Because of the money he owed, Mr. Lekan had been carefully avoiding to pass through elder Femi’s compound. He only pass through that way, some evenings when he thought that elder Femi must have gone to church for evening service. He was about passing by one day when he saw elder Femi sitting at the front of his corridor. He wanted to go back but it was late, elder Femi has already seen him. So he decided to go and greet him.

“Egbon ekaale o.”

“Lekan, it’s been a while,” elder Femi greeted him.

“I always pass here in the evening but I don’t see you. It’s like you travelled?”

“No. I go to church service most evenings.”

“It is true. But what happened today. Why did you not go?” Mr. Lekan probed.

Elder Femi sighed and shook his head without uttering a word.

“Egbon please talk to me. What is the matter?”

“My brother. I don’t really know what to say. Is it fair that someone you invited to come and eat will be telling you that the lump of your eba is too big? Have you ever heard that a tenant gives landlord quit notice?”

“That is unheard of. Please open up to me. What exactly is going on.it seems you are really in pain?”

“My pastor in the church is my problem. He is about sending me out of church. That is why I did not go for evening service today,” elder Femi explained.

“Wonders shall never end. How will a pastor send someone like you away from church? That is totally unacceptable. It’s like he does not know your level,” Mr. Lekan responded.

“This is exactly what everybody is saying. Just because I humbled myself and be attending the church where he is pastoring that is why he is insulting me.”

“Have you seen why I don’t go church? First I don’t want insult. Secondly, most of these pastors are looking for who to deceive. They tell us that we are going to heaven yet they send their children to school. Why will you be spending money on education when you are going to heaven? Is education one of the qualifications for entering heaven? I asked one of them that came to preach to me this question and he was speaking big grammar. He told me that though they are heavenly conscious, they still need to be earthly relevant. I quickly ignored him I am too big for their tricks. All they preach is money.”

“Thank you my brother. That is my pastor’s song: Bring, bring. He doesn’t care if you have food to eat at home. All the church members are complaining. Members have scattered yet our pastor don’t care. The worst is that he now insults me. He doesn’t take my advice. Do you know that as church leaders, he does not give us anything?

“What! And you kept quiet. My neighbor came back from the church last Sunday with a big goat that his pastor gave him. Somebody brought two goats to church for thanksgiving, the pastor took one and give him one because he is the most senior elder,” he lied.

“That is exactly my position in the church, yet I gain nothing. If you are recording money and anything miss, our pastor will insist that you must balance the account. As you are working, you cannot on your own remove something and buy drinking water. He will put hand inside your throat and make you vomit it. His predecessors ignore certain things, but him, he is Mr. perfect. Everything must be sent to General Overseer. If we suggest that we should remove some and take care of ourselves he will not agree. The only thing he gives us is the tasteless food that his wife prepares.”

“If that is the case, he is a wicked man. I will deal with him.”

Elder Femi could not believe what he heard.

“What did you say?” elder Femi asked.

“I have taken over the case. I will make his life miserable. Just watch out!” Mr. Lekan said again with emphasis.

“If you can do it, I will really be grateful,” elder Femi told him

“Don’t worry. You will see it with your eyes and also hear with your ears. I will show him that my second name is trouble.

But in this case I will give him double trouble so that he will know that trouble, trouble those who trouble, trouble. Ah! I will show him,” Mr. Lekan boasted.