Lily got home a little after six in the evening, her mum was waiting by the door for her. Her hands were rested on her waist when she approached her.

“Hi mum” she greets and walks past her mum into the house.

“Where have you been?” Her mum Daisy, asked as she followed her into the house.

“I was at the park” Lily answered.

“With whom?”

Lily froze up a bit then slowly turned around to the questioning gaze her mum threw her way. She can’t say she was with a stranger, knowing fully well how her mum would react to it.

Daisy doesn’t appreciate her family mingling with strangers and if she told her mum she was with Joshua, she might just burst up. Joshua wasn’t a stranger but to her mum, he was a grave sinner, that’s why he’s wretched and has warned her and her sisters about going close or talking to him.

“No one mum, I just wanted to stay at the part for a moment. Needed some time to myself” she lied, hoping her mum didn’t see through them.

Daisy scrutinized her closely and saw that she was hiding something but was too tired to press further.

“Just remember you have a family and when you decide to stay out this long, at least put a call through or something”

“Yes Mum, I'm sorry for the worry I caused”

“Go get changed so you can eat something,” she nods then walks to the stairs up to her room.

She greets her dad who waved her as she passed. Cory was coming down as she went up the stairs.

“Better not be later again, I don’t want to have to come find you or something” she bumped her shoulders to her.

Lily went to change and then came back downstairs for dinner. Throughout dinner, her parents and sister talked about many things but her mind was not in any of them. She kept drifting away to Joshua and what he shared with her that evening.

She tried to get into the conversation with them but she kept drifting off.

“Isn’t that right, Lily?” Her train of thought was cut by her mum’s voice.

“Huh?” She asked, a puzzled look on her face.

“Are you okay? You seem kind of zoned out for a while”

“Oh” she chuckled nervously “I’m fine mum, might just be tired from the day’s work,” she faked a yawn.

“You’re just in school, not working Lily” Cory pointed.

“Well, the school can be stressful also” Lily defended then looked at her mum “I’m just tired mum”

“No late-night reading then”

“Yes Mum” she said then quickly finished up her food so she could get to her room on time.

She said goodnight to her parents and sister and then rushed up to her room.

After taking a bath, she came out of the bathroom to dress up for the night. She wore her nightwear and sat on her bed. She brought out her pink-themed Bible and looked at the table of contents, trying to see what chapter she could read that night.

She had been trying to connect by reading the Bible but couldn’t understand why she wasn’t feeling any connection at all.

“What’s the matter with me?” She asked herself, she picked the book of 1 Kings but the verses just confused her. She wasn’t resonating with anything and that was alarming for her.

“GOD, what’s the matter with me? I’m eager to meet you and connect to you but I can’t feel anything. Help me GOD” she pleaded.

Her mind wanted her to go see Joshua the next day after school. A sense of assurance filled her mind with that thought in mind.

She closed her Bible and got out her journal to write how her day went. Then something came to mind.

“What could I possibly offer him that’s better than a meal?” She asked herself in thought. “I’ll ask Mum,” she stood to go downstairs but stopped in her tracks. Her mum doesn’t know she met with Joshua.

’ohmehn′she hissed then sat on her bed defeated. As she thought of what to get him, a thought came to mind.

“Maybe GOD can guide me on what I need to get him this time” Going on her knees, she placed her palms together in prayer.

“GOD, I’m clueless as to what to give the nice man, Joshua when I do go to see him. Please guide me. Joshua did mention you guiding him and I’ve learned that you guide your own, please help me, GOD. Thank you, amen”

Then she remembered something.

“Also GOD, protect Joshua wherever he is, guide him, and provide for him. Amen,” she stood up satisfied that her prayers somewhat made their way to GOD’S next mailbox.

***

A knock was heard on her door the next morning and she groaned in response. The knocking stopped for a while and she was glad whoever it was finally left her.

When she got more comfortable in bed, the knocking continued and it was heavier and harsher this time.

“Oh, who’s that?” Her words were muffled because her face was on the pillow.

“Mum’s leaving soon, get ready so we don’t leave you at home” came her sister’s voice followed by fading footsteps.

Lily sat up and rubbed her eyes then looked at the alarm on her bedside table. Her eyes opened wide and she sprang up from the bed like fire burned her.

“Almost eight” she scrambled around, stuffing her homework and other essentials into her bag then rushed to the bathroom to quickly get ready.

In a matter of five minutes, she was ready for school and was rushing out of her room when she remembered what she needed to bring with her for Joshua.

Her mind went to a Bible, some snacks, and clothes but she didn’t have men’s clothes in the house aside from her father’s. With that in mind, went to her savings box and took out some emergency money she kept there, stuffed it in her bag, and rushed out of her room and downstairs.

She greets her mum who pointed to a bowl of cereal and a cup of milk beside it on the table.

“No time to eat mum, I’ll pack up some snacks instead,” she opened the fridge and packed as many snacks as she needed.

“I thought you’re not a snack person?” Her mum asked when she saw how much she packed.

“I’m very hungry and can you spare me some change?” She pleaded with baby eyes.

Daisy shook her head and took some bills from her purse then handed them to Lily which she appreciated.

Cory finished Lily’s cereal and walked past her to the car. While they waited for their mum to lock up, Cory leaned closer to Lily to whisper.

“I know what’s going on. All the sudden change in your behavior, taking too many snacks you wouldn’t eat. I know” she said with pride.

Scared that Cory might open her mouth to tell their mum she was going to beg her not to talk.

“I know it's for a boy. You already have a crush and you’re having a little date with him,” she laughed then held her palm out “$2 to keep my mouth shut”

Lily sighed in relief. She was misguided about her true intentions of the snacks and extra money and she wanted it to be that way.

“Thanks” she handed her some of the money with her.

“Whatever, I’m helping myself” Cory rolled her eyes and sat in the front seat.

Lily sat at the back with a smile on her face.

Yes, the snacks weren’t for her but for her new friend from yesterday. She made a mental note to buy the Bible and maybe a shirt and pair of trousers for him on her way from school.