Happy Easter
Story By Thiyam Ningol, Africa

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“ I am doing this for my son. I want him to have a “Happy Easter .”

On a Sunday evening, during dinner, little Patrick brought up the subject “ Papa, today in the church we were told that this coming Wednesday is the ‘Ash Wednesday’. We have to fast during the “Lent”. But small children do not fast. If we want to fast, we can stop eating something which we like very much. What should I stop eating?”

Maria and Christ were civil servants. From early morning till late evenings, they were out going to their respective work places, earning the living. They wanted their children to grow up with good faith. Maria made sure that their children went to the church regularly.

As the subject was brought up by the youngest member of the family, the elder ones had to show concern as well. At first Patrick thought he would stop drinking Fanta, but then in the school after the football, he usually needed some drops of Fanta. So he opted for chewing gum. He had already been punished by his nursery school teacher for chewing gums in the class. It would be a good idea to stop the gums in the name of service to God.

He suggested his father to stop drinking beer. Maria and Cathy, their elder daughter joined hands with Patrick. With the support, Patrick felt more authoritative but he could not think of anything for his mother and sister. His mother was a teetotaler and Cathy was choosy of foods. She had no particular likings.

Patrick continued thinking while eating. He did not see the chilli he scooped in his spoon. He screamed. Christ got the chance. “ Oh yes, your mother should stop eating chilli. I don’t know what she enjoys in that.”

Every time Christ and Patrick complained about the chilli in the food, Maria would defend herself –“it teases the test buds and increases appetite.” Cathy would support her mother.

Patrick had to drink Fanta to stop his test buds from over excitement.

“You see mummy, if I fast Fanta and you give me food with chilli, without Fanta, I will not be able to cool down my tongue. You have to fast chilli this time.”

Resolution passed:-Patrick-chewing gum; Christ-beer; Maria and Cathy-chilli.

While still in the office, Christ and his colleagues started arguing about credits and discredits of Obama’s visit to Tanzania. They decided to stop by the nearby bar and continue the discussion. He consumed more than his usual. While coming back, he lost control. His motorcycle knocked a stone and he was thrown out. He sustained minor injuries but his motorbike hit the Neem tree on the road side and got written off.

When he arrived home with the written off bike and bandages on his hand, little Patrick met him on the gate. “You took beer, isn’t Papa?” Christ was trying to search for words to explain but Patrick ran away. He did not feel sorry for his father or the father’s bike which used to take him to the school. He refused to join the family for dinner on that day.

On the Saturday night little Patrick told his mother not to force him to go to the church the next day Sunday morning because if God would ask him why his father took beer, he had not got the answer yet.

Christ apologized to Patrick and persuaded him to continue with his fasting of chewing gum and go to the church.

“But Papa we are fasting as a team. Now that you have broken the fast, the team cannot continue fasting.”

“Listen Patrick! You remember when we went to see the football match between Simba and Moro United, Saidi Sued was given a red card for breaking Katina Shina’s leg and he had to stop playing. But the match continued, Simba team still continued playing. I have broken the fast, but the other team members have to continue fasting.”

“That was football and this is a promise to God. God has started punishing you by making the accident. I don’t like any accident. I don’t like to get hurt.”

Christ looked at Maria requesting for help. None of them anticipated such serious problem. For little Patrick, it was his first ever religious ritual where he volunteered to participate. He was hurt.

His son meant a lot to him. Christ could not find the remedy to ease the pain and fear he had caused in his son’s mind.

On the same day in the evening he took his son and together they went to the church and he confessed to the priest.

Little Patrick was smiling when they came back home. He ordered everybody to resume the fasting.

When asked by Maria, Christ answered “I want my son to be a good Christian and have a Happy Easter. I will not touch beer or any other alcohol throughout my life. It’s a promise to the team in the name of God. We are going to have the best ever Happy Easter this year.”

Wish you a Happy Easter.