"Bianca, come downstairs; the Reverend Father is here." Bianca's mother calls from the bottom of the stairs.

Bianca hurriedly closes the book she's reading and sighs in frustration. "I'm coming, Mom." She reluctantly stands up and walks lazily out of her room and down the stairs.

The Reverend Father is seated with Bianca's parents in the living room.

She greets them all and takes her seat.

"The Reverend Father is here to see you, Bianca. He was in the neighborhood and called in on us. Say thank you to him." Bianca's father says.

She murmurs an almost inaudible thank you.

Her parents exit the room and leave her alone with the reverend.

An uncomfortable silence permeates the room as she and the Reverend stare at each other.

"Why aren't you saying anything, Bianca? Are you not happy to see me?" The Reverend asks, smiling.

"I'm happy to see you, sir." She looks down and begins to play with her fingers.

Smiling, he stands up and joins her in her seat. "How are your studies? I know you are the best student at your school. I hear reports from your parents all the time; I am impressed."

"It's all going good, sir."

"That's good to know. I hope the boys at school are not disturbing you."

She shifts uncomfortably in her seat. "Not at all, sir."

"Stop calling me sir; it makes me look old."

"I'm sorry, sir."

"There we go again. So, do you now have a boyfriend?."

"I don't, Reverend."

"That's exactly what I want to hear. Is your virginity still intact? I hope you have been keeping it locked as you should."

She stares open-mouthed at him.

"It's okay to tell me; I should be aware of what's going on in the lives of my flock. Don't you agree?" He places his hand on her lap and stares intently at her.

She jumps to her feet. "I have to go, sir. I have an unfinished assignment." She runs out of the room and up the stairs back to her room.

She soon hears her parents' voices bidding the reverend goodbye.

Bianca's mom knocks on the door to her room.

Bianca calls from inside, "Come in."

"You didn't even come downstairs to say goodbye to the Reverend." Her mother says she is taking a seat on her bed.

"I was finishing up my assignment."

"All the same, it would have only taken a few minutes. Don't do that next time; it's rude."

"Mum, can I tell you something?"

"You know you can always tell me anything."

She sighs and closes her books. "I don't feel comfortable around the reverend; he does some creepy things and acts like he has an ulterior motive for caring about me."

"The blood of Jesus! You better don't let your dad hear such nonsense. What ulterior motive could the reverend have for caring about you? He doesn't care about you more than he does about the rest of the congregation. You should get down on your knees to pray and rebuke the devil for putting such thoughts in your head."

"I know what I am saying, mom. The kind of questions he asks me are wrong. He makes me feel dirty and unclean."

"You better shut that mouth before I shut it for you. Don't let the devil use you as a tool to challenge the reverend's ministry. You haven't been praying well enough, and the devil is preying on that weakness."

"It's not the devil, mom; I know what I am talking about. Why won't you let me explain?"

"I said, Shut up your mouth. I don't want to hear anything from you on this subject ever again." She stands up. "I am going downstairs now to prepare dinner; you better start rebuking the devil and asking for forgiveness from God. Join me in the kitchen when you are done." She leaves the room fuming.

Bianca slumps down on her bed and begins to cry. She wipes off her tears, takes her diary and pen out of her backpack, and begins to write.