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Everything was still.
Suddenly, there were lots of people.
He couldnât count them. They might have been fifty or more. Loud voices. Dark faces. Shuffling of feet. Hands all over him. Tugging. Pulling. Claws closing on him, coming for his neck, coming to choke him.
Then, just like that, they started to disappear, one after the other, as if they were balloons and someone was popping them with a needle.
Everything was quiet again.
A man emerged who seemed to be a doctor or at least acted like he knew something other people didnât know.
âAsher?â
Asher looked at him, blinking, trying to steady his sight, as the manâs face moved out of focus.
âYouâre finally awake. Can you hear me? Blink if you can.â
Asher blinked. Not in response to the manâs instruction. His eyelids just couldnât keep still.
âThatâs good. I will run a few checks while asking you some questions, okay? Itâs just routine. You look good, by the way, and the worst is over. Hopefully, youâll be out of here in no time, then you can give me that autograph I so badly want.â
He chuckled, triggering in Asher a faint memory of a scene like this one. Same words, same chuckle.
âI was listening to âSlow Downâ this morning in the theater. I had it on repeat. Bruh! That song is fire! Itâs my song of the yearââ
âKenny.â
Asherâs voice sounded strange to him, as though it belonged to someone else a hundred meters away from them.
âWhat did you say?â the doctor asked.
Asher tried to lift his head but a sharp pain from the back of his neck stopped him. He also felt something clamping around his neck, like the hands of fifty or more people merged into one, closing in on him.
âYou may want to keep your head steady. You have a neck brace.â
âKenny,â Asher repeated, louder now.
But the crowd of noisy people suddenly returned. They were shouting this time, running toward him from the distance. He looked up and he was no longer with the doctor. There were stars above him, surrounding a moon that was a cookie-bite shy of its fullness.
When he looked down again, there was a haze of smoke in front of him through which he saw the people getting nearer. Only their legs, though.
The air smelled of fumes, but he could also pick out that distinct metallic stench of blood.
Loudening voices.
He had just realized that he was lying on his side, partly on his left arm, which looked like a thing that used to belong to his body but was now tired of being a member.
Then, he saw it. Kennyâs gray jacket lying on the tarmac. It reminded him of a parcel he once saw that had fallen off an overloaded delivery truck. The gray of the jacket matched the worn-out tarmac. But there was a pool of deep red fluid, spreading across the chips of asphalt.
Kennyâs face lay in that pool. A strange gurgling noise like the last bit of water draining a sink came out of him.
The people arrived on the scene with their many legs and screams of terror. Asher tried to look up at the sky again but his sight went dark as if someone had thrown a blanket over him.
__________
âHey, Ash.â
Asher opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the ceiling. Next was Nnaniâs face. Once he saw it, he shut his eyes again. He knew sheâd ask him about his recurrent nightmare. Then, sheâd tell him that the dreams were troubling her as much as they did him and he needed to do something about them. Maybe finally see a therapist? Or talk to one of the pastors in his family? Her suggestions would lead them into an argument about how she was making a big deal out of a trivial situation and pushing too hard. He would insist that he was fine and could handle himself.
âYou had that dream again?â Nnani asked. Asher turned his head toward hers. There was worry on her face.
âNo,â he lied. He tried to get off the bed, but she drew him back in and sat on him.
âLetâs not go out today,â she said, packing her braids with a band. âWe can just stay inâŚâ
âAnd do what?â
âVideos.â
âMore videos? Any chance I donât get to star in them?â
Nnani giggled. âYouâll forever be the star of my life.â
âThatâs so corny. Count me out of your shit, Nnani.â
She whined but kissed him.
âThis is a new year.â Asher touched her lips. âI think itâs time you showed your followers that you can do this influencing thing on your own, without me.â
Nnani pulled her weight up, revealing a pout.
âBaby, you can do it.â
âDo what exactly?â
âUm⌠Play the piano on your own for starters. The guitar tooââ
âBoring.â
âYouâre good, Nnani. And you can sing if you just believe in yourself.â
âIf I can sing, why am I not one of your backup singers?â
âYou need a little fine-tuning.â
âBut Melody doesnât, right? You hired her without thinking twice.â
âMelody has had years of experience, singing in the choir. I hired her because I was looking for someone to replace Mercy who bailed on me last minute. Nnani, you know how it all happened. Letâs not start fighting over something we fought over and squashed. Melody is good at what she does. End of.â
Annoyed, Nnani got off his body and stomped out of the bedroom. Asher didnât have the strength to go after her. He reached for a pill container on the floor and took out three painkillers. He downed them with a bottle of water on the nightstand, shut his eyes, and waited for the pain at the back of his neck to ease up. Afterward, he reached for a half-smoked blunt on the nightstand and lit it.
Falling backwards on the bed, his head got flooded with memories of his late friend, Kenny, who would have been celebrating his 28th birthday today. It had been twenty-two months since the crash, and Asher was yet to find a way to erase that night from his memory. His mind was bent on punishing him for killing his best friend.
âAsh?â
Asher looked at Nnani, who was standing by the bathroom door. Her nude bodyâ supple, chubby, and curvyâcalled out to him. She had a bad habit of hashing out their disagreements with sex, knowing how much she was his greatest weakness.
When he met her, she had barely three thousand followers on online. But the morning after their first night together, she posted a photo of his back while he lay in bed, showing the famed tattoo on his accident scar in honor of Kennyâand she became insta-famous. Since then, she had used his star power, via videos of them as a couple, to grow her following. Presently, she boasted of over four hundred thousand followers on TikTok and Instagram. She also made a pretty sum from running ads and campaigns. But Asher was worried that she lacked the self-confidence needed for her to be her true self and stay relevant to her brand.
âWhat if we get you a voice coach?â he asked her.
âWhy do I need a voice coach when I have you?â
âNnani, you know I donât have time. Once I sign this deal with Ijo Records, my life is going to change drastically. I need you to be known for more than just influencing and being my girlfriend.â
âWhat next after I train my voice?â
Asher sat up, an idea coming to him. âIf you become good enough for me to want to add you as a backup singer, then Iâll feature you in one of my songs.â
Nnani didnât believe him. âYouâre capping joor!â
âNo cap. Deal?â
âDeal.â
He gestured her over and she hurried to the bed. She picked what was left of his blunt in an ashtray and lit it. Inhaling the smoke, Nnani fixed her eyes on Asher. He slipped his hand between her thighs and watched her as she smoked, enjoying the way her eyes went from clear and wide to murky and tinted. He could spend the whole day watching her. His phone gallery was filled with pictures and videos he had taken of her without her knowledge. She also didnât know that she was a source of inspiration for songs he had written and was yet to produce.
Nnani, like Asherâs music, was his pain medication. She was also a thing of shame and guilt to him. Firstly, for the obvious reason that he was a worship leader at church but he was living in sin with her. The second reason was more dishonorable, as it involved his late friend, Kenny, who had been on a couple of dates with Nnani before his death, with the intention of going into something serious with her. At that time, Nnani was a budding instrumentalist who had just begun working at Asherâs studio, run by Kenny and his twin, Taiye.
At first sight, Asher had fallen for her, but he kept his distance because of Kennyâs intentions toward her. However, after Kennyâs passing, Nnani became a constant in his life. Asides family, she was the only person that was there with him in the hospital. At some point, she took over his care from his mom until he got his bearing back. Everyone that mattered to him adored her; everyone except Taiye. He had forgiven Asher for being responsible for his brotherâs death, but he despised him for dating her.
âAre you still going to Uncle Leyeâs house today?â Nnani asked as she tugged down Asherâs sweatpants.
âDonât remind me.â
She gazed thirstily at his penis and smiled at him before letting her head down. Asher shut his eyes in anticipation for what was to come but the bedroom door burst open and his mom walked in.
âMom!â Asher slammed a pillow on his crotch as Nnani struggled to cover herself with a duvet.
âSeriously?â his mom exclaimed. âOn a Sunday while people are worshipping God?â
âWeâre sorry,â Nnani muttered.
Asher reached for his sweatpants while holding on to the pillow. âPlease, knock next time.â
âMeet me downstairs for a serious talk. You too, Nnani.â
Once she was gone, Nnani breathed out. âWeâre so in trouble. I didnât even hear her car drive in.â
âI blame myself for giving her my key and access to every aspect of my life.â
Nnani slipped into Asherâs t-shirt. âWait. Do you think she knows about the record label thing?â
âI donât know.â
Asher left the bedroom first. He found his mom in the dining room, laying out the table for lunch. She was in a mood. He could tell by the way her brows creased and straightened and creased again. If he werenât here, sheâd be grumbling to herself or slamming things on the table.
He discreetly set his phone camera on her and started a video recording. Just like he did with Nnani, he kept a folder dedicated to all things Phoebe. On his Instagram, she was a star. The talented music minister and poet whom he was lucky to call his mother. In her past life, she had been known as the scorned mistress to George Omotosho who had a son for him and tried to ruin his reputation.
âTurn off that camera, Asher.â
Asher stopped the recording. âWhatâs up?â
âIf you and Nnani canât keep your hands off each other, then she would have to move in with me. Neither your father nor I condone premarital sex, which two of you seem to be doing a lot. The last thing I want is for Nnani to get pregnant.â Phoebe shifted her eyes to Nnani who had just walked in. âI love you darling, but the utter disrespect for morals has to end.â
âMom, pleaseâŚâ Asher pulled out a chair and sat. âAddress me alone. Leave her out of it.â
âNo, Asher. Two of you are misbehavingââ
âItâs my house and sheâs my girlfriend.â
âAsher, youâre a music ministerââ
He shut his eyes. âI am not a minister. I lead worship in church. Thatâs all.â
âAnd what do you think that means, huh? You think itâs just about singing songs and putting up an act?â
âWell, thatâs what Iâve been doing all these years. Putting up an act. I donât believe half of what I do up there. Itâs been all about pleasing you and Dad.â
Phoebe looked like she had just been smacked on the face. This was a difficult topic for Asher to discuss, and he wasnât going to say anything more to upset her or himself.
âCan we not talk about this?â
âNnani?â
âYes, Mommy.â
âSpeak sense into him. You know what youâre both doing is wrong. Talk to him.â
âYes, Mommy.â
âOya, you people should eat. I brought lunch.â
Lunch was pounded yam and egusi soup. There was pineapple juice and palm wine on the side. It was funny to Asher that for two weeks, he had lodged in some of the worldâs most expensive hotels without eating a proper meal. It was always a burger or a salad because he was constantly occupied. Concerts, interviews, press tours, and parties kept him on his feet in the UK. His voice had taken a beating and he almost collapsed on stage during his last show. He still couldnât recall how he got on a plane back to Nigeria. The last thing he remembered was taking a drink from his manager once they got to the hotel after the show. He awoke the following morning with Nnani peering into his face and asking how he was doing.
His doctor was present too. He topped his pain medication and ordered him back to bed. Then came an entire week of lazy sex with Nnani and long sleep hours that brought on welcome nightmares.
âItâs time to fire your manager,â Phoebe said when Asher was done with his meal. Nnani passed him a look.
âJust like that?â He spied a piece of meat in his soup dish he had abandoned. He tossed it into his mouth.
âI donât want to be having this conversation with you again, Ash. That man will be the death of you.â
Asher would normally respond by reminding her that his manager was one of the best on the continent, but he was tired of talking about him. He had no intention to fire the man, especially not now when his career was about to take a crazy turn.
âAll he sees, when he looks at you, is money. He doesnât care about your health or even respect the music at all. Iâll always be of the opinion that an A&R talent manager should be someone who once had a career as a singer or producer or something. Not these greedy guys that want to scam people like you with real talent. Let him go, Asher.â
Asher knew that beneath her motherly concern, Phoebe wanted to replace the manager. Her music career as a gospel artiste had barely taken off four years ago and crashed immediately. She blamed everyone for her failure but herself. She even blamed his father, alleging that he sabotaged the success of her debut album by asking his friends in high places not to invite her to their churches to perform her songs. She held an unending grudge for George for dumping her twenty-eight years ago after an adulterous affair that left her pregnant and heartbroken. To Asher, she was a great mother. But as an artiste or manager, she suckedâand this upset him, as he wanted her to be more than just a mother in his life. Nonetheless, he was grateful for her active social life. She had a few friends and was presently dating someone. At fifty-two, she was doing great and looked fabulous. Even now, dressed in a t-shirt and pair of denim pants, with a hairdo that was reminiscent of Anita Bakerâs famous cut, she could pass for a thirty-year-old.Â
âAre you even listening to me, Asher?â
âYes, Mom.â
âOr are you waiting to drop dead on stage out of sheer exhaustion before you agree that Clint is bad for you?â
Asher got up. âLetâs not do this today.â
âLetâs not talk about this! Letâs not do this today! Why donât you want to talk about these important issues in your life?â
âBecause youâre stressing, Mom. Youâre being extra right now.â
âFine.â Phoebe stood and picked her car key. âIâll call you later tonight and weâll have a chill talk.â
Later, he had a party to attend, but he said, âSure.â
She left a peck on Nnaniâs head. âBe good, baby girl.â She blew Asher a kiss as she started toward the door.
The couple was silent until she left the house.
âShe didnât talk about the record deal thing,â Nnani whispered.
âThey didnât tell her.â Asher poured himself some palm wine. âI wish they did.â
__________
One of Loveâs favorite things about being married to Leye was watching him cook with his father. They were great cooks, and Love believed that if God hadnât called them to serve him, they would have done brilliantly in the food industry. They were best of friends in the kitchen, even though they always disagreed on what condiment needed to go into their meals. Papa loved his dishes hot and spicy; Leye had a sweet and sour tooth. This evening, though, Papa agreed on the meal going Leyeâs way. But for the chicken pepper soup, Papa was in charge. He made it with Love in mind, as he explained, to help her produce ample breastmilk for her newborn, who was just two weeks old.
The Omotoshos had a family tradition of being involved in postpartum care for six months. Presently, Alice spent most of her nights at Leye and Loveâs, even though the baby had a live-in nanny. Papa also helped whenever he could, by mostly stopping by to drop a meal he had made or a thoughtful gift he got for Baby Abitoluwa and Love. So far, Abitoluwa had gotten eight of those gifts. For Love, she received the eleventh one todayâa pair of customized designer sneakers.
Papa and Alice were the parents Love wished she had had, and she adored them without reservation. During her pregnancy, she had fallen into a cute routine of walking down the street to their house for a sleepover each time she and Leye got into a fight. On such occasions, Leye never won, even when she was the offender. Alice would let her sleep in the room they reserved for her; and the following morning, they would call Leye over and scold him for upsetting her. Love was older than Alice, but she respected her as she would one an elder.
âPepper soupâs all done,â Papa announced, pushing a basket toward Love. âThis is for you to take home.â
âThank you, Dad.â
âI know your husband doesnât have time to cook for you again, now that heâs caught up in his tech business.â
Love stared at Leye who pretended not to have heard what Papa said. Keeping his concentration on the onion he was slicing, he changed the topic.
âI ran into Ishi today,â he said. âHe was with his older daughter.â
âEliana.â
âYeah.â
Leye paused, face in thought. âYouâre saying that he was actively a pastor when he decided to get her mom pregnant?â
âBabe, Iâve explained this to you nau,â Love answered. âThey didnât have sex. He donated sperm.â
âHow?â
Papa gave him a stare that had Love laughing. âYou want your wife to break down to you how semen is autonomously produced, Son?â
âItâs just⌠Heâs⌠I donât know. Gutsy. Different.â
âAnd thatâs why weâre happy to have him in BCC,â Love said.
âBut he was dating her at some point nau. This was 2015, 16âŚ?â
âJust rumors. Nobody had proof of anything going on.â
âSheâs married to his cousin, right?â
âYes.â
âWow. That family isââ
âNo different from ours,â Love responded. She didnât like talking about Ishiâs background and past. It had been hell explaining to the church leaders why someone from the notorious Igwe family would make a good fit for senior pastor. Convincing them had happened over three meetings, which Love attended only virtually. The third one stressed her so much because she had been in labor and was trying to stay sane. The following morning, she learned that Papa had called an emergency meeting to express his anger at the leaders for putting her through stress and to tell them that Ishiâs move to BCC wasnât up for debate. In the meantime, a certain Reverend Malachi was going to be announced as the general overseer. It was Loveâs idea to have someone occupy the seat until Ishi was ready to take over in a couple of years.
So far, everything was going smoothlyâsave for the Ayoolas. They were incensed that Jibola wasnât made the general overseer.
âLove, darling!â Alice walked into the kitchen. âYour little prince is finally sleeping.â
âThank God,â Love muttered. âBless you, Monoyo.â
âMy pleasure.â Alice walked to Papa and pecked him on the chin. âIâm hungry, Sugar Daddy.â
He put his arm around her waist. âDinner is almost ready. But first, you need to take off this dress. It smells of baby stuff. Come on, letâs get you changed.â
Love kept her eyes on them until they left the kitchen.
âDo you think that was some coded language forâ?â
âFor heavenâs sake, Loveth.â
Love laughed. âJeremiah, your father still has sex with his very young and sexy wife.â
âI donât want to knowâŚâ
Love tried to speak but he stopped her.
âEven if Alice has told you things, keep them all to yourself.â
âOkay, sir.â
Leye wiped his hands on a napkin. âDinner is ready, but I need it to simmer for a bit.â
While Papa helped Alice change into another dress, Love and Leye set the sitting room for dinner. Unlike the living room where Papa entertained his serious guests, this family space had a conversation pitâa 15-foor-square section, lined on all sides with couches. It was a picture of romanticism and intimacy.
âYour phone is ringing.â Coming out of the kitchen with a bottle of wine in ice, Leye handed Love her phone. Asher was on the line. Â
âHey, Ash.â
âAuntie Love, Iâm almost there,â he said. âSorry Iâm late.â
âItâs fine. Just hurry.â
âOkay.â
âBut em, Asher⌠This thing you want to talk about, do you think that maybe you could share it with me first before you tell your dad and brother? Just in case you need someone to stand by you.â
Asher laughed. âI know you already know what it is, and itâs cute that youâre looking out for me, but I can do this on my own.â
âAll right.â
âThanks. See you in a bit.â
He hung up and Love thought about how Papa and Leye were going to take the news that Asher was about to break to them. In November, the year before, they had gotten him a recording deal with a Christian record label that had influence across the continent. This was followed by public announcements after a contract was signed. Asher was supposed to start working on an album at the turn of the new year, but he had called one of the CEOs of the company two nights ago and told him that he was pulling out of the deal. He further explained that gospel music wasnât what he wanted to do. The CEO was BCCâs former choir director and a friend of Loveâs, who didnât hesitate to break the news to her. She had planned to relay the message to Leye and Papa, but Asher informed them both that he had something to share with them this evening.
Love was disappointed in him, but she had known from the start of his struggle to accept the position of worship leader at BCC. His vocal dexterity and performance skills hadnât been in question. He was so good that all one needed to do was toss in the right instruments in the right ambiance and the church would be âslainâ in the spirit, under the influence of his voice. But Asher had not felt like he was where he was supposed to be as a singer. Love knew this, but she didnât let him slip awayâespecially after he released a single that went viral across the country. This brought him popularity and invitations to various churches to perform. He was soon dubbed a music minister, not only because his father was George Omotosho, but also because they believed he had something new and refreshing to offer Godâs people.
For fear that some other church would steal him away, Pastor Love asked the choir director to grant him a much-coveted spot in the BCC worship team. She then advised Asher to rededicate his life to God and submit himself to the leadership of the director. When he tried to tell her that he wasnât the Christian everyone thought he was, she smiled and told him that he was not in the company of saints but of sinners.
âMany are beautiful on the outside like whitewashed tombs,â she added, âbut they are full of bones of the dead. That is why we all need Jesus.â
Love wished that she hadnât pushed him. Maybe Asher would have found his calling on his own and not felt like he needed to please his family and show the world that he was from the bloodline of ministers.
A message from Mina popped up on her screen.
You need to see this!!! đŽđĽ
âWhat now?â Love clicked on a link in the message and it led her to an Instagram account that had shared a screenshot from a popular blog. The gist was that an anonymous source claimed they had incriminating details that could nail Obinna for premeditated murder. This person also stated that the Omotoshos knew about it and were accomplices to the murder.
Love sighed. She had seen the news earlier and ignored it. Obinna was out on bail and the date for trial had been set for March. Blessing and Glory had already been buried; and for a second, everyone had forgotten about the Kanayos. Now, from nowhere, this latest gossip was trending and BCC was back in the news again, just as they were about to announce Ishiâs move to the church. Love wondered if they should postpone the announcement or do it while they were yet trending. Ishi was no stranger to scandals, but the moment word got out that he was moving to BCC while First Glory was going through a hard time, ferocious bloggers would dig up his pastâespecially his history with Kyenpia.
BCC didnât need the bad press, but that didnât bother Love as much as this anonymous person with their promise for a juicy twist to the Kanayo saga.
Love dialed Najibâs number and waited for him to pick her call.
âGood evening, Mama.â
âItâs time to put your eyes on the Bishop Adonijah,â she said. âHeâs up to something.â
âYes, Mama.â
___________
Papa and Alice were parents to a chubby two-year-old girl, Urowoli, fondly called Roli. Papa, who had sworn that he was done having children, fell deeply for Roli at her birth. The bond between them was so deep that it sometimes made Alice jealous.
Just before dinner began, Roli stirred from a three-hour nap and it was now a struggle to get her to go back to bed or sit anywhere else other than her fatherâs lap. Papa didnât mind, though. He always had the patience to handle her restlessness.
âYouâre spoiling this girl, George,â Alice stated.
âI know. But I may never get to walk her down the aisle, so thatâs okay.â
The room went silent. Aliceâs face slowly grew into a frown. Papa, unaware of the import of his joke, looked up from trying to keep Roli still and saw tears in his wifeâs eyes.
âIt was just a joke, duchess,â he said. âIâm sorry.â
Alice got off her couch. âExcuse me.â
âAre you serious? Alice?â Papa called as she hurried toward the kitchen.
âDad, you just had a health scare last week,â Leye reminded him. âYou literally stopped breathing in your sleep.â
âSleep apnea, thatâs all.â
âWell, sheâs still shaken by it.â
âEveryone has health scares, Omoleye. Your brother almost fainted on stage the other day.â
âCan you stop freaking her out? You know she hates it.â
âIâll stop.â He stood and placed his daughter on his couch, handing her a chicken wing. He then followed Alice to the kitchen.
Love chuckled. âTheyâre so adorable when they fight.â
âSo, whereâs the person that said he wants to speak to all of us?â Leye asked Love.
âAlmost here.â
âI hope Nnani isnât pregnantâŚâ
âWell, will that surprise you? Theyâre practically living together.â
âAnd that makes us hypocrites because we let him climb up that stage and minister.â Leye picked a chicken piece off his little sisterâs forehead. âMaybe we should suggest that they get married.â
âTo legitimize their sin?â
Leye looked thoughtful. âNow, that you put it that wayââ
âLetâs not push Asher into doing anything he doesnât want to. Weâve done that enough already.â
âIf I recall, you did. Not me. I told you he wasnât ready, but you said he had the gift.â
âAre you bringing that up now?â
âIâm just saying that you like to push things.â
Love was silent for a bit. Her eyes were on a long flower vase that held beige reeds.
âTek!â Roli thrust a piece of chicken at her. She took it with a smile.
âSweetnessâŚâ Leye called. She looked at him, her smile vanishing.
âYou canât quit now,â she whispered.
âQuit what?â
âI know you want to step down as pastor to go and run your tech company. Iâm not going to stop you, but please, not now.â
âIâm not quitting. I justâŚâ Leye exhaled, bringing his thoughts together. âI just want to take a break for a bit and ask God to really show me where heâs taking me as a pastor. Something doesnât just feel right in my life at this time, sweetness.â
âI know. Youâve said that and Iâve listened to you, but not now, Jeremiah.â
âAnd you say youâre not pushing.â
Love sighed. âYou wonât understandâŚâ
âJust tell me why.â
âYouâll know why soon.â
Just then, Asher walked in. At the same time, Papa and Alice emerged from the kitchen, hands in each otherâs. Asher bowed his head to greet his father. He hugged Alice and Love, bumped fists with Leye, and sat.
âIâm sorry, Iâm late. I got caught in traffic.â
âHowâs that mother of yours? Still hating me?â
âSheâs good.â
âUntil she remembers something she needs to accuse me of. But letâs eat. Iâm starving.â
âPlease, before we startâŚâ Asher shifted forward. âI⌠Can I say what I came here to say?â
Papa looked at him warily. âHave you gotten that girl pregnant?â
âNo.â
âDone some drunk-driving act again?â
âGeorge?â Alice scolded.
âJust asking.â
âNo, Dad.â
âSo, shoot.â
They all went quiet. Even Roli seemed to stop chewing for a bit.
âIâm backing out of my deal with Portrait Music. Secondly, IâŚdonât want to be a worship leader anymore. I just want to come to church like every other person and worship and go home.â
The silence continued. Every eye was on Papa, who filled a glass with water. âYou all heard the young man. Heâs done with church.â
âI didnât say that.â
âFunny. Thatâs what I heard.â
âDad, Iâm just not called to be a music minister.â
âOh, but you are.â
âI am not.â
âYou are, but you donât know it. You think all that partying and booze and sex are strong enough to scare God away, to snatch you away from his hands, to recall his anointing on you? Youâre a joker. But please, stray away like the prodigal son you so desperately want to be. We will be waiting for you here when you return.â
âOkay, sir. Thank you. Anybody else has something to say?â
âDonât be disrespectful, Asher,â Leye chided him. âYouâve said your mind and weâve heard you. I canât speak for everyone else here, but all Iâll say is that you should be sure that this is what you want to do.â
âIâm sure.â
âSo, whatâs next for you?â Alice asked.
âIâmâŚsigning with Ijo Records.â
âI knew it,â Papa muttered. âYouâre going full scale secular.â
âYes, I am.â Asherâs tone was almost a whisper.
âYouâre killing me here, Ash,â Love commented.
âDonât let it bother you, Child.â Papa tapped her arm. âHeâs a grown man. Twenty-seven years old. Let him do what he wants. Whatever happens is on him.â
âWhy would you think anything bad would happen?â
âHe didnât say bad,â Alice commented.
âAsher Adewunmi Omotosho, the monkey will not be killed. It will die on its own accord,â Papa told him in Yoruba. âItâs all up to you.â
âAsher, please,â Alice pleaded. âDonât do this. Whatever youâre struggling with spiritually, you have us. We will guide you when we feel youâre going off course. Thatâs what your elders are here for. Weâve all walked this path, struggled with our faith, and questioned the legitimacy of our callingââ
âAuntie Alice, I have to respectfully tell you that you have not walked my path.â
âOkay, thatâs valid.â
âBut I am fine.â
âYouâre not,â Love remarked. âYouâve not been since the accident. Iâm sorry that we overlookedââ
âI said Iâm fine.â
âSweetie, youâre notââ
âIâm donât want to live a fake life, Auntie Love! I told you this four years ago but you didnât listen! Iâve been stuck, playing a role that I discovered early enough was played better by others who have been in the game long before me. Auntie Love, wasnât it you who told me that I was in the company of sinners and not saints?â
Leye looked at Love. She maintained a straight face.
âIt didnât take me long to see that. And when I did, I couldnât unsee the façade, every Sunday, every other day. Iâve been playing a role, and you all know and approve of it. Thatâs why nobody talks about me and Nnani. Yet you want me to hold on to that lie, to that sin because it makes the family look good. The lovechild who turned out to be a shining light, despite his origins, despite his motherâs past.â
âFor Godâs sake,â Papa mumbled.
âIâm sorry but I canât do this anymore. No more playing church.â
Papa looked at him. âSo, you play with the devil.â
Asher was quiet.
âDonât cast your pearl amongst swine or they will turn around and rend you.â
Asher looked at his father. âJust because theyâre not in your church doesnât make them swine.â He got up. âGood night.â
 None of them called him when he walked away.
âThat boy did not just speak to all of us like that,â Leye said, running a hand over his moustache.
âWell, he did,â Papa answered. âAnd weâll forget that he did.â
Loveâs eyes were fixed on the door, expecting Asher to return.
âSweetness?â Leye put his arm around her as Alice commenced on blessing the dinner. âIâll stay.â
She looked at him. âHmm?â
âI wonât quit.â
ŠSally Kenneth Dadzie @moskedapages
I was waiting for when Asher will show. I come dey suspect say hin don japa. I enjoyed today’s episode and I really love the omotoshos like I love the igwes. Sally you sabi this writing something. As for Asher, o ga o! Listen to your elders
Somebody play me, “I feel it coming.”
It’s about to go down!
Thank you for this episode, Sally.
Hmmmm…..let me join Love.
This one na house of commotion, things are falling apart.
But I kinda support Asher, there’s no need to keep pretending and like Papa said, like the prodigal son, he will come back.
Nice one as always Sal….it’s a good thing to have that “looking forward to a weekend read” like before. Well done! đ
Church drama
One thing I have come to realize with “church leaders and their family” is that though we look at them as saints, we are all sinners. Great to read about Asher again
Happy new year Sal
I’ve been looking forward to this and I was not disappointed. I hope all goes well Asher though.
Drama continues
Oh! I waited for this all week. Thank you Sally. It was absolutely worth the wait.
The fact Najib is on Adonijahâs tail is scary. Iâm rubbing my hands together right now sha *evil grin*
It’s about to go down!
The church is a group of sinners that Jesus came to make saint.
Unfortunately, we expect too much from church leaders and this make them continue to hide their sins.
I appreciate you Sally that you are unafraid to write about the church.
Sometimes, I feel you have been in the shoes of your characters.
Whenever I get the email alert for a new post, I always rush to read and keep wanting more.
I can’t blame Asher this, there’s too much drama when you’re looking from the inside. My love for the Omotoshos, even if they do wrong I’ll support them
Nobody does it like you, Sally. Your mind is amazing!! Thanks for sharing your gift and a happy new year to you.âĽď¸
They should let Asher be, why pretending to be someone you are not. Unfortunately that is what we see in most big churches, Sons carrying on the Ministry even if they re not qualified to do so. God bless you Sally.Happy New ywmear
Amazing as always.
I am not disappointed at all. My Asher is back, thanks for bringing back all our favourites characters. We are waiting for spending mummyâs money Biko donât make us wait too long. Thanks Mami
Not me screaming when I saw Phoebe’s name, Lol..the Omotosho’s and the Igwe’s family dynamics are so alike, it’s insane!!!
I love the way you weave all the characters together, you sabi this thing Sally. Thank God for the gift of you.đ
I enjoyed every bit of this!
I have forgotten Asher at first, was trying to remember who he was until Phoebe came in. The omotosho’s, so love them.
Sally, you are the best!
Wow I love the drama that is brewing…Thanks Sally
But I’m confused, in episode 2, The story was that Alice had no child for Papa yet, and Love was some months pregnant, but here Love has just put to bed while Alice’s baby is 2years old…
James, thanks for noting the error. Just one error, and that’s Alice and Papa’s kid. I had a totally different idea for them as regards their child but I changed my mind because this is only a first draft of the story. Books usually have multiple drafts and go through many edits. And even after publishing, revisions are made where things can change. As for Love, she was pregnant. 36 weeks at the time. If you read this episode well, you would note that I said that she gave birth two weeks ago. This is 2023. Episode 2-5 happened in 2022. Please, crosscheck
Yeah, just one error…Thanks for the response and clarification.
Respect mama
Thanks again. I’ll put up an update before the next episode for those who might have been confused too
Nice one Sally. It’s hard. Being a pastor. Being a pastor’s kid.
I wonder who the anonymous source is… Our Bishop Adonijah most likely. I totally love the family dynamics of the Omotoshos. Hopefully, Asher realizes they all mean well for him before its too late. Thanks Sally, amazing as always.
I want my own Papa or Leye lol! Asher should go jere⌠He will come back last last. Thanks for this SallyWooWoo⌠for staying authentic đ
Definitely team Asher, sometimes âolderâ family members need to hear the truth. And i love loveth but that lady is very calculated can be pushy from time to time
Yay!!!! Officially have Sally land. It’s been refreshing meeting all these characters from In the name of Papa, Fish brain series, The Igwes and Little Black book. Weldon Sally.
I like this series
Asher is that new breed, that one from the new generation that wants to break free and tread a path that is totally different. Sometimes, parents (and other elder family members) should leave their youngins and let them try chart their own course. That may be where fulfilment lies for those younger ones.