MARIE'S HIGH - CHAPTER TEN

The Anointing...

Aunt Simi and Grandma used to be best friends. Grandma had high expectations of her as an intelligent student but they became distant when Grandma got her federal job.

One day, she could no longer stand being alone at night so she agreed to go to a nightclub with a friend of hers who had been disturbing her, and there she met her high school crush. She said if mum had her time, they would have been home having fun talking and all yet she still blamed herself for making a wrong decision and admonished us to have fun as much as we want but be smart and careful about it. Then as she digressed to her recent adventures at work and her new home, someone knocked on the door.

"I'll check who it is", Bola got off the bed.

"Make sure you hear the person speak first oo", Aunt Simi warned her.

I silently prayed it wasn't Mrs. Adeoye.

"What are you doing here?" Bola roared so loud that we ran quickly to the living room to see who our August visitor was.

I knew Bola didn't have the effrontery to address grandma like that so on our way to the living room, I assumed she was talking to her absentee dad. I couldn't wait to see him in person because he didn't look like a fellow capable of breaking hearts in picture frames. I wanted to see how he was going to react to situations in real life.

Lo and behold, it was a Barbary horse chewing minty gums and using them to create big bubbles.

"I should be asking you, brat!" She tried to maneuver her way in but Bola pushed her away, resulting in a physical banter between them.

"That's enough!"Aunt Simi intervened. "She's my tenant."

Bola would have left the house if I didn't stop her. Suzy kept increasing the volume of her speakers and humming annoying sounds to torment her. The worse part was the cigarette smoke being released from her room which got us coughing like a patient with tuberculosis. It was hard to believe Aunt Simi would resolve to this means of making cash just to host a wedding her mom can be proud of and live comfortably afterward so she won't be embarrassed to call her daughter anymore.

Only God knew when I slept off the previous night. When I woke up the next day which was a Sunday, the shorter hand of the wall clock in the master's bedroom was on number eight while the longer one was on six!

My search for a broom to sweep the house in adherence to my culture failed and as I was about to head back to the room to ask Bola for their whereabouts, I spotted Aunt Simi grating red peppers and tomatoes with purple onions in their small neat kitchen which was releasing the aroma of freshly boiled yams. I greeted her on my knees but instead of commending me, she told me to stop being old-fashioned and ignored my apology for waking late.

Bola's anger over yesterday's incident subsided when she saw her favorite delicacy. Aunt Simi's talk about our inability to attend church because of her enormous tasks reminded me of the concert invitation Loveboy gave me. I thought they would be angry if I mentioned it but they weren't. They were more excited about it than I was.

LOVEBOY'S POV
I didn't pay much attention when Dad told me about this concert in which I was once its organizer and couldn't stop wondering why I invited Nifemi.

"Hey, Korah", Caitlyn, my childhood friend with whom I roamed our old neighborhood in saggy pants, had rain baths and even formed a gospel band before I started my hip-hop music career called me. "Why are you standing here? The program is about to start", She pulled me.

"Don't worry. I'll join you, soon", I assured her with a smile. Since Nife has texted me her whereabouts through wattsap, I left for the car park to usher her in. Whoever made her outfit did a great job. The straight knee-length Ankara skirt brought out her nice shape, her white top fitted her well as well, and her sneakers were sparkling white.

As we approached the congregation with clasped hands, several photojournalists took shots of us, focusing more on her.

"How do you feel tonight, Nife?"

"Is this your first time being invited to a concert?"

"Who made your outfit?"

The reporters present also bombarded her with questions.

"One after the other, please", Mrs. Akinbo, my manager came to her rescue.

"Mrs. Shonibare, my aunt, and Bolatito Shonibare came up with this design", she answered their questions in descending order." Yeah, and am very excited to be here tonight". My dad who was bringing in an important personality passed by so the attention drifted from her to him.

"Sir, as a man of God, what do you have to say about your son's relationship?" The Paparazzi asked, attempting to ridicule him. Mrs. Akinbo tried to save his ass but he insisted on talking.

"We've done our parts as shepherds to raise him godly so the rest lies with him. The bible also says not to judge anyone", he did the cross sign and moved into the congregation with his guest.

NIFEMI'S POV
Because the Loveboy church was not even a province or zone, I didn't expect multitudes of people to come to their concert. I was frightened to do anything because many faces were staring at me. Even when Nathaniel Bassey was blowing a trumpet, and singing a mind-blowing worship song, I couldn't join him.

The night would have been a waste if Pastor Travis Greene didn't show up with his nice dreads, crazy vibes, and clothing style. He was a perfect human to me. His reassuring voice lifted every dead cell in me. Every lyric sung by him showed his ever-burning passion for Christ. The melody and instrumentals told the level of sacrifice he was willing to make for Christ.

Above all, he was a family man. Didn't fail to mention how good his wife's Jollof rice and fried plantains taste at The Experience 2017, TBS Lagos, or bring his kids to sing on stage countless times during his ministrations.

The hill will remain evergreen in my memories. To me, it's a definition of our everyday lives as Christians. Most times we face trials and tribulations that allow us to make some very poor decisions or mistakes but the assurance that a man has paid the price for all and loves us despite our flaws or what people think of us keeps us going.

For these reasons,, I had the time of my life screaming, jumping, and dancing offbeat and no one cared to even caution or badmouth me. Being within walking and talking distance of Travis Greene, my favorite gospel artist was a great privilege. I had no idea Loveboy was also a fan of his till he went to the altar to sing with him. The collaboration of this duo was mind-blowing. He took Geoffrey's part in "See the Light" and told one of the ushers to tell me to come to join them.

Even my nervousness couldn't stop me from doing that since I knew how to sing each of Travis Greene's songs. I started with a low key and saw lips cracking against me. Seeing every eye in the auditorium focused on mine scared me off so I had to shut them down. My ministration was incomparable to others but I enjoyed it. I felt at ease while expressing my undying love for Christ, and singing to him as high as I could.

"Thank you so much for inviting me", I hugged Loveboy after the concert. I was really grateful to him for making my dream of seeing Travis Green physically, come true.

"It's nothing", He smiled. "I'm happy I made your day".

"At least she brought you to church", Mr. Adeola interrupted our conversation.

"Good evening, sir", I greeted him, almost kneeling.

"Well done, dear", he patted my back. "Why don't you join us for snacks before you go".

"No, it's late", Loveboy replied bluntly.

Since it's untypical of a Nigerian parent, a spiritual person at that to invite his son's girlfriend for dinner, I accepted his invitation especially because of the anointing he carried.

As I envisaged, Mrs. Adeola was different from her husband. She smiled heartily after I was introduced to her, made me feel uncomfortable in her home, and asked various questions about my academic journey and what made me think I was ready for a relationship. She didn't seem impressed with my intelligence or character and finally threw me and Loveboy out when she could no longer stand his defensive answers. She didn't even let me finish the delicious doughnut and freshly homemade juice her husband served us.

Thanks to the time we spent at the pastor's quarter, traffic was minimal on the road so we got home early. Loveboy intended to make a U-turn immediately but since I told him it was okay to enter Aunt Simi's apartment, he followed me in.

A/N

Thank you for the love and support you keep showing this book. I hope you're enjoying the various dramas going on in Nifemi's life😂

I didn't realize the extent of my love for Travis Greene until I wrote this chapter😁😍. Every believer should have one or two of his songs.

Do you think Nifemi and Loveboy are hypocrites for going to church?

I don't think so because if God decides to judge every one of us by the works of our hands, no one will be alive. I think the best thing is to always ask for grace to avoid sin. Besides, condemning wrongdoers won't do anyone any good. We should focus more on their rehabilitation.

Yours teenfictionly,

Eniola Oluwamuyiwa