Back at her house, Madam Kemi lost her peace. She kept thinking of everything Mrs. Femi told her. The more she thought of it, the more it was becoming difficult for her to believe.”

“Mama is a child of God . I don’t think that she can work against any member cautiously. Or is it that Iya Tobi did not really understand what she was talking about?”

The door suddenly opened and her husband came. Just a glance at her made her husband conclude that all was not well.

“Welcome sir,”

“Thank you” He replied while trying to scan through his wife’s face.

“What is wrong with my Queen?”

“Nothing is wrong. I am fine,” she quickly answered.

“I always said it, that you don’t know how to tell lies. At least you should have amended your face, before saying that everything is fine. Your face is saying otherwise. Please, can you tell me what is going on?”

“May be you should freshen up and eat. Later we can talk.”

“The truth is that , I have lost my appetite.

You are really worried. It is written all over you, how do you expect me to eat? Kindly ease my tension by telling me what happened.”

“It is really nothing serious. Is just that I am finding it hard to believe what I heard. Mrs. Femi just left here. She said that Pastor’s wife told the women not to buy the asoebi I am selling because it is expensive.”

“Which Mrs. Femi, are you talking about?”

“The wife of our church elder of course.”

“Hei!. So you are her next target.”

“Next target? How?”

“My dear I know that we are fairly new in this branch, but I think that two years is enough for you to know who is who? Does that woman look like a child of God in your eyes? Have you not been hearing her story? If truly Pastor’s wife said such thing, did she send her to come and tell you? If she love you, what she is supposed to do is to defend you there. Beside is the cloth you are selling costlier than what others sold?”

“No sir. Mine is even cheaper .You know that I bought directly from the factory.”

“I will advise you to be careful of that woman. I hope you did not even offer her chair not to talk of giving her water to drink.”

Madam Kemi kept mute.

“Why are you not talking?” her husband asked.

“My dear, it is well.”

***************

Madam Kemi kept thinking about what Mrs. Femi told her and it was really disturbing her. She later decided to talk with Pastor’s wife, at least to free herself.

After Sunday service, Mama Ephraim was still sitting on her chair when madam Kemi ran to her. Mama Ephraim looked at her and smiled. The smiled melted Madam Kemi’s heart and she was further convinced that Mama Ephraim was not capable of hating or planning evil against anyone.

“Sister Kemi. How are you doing?”

“I’m fine ma.”

“I know that this wedding preparation is not really easy for you but I know that God will strengthen you.”

“Amen! Thank you ma.”

“What of the asoebi you told me about. What is delaying it?”

Madam Kemi was a silent for a while. She doesn’t really know how to present the matter. But she later gathered courage.

“But, mummy, I heard you said that my asoebi is expensive.”

The pastor’s wife looked at madam Kemi, shock and puzzlement was all over her face.

“I don’t think that I understand what you mean,” Mama Ephraim told her.

“Mrs. Femi came to my house, and informed me that you told the women not to buy my asoebi because it is expensive.”

“I’m sure you are joking,” Mama said with a smile.

“No ma. I am very serious. I can’t joke with such thing.”

Mummy Ephraim quickly sent for Mrs. Femi.