Chapter 2: Gods…Pftt

Chapter 2: Gods…Pftt

2008

“Guys it’s time for dinner”, the middle-aged but cherry-sounding female said with a tray in her hands. Her voice bellowed all over the house, and though on any normal day it’d be answered by “I need a minute ma”, a day when dinner meant ‘time to break your fast’, no one could wait any longer. The thunderous footsteps of kids and teens alike running down the stairs could be easily mistaken for the stampede that took the life of Mufasa; and before you could say “The Lion King”, eight of the ten chairs around the dining table were already occupied by starving kids. Laying the tray of food on the table she continued, “No one touch anything yet, there’s more where that came from” she smiled at the assembly of children that looked way to weary to smile back. 

First, she brought in a bowl of a variety of fruits. First, ripe-looking apples unapologetically mingling with the pears and bananas that courted each other side by side. Then another tray, but unlike the one before it that proudly showcased an okay-looking turkey, this one had bowls of ice-cream, yoghurt and one glass of a chocolate milkshake, flattering the kids at first glance. Lastly, she brought in a cooler of what definitely was the main course. The aroma of perfectly cooked Jollof rice was so persistent, you could almost tell it’s taste through its appeal to your nose. 

“Okay, that’s about it” she smiled, gradually taking her seat beside one empty chair to her left. “Now before we eat, I want to say to all those who genuinely fasted…” she said, glancing at a couple kids, “I appreciate your effort. Mary, Makayla, Taylor and Abdul, you’re the youngest of everybody but you stayed true to your words and you made it.” She glanced at the wall clock to her right, “6am to 6pm. Couldn’t be any prouder of you all” she smiled, blowing air kisses to the under-thirteen kids who desperately wanted something in their stomachs. 

“And as for you guys…”, she continued, her smile still on her face but her tone of voice swiftly changing, “…how exactly were a bunch of eleven and twelve-year-old’s able to ‘out-fast’ your grown asses. Yes, I know you bought stuff from Michael. I was once your ages to. But unlike you guys, I was way slicker with it. Whatever you’re doing now, I did thousands of times, years before any one of you were even born” she beamed a smile even harder. “I just hope that next time, instead of trying to turn it into a competition that you will obviously lose, you just stay true yourselves and your stomachs. Is that okay? Jon? Jay? Rob? Elly?” 

“Yes Auntie.” They all chorused in discontinuous rhythm. Well…three of them chorused

“Good. Now that we’ve gotten all that sorted out—”

“Yes” Abdul smiled, reaching for a bowl of ice-cream.

“Hold your horses there cowboy” The fair-skinned woman said, holding his hands before they could wander any further. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” She asked, her blue eyes piercing through his murky ones.

“Oh. Oh yes”, He drew his hand back. “We’re supposed to pray first.”

“Good”, she remarked. “Jacob, would you do the honors?” she innocently asked the dark, still boy a couple seats down her right. The murmurs and discomfort of everybody seated was too audible to unhear. 

“What?” he replied with his thin hands folded in front of his chest and his dark eyes looking unshakingly at his aunt. 

“You heard me the first-time son. You do the honors.  Go ahead and pray for us” She repeated without a slight change in emotions.

“I’ll pray” Abdul harmlessly volunteered. 

“Well I didn’t ask you Abdul”, she said staring at him, the smile on her face slowly fading off. “I asked Jacob” she turned back to him, not caring about the indifferent look latched onto his face. “So go ahead Jacob, we’re all hungry and waiting. Pray.”

“Why?” He asked, his hands still folded in front of him. “Abdul wants to pray anyways, why do I have to be the one? Why do we even have to pray in the first place?”

“Because we’re all fasting. And like we all know, before you break your fast, you pray.”

“I’m not fasting Auntie” he said, still looking at her dead in the eyes. “Damn that’s the only reason I ate. Not because I was hungry, just because I wasn’t fasting.”

“Jacob, I don’t know where this new energy is coming from, but you of all people should know that everyone’s got needs, and everyone’s got wants. That’s one of the many reasons we fast. Depending on The Supreme Ones to—“

“Who’s depending on the supreme ones, you?” He said, sitting up from his slumped back position. “All of you?” he continued. “Well that’s rich, but I sure am not depending on a set of ‘sovereign beings’ that really don’t fucking exist” He mocked.

“Jacob! You will not speak like that”, she said, starting to sound a lot more pissed off.

“I didn’t do anything aunt Mia.”

“Just pray. How difficult is it to just put your hands together and pray? That’s all I’m asking Jacob” she said, audibly getting angrier with every passing second.

“We’ll all I’m saying, is I don’t give a shit auntie. If you want to pray, be my guest. But I genuinely… genuinely, do not give a fuck.” More murmurs and whispers from the other kids began to ensue. “What? What?” He looked around the dining table and noticed all the uncomfortable faces that were trying to avoid his fervent stare. “Did I say something wrong? Did I offend them? Okay.” He looked up at the roof and said without the slightest hint of remorse in his tone, “Do something about it. Come on The Supreme Ones, I offended you. Said something you didn’t like, so do something about it. Strike me dead, send a warrior to cut off my head or something. Come on” He swiftly got up from his chair, still looking ferociously at the roof. “Do something!” he shouted, jolting everybody seated into complete consciousness. 

After a couple seconds of nothing but silence, he scoffed and sat back down on his seat. “Would you look at that auntie, nothing. Maybe they just don’t care anymore. So why the hell should I?”

“Jacob you forget that you’re still breathing just because of…”

“Forget? Like He forgot my mother Auntie, your close friend?”

“Damn, not this again” Javani muttered under her breath. 

“Like He forgot that your parents were locked in the house with a looming fire outbreak while you were out partying?” He looked at him 

“Like He forgot your mother was kidnapped by terrorists Abdul?”

“Like— “

“Don’t even start with me Jacob” Robert said, having absolutely none of it.

Jacob smirked, and then sent one last jab. “Like he forgot your law-abiding husband during a robbery Aunt Mia?” He said, looking at her, still no remorse in his voice. “So, to answer you, no. I didn’t forget. Never did actually. But clearly, they do. And I stopped depending on them years ago. I’ll work for what I truly deserve, and I promise you, when I do claim back what’s rightfully mine, that’s a hundred percent Jacob, and zero percent The Supreme Ones.” He stood up from his chair, tucked it back in and walked away saying, “I’ve lost my fucking appetite.”