(Part3) Joseph And Mary’s Marriage Scandal by Clement Afreh

(Part 3) Joseph And Mary’s Marriage Scandal.

Mary in her room and was so happy. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring out the window day dreaming about her date with JJ.
She heard her phone beep and when she tapped the notification, It was a WhatsApp message from JJ.

She opened it and it read

Joseph: Hi my love. I can’t wait to be the only one you wake up to. And I can’t wait to wake up next to you every morning.

She typed back
Mary: Eiii you. (blushing emoji) Please go and weewee and go to bed

Joseph: Your wish is my command wife.

Mary: Herh I’m married to Jesus o.

Joseph: Herh who is that Jesus?

Mary: (Giggles) Lol your so jealous.

Joseph: Nanka! No one dares come close to my Mary oo. Yooo

Mary: 

Joseph: Mary on since we are on the topic. How do you feel about us having our wedding in 2 weeks time?

Mary:  2 weeks? I had a feeling you were going to ask. But not this soon. Not enough time to plan a wedding 2 weeks.

Joseph: Don’t worry, Kumerica Weddings can sort it out fast fast koraa.

Mary: Hahaha ok. But lets make it 5 months time wai. We shall go to the temple for counselling and things.

Joseph: Aww but do we need counseling?

Mary: Yes la. Have you married before?

Joseph: Noooo this is my first time

Mary: Hahaha ok so 5 months wai. It’s late now. Go to bed. 

Joseph: Ok oo my Mrs.-to-be. But my family will come and do the knocking tomorrow.

Mary: Eiish ok. I will tell my parents and we shall be expecting you.

Joseph: Ok My Angel 

Mary: Byyyee.  

Mary:  Then pray for 5 months to come fast fast.

Joseph: It will come soon you will see.

Mary: Hahaha byeee

FAST FORWORD 2 MONTHS

(In the middle of the night as Mary slept)

An Angel materializes in the room, glowing with radiant energy.

Angel Gabriel: Mary. Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.

Mary: (Woke up startled) Jesus! Who… who are you?

Angel Gabriel: I am Gabriel, a messenger of the Lord.

Mary: (Checking her door and windows to see how he got in) Messenger? How did you get in here?

Angel Gabriel: I’m and angel, duhhhh! I can just appear any where I want just like that (snaps his finger)

Mary: Eii Ghost. (She picked up the leg of a broken chair, ready to defend herself)

Angel Gabriel: Nooo I said A-N-G-E-L. Angel Gabriel. Just google it and you will see who I am. (He walks around the room)

Mary: Took out her phone and googled it. Eiii wow you are all over google. You must be a celeb.

Angel Gabriel: Well you can say that. I rolled with your big boys back in the day. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon, Sampson. OOh I was with Daniel in the Lion’s den. There was one time I was visiting Daniel and I was held up by the prince of Persia. Such a mean fellow. Anyways my brother Michael came and put him in his place.

Mary: Oh I see. You got stories. So that was you eh?

Angel Gabriel: Yes that was me (broad smile) ooh candy. (picks up a candy from Mary’s table) I love these candies.

Mary: Leave my candies. So back to the issue at hand. Why are you in my room at this ungodly hour? (She raised her hand still holding the leg of the broken chair ready to hit him with it)

Angel Gabriel: Oh right, back to the message the BIG BOSS (Angel pointing up) asked me to deliver.

Mary: BIG BOSS? (She looking up confused seeing no one)

Angel Gabriel: Yes. The BIIIIG BOSS. He is watching right now. I rehearsed my lines on the way here cos I checked up on your profile in our database and found out that you are a feisty one. (Looking at her, gesturing at the chair leg)

Mary: Well they got that part right. So your mission for being here iiiiis?

Angel Gabriel: Ah yes. (Clears throat and opens his digital scroll) Ahem!! Mary. Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son. You are to call him Jesus.

Mary: Wha wha whaaaatt (stammering) No ooo. I’ve never—. I am a vir-

Angel Gabriel: (completes the word for her) giiin. Yes we (looking up) all know you are a virgin. I told you that I looked your profile up in our database. Reality Check girl, You are going to be pregnant. A Pregnant virgin. Has a nice ring to it.

Mary: (Still in confused shock) I must be dreaming. Someone pinch me. Wake me up from this nightmare.

Angel Gabriel: (Continues reading) He is going to be great. He will be called the Son of God. The Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David.

Mary: Who? me?

Angel Gabriel: Yes you. He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever. And His kingdom shall not end.

Mary: Abeg abeg. How can you tell me this story? I am not yet married and I am found to be with child?

Angel Gabriel: I’m getting to that part (Continues reading) The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. This child is holy. He shall be called the SON OF GOD.

Mary: People will talk. The bloggers will have me for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. I will trending on X, Facebook, IG, Thread and Tiktok for days.

Angel Gabriel: My personal blogger CBCInc_Hypes, will also blog the good sides of all this. I will get him on the project asap. Let me WhatsApp him right away.

Mary: I will be ostracized in my community. My parents will be mocked. My hubby-to-be will be heart broken. I know he loves me but he may not after this news (slowly tears filling her eyes.)

Angel Gabriel: Oh yes, Joseph will have to play a loving hubby for these next 10 months. He will win Father of the year. (Wink wink)

Mary: I can’t tell him that I’m pregnant. He knows I’m a good girl. I will need to abort it.

Angel Gabriel: HEEEEY HEYY. (Giving her a stern look) Don’t you dare. Anyways even if you try, 3nfa. Don’t worry. I will speak to Joseph and all will be well. He will still marry you. God’s got you girl. The whole of heaven is on your side. (smiles and gives Thumbs up) #TeamMary #TeamBabyJesus.

Mary: (softly) I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.

Angel Gabriel: That’s my girl. We shall all be at the baby naming. Oh and your elder cousin who was barren, Elizabeth. She is also over 5 months pregnant too, and in her old age.

Mary: Eiiii you impregnated her too?

Angel Gabriel: (Gives her bombastic side eye) Naughty girl. It’s her hubby’s handywork. That dude Zacharias is old but he is young. If you know what I mean. For with God nothing is impossible. (wink wink)

Mary: (Giggles) Now who is naughty. Well if you say so. Lets take a selfie.

Angel Gabriel. Ok. (poses with a smile and two-sure like a Gen Z)

Mary: (kr3) Wow you glow. This is my proof.

Angel Gabriel: Anyways I’m off to deliver some other messages to other people. (Snaps fingers and vanishes)

Mary: (Clutches her tummy) Me? Carrying God’s son? I don’t know how to feel right now. (Picks up her phone) Let me tell JJ. Oh no. He is not going to believe me. He just proposed marriage and I give him this news. It will be so unfair to him. Or I should tell my bestie? No I cant tell Akos. She will laugh at me. I will tell mum in the morning. So she can help me tell daddy.

(Slumps down on the bed. sobbing until she falls asleep)

THE NEXT MORNING MARY VIDEO CALLED HER COUSIN ELIZABETH
Mary: Hi big sis Elizabeth

Elizabeth: Hi Mary. How are you and how are my Uncle and Aunty?

Mary: They are fine. But I’m not fine ooo big sis.

Elizabeth: Oh why? What is wrong?

Mary: Hmm I had an unlikely visitor last night. (She narrated everything to her) That is why I called you on video oo to confirm what he said

Elizabeth: Hahaha Mary well I guess the cat is out of the bag now. She showed Mary her budging tummy and confirmed it.

Mary: Wow how is uncle Zacharias

Elizabeth: He is doing well. He is watching premiere league in the hall. His team is winning though. That is why he is clapping. hahaha

Mary: Haha men and soccer.

Elizabeth: I know right. hahaha.

Mary: What team?

Elizabet: Chelsea ooo.

Mary: Oh my team that oo. The Blues

Elizabeth: Hahaha. I’m not a football fan but to taunt hubby, I choose Man U. ZACHARIAAAAS. Mary is on the phone.

Zacharias: (Comes running happily to Elizabeth, kisses her forehead and on her tummy. He waves to Mary and gestures with thumbs up but couldn’t speak.

Mary: Haha Uncle. #TeamChelsea for life.

Zacharias: (Pointed at the Chelsea logo on his Jersey he was wearing and turned his back to show his name at the back and number 20 and does the “freezing/feeling cold celebration)

Mary: Ala Cole Palmer wate. hahaha (She does the Cole Palmer celebration too).

Zacharias: (happy smiles and waved and runs back to watch the game)

Mary: By Uncle. Big sis. What’s up with uncle,

Elizabeth: Hmmm he cant talk oo. The same Angel who came to see you also visited him to give him the news of my pregnancy. But he didnt believe the angel. So the angel took his voice. And he has been this way ever since.

Mary: Aww poor uncle. I pray my JJ will believe this story.

Elizabeth: Oh yeah. How is he? He is a handsome dude. You got good eyes girl.

Mary: Hahaha hmmm I dont know how he will take the story of me being pregnant for someone else.

Elizabeth: Well you have to pray and leave it to God. But dont let him find out from any source but you.

Nary: Hmmm sis, this is difficult. How will I start.

Elizabeth: Let the same holy Spirit give you utterance.

Mary: Thank you Sis. I will try. Good by for now. Let me go speak to my parents. I haven’t told them yet.

Elizabeth: Yes. please do that right now.

Mary: Ok big sis. Bye for now. I will come visit you soon.

Elizabeth: Ok dear. Byeee and great uncle and aunty for me. (waves)

Mary: Sure. (waves and ends the call)

MARY SPOKE TO HER PARENTS
Thank God for godly parents. They believed her and they supported her. And told her to keep it a secret. Just as Elizabeth has hidden herself.

FAST FORWARD TWO MONTHS MARY’S TUMMY STARTS TO BUDGE
Mary can no longer hide her pregnancy in gowns. People start to ask her questions boldly and in the public. The bloggers are present with hidden cameras and ask her tricky questions to trap her. Are you are virgin? YES. How come you are pregnant? Is Joseph the father? LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS. HE IS AN UPRIGHT MAN OF GOD. Then who is the father? GOD IS THE FATHER. She has no where to run. She fell for their trap.

JOSEPH IN HIS WORKSHOP
He was working on a sleek, modern carpentry design. So he can get money to pay the wedding vendors. He and @kumericaweddings were planning the wedding of the century.

Joseph: (Picks up his phone and send a snap chat streak to Mary) At work, making money for my Angel Mary.

Mary: (Replied with a snap) JJ I’m not myself. Matter come oo. I’m Sad, Confused. We gotta talk. ASAP.

Joseph: (about to make a call and a his phone buzzes incessantly with notifications. He hesitates before opening one of the messages, revealing gossip headlines:)

“She claims she was a virgin..”
“Mary: Pregnant Before Marriage?”
“Divine or Deception? Mary’s ‘Holy’ Baby Stirs Controversy in Nazareth!”
“Angel or Alibi? Mary Claims Heavenly Encounter Explains Pregnancy!”
“Pregnant and Unmarried: Mary’s Secret Causes a Stir in Small Town!”
“Holy Scandal: Carpenter’s Fiancée Says She’s Carrying the Son of God!”
“Is It Really God’s Child? Shocking News of Mary’s Pregnancy Goes Viral!”
“Virgin Bride? Nazareth Buzzes Over Mary’s Miraculous Claim!”
“From Virgin to Mother: The Untold Story Behind Mary’s Pregnancy!”

Lifting up his head, the media houses, ( GTV Ghana, TV3 Ghana, GHOne TV, Citytv, UTV Ghana, Onua TV etc) and bloggers were storming his workshop.

Mr Joseph Jacob: You claim to be an upright godly man, how is it that your bride-to-be is pregnant? So you couldn’t wait to take her to the altar. (Joseph so confused) THIS IS NEWS TO ME. So you deny that you are the father? NO I AM NOT THE FATHER. Then who do you suspect is the father? WELL HOW SHOULD I KNOW? You bride-to-be the self acclaimed virgin of the town, says that GOD is the father. What do you say to this? YOU ALL SHOULD LEAVE MY SHOP NOW!

Joseph: Shuts the door and locks it inside but the media houses didnt leave.

Media houses went life and the story went viral with headlines like.
“Scandal in the Carpenter’s House?”
“Virgin No More? Mary’s Shocking Pregnancy Leaves Joseph Speechless!”
“He Said, She Said: Joseph Denies Fathering Mary’s Baby!”
“Faith or Fantasy? Mary’s Pregnancy Story Leaves Joseph Questioning Everything!”

Joseph: sighs, anguish evident on his face. He picks up a holo-photo of Mary:, his fingers trembling.

Joseph: (Joseph’s phone rang, with “My Angel” as the caller ID) He stared at it (speaking to himself) Mary:… why? and why now?

Mary: Please pick up love (Phone to her ear as it rang)

Joseph: (After 3 missed call he pics the 4th) Hello Mary

Mary: Oh my God (sobbing) So I’m no more your angel. I can tell you have already heard the news.

Joseph: Now is not the time. I’m heart broken Mary. I mean, we are planning to have our wedding in a month’s time and you are already pregnant? (He spoke on the top of his voice so the media and bloggers outside could hear all he said)

Mary: I’m sorry. I was preparing to tell you.

Joseph: Preparing to tell me when?

Mary: As soon as the Angel came to me to tell me that I was going to have the Son of God.

Joseph: And you expect me to believe this? You told the media this story and now you made me a laughing stock and also disgraced my wife to be with this cock-and-bull story. Just tell me who the father is. I wont be upset with you. I’m already heart broken. It can’t get any worse than this. I told my mum that girls of today are all the same.

Mary: I am not lying. It is the truth. JJ let me send you the selfie I took with him as proof. (Sent)

Joseph: You even had the audacity to take a selfie with him. (Looks at it) He is glowing. That is why you preferred him right (shakes his head) girls.

Mary: I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean for this to happen. The angel really came to ..

Joseph: (Joseph cuts her) hey hey Mary, (voice firm, yet with an undercurrent of pain) I love you but I can’t be humiliated and lied to also. So the marriage is off until you can get something verifiable to tell me. Cos I’m not ready to soil my reputation. Don’t worry I will not disgrace you publicly.

Mary: weeping on phone) I’m sorry JJ. I promise that I have known no man.

Joseph: How can I trust you again? Bye I need some time to think (cut the call and turned his phone off)

He slumps onto a chair, his head in his hands thinking.

Mary: (weeping and wailing) Oh I’m dead ooo. Eii God. (She calls and calls. Both his lines are off.)

Mary calls Joseph’s parents and tells them the story and that she cant reach Joseph. They didnt listen to her and told her never to call their son again. She is a disgrace to womanhood.

Later that night in Joseph’s room
Joseph: sleeps restlessly. His dreams are vivid as during his day. A blinding light showed around and Angel Gabriel appears in his dream.

Angel Gabriel: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. Continue your planning with Kumerica Weddings oo.

Joseph: (startled in the dream) Who… what is this?

Angel Gabriel: I am Angel Gabriel duh. The one that Mary your angel told you about. What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins.

Joseph: (sits up in the dream, his face softening with realization that is the same person as the picture Mary showed him. )

Angel Gabriel: This is the fulfillment of the prophecy: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—God with us.

Joseph: I will think about it. This is unbelievable. You are the one who slept with my bride-to-be.

Angel Gabriel: (Holds Joseph’s jalabia in the the dream and lifts him up, and his eyes showing fire) If you don’t marry Mary, I will come for you. I hope you heard what I did to Zacharias?

Joseph: (eyes widen in fear thinking, “so that was his doing”)

Angel Gabriel: i read minds too. Yes that was me. (Gabriel becoming scarier) Now tell me. Do you love Mary?

Joseph: Yes sir. I do with all my heart.

Angel Gabriel: Good. Will you marry her?

Joseph: yes sir I will do it sir.

Angel Gabriel: Good. Were you Forced by God to marry Mary, and father her son, GOD’s SON?

Joseph: No sir. It will be an honor to be His step dad. (scared sweaty chuckle) heh heh.

Angel Gabriel: Good boy. (He drops Joseph and straightens his jalabia) Now sleep and wake up in the morning and go and do what you have said.

The dream ends abruptly.

IN THE MORNING
Joseph: wakes up, a new determination in his eyes. He grabs his iPhone 16 and begins recording a message.

Joseph: (to camera) I stand by my wife Mary. She is chosen by God, and together, we will fulfill His purpose.

He posts it on his X, FB, IG, TikTok, Snapchat, and tags @kumericaweddings, @CBCInc_Hypes the media houses and wrote SHARE THIS: JOY TO THE WORLD. with hash tag #JMForever

To be continued…

Written By Clement Afreh

All episodes on www.cbcinchypes.com

Read (Part1) Joseph And Mary’s First Meeting
Read (Part 2) Joseph And Mary’s First Date 
Read (Part 3) Joseph And Mary’s Marriage Scandal
Read (Part 4)

Picture generated by Grok

Published by: Clement Afreh CBCInc Hypes @clementafreh