As she cleaned her plate with the last ball of wheat, she heard Sylvia's soft voice asking her when last she had a well-cooked home made meal. Syntyche growled inwardly as she prepared herself for Sylvia's lecture on how the way to a man's heart was through his stomach and how a woman should never leave her husband hungry or horny...Well, her husband was living his life somewhere, oblivious to her existence as well as the existence of his son. Thanks to Sylvia, she wasn't hungry but the lecture was making HER horny. Her treacherous mind went to Pastor Mike and wondered what he was like in bed. She quickly captured that thought and subjected it to the Lord.
As much as she detested Sylvia's husband, she was so grateful when he came into the room and Sylvia automatically turned her attention to him, though she hadn't finished what she was saying.
Cletus chose that exact time to announce that he was ready to go home.
Syntyche quickly said her goodbyes and escaped before the spell was broken. The traffic jam back home was deadly. They finally got home at 4pm. She could only grab a bite and rush out for evangelism. Cletus seemed agreeable, the time away seemed to have made him miss home. He even offered to wash plates. Interesting...
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Euodias quickly served Archippus' meal. He had told her that he needed her to get his meals ready at 7am (breakfast), 2pm (lunch) and 7pm (dinner). She had slipped on that several times in the past and they had even laughed at his "time-table" a few years ago. He returned from his trip and let her know that he expected her to stick to the schedule. His attitude since he returned from this trip was puzzling. He was quick to take offence at whatever she said. She had immediately started speaking more positively about their marriage. Their sexual relations weren't as they were before the trip either. He was usually tired and whenever he managed to make love to her, she knew he was just being dutiful; his soul wasn't there.
"The salt in this stew is too much, Euodias. I can't eat it. Please make me some noodles. You can't even make good food anymore. Is this the kind of food you'll give our children when they come? Maybe that's why God is still keeping them; you better learn how to cook so the children can come quickly."
Euodias couldn't hold back the tears. Why was Archippus taunting her? He had been her pillar as she trusted God for children. She felt the walls around her crumbling... She couldn't afford to faint now and let Archippus stay hungry. She quickly pulled herself together, made the noodles, served him and rushed out for evangelism. The women were in charge this week. She had to deal with the dreadful Syntyche who obviously did not understand the concept of submitting to constituted authority. No wonder her husband left her!
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Cletus dropped his luggage and looked around his room. Apparently, his mum had tried to straighten the room but she had left most of his things as he left them. The house was also as empty as he left it. He felt lonely almost immediately after having so many people around him at Aunt Sylvia's place.
When he got there, his cousins had wasted no time making him feel at home. He only realised now that he hadn't kept up with the gang nor felt the need to watch porn while he was at Aunt Sylvia's place. His cousins were so cool. He had already started chatting with them in the WhatsApp group chat they started yesterday. Jane was suggesting that they add their parents but George was vehemently opposed to the idea. He agreed with George but he didn't say anything. Let them decide. He didn't mind having Aunt Sylvia in the group but he definitely did not want his mum in the group.
He liked George a lot and George made washing plates seem so cool. He started joining George to wash the plates and it didn't seem like such a girl's job after all. He also realised that his mum actually smiled when he offered to wash the plates. She didn't seem so distant when she smiled...
He saw the red light on his phone as he dried his hands...17 messages from 2 WhatsApp conversations... He quickly checked and saw 10 messages from his cousins and 7 messages from the gang...Yes, he was back home!
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Stephen was excited...The boss wanted him to be the manager of the biggest project in the company. He couldn't believe it! As usual, he thought of Syntyche first as he realised that was the dream he and Syntyche had laid on the couch a few months after their honeymoon talking about. Without thinking, he called her. After three rings, he terminated the call. Of course, she wouldn't want to hear his news. He had been talking with the pastor in his office fellowship, who was his assigned buddy when he resumed. He had mentioned to Pastor G, as others called Gregory, that he had a wife and son that he had walked away from many years ago. He knew he had wronged Syntyche and Cletus but he wasn't sure he could face them. They were better off without him. He couldn't imagine what he could do to make things right with them again.
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"Let's start from Apple street, then turn off at Olive street and finish up at Banana Avenue. Is that okay?"
Euodias looked around at the sea of women who nodded in agreement. Behind her, someone began to speak. Without turning back, she KNEW it was Syntyche...
"I don't think it's a good idea. You'll rarely find anyone to talk to there. I suggest we go to the market and talk to people there".
A few of the women began to agree with Syntyche and Euodias was suddenly tired. She had hoped evangelism would take her mind off her challenges; now she had to deal with Syntyche...
"We're doing as I said. Thanks, Deaconess", she said calmly though she felt like inflicting pain...
"I won't waste my time walking on empty street, marking time. I have a lot of things I could have done at home with the time, Deaconess", Syntyche fired back.
They began to throw verbal missiles.
After about 5 minutes, Deaconess Lydia came out of the meeting with Pastor to calm them both down. After listening to both sides, she recommended that a team go with Euodias in the route she described and another team go with Syntyche to the market place.
She had to discuss with Pastor on how to deal with the root of bitterness that was growing between these otherwise wonderful women. Each of them were pillars in this church in spite of their personal challenges...
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Pastor Mike heard Syntyche's voice as she came into the church. She had thanked him for his help the other day and had gone back to the polite conversations they had always had. The issue was that he really enjoyed spending the day with her at the mechanic's and would have loved to hear more about her job. It had been a while since he had a stimulating conversation with any woman. The last lady took his heart and ended up marrying another man. He longed to talk with Syntyche but he just couldn't figure out how to do so. He knew she was separated and was trusting God for marital restoration. At least, he'll like to be her friend, though he didn't mind being more than a friend if the circumstances were different.
He had a hard time listening to what Pastor was saying. He was listening to the exchange between Euodias and Syntyche. Syntyche was making a lot of sense, though she could have been more discreet. He enjoyed her logical conversation and her voice was divine, even when angry. The man that abandoned her needed to get himself examined. He wondered what it would be like if she was his wife.
Author's Note: Euodia and Syntyche's story is found in Philippians 4:2-3. This is a very very fictionalized version...Stay tuned for Episode 9
