Our short story series stopped at the point Hassan and the lady trying to befriend him parted. What is going to happen to him now that he has lost his job? Find out as the story proceeds.

ANGEL IN THE SHADOWS (II)

The next day, Hassan decided to sleep in. He had tossed and turned for most of the night and was grateful when sleep overcame him around 4 a.m. By force of habit, he woke up an hour later but willed himself to go back to sleep and he did. Finally rousing a little after 8 a.m., he went to perform his toilet chores and it all came back to him. No job, no money, no food. He sat on the loo and prayed, asking God to come to his aid.
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When he was through, he put on a brown pair of cargo shorts and a faded blue T-shirt and went to sit on the stoop of his back porch. He had planned to find a wife and raise a family in this house. He had paid dearly to rent a bungalow with a spacious backyard. He had planned to do a vegetable garden there until after his nuptials. He would then regrass it, put in a swing and other kiddies’ play equipment with time. But now, he would probably sublet it to get by.
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A knock at the front door interrupted his musings. More knocking.
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“Why don’t people use the bell? And why knock repeatedly like the occupant of the house is camping by the front door and should respond in a second?” he wondered aloud.
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He was shaking his head as he pushed into the house shouting, “Coming!”
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However, by the time, he opened the door, there was no one there. He hissed and wondered who thought he was in the mood for playing hide-and-seek. A thought crossed his mind and sent shivers down his spine. Could his former employers still be after him? Did they think he might blow the whistle on them?
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“Lord, have mercy!” he prayed.
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But as he was about to reenter the house, he saw a small, red food flask by one of the flower pots on the porch. He stared at it for a while unable to decide what to do with it.
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“What if the food is poisoned?” he asked himself. “I’m yet to tell my friends what happened. Who else knows I’m this needy?”

Finally, he picked up the flask and dropped it on the dining table. He went back to the back porch to resume his daydreaming. But he couldn’t really concentrate. He was trying to figure out who brought the food when it hit him. Who else but the girl who was trying so hard to be friendly last night? But how could he be sure?
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He went back inside and examined the flask. No clue outside. He opened it. Wow! White rice with goat meat stew. His favourite! There was no question about it now. Irrespective of who or where that food came from, he was going to sanctify and eat it and by God’s grace, it would nourish his body.
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“Hassan Joseph,” he told himself, “God has answered your prayer and this woman of Zarephath,* whoever he or she may be, will continue to feed you till you get back on your feet.”
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He laid hands on the flask, blessed the food and prayed in tongues* for a few minutes. He then settled down to a much-needed brunch.
-To be continued-
Ⓒ Edith Ugochi Ohaja 2016
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*In the Bible, the woman of Zarephath fed the prophet Elijah during a three and half-year famine in Israel.
*Praying in tongues refers to praying in the spirit as opposed to praying with one’s understanding.
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Who do you think brought the food to Hassan?
If you were in his shoes, would you have eaten it?
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In the next instalment, Hassan makes a determined effort to confirm the identity of his secret benefactor. Let’s join him and see the result.
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