluck the audacity to voice their opinions.

They have known the Bishop to be erratic in many areas in the past, but to think he would suggest that Hasho, his own daughter would be the replacement for Macho is far flung. They almost think they have-not heard him well, for a moment they even think he is too enraged by Macho to think straight; perhaps he must have wanted to say Father Zamisha, or some other person. Yet he had insisted and repeated his statement. They remain fixed on their tracks till Bishop confirms his decision.

“Sister Tata, you will take care of Hasho’s preparation, but before then, let us go through the induction of your girls, this would be the perfect timing for it. Meanwhile Father Zamisha, you will help preside over the formal induction. I will then want to review the issue of your boys, I must say, I am not pleased with your handling of them lately. Nevertheless that will come later.”The girls please!”

Father Zamisha was solely responsible for the group of young boys, whom Bishop called his sons. They were destitute, abandoned children from various streets in the country. The essence was to reinvent them into a different orientation, to know, serve and dedicate their lives to Bishop, through Father Zamisha.

The girls too were derived from the same station as the boys, but were exclusively under Sister Tata, who having instilled in them the tenets of this harem, brought them to the Bishop for induction through Father Zamisha. They were fed, clothed, and housed, in exchange for special duties as would uplift the designs of Bishop.

Macho was a product of this class of youth, and had meteorically been propped to be thought a priest. This is the station he also grew to detest, and the climax has been this very day’s doffing of the ideals; enshrined in Bishops philosophy of his infallibility. A group of girls are sitting idly, in an isolated room; they see Sister Tata and rise up in reverent recognition. They are meek, young and oblivious to their real mission here.

They are so naïve that, the only thing they know is undivided loyalty to their benefactors. Sister Tata raises her voice, “good morning girls,” and they respond in choral promptness, “good morning Sister Tata.” She relishes this diadem, thus with head held high, a cheeky smile on her face and a nonchalant gait, she responds, “thank you, now move across the house.”

The girls straighten up and leisurely comply, “good.” Sister Tata interjects, “now, glide, heads held high, hands akimbo, yes, a slight stoop, good… now, the chest up posture, more gracefully, slower, then stop.” Sister Tata is pleased with what she sees; she is all the time keenly trying to isolate exceptional cases, for further induction.

Sister Tata then goes sing song, she utters words and prompts the girls to repeat them after her, “a girl must be graceful, gleeful and spritely,” and they chorus this back, ”a girl must not cheapen herself.. She must strive to stand above her peers…and sustain her pedigree….”, they willfully echo her words. “Lastly, girls, Sister Tata is supreme. What did I say?” and they girls shout back in response, “Sister Tata is supreme.”

Nothing more than this section of her choral embellishments, made Sister Tata’s self esteem glitter in her heart. “Good, now sit down, rest and wait. Meanwhile, Sadaka come over….” Finally Sadaka is selected to be presented to Bishop through Father Zamisha. She is taken into an exotic room and prepared. She gets a new outfit, is spruced and make up is donned on her body. She undergoes a complete metamorphosis, and is ready for her presentation.

When Sister Tata comes before Bishop with Sadaka, he is waiting resplendent in his robes with Father Zamisha. Bishop is very business like, and immediately beckons at Father Zamisha, who promptly moves up the dais and, ”name your charge,” he addresses Sister Tata.

Sister Tata leads Sadaka to a slightly raised porch, and leads her to go on her knees. She was told not to raise her head throughout this session.”This is Sadaka, 13 next month. First and second stages of the ritual complete. Completed her eighth grade last month. Excellent grades, a jewel of the ghetto….no blemish,” Sister eloquently reveals.

Bishop, who has been keenly listening, and behaving like this brief induction ceremony, would be less eventful like the previous one, rises and moves some steps towards Sadaka. He gestures to Sister Tata, who asks Sadaka to rise up, and when Sadaka does rise up, the door violently flings open…

To be continued.

Related Posts