THE U-TURN

[Published in the Malawi News of 28 May 2011]

Mrs. Mauro, popularly known as Sister Hannah in religious circles, paced the room as she prayed fervently, anguish eating her heart.

She sweated profusely and could not establish whether it was because of the sizzling sun that Saturday afternoon along that lake-shore locality or if it was because of her pacing. However, one thing certain was that she had to prove that the God she believed, cared and worked wonders.

Sister Hannah’s faith had stood unshaken even when her husband slipped, and toasted her back and forth. Mauro had tumbled when his daughter had died in a road accident. People failed to understand how the same Mauro who had encouraged others in times of difficulty could change to the devil he was because of mishap.

“Brother, all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord,” that was Mauro encouraging Mr. Lampiyawo whose wife was shot by armed robbers.

“Sister, God wants His children to praise Him in all things,” again that was Mauro religiously telling Mrs. Masikati during her husband’s funeral. Moreover, Mauro had vigorously encouraged numerous others in that manner. However, when the pain came to him, he bafflingly faltered. 

Mauro began by skipping church services and forced his wife to do the same, who resorted to start praying secretly. He declared that he could not stand anyone in his house worshiping the God who never cared by letting his only child die.  

Sister Hannah had tried to talk him out of it but failed. Things worsened. Mauro started to drink, and sleep outside his home. The same Mauro who would wallow with prayer now rolled with beer. He even started to beat her up, accusing her of bewitching his daughter. Nevertheless, Sister Hannah stood firm, feeling compelled to win her husband back to God.

However, this day she paced, her world had crumbled with finality. That afternoon Mauro had unexpectedly come home drunk and found her praying in the bedroom. To say Mauro was enraged would be an understatement; he was everything beyond that. He had furiously beat her up and told her to surrender the spare key to their bedroom. He later drugged her to the lake, in full view of everybody who minded to look, where he shouted. “If this God of yours really cares, I want this key when I come back. If not, I don’t want to find you in my house!” With that, Mauro threw the key into the water and stomped off.

Out of sympathy, many famed swimmers in the area had plunged into the water and searched for the key but to no avail.

Now the sun was fast setting finding Sister Hannah still pacing and praying with nothing happening. She finally gave up, gathered her effects, and went to her friend, Sister Masikati, at least to say goodbye.

When she arrived she found her friend preparing supper, a Chambo fish in hand. As she prepared her ordeal, Sister Hannah’s heart skipped a beat when a key fell to the ground from one of the Chambo. She shakily picked it up and could not believe her eyes to see it was the same key thrown into the lake. She could not miss that key, not with that red string she had attached to it. She jumped and shrieked to friend’s surprise, tears of joy running down her dimply cheeks. She rushed to her matrimony home, leaving her friend perplexed, to wait for her husband.

Mauro was stunned to find her in the house when he returned at midnight.

“So, you’re still here?” he spat angrily, getting ready for confrontation, fully convinced she could not have the key.

“Yes, because I’ve the key,” she said with determination.

“What? You think I’m in for some jokes?” he rudely asked.

“Here, you can verify it,” she said handing him the key and explained how she found it.

Mauro’s drunkenness melted as he received the key with trembling hands, disbelieving everything. He pinched himself to see if he was not dreaming; no, he was fully awake. He tried the key several times and it fitted precisely. He collapsed and started to cry, fear engulfing him. He called for his pastor the same night and made things right with God