A few days after, Dylan and Tanya walk in to the church office with their daughter. After prayer, and a lot of self control on Dylan’s part, (he wanted to go find the boy and break him in half) they’ve finally decided to hear Tapiwa out first.
Kupa is dealing quite well under the circumstances. Her grandmother had been upset about why she wasn’t told and how Dylan should have taught that boy a lesson. Kupa is just glad that, for once, her grandmother looked on her as her own. It was a welcome change.
They take the seats offered by Pastor Charles. Kupa feels very solid with a parent on each side of her. She should have told them about this sooner.
Tapiwa enters with his parents. He looks like he hasn’t slept much. Serves him right Kupa thinks to herself. He deserves no less when it’s what she went through. Introductions are made and Pastor Charles offers everyone tea. Kupa thinks to herself What’s tea going to do? She almost chuckles but knows better.
“Thank you all for agreeing to meet. It’s a delicate situation that needed all of our utmost attention and immediately as well.We don’t want to waste time, so let’s get right into it. I’d appreciate it if we kept things civil.”
Tanya approves of this spunky young youth pastor. Clearly he’s not here to sweep everything under the rug.
Pastor Charles looks to Tapiwa’s parents and says, “ I hope Tapiwa has told you what is happening. If not, let me explain.”
He sighed, “Tapiwa apparently attempted to rape Kupa.”
His mother gasps and his father looks infuriated. Clearly they had not been told the full story. His father suddenly wheels on him and slaps him hard. Pastor Charles rises to his feet trying to calm him down.
“ Chii Tapiwa?! What exactly is it that would drive you to abuse a woman? You certainly didn’t get it from me! Why do you behave like an animal?!! Hoo, so it’s the drugs that have finally killed your brain cells? My own son a rapist!”
He bows his head and everyone can see the shame he feels over his son. Tapiwa’s mother is sobbing quietly now. The room is quiet and tense for a few minutes. No one feels the need to speak.
Pastor Charles begins again, asking Dylan to speak. Dylan clears his throat.
“We’ve prayed on it and we’ve asked God how He would want us to deal with this. It’s not an easy decision that we have come to. We are first and foremost believers in Christ. And what Jesus demands of us is forgiveness. We are doing that. Today we choose to forgive you. Kupa does, and so do we as a family.”
Tapiwa looks up. He has been holding his cheek since his father slapped him. He is relieved. He dares to look at his father and finds him stern as always. He flinches at his mother’s sobs which have not ceased since she heard of her son’s behaviour.
Dylan continues, “However, actions have consequences. And you must face them. It is the law of the land. We’re going to have to press charges.”
Pastor Charles’ face falls. He was expecting it but to hear it is another story. He looks at Tapiwa. The boy has shattered his future in one fell-swoop. Funny how one can self sabotage their own destiny. Tapiwa’s father only sighs.
Tapiwa’s mother finally speaks,
“We understand your decision and how you got to it. My son is a good young man; it might not look like it right now. I want to plead his case but I won’t do it. You have your own daughter that you must protect. I don’t know what to do. Ever sinceTapiwa went to college he has changed. His father was so proud to have an engineer for a son. Then something happened and he became depressed. It was little things; he wouldn’t eat sometimes, sometimes he would sleep all day. We admit to being very strict parent, we thought nothing of it. He was just being rebellious; the phase would pass. One day we found him on his bed. His bed was soaking wet with blood from his wrists.” She shudders at that thought…
“He tried to kill himself. We took him to a therapist. They said he had severe depression and gave him pills .He’s had good and bad days and just when he thought he was better; he got addicted. To his anti depressants…” She hurried on, “Then he just started trying everything, any drug he could. When he said he found God and he found a church, we felt relieved. It’s been a year, we’ve heard nothing of his problems…until now..”
She starts sobbing again.
Dylan and Tanya look at each other in shock. They could never have guessed. Kupa is short of words, torn between feeling sorry for Tapiwa and her own experience with him. She understands now why he was one person one day and another the next. He relapsed…and that made him unpredictable.
Pastor Charles’ shock and confusion shows in his face. In the past two days he’s had to handle attempted rape and now drugs and depression..in the church! No amount of theology school can help him here. He wishes Pastor Ben were present; he would know exactly what to say.
Tapiwa’s father speaks,
“It’s not your fault the boy is this way. You want to protect your daughter and I understand. We want Tapiwa to face his actions like a man. But also understand that if there is a trial, we will get him legal help. He’s still our son.”
Dylan stands up. Tapiwa flinches, expecting another slap. Dylan reaches out to shake the father’s hand. A silent agreement has been made. They both understand the need to protect their families. Tanya is crying too and hugging Tapiwa’s mother. Only she can understand the pain a mother has to go through for her child. Dylan reaches for Tapiwa and surprises him with a hug. The boy caves and begins to sob.
“There, there. You’ll be alright. I want you to know that we don’t hold it against you. We forgive you. Kupa come, speak to him.”
Kupa is openly crying now. Her heart has just gone out to this young man whom she thought was a monster. Funny how God can create clean hearts that can only respond in mercy and grace.
She looks Tapiwa dead in the eye and says,
“I forgive you…I truly do. And I hope you can embrace the love of God that has been offered you in this room. There’s plenty of room at the foot of the cross.”
Tapiwa can only whisper “I’m sorry”
Part of him really wants forgiveness but part of him doubts that everyone could be so forgiving. What convinces him is that last part that Kupa says to him. He read it somewhere, from a book in the church library a few months ago.And for that one memory to show itself in this time of need meant maybe, just maybe God loves him still…
Pastor Charles prays. It is a heartfelt and humble prayer offering the situation into God’s hands, affirming the love of God that they’ve all stepped into that afternoon and have fully embraced. He prays for strength for Tapiwa to face this next chapter in faith and hope.
They all leave to go to the police station. Tapiwa feels brand new and at ease; unburdened. Kupa feels stronger and feels like she just got an assignment from God. She knows exactly what to do. No matter what the verdict for Tapiwa is, she’ll be there. She’ll befriend him and visit him, whatever needs to be done to save him from himself. Love covers a multitude of sins. And she has some to share that belief.
It is funny how God works, mysterious actually.
