I saw you. You are ready to give birth."
"It is what we call it in the west, prosperity."
"It is what we call it in the developing countries, obesity."
"You looked like you've eaten a slimmer version of yourself. Because the Jeff I knew was slim. You haven't eaten Jill and Jayne. Have you, Jeff?"
"No man. I've spread out a bit over the years since we last met."
"I can see your double chin and your bulging waistline Jeff. Are you eating for two?"
"You haven't come all the way from Jamaica to insult me. Have you, Fred?"
"I'm just joking, Jeff. Where is your sense of humour man?"
"Why don't we start introducing ourselves all over again?"
"Okay. But, you must lose some weight."
"Hello Fred. How are you?"
"I'm doing great, man."
"And how is my favourite son in law?"
"I'm not doing too badly, Fred."
"You must be doing really well to live in a house as big as this one."
"We work hard, dad."
"Good for you, man. Help me with my luggage and where's that smelly toilet?"
"It's through the Kitchen. It has a potty sign marked on the door."
"When you get to my age, Jeff, your bladder becomes weaker."
"I'll remember those pearls of wisdom when I'm a pensioner, Fred. But first let me flush the toilet before you use it."
Finally, Fred went into the toilet and was in a jubilance mood. He was pleased to be back in England to see his children. He started to sing out loudly again:
"Wherever I am I'll praise him, whenever I'll can I praise him, for his love surround me like a sea, I'll praise the name of Jesus, lift up the name of Jesus for the name of Jesus lifted me."
As he walked out of the toilet Jeff was waiting for him. Fred felt a little unease by Jeff presence. It was like a young shoplifter being watched and monitored by a security guard.
"You're a happy soul, Fred. Why don't you come inside the lounge and take your shoes off," declared Jeff.
"If I don't want to take off my shoes, you won't be offended. Will you?"
"Jill will be gutted."
"Why man?"
"She doesn't want dirty shoe marks showing on her brand new carpet."
"Good for Jill. But, I'm keeping my shoes on."
"You haven't got holes in your socks. Have you, Fred?"
"I don't wear socks in Jamaica, Jeff. It's far too hot to wear sock out there."
"I'll get you a pair of sock."
"I am not frightened of Jill. Leave the socks, man."
"Jill will insist on you wearing socks in the house."
"Are you a man or a mouse, Jeff?"
"I am a man off course."
"Then, man up and put your foot down and tell her that I am keeping my shoes on."
"I can't do that."
"Don't let her rule you, Jeff. Women like men who take the lead. God made men to be the head over the women?"
"We are more of a partnership."
"Jill is now your business partner. You are not the man of the house."
"According to Christ, husbands most love their wives as Christ died for the church. I am respectful and supportive of my wife views and we are a team in so many ways."
"I know the scripture well, Jeff and I will honour your rules."
"Please take your shoes off then."
"I don't want Jill to beat you up so fetch me a pair of socks. You are far too soft, Jeff."
"Welcome to England, Fred. How was your flight?"
"It was a comfortable journey. But it was far too long. Where are my beautiful daughters?"
"Naomi and Mantel are on their way to see you and Jill has been delayed at work."
"Has Mantel fallen for Naomi?"
"They are just good friends."
"She will break his heart; you wait and see, Jeff."
"Naomi is okay."
"You don't know her as I do or have you chosen to see the good side of her?"
They entered into the living room which was a makeshift dining room. The walls were covered with brown coloured wallpaper displaying internal patterns of tree trunks. The carpet was brightly red in colour with deep thick piles and there hung central to the wall above the fireplace was a framed bold message.
The statement read, 'Christ is the unseen guest in every household and listen to every conversation.' A picture of Jill's mum sat on the mantel piece. Jill drew comfort from seeing her mother's picture. She missed her so much. Jill's mum was weird at times especially when she sung some old fashion hymns. Fred picked up the picture of his former wife from the mantel piece.
"She was a beautiful woman in those days with thin waistline and large hips."
"Fred, do you remember Joe Black, the security officer, who refused his employer instructions to expel black youngsters from the city centre?"
"Yes. He won his case against the security company for unfair dismissal. How is he?"
"When he found out that your wife was in care and he could no longer hear her voice in church he packed his bags and he returned to Jamaica."
"He loved her voice. We all did."
"Don't be angry with me, Jeff. I respect your recollections of her but I have fond memories of her too. It was only yesterday I remembered vividly how my dear wife would burst out singing at the top of her voice. She had almost forgotten most of the words and she was tone deaf and sung out of tune."
"Watch it, mate. That my mum you are talking about. I have fond memories of her worshipping and praising the Lord in church," replied Jill.
"I didn't see you come in, Jill. How are you?"
"I'm fine. Why are you criticizing my mum's singing?"
"Whether you like to hear it or not, your mom didn't have a talent for singing."
"Her singing voice wasn't great but mum could not be faulted for her sheer enthusiasm and commitment" and "It is the substance behind the voice that people admired most of all not the showmanship."
"You will always have a kind word to say about your mother. God bless her soul."
"My mum was a fantastic woman. She made time for everybody."
"Do you know what her favourite song was?"
"No."
"Her favourite song was called, 'Angel, Angel carry me home'. I have never understood why she loved that song so much."
"Because she was so unhappy living on earth with you, dad."
"That's unfair. I loved your mum and would have given her everything."
"You didn't give her your time, dad. She was lonely and was sad at times."
"I gave my time to the Lord's work" and "Your mum accepted that."
"She didn't have a choice."
"When your mum first met me she knew that I love the lord with all of my heart and with all of my soul and with all of my strength and mind."
"What about loving your family, dad?"
"You've spend far too much time in the ministry at the cost of neglecting your family."
"I wasn't going to allow no man or woman to prevent me from my calling from God."
"But the family suffered from you being constantly being absent from home. I hated you, dad."
The friction between father and daughter became increasingly tense and confrontational. Jill was stubborn as a mule and she was looking for a fight and Fred was adamant that he had done nothing wrong.
"Don't you treat me as a criminal? I have done my time in prison."
The atmosphere was heated and sparks began to fly. Jeff sprang into action to alter the flow of discussions.
"How is life treating you in Jamaica, Fred?"
"Don't let him off the hook, Jeff."
"Before I was rudely interrupted by Jill, life in Jamaica is fantastic if you have money."
"Pardon me."
"If you are poor in Jamaica there is no welfare state to support you. You have to find a job when there is no work."
"Who do you think you are dad?"
"You know who I am,
Jill?"
"Not anymore" and "How have you been making a living in Jamaica?"
"Jill your dad will tell us in his time."
"What is he afraid of?"
"No problem, Jeff. I'll tell her."
"I'll love to hear this," said Jill.
"I am living off my pension and working for the Church of Jamaica."
"It sounds good. You know your daughters are certainly not happy with you."
"Yes. I have returned to England to put things right and try to explain my side of the story."
"It's about time," said Jill.
The sound of a key turning inside of the door stopped the flow of conversation. Fred was feeling a little unease waiting in anticipation to meet his other daughter, Naomi. She had not seen him since her mum went into hospital whilst he was still serving time in prison.
"Hi everyone."
"Is that you, Naomi?"
"Yes, Jill. Mantel is here with me too."
"Your dad's here, Naomi."
Twenty-four
Mantel and Naomi walked into the lounge together. Naomi kept a visible distance away from her father. Mantel greeted Fred by shaking his hand whilst Jill and Naomi looked on. They were gobsmacked. The whole room exploded with silent, shock and tension as Jeff broke the ice.
"I think your dad has some explaining to do, so please hear him out."
"Thank you Jill and Naomi for giving me this opportunity to explain my disappearance."
"What have you got to say for yourself, dad?"
"I had a vision a year ago. In the vision I had a conversation with Adam and Eve."
"What has Adam and Eve got to do with us?"
"Let your dad explain his vision to you, Naomi."
"In this vision, I asked Eve why she had disobeyed God when she had everything in the world. You lived in paradise. You ate from every plant in the garden. You had Adam as your soul mate and you had fellowship with God, the creator."
"I still don't get what you are trying to tell us, dad."
"Eve told me that she didn't have everything. She wanted more. She wanted to be like God. Eve said to me, "Look at the history of man and you will see leaders who want to rule the world and they want