Soon, my anger died down, already taken out my anger on slow drivers. And my hands on the wheel loosened, posture slackened against the seat, ruffled.
Viewing the church, I took the car keys out, and opened the car door and ambled across the empty road between to reach to the other side. My heart gladdened at the separation, apart from a large household brought misery, and my heart rate escalated, an anticipation rose, knowing a certain someone will be there, who I haven’t seen since yesterday.
The heart beat settled eventually and replaced with light air.
Maybe I should’ve thanked Mom once for grounding me.
20
Eva
Divine Miracles Church –December 14th, 2023
Within weeks, a month of winter has settled in, and the ground floor at the Divine Miracles Church was partaking in a busied structure due to a sudden mess with an important event. The nuns lined up, as I was alongside them, between the gaps we aligned ourselves in, listening to Mrs. Rivers’ words.
“Here’s what I needed for all of you for today. Working, cleaning, and being punctual. I need half of the nuns to work with nurses, tending to the homeless with first aid kit and proper resources to be precise and time-wise,” Mrs. Rivers addressed, pacing and observing each one of us.
They kept their eyes forward as they nodded along to her firm instructions.
“This month will be our time to make necessary preparations. A once in a lifetime opportunity! This charity will be set in weeks. I want all of you to be attentive, to each and every single of our individuals, and provide them with forbearance and hospitality. Once you’re done with providing hospitality, come back to me and report. Every single one of you must be punctual and generously gracious to these people. You don’t know where they’ve been. Today is a mark for a landmark for the Rivers Foundation to be flourish, and revolutionary, compare to other foundations. We must strive harder and better and most importantly, do not fail me. Understood?”
It’s becoming clear that Mrs. Rivers’ propositional and carried the means of her job seriously.
Then she halted her steps and scrutinized me.
“Do you understand, young lady?” she asked me, towering her height, lines on her shadow loomed over my countenance.
Only I could somewhat decipher. After all, she hired me several days ago, maybe weeks ago. She expected greater things from, greater actions for me to take other than housekeeping services.
I nodded.
“Don’t just nod at me,” she said curtly, snapping her fan closed. “Answer me when I asked.”
The nuns besides me held their tongue from snickering. Their chest vibrated in slightest form.
“Understood,” I said in simplest phrase, not tucking my neck down as her gaze never pulled away from mine.
“Excellent,” she said, facing the other nuns. “Go. You’re dismissed. All of you.”
As I was about to march to the exit, Mrs. Rivers called me, her closed fan slapped against her open palm. “Not you, girl! Stay here.” Her fingers beckoned me to go forward.
Then I came over steadily, waiting for her, despite my anxiety was rising, fingernails digging in, so does the pressures over layered my stiffened posture.
Anxiety? No, this condition is supplanted by a treacherous devil. I shouldn’t give in.
I mustn’t give in.
I mustn’t.
I hoped to be as clean as a devoted angel.
My clammy palms folded to fists, pinching my skirt.
“Since you’re so good at cleaning, you are going to be pair up with the assistant from the church kitchen. His name isMicah Angelo. He’ll be seeing you in the kitchen back door over there,” she pointed with her fan. “He’ll be expecting you. Don’t let him down. He’s a nice and respectable man.”
At once, I went through the back doors, and—
“Before you go,” she said, beckoning her fingers at me to come forward, placing the golden keys directly on my palm, “here at the back door keys, one for the back building, and the other for that door over there. Make sure you and Micah only possess these keys I replicated, if you or Micah let anyone trespass in the back area, you two are to be questioned. Am I clear?”