Big Fish

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Tonia is a lovable girl. She had a very humbling beginning. Her father, a chartered accountant with one of the new generation banks while her mother deal in supplying building materials. After she was born, through a caesarian section, the medics have advised that the woman shouldn't get pregnant again due to some complications she had during the delivery of Tonia.

The family lived a triangular life. From their home to work, to church, and back home, except that Tonia would go to school while her parents goes to work. She was brought up in the fear of God.

After her secondary education, Tonia got admission to study medicine and surgery at the university. Then, tragedy struck. Her mother was scammed into a business of importing plumbing materials from China but it turned out to be false.

While she was being consoled for losing a huge amount of money, her husband was compulsorily retrenched from work. It was a trying period for the family. Meanwhile, Tonia was in her first year at the university. She is to spend seven years in the college of medical sciences.

The mortgage firm from which they bought their house came to ask for the premium since they paid four months ago, nothing had been done since this noisesome pestilence came upon them. All appeal to the mortgage firm to give them some more time to recuperate fell deaf ears. They were relieved of the ownership of the apartment. Only a few thousand came to them from the firm from what they have paid so far to acquire the apartment. Then a notice to quit the apartment in the next three months followed.

Mr. and Mrs. Gerard tried all means to remedy the situation, all to no avail. After three months, they rented a mini apartment in the suburb of the city from where they started life from the scratch.

Innocent Tonia bore the brunt of this family pandemic the most. She could barely live a satisfactory life in college. In her second year, she decided to join some of her school friends to do menial jobs in a nightclub where they were paid stipends.

Of course, in such a predicament, she refuses to go home to avoid heartbreak. She manages the night work with her academics. It wasn't easy for her as a medical student.

One evening, while she was busy serving drinks, a man in his early fifties accosted Tonia. He wanted her to be his friend but she felt he is too old for her liking. Sherri was rich and had a mission in a nightclub unknown to all.

All her effort to close the gap created by the joblessness of her father and the bankruptcy of her mother wasn't giving her all she needed. This is how she resulted in selling her body to wealthy-looking men for some handsome rewards.

One night, during one of her escapades, Mr. Sherri saw her standing at the gates of the nightclub, probably waiting to pick a cab back to her hostel.

Are you going my way lady?

She bent down to look her who the driver is. She could not remember they had met before, she may not have paid attention that other night.

Am heading to Julian Hall.

Tonia replied him.

Alright then, hop in.

He unlocked the door to the front passenger seat.

As they drove past the high walls of the nightclub, Mr. Sherri opened a conversation with Tonia.

I am Mr. Sherri. Can I meet you?

Tonia is my name.

Wow! That's a beautiful name for a beautiful lady.

You probably don't remember me.

Mr. Sherri tried calling back her attention

I asked to be your friends some weeks ago at the club but you turned me down.

Tonia gave a shocking look at him and said.

Really? I wasn't in a good frame of mind then. So sorry.

Don't get me wrong, Tonia.

He said.

All I wanted to say to you then was that you are too innocent to work in such a heinous place. I wanted to tell you lot of things maybe you I should now.

Now Tonia wasn't sure what Mr Sherri had in mind to say to her.

Alright sir. I am all ears.

I wanted to introduce you to someone who can take care of all your worries. Instead of allowing every Tom, Dick and Harry to take away your integrity, if you give him a chance, he will turn the tide around.

At this point, Tonia was enthusiastic to know whom it was Mr. Sherri is talking about.

Alright then. Can I meet him tonight?

Tonia was eager to know who this big fish could be. At least all her worries would be gone and she would be able to concentrate on her studies.

His name is Jesus. He can clean your mess if you allow him into.your heart.

Mr Sherri continued all night long as he referred her to one Bible passage or the other.

Tonia could not help it. She sat there in the car crying her eyes off and imagined how she had messed up herself trying to make ends meet.

From that night, she resolved never to go back to that life. She thought of leaving it all at the foot of Jesus, the author and finisher of her faith.

Mr Sherri gave her some money and his complimentary card to call in anytime she needs his help.