'Be Healed In Jesus Name', a Short Story By Gift Olupinla
This story is purely fictional and no part of it must be used in any other context. Please share with someone.

Episode One

'Leave this place abeg, na everytime I go dey feed you?' The woman that owned the kiosk said to a raggedly dressed man with skin coated with dust and debris gotten from sleeping on dirty floors, as well as a yellowed dread-like hair. School children in white and sky blue uniform buying snacks at the kiosk, laughed aloud at the woman's comment, some taunting the man as he walked away with head hung low, fiddling with his fingers.
'He no work, he wan chop' they sang.
Ralu had seen him many times; he was well known in the area either as a beggar or a mad man. No one really knew what he was, he never bothered anyone unless to ask for food and he would travel for miles on foot and back.
Ralu sat on an empty bench in front of the kiosk wiping her forehead with back of her hand when she heard the sound of her school bell from a distance. It was time to go back into the school, break time was over. She quickly munched the buns she had bought and headed to the school gate. Students scrambled to get back to their classes before the school master would stroll round the walkways, caning anyone standing around.
The rest of the day went by in a blur and all Ralu could think about was the midweek Bible study teaching on Jesus healing a mad man. The Bible study teacher had said that Christians of the present day could do 'greater works'. So this means that, as impossible as it might sound, the mad man could be healed by any adult in the church. An idea dropped in her mind, she could tell her daddy about it, surely, he would know what to do.
That evening, while her daddy was watching a football match, Ralu popped the question.
'Daddy'
'Yes my dear' Her father answered with his eyes still on the television screen.
'I was thinking if you could help to heal a mad man that usually comes to our school area'
With amused face and disdain sparkling his face, he turned from the screen and retorted with eyebrows raised.
'Heal a mad man'? 'my dear where did you get that idea from'?
Ralu's brows furrowed in perplexity. 'Mr Kola, our Bible Study teacher said that Jesus did it and Christians too could also do it', she said, expecting daddy to remember the story now. Daddy had been at the Bible study and she supposed he would not forget so easily.
But he only shook his head and turned his attention back to the television. Ralu waited and waited for him to remember and say yes, but was disappointed when he only rose abruptly with a shout to acknowledge a goal scored by the team he was supporting. Ralu then decided to talk to another adult.

TO BE CONTINUED