Like Mother Like Daughter

Good Morning, Madam Deaconess." Pastor Jude announced as he plopped his short self into the Deaconess' empty seat, a boyish smile plastered on his face.

"Welcome, Pastor Jude. I'm surprised to see you in school today." The Deaconess responded casually, forcing herself to smile.

"Surprised? Is this not my school? Was I not the one who put you here? I can stroll in whenever I want and enter into any office of my choice." Pastor Jude retorted, a frown suddenly replacing the smile on his face as his short hands hung at each side of the chair's wooden handle.

"Of course, you are welcome anytime." The Deaconess said, as she walked towards an empty seat after closing the door.

"Do I need your permission?" He asked the Deaconess, who said nothing in response.

Straightening her long, fashionable gown, she ceremoniously sat on a seat across her big table, which was usually meant for her subordinates. Inconspicuously, she glared at Pastor Jude, who was occupying her own seat as he, too, watched her. But the Deaconess wasn't upset about the way he was looking at her. She was angry about the way he occupied her seat… like a boss! Seeing him relaxing in her seat irritated her. That seat was a symbol of her power and reputation. And no one was allowed to sit their inferior ass on it. She thought furiously to herself. But Pastor Jude wasn't inferior to her. He was the very man who made her who she was today. She reminded herself.

"So, to what do we owe this unexpected visit… I mean, honorable visit?" The Deaconess asked again, still trying her best to hide her irritation at seeing him in her office on a Monday morning.

"What do you mean by that? Rachel… Can't I visit an old friend again? You know we go way back. You should be happy to see me and not irritated. Stop squeezing your little pointed noise. And make me feel at home." Pastor Jude said playfully.

As he spoke, the Deaconess stared at his head, which was as bald as an egg, and down to his thick lips that revealed baby-like teeth whenever he smiled, which were in contrast with his strong dark face. Oh! How could she have ever slept with such a man! She wondered, irritated by how short and ugly he looked. He wasn't just short; he was a midget dressed in a clergy attire.

His clergy uniform! The Deaconess repeated, still scrutinizing him. Even in his clergy attire, one could easily tell he was a sinful man. It was there in his lecherous eyes that ogled at her lips, breast and every part of her body… it was obvious in the lazy way he spoke. "How come no other person could detect how loose this so-called man of God was?|"

"Don't you ever miss me, even if it is a little? Eh, Rachel… don't you remember those nights…" The pastor drawled before the Deaconess cut into his sentence.

"Pastor Jude, I hope you realize we are in a school and there are some things that are not fitted to be said in a school environment. I think we should talk about whatever you are about to say later, outside the school environs," The Deaconess lectured Pastor Jude.

After she was done talking, there was absolute silence. Pastor Jude said nothing as he watched her calmly, and she knew what was going on in his head. Yes, she knew he still remembered her as that clueless, desperate lady he met years ago in a hotel. The one who had been battling to sustain herself financially. Pastor Jude did transform her from a nobody to an important woman. He made her who she was, but that doesn't mean…

"You seem to have forgotten that I made you! I picked you up and brushed you up! And here you all transformed, dressed in expensive attire blabbing your mouth at me. My very own creation lecturing me, your creator! What an audacity!" Pastor Jude snapped, as if he could read her thoughts.

"Rachel…I picked you when you are at lowest. You were rotting away in a ghetto, selling your body for money, and I transformed your life the very first day I met. Made you Deaconess of this very prestigious school! Yes, I single-handedly convinced the other members of the board to give you a chance. And you dare speak to me however you like?" Pastor Jude lashed out, his bushy eyebrows drawing together, making him look rather ridiculous than furious.

"Pastor, I… I don't mean it that way. I'm just saying…" The Deaconess tried to pacify Pastor Jude.

"It's enough! I don't need your permission to visit my school or to visit you, Rachel. I made you and I can unmake you. Eh… so you better learn to give me respect, absolute respect. Be willing… always… to give me anything I want, anytime I want it." He paused. The cool morning air filling the room with some kind of serenity while Pastor Jude continued to stare at beautiful Mrs. Rachel.

"I have missed those days you willingly submitted yourself to me." Pastor Jude drawled, his mood suddenly changing as he stood from his seat to meet the Deaconess who had a plain look on her face.

"But Pastor, those days are gone. You have young girls I supply to you anytime you want for your pleasure. I am too old for those silly things."

"You are too old? Who said so? Besides, I don't even care. Old or young, does it matter? You are all sweet…" Pastor Jude chuckled, making the Deaconess wonder if he was high to be acting so recklessly in the morning.

"Pastor… don't you think we should control…" The Deaconess stopped her train of thought as she watched him move closer to her.

"Shhh… you know how much I like when it is impromptu. You seem to have forgotten how much you used to enjoy it. Have you?" Pastor said cheerfully, despite the frown which was gradually forming on the Deaconess' face.

The Deaconess never liked it when Pastor Jude visited her office. His visits often made her uncomfortable. He was there either to scold her, remind her of her past or give her some nonsense assignment which she always detested. But today he was going too far, and she didn't know how to stop him. "When will she ever be free of this bondage?" She wondered as she watched his short legs match towards her. He had a lazy look in his eyes, and she knew just what he was about to do. Even though she hated it, she was ready to close her eyes and accept it like she had done years ago when she slept frequently with him before he upgraded her life.

He walked closer to her, caressing her naked hands as he smiled into her eyes. The Deaconess forced a smile on her face, enduring his repulsive touch and whatever came with it.

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Mrs. Gracious thought of different ways to report Gloria's immoral act to the Deaconess as she walked to her office. Was she to say it professionally? Or was she to just blurt it out? How will the Deaconess take it? Will she expel her own daughter or blame her, the matron?

The thoughts ate at her as she walked to the Deaconess's office. When she got to the door, she brushed her skirt of invisible dust and straightened her Polo, and cleared her throat before opening the door. This time, she didn't knock on the Deaconess' office door like was her usual manner, because she was lost in thought. She simply swung the door open and walked in to see the greatest shock of her life. The Deaconess's lips were locked in a kiss with that of Pastor Jude. Mrs. Gracious stood there petrified, not knowing if she should close the door, rush out or scream at them. Her legs couldn't move. It was almost like they were stuck to the marble floor.

It was indeed the greatest shock of her life… She swallowed hard as she watched them. The Deaconess and the Pastor of the school locked in a kiss? How was this even possible?

She wiped her eyes to make sure she was seeing clearly. And indeed, her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. But now, they were both separated from their embrace as they stared at her with guilty looks on their faces.

"Please, Matron, come in and close the door!" The Pastor commanded in his usual holy manner they knew him for. And Mrs. Gracious didn't know when her feet started moving into the office in compliance with his command as she shut the door. Immediately she closed the door, something told her things wouldn't end well for her. Her eyes had seen what they were not supposed to see. And from the evil look that marred the Deaconess's often plain face, she knew she was going to suffer for what her eyes had seen.

Feeling disoriented as she stood there watching them, the thought of reporting Gloria to the Deaconess suddenly vanished from her mind. Her fate became her major concern.