Even gods cry

Patience is most needed

In this world oft hurrying near.

PATIENCE

Albrin Junior

Patience is most needed

Oft in this world hurrying near, The ruins of wear and tear

Washes away heeded calls.

Man's misery is become great;

O! Ye men of little faith, Forgoes God of mighty deeds, Bolts past time always there, In reality, runs from fear unknown.

PART ONE

"Every drop of tears has its meaning. There can be no fire without smoke"

PROLOGUE

Lagos state 2013

William Craig strode into the living room with heavy footsteps, and unwilling to shake away the remaining fragments of sleep lurking behind his azure eye. In between his dim lit eyes, he could see his parents watching a worship show on TV, he winced. He didn't believe in the spiritual neither in the traditional, rather, he was of logic and nothing more. He wasn't an atheist as he was often mistaken for, he knew and believed there was a God somewhere, he just didn't care who and where this God dwelt.

'Good morning mum, dad, ' he said laggy, almost drooling. He lets out an unmannered yawn, with all his strength he could muster. He sat down and both his parent gestured at him, they were engrossed in the worship. William sat and leaned his head back on the couch, more concerned about continuing his sleep. The program came to an end and his parent waved their hands to the heaven whispering something. He looked up and saw nothing but their asbestos ceiling glistering in its white petals. 'Morning son, ' his mum now answered him. His dad flashed a gaze of wonder, and William guessed he was wondering why his son was a sleepy head. He grinned at the thought of it. Joseph cleared his throat, followed by an abstruse silence. William knew his father was calculating his words and searching for the perfect opening line. 'Sit up son.'

William smiled, he knew his father. 'My son, what we have to say is important.'

'I've been thinking… I mean we've been thinking about us, ' his mother swiveled at her husband, swiftly correcting her words. 'As our son, you give us cause to be grateful to God, but, our minds are not at rest.'

William's dimmed eye widened. 'What about me give you no rest?'

'You are our only child, and we fear our joy be cut short if care is not taken. This world has grown evil, where a person's joy brings tears.' Joseph Craig, his father said nothing, but kept a fixed gaze at his son. He was studying every emotion in him. William's mind drifted to the rising sun. Its ray piercing through the sliding window into the room and from where he sat could see the sun lit but not with a good view as he always had most days. He remember been told that the early sun rays were vitamins and strengthens the bone's. William faced the sun. This was another of those natural vitamins he didn't want to miss, until his mum stood to stretch the Cotton's frill to the other end disrupting the rays. He shifted his attention back to his parent. 'Oh that!' exclaimed William with less enthusiasm, enveloping himself in the brown velvet upholstery. 'I thought we were done discussing this. For the thousand times I'm fine, nothing wrong will happen to me and your only joy won't be cut short, ' he grinned. 'By the way I go to church, and that is every protection I need. He hoped his unplanned speech had convinced his mum, but she didn't look it. 'That's the thing, Will, ' his mother called the shortened version of his name. 'We want to provide you with more powerful spiritual protection.'

William was addled. 'Does that mean God isn't strong enough to protect me?'

'It means two heads are better than one, ' his father blurted.

William frowned at the thought of it. They wouldn't agree to it but the meaning of their suggestion was obvious. Wasn't God's protection enough for men anymore? Why do people seek extra protection which appeared to be more burdensome? This thoughts have roamed longed in his head before now, he only just realized he never found an answer. He imagined what the proposed traditional protection would look like; bangles and chains cast at his feet and necklace to circle his neck. The irony of it all would be that he would have to protect the charms supposedly protecting him away from rain or water. It'd be hypocritical of him to wear church charms around his waist and still go to church on a Sunday, lifting his hands to praise God. He wondered how many people did such. 'There's nothing to be worried about, ' he reassured them both.

'This boy will not kill me, ' shouted his mother, throwing both hands into the air. 'I expected by now you'd have grown wise, ' his father scolded. 'You need to become a real man. Do you think the world is your friend? Nonsense, ' his father frowned and raked his fingers through his beard. 'Children of this generation never listen?'

'I don't even know why o! They act like they know but they don't.' Mrs. Bolu Craig exclaimed. 'Like it or not William, you will do it, you will do it, you won't kill me.' she reiterated angrily.

William wanted to tell his parents about Uz'-zah and the punishment that befell him for having helped God, but he couldn't. it was a biblical story well known to them and they both had a gaze that suggested their minds were made up. 'He doesn't know what the real world is, he's still a kid, ' Joseph said, hoping his words would bring calm to his wife. He then gestured William to leave. He was tired of repeating the same thing over and over again. Joseph Craig was a conservative man who believed that if people refused to learn from advice or otherwise, they'd be forced to learn from a bitter experience. What he failed to realize was that there were some experiences that one could not recover from. William left. 'Don't you think it's high time we tell him the truth, Bolu questioned. 'He's becoming of age, ' there was a noble plea in her voice. 'There are tides in the affairs of men, if taken at the flood leads to fortune. The time to tell him has not come, ' Joseph replied succinctly. 'This is no time for your nonsense proverbs or marbles or whatever you like to say. You better start talking sense before I lose my only son.' She retorted. 'He's my son too.'

'O! Now you know! Wait there.' she gestured then hissed her way out, calling her son's name.

***

The setting sun cast its shadow over the horizon of the three witches and its beauty reflected upon the plain white clouds, but none of these caught their eyes. They were more interested in the revelation they had just watched unfold through the calabash. Of the three sisters, Lightening was the most furious and shrewd, causing a tremor in the sky, a sudden growing violence in her eyes, but for the serene touch of her sisters, the sky would have exploded into a rage of misshapen tremors. 'They're trying to be smart. We should act now, ' Lightening rowed with calmness in her eyes but not her voice. 'Patience is a virtue, sister, ' said Rain lightly. 'Destiny can be delayed but never changed, or can it?' she asked intone. There was a revolving silence, Wind and Lightening in a mileage of thought. They agreed with her.