God's faulted star

Chp1:The unexpected change

A wise king never seeks war, but is always prepared for it

Sunlight floods her room. Warm, bright, piercing light and all attempts to keep it out, to enjoy just a few more precious minutes of sleep all are a tragic failure. The glare is just too strong. She fully succumbs to wakefulness when her mother calls her name from the door. “Five more minutes,” she groaned. Mornings were her least favorite time of the day, especially on Mondays. “Come on sleepy head your going to be late for school,” she increased the distance between the curtains ultimately sealing Mukhetwa’s fate. No matter how much she tried, there was no getting any sleep now. “Fine,” Mukhetwa moaned to the bathroom. She lazily dragged the toothbrush through her mouth while assessing her appearance. Her light brown eyes looked back at her slightly covered by the lids as she rinsed and entered the shower. She had already planned an outfit three weeks before their move so she was more than prepared. She smiles brightly at her reflection. She had her favorite bright orange and green pole neck on which she paired with colorful tights. She decided to wear brown sandals that allowed her feet to breathe. She tied her hair in two pigtails, her previous teacher would always reiterate how it flattered her. With her last twirl in front of the mirror, she felt more than ready to make new friends.

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"Settle down," their homeroom teacher, Mrs. Wits calmed down her students. "We have a new student today and I'd like for us to give her a warm welcome as she comes up to introduce herself." Mukhetwa grinned back as the teacher gestured her up. "Hi my name is Mukhetwa, my parent and I just moved here. Oh yeah and I'm born again," she puffed up her chest up with pride. The class erupted with laughter as she just stood there like a dear in headlights. Soon after she noticed that the joke was on her but what she couldn't get was why.

She walked down at the brim of tears as she tried to ignored the people echoing her words back at her. "Now that's enough, it's okay that you have strong faith darling. Nothing to be ashamed about," Mrs. Wits tried her hardest to hold back a giggle. The rest of the day played out like a broken record and she quickly learned that word traveled fast in that school, making her the laughing stock of it all.

The day dragged by and she was grateful when she arrived and her parents weren't home, she needed some time to re-evaluate her life choices.

Her parents quizzed her about her day, over dinner. The words tumbled out of her mouth as she reenacted her first day and how she categorized it as an utter disaster.

"Don't mind them, honey, the foolish have always made fun of the wise throughout the Bible. Not because they want to but simply because they do not understand," her mother kissed the crown of her head as she collected the dishes. "Just avoid them altogether, I see no use in having those sorts of people as friends. They add no value to you," as always her father's answer was blunt and straightforward. "Mike, don't tell her that, a girl her age should have friends, explore even. Just give 'em time sweet they'll come around," her mother called from the kitchen

Mukhetwa sighed as sleep took over her. "Think I'm gonna call it a day," she kissed her father and mother before heading up to her room. Thoughts of the next day had her tossing and turning but finally sleep found her.

****

The bell rang signaling the beginning of break, by now Mukhetwa knew the drill. For the past week, people treated her like a plague. She made her way to the bench that she has become accustomed to spending her free time meditating on.

She picked at her salad with her fork as her mind drifted before being brought out by a high-pitched voice. "Girl. Yeah, you. Come here," One of the girls beckoned for her. Mia dominated the social world. Every girl wanted to be her and no guy didn't want her. She had the best of all things at the snap of a finger. Mona and Kara followed her, in sync with her every move. She was the one who had the whole school eating out of the palm of her hand. "Sit down," she commanded lightly. " I'm not one to waste time so I gonna cut right to the chase," Mia looked down at Mukhetwa as she spoke. "We would like to take you under our wing. You know nothing about fitting in and I thought why not do some charity work and help the poor girl out," Mia tilted her head urging her to agree.

"Okay," Mukhetwa's voice was bearly auditable as she uttered her agreement. "Great. We have our conditions though," Mia popped her gum looking Mukhetwa dead in the eyes. "You will do whatever we tell you. No hesitation, no questions, and you sure as hell can't say no," they all laughed then stopped abruptly as if on cue all faces were wiped of all emotion and any care of what she had to say.

The slight adrenaline peak was a clear enough sign for her to know that this wouldn't end well but the desire to fit in and impress the girls more than anything had her sealing her fate. "Good. Now since that is over with, wear this when we come to fetch you at 5," they all got up at once with no regard to whatever her answer would be. "Oh, one more thing. You better be ready when we pull up or else….our world doesn't revolve around you. Remember that," all three of them covered their eyes with shades before walking off.

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Loud music sounded through the speakers as she enters the club behind them. All three went their separate ways leaving her there with nothing better to do than to watch. A couple of shots were passed around and she was fortunate enough to get one. At the time she had no idea what it was nor its purpose. "Bottoms up," Mia called before taking her's. Mukhetwa gazed in fascination as everyone follows her lead. Respecting her ways and what she had been taught, she grabbed everyone's attention before she gave utterance to yet another prayer, asking the Lord to bless her drink.

The whole room rippled with laughter, reviving her 'born again' saga. Her so-called friends fueled the crowd, refreshing their memories. After what felt like an eternity of embarrassment had passed, they stopped laughing and told her that there was no such thing as God. And just like that, she felt as if the ground had shifted as she struggled to hold on to her faith. No God? She couldn't stop the word's from replaying in her head as she mindlessly took her drink whole.

Her train of thought was derailed by a stinging, burning sensation from the tips of her lips to the pit of her stomach, and as a scream was about to escape her, her body became numb stopping her dead in her tracks. She couldn't think straight, somehow everything finally seemed to be falling into place, all at their designated positions of her slowly evolving life.

Waking up the next day was a mission. She had no idea how she got home or where on earth she picked up such a piercing headache. She tried sitting up but was stopped by a knock on the door. It was her mother with her breakfast [Every Saturday she would give her the breakfast in bed treatment to always remind her of their love] Her mother got in then handed her the food. They greeted each other then left. Mukhetwa stared at her food in a somewhat trans. A beep from her burner phone pulled her back to reality