It was late in the evening. Only Pastor Brown and his wife were left with their unconscious daughter. Mrs. Adigun had to leave eventually to attend to her own family but promised to keep visiting. Several people associated with the Browns including staff from Abigail's school had come to check on them. The couple were particularly grateful to the school's doctor who had rushed the girl to the hospital when he showed up-for the second time that day. Chichi's younger sister also showed up to comfort and keep her sister company. Arrangements were made for Olaoluwa and Chika to go stay with their aunt - Chichi's sister – till everything was okay, and only God knew when. Chichi had quit crying but remained anguished. Pastor Brown sat by his wife's side, her head on his shoulder when yet another bombshell was dropped. His phone rang, it was Mr. Olonade. He tapped on the 'receive' button hoping to hear the news of the old man's daughter's recovery so he could give all the praise to God. It'd be a welcome good news to lighten his mood.
The old man's words were incomprehensible at first. Sobs and hiccups dominated Mr. Olonade's speech. "Calm down Mr. Olona, what is it?" The pastor had asked. Chichi had sat up abruptly and became alert as she heard her husband ask that question with fear and panic evident in his voice.
"Lllo... Lola...," hiccups. "My Lola is dead!" Mr. Olonade shouted with pain on the phone. The pastor's cellphone had almost slid from his hands. He sighed heavily. He didn't know how well to comfort his church member. Lola was everything the man cherished in his life. She was all he had. His wife had died shortly before he gave his life to Christ and became a solid member of his church. This incident was salt on the pastor's wounds.
Pastor Brown comforted Mr. Olona the best way he could. The old man had informed him that they had already buried the deceased girl. When the call ended, he tried to stand up but he sat back as quickly as he had stood up. He was very weak in the knees and his head ached. This had never happened in his church before. Elderly people's funerals were seldom held, talk less of a young person dying. When he explained what had happened to Chichi, she had exclaimed. "This has never happened before, "She declared.
It was the pastor's turn to rest on his wife's shoulder now. He was weak, physically and emotionally, and Chichi understood what her husband must be going through. "In the world ye shall have tribulations. But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world," she quoted out loud. The pastor knew she said that verse of the Bible out loud to boos this morale. But for the pastor, it couldn't work because he knew if he didn't try hard to atone for the sin he couldn't remember he had committed, his daughter falling, and a young member of his church dying, were the prelude of horrible things to come. He knew he'd have to leave Chichi all alone with Abigail the following day. Washing his stained white garment was the utmost priority. He had to prevent other bad things from happening, and what was it that was often said, "Prevention is better than cure." His wife ruffled his hair lovingly and said weakly, almost in a whisper; "Let us pray."