Later in the day, while I was sitting in the front of my house mourning my predicament, Mummy came back from church. She saw me and stopped over.

“Mum I know that I committed an offence, but should that warrant what Pastor did to me?”

“Are you talking about the suspension,” Mummy asked.

“No Mum. I’m referring to the declaration that Pastor made against me,” I waited for Mum’s response though I could guess rightly that Mummy will condemn pastor’s action. However, I was taken aback by her response.

“Son, everything Pastor did was right.”

“You mean that Pastor was right to say that he was handing me over to the devil to torment me? Do you hate me this much now; Mum?”

“Son, I don’t hate you and nothing will make me to hate you by the grace of God. Remember that Pastor read the scripture, which means that what he did have scriptural backing.”

I reminded Mummy that our former Pastor does not do it that way, emphasizing that everything that happened was strange and targeted to humiliate me.

“Pastors have different methods of carrying out the work of God. There is no one way traffic, though the scripture remains the standard. The truth is that what Pastor did today is the best. At least it will make you to know that suspension is not a child’s play. Some people, when they are suspended, take it with levity. They will be at the back, gossiping and laughing instead of them to be in tears asking for mercy. Anyone who is excommunicated has become a prey to the devil. Whether the Pastor declares it or not does not make any difference. It is written that whatever is bound on earth is also bound in heaven. What you need to do is to seek the face of God for mercy. Humble yourself before God and let him see a heart of repentance in you. That is the only saving grace.”

Mummy’s stand on the issue got me confused. I could not figure out the reason for her resentment. She had been acting as if I did what nobody had ever done. I felt it was high time I gave her a piece of my mind.

“Mum, are you here to encourage me or to lay more curses on me? Why are you sounding as if I am the only sinner in church? After all, what of those elders suspended in the past for adultery?”

“God forbid that I should lay curse on you. As for the elders you talked about, I don’t know who is feeding you with those blatant lies. Such never happened. You are full of righteous indignation; I advise that you humbly accept that you have done wrong. Humble yourself before God that that you may obtain mercy. Get rid of all the deceivers hanging around you; I have this strong feeling that they were the ones that laid this burden on you. That aside, I will be travelling to Port-Harcourt tomorrow to see my daughter; Ugomma and her new born baby. I will be back in 3 months’ time. Try and keep in touch with me on phone, take care of yourself and draw closer to God. You need him now more than ever.”

I was happy with the information Mummy gave me that she would be travelling to Port-Harcourt. Chika had left the country yesterday for Canada. I felt that their absence would help me to reorganize my life and live the way I desired.

********,

It was almost 24 hours since the suspension saga took place, yet I have neither seen nor heard from Johnson. He was not even taking my phone calls. That made me to conclude that all was not well with him. I experienced moments of indecision trying to figure out the right place to go and search for him. I felt his shops should be my first point of call. On getting there, one of his sales persons informed me that he was not around. I was surprised to hear that because his car was parked outside. I attempted to sit down in other to wait for Johnson.

“Sir I hope you are not waiting for him? I’m not sure of when he will come back.” Chinedu told me.

“How is that your business? Even if I decide to wait till tomorrow, does it obstruct you in any way?” I snapped back at him

At that point Johnson came out from the inner room that he is using as office and expressed surprise that I was around. I looked at him without uttering a word, which I believed made him to suspect that something was wrong.

“What is the matter?” Johnson asked, directing the question to Chinedu, his sales person.

“I told Mr. Kel that you are not around. I didn’t know that you are in the office”

“You must be very stupid to have told him that,” Johnson cautioned him.

“Kel I’m so sorry, let’s go to the office.”

Johnson led the way to his office but my mind could not leave the drama Chinedu acted. He has never behaved that way. The worst was that he was jittery. A thought occurred to me that Johnson could be behind his action but I quickly dismissed the thought. I never wanted to add to my worries. Already seated in the office, I started off the discussion.

“Johnson, what is going on? I have not seen you since yesterday. Even this morning, I have called your phone severally without getting any response.”

“My brother, I misplaced my phone on my way to church yesterday. It was few minutes ago that the person who picked it, brought it to me. Another is that I have not been myself since I witnessed the drama that Pastor acted with you yesterday. I was so furious. In fact, I left the church before closing. The thing affected me so much that at a point, I started feeling feverish; you can confirm from my wife. She wanted to call you on phone when it seems the thing was getting worse but I prevented her.”

“You shouldn’t have prevented her. What are friends for?”

“Why would I not prevent her? Am I not the one that is supposed to come over to your house and comfort you? In fact, I will confront Pastor on this issue.”

I begged Johnson not to confront anybody, most especially the man of God. Though I felt he offended me, I still respect the oil of God on his head. My decision was that I will not fellowship with the church again. When I told Johnson my next line of action, he encouraged me to do it.

“I am in full support of your decision. If not for my wife, I will have joined you immediately. I need time to convince her.”

“Johnson, don’t worry about me. I will be fine. It may not be easy for you to convince your wife to leave the church. I don’t want anything that will affect your marriage.”

“Even if I don’t join you now, I will surely do so later. That church is full of hypocrites.”

“My dear brother, you can say that again. Do you know that Mummy supported what Pastor did? Do you believe that?”

“I am not surprised. I have been telling you that she needs something from you. Now that it is clear to her that you will not marry her daughter, her true colour has shown.”

“Truly, I was blinded by her charity. I am now seeing clearly. Though I will remain grateful to her for all she did for me, notwithstanding what her intention was.”

“What did she do that no other person could do? This a time you need her the most, why will she abandon you?”

I felt Johnson was making sense. They say a friend in need is a friend indeed. If Mummy cannot stand by me at this time then, her love for me is questionable.

“Johnson you have seen it that every other persons have abandoned me. You are the last man standing. That is why I pray that for all you have done for me, God will reward you a hundred fold. Please say Amen!”

“Kel please forget about that reward thing. I am not doing anything because I am expecting reward. I am just being myself.”