*ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH:*

EPISODE 4

The room was as quiet as a grave yard. Reverend Leo sat with his hands on his head and his head raised up. He was totally lost in thought.

Alfred sat staring from husband to wife. Wondering what has gone wrong with the couple he once loved and admired.

Rachael sat impatiently waiting for Alfred to respond. She was anxiously waiting and hoping that Alfred would not say no to her.

Reverend Leo was silently praying for Alfred to say no. So that they can all move on.

Finally, he broke the silence.

*Alfred:* Seven million naira.

*Leo:* What?

*Alfred:* Seven million naira for what you want me to do.

*Leo:* You mean you will sleep with my wife if we pay you seven million naira?

Alfred knew that the Reverend was not happy with his statement and this confused him the more because it was the Reverend that called him.

*Alfred:* Reverend this is a sin against my God, myself and my wife and if I must commit this sin then I should commit it for a good reason. So, if you will give me the seven million naira, then I am game.

*Leo:* (disappointed) And what makes you so sure you will get my wife pregnant.

*Alfred:* Well, I don't know, but I do believe that you saw the potentials in me which is why you chose me out of all the members of the church. I am not a guarantor that she must get pregnant. Mine is just to do the job, collect my money and go.

*Leo:* (shakes his head in agreement sarcastically) The job of sleeping with my wife?

*Alfred:* Sir, it's a huge sacrifice I am giving to you o. Sacrificing my child for life, forgetting about my own blood for life, do you think it's an easy thing to do?

Leo: Yeah right!

*Rachael:* It's okay Alfred. We will give you the money.

Leo was shocked to hear his wife talk.

*Leo:* We will? Have you gone mad? Where do you plan on getting seven million naira from?

*Rachael:* Honey that is between us. (turns to Alfred) we will give you the money. My husband and I will raise the cash for you by Friday. So by Saturday you can start work.

*Leo:* Rachael! Friday? Start work?

*Rachael:* Leo please calm down and let me talk to Alfred. (Turns to Alfred) Brother Alfred, thank you so much. For this you've done or about to do for my family, God will bless you richly. Expect my call on Friday.

*Alfred:* It's alright Mummy, I will take my leave now. Goodbye Reverend!

He turns and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.

*Leo:* Rachael has the devil taken over you this deep that you no longer think before talking? Where on Earth do you plan on getting seven million naira within five days.

*Rachael:* (ignoring the question) Tell the doctor I need to go home. 

(She manages to stand up, though from the way she struggles, anyone would know she was still in pains, she starts gathering her things)

*Leo:* What? How can you go home, when you are not yet strong.

*Rachael:* Leo call the doctor, I am fine and I need to go home now.

*Leo:* How can you say you are fine. See you, still in severe pains and you are talking of being okay and wanting to go home. Are you really bent on killing yourself?

*Rachael:* Is it your body Leo? Is it you that's feeling the pain? I said I am fine, so call the doctor now to prepare my discharge papers now, if not I will walk out of here and leave you to settle with the doctor.

Once again, Leo knew she wasn't joking and so he steps out to inform the doctor that his wife had insisted on going home.

The doctors and nurses all came into the room and tried to talk to Rachael and also enlighten her on the dangers of going against the doctors advice but she remained adamant and insisted on going.

And so the doctors signed and gave her the discharge papers.

Leo was disappointed and sad at his wife and everything going on around him. He wished it was all a bad dream that he would wake up from but he just didn't know how to wake himself up.

Rachael waited patiently for her husband to come inside the house. She stood by the dining table waiting for him. Leo who was fuming with anger came in and went straight to her at the dining.

*Leo:* Honey listen to me, this madness has to stop now. I will not fold my hands and watch and support you to commit this abomination you want to do. You cannot sleep with Alfred.

*Rachael:* What do you mean I cannot sleep with Alfred? Am I doing it for the fun of it? Do you think I am happy doing this? You think I am happy that I want to get naked before another man that is not my husband? Do you think this is easy for me? Whatever I am doing is because I have no choice and I am doing it for both of us. I am doing it to save our name, your name, you will become a father and I become a mother.

*Leo:* No Rachael, you will become a mother, but not me, the child will be Alfred's and not mine.

*Rachael:* What is this? What are you saying? We are paying Alfred off. He will have no claim over the child and will never come for it. Besides, we will leave this town for good. The child will bear your name and we will be the parents.

*Leo:* You can keep deceiving yourself Rachael, you and I know that child will never be mine. No matter how far we may go, no matter the name the child may bear, it will never have my blood in his veins, it will never be mine.

*Rachael:* Well, that is what you believe, and I can't change whatsoever you chose to believe.

*Leo:* You surprise me dear, you really surprise me.

*Rachael:* Please I don't have time to argue over what has been settled. What we should be talking about is how to give Alfred his money.

*Leo:* Who is we? You and who? Am I the one that gave him a job to be paying him? Don't even involve me at all.

*Rachael:* You lie, you are involved and you cannot run from it. Anyway, this is what I have resolved. You will take from the church purse.

*Leo:* What?

*Rachael:* Yes, you will take from the church purse, the tithes and offerings and the seeds the people sowed and donated for the church new building.

*Leo:* Have you gone mad? I should use the church purse for your selfish aim? What do I tell the church?

*Rachael:* What are you supposed to tell them? You owe no one any explanation, you are the General Overseer of the church and nobody dares question you.

*Leo:* I am the General Overseer not the owner of the church. It is God's church, it is God's money, I have no right over it.

*Rachael:* You lie Leo, you lie, you will collect that money and we will go ahead with our plans.

*Leo:* Listen Rachael, you have allowed the devil overwhelm you. You have allowed him take charge of you and I will not be a party to it and since you will not listen to me, I am sorry but I will have to call your parents and inform them of what you are about to do. I will also let the church know that our marriage is over the minute you sleep with another man.

*Rachael:* What?

*Leo:* Yes Rachael, since you will not listen to me I have no choice but to make this decision.

Rachael suddenly burst out laughing and Leo was surprised at what was funny and making her laugh.

*Rachael:* Oh Leo, Leo my husband, you will never cease to make me laugh. You see, I am always one step ahead of you. I am always smarter than you, remember?

*Leo:* How do you mean?

*Rachael:* Listen dear, I have you in my palms and you will play along with whatever I decide. Whatever you are planning on doing, just respect yourself and don't do it because you will be the one to regret it.

*Leo:* How do you mean?

*Rachael:* Sixteen years ago, before we got married, you ran into a six year old girl with your car on your way from a night club. You were drunk that night remember?

*Leo:* I remember, what has that got to do with us.

*Rachael:* Calm down my dear husband, that child died on the spot, you were too scared so you ran away and I helped you clean up your mess. The little girl's parents didn't see who had hit their child and so the case was buried under the carpets, well I will want you to know that that little girl you killed that night is Mr. Gbenga's daughter, their only child.

*Leo:* What?

*Rachael:* Yes dear, His wife could not stand the shock of losing their only child. She died six months after. Since then Mr. Gbenga has remained without a wife and a child. It's been sixteen years but he has not been able to move on because the killer of his daughter was not found.

Leo placed his head down trying to swallow all his wife was saying. He remembers all she was saying. He was so drunk that night that he didn't see the little girl. He had hit her and fear had made him abandon the little girl on the road. Rachael was there for him as she supported and helped him get away from town. And she remained to clear off every trace of the incident that would link to him.

After he gave his life to Christ, he had wanted to find the family of that girl and confess to them but he couldn't trace them, and then Rachael has told him that if he tries it he would be thrown into the prison and he had decided to put it behind him and move on. And now he just didn't understand why Rachael was bringing it up.

*Rachael:* Leo, I want you to know that all the evidences you think I threw away that night I still have them. I don't know why but something kept telling me not to discard them, I guess this is the reason. Leo, I still have them and if you dare think you will break our marriage or disgrace me for trying to save this family's name then I will send you to jail and you will rot there.

*Leo:* What? All these years you kept those things, so you can use them one day against me, right? You know that accident happened when I was still of the world, and you know how I tried to find that girl's family. All these while you knew them but you kept silent about it? Rachael who are you? Who did I marry?

*Rachael:* Ask yourself that question darling? We are in this together and you cannot pull out. You will collect the money from the church purse and you will support me while Alfred get me pregnant and we will leave this town together with our child and we will live happily ever after. If not, if not Leo, you will rot in jail. Don't dare me?

Rachael picks her phone and walks away into the room with a surprised Leo staring at her.

WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 5

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*ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH:*

EPISODE 3

Pastor Jim was seated in his office glancing through the Bible when Chief Ike walked in. The Pastor stood up in respect to the Chief and they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

*Jim:* Chief, Chief, God bless you sir for visiting my office today. I am always excited to have you around.

*Chief Ike:* Yes Pastor, I am glad to be here too. Where is Reverend?

*Jim:* Reverend Leo is currently not available. But I am here to assist in whatever you need Chief. Is there any problem you wanted to see him about?

*Chief Ike:* Yes Pastor, I am having a small issue. And I don't know if you can really help me out.

*Jim:* Haba Chief, this is the reason God placed us here, so that we can be of help to others. What exactly is the problem Chief? (He ended laughing)

*Chief Ike:* Pastor Jim, you see that my small wife, I am now ready to pay her bride's price.

*Jim:* Really? But is she not like your 6th wife?

*Chief Ike:* That is correct. I want to pay her bride's price now and I want the church to arrange a blessed marriage for us.

*Jim:* But chief you know the Bible is against marrying of two wives, not to talk of number six. Our Reverend will not allow it o. And the people might start thinking it's the right thing to do.

*Chief Ike:* Which people? These church rats? When I was donating blocks and bags of cement and spending raw cash on this church building where were they? Why did Reverend Leo not tell me to return all the goodies I was bringing to the church? What about when I pay big money as my tithe? Why didn't they say my wives and I are sinners. Anyway, I wanted to do it here and bring in my fellow Chiefs and big politicians to grace the church and also drop their token during the marriage. But since you people don't want. I can go. I will always see a church that will bless our marriage. (He stands up to leave, but Pastor Jim quickly stops him)

*Pastor Jim:* Haba Chief, you get upset easily. I never said we will not do it o, is it not blessed marriage? What is blessed marriage? We will do it, don't worry, Reverend Leo and I will do it. You are a very important man in this church and if not for you this church wouldn't have been this big and grown. There is nothing we can deny you. In fact let me leak a secret to you. The other day, Reverend Leo and I were contemplating on making you a Deacon.

*Chief Ike:* (laughing) You doing mean it?

*Pastor Jim:* Absolutely Chief, so this one is just a small thing. Erm, when do you plan on having the marriage sir.

*Chief Ike:* Next Sunday is fine by me, if you don't mind.

*Pastor Jim:* No, no, no, I don't mind. Even if you want it tomorrow, it can be arranged sir. Next  Sunday is fine. I will discuss with the Reverend about it and inform him to be prepared.

Chief Ike nodded his head in satisfaction, he put his hands into his big agbada pocket and brings out a bundle of cash and stretches it to the Pastor.

*Chief Ike:* It's okay Pastor. That is the sum of three hundred thousand naira in cash, use it to arrange anything you need to do before Sunday. If you need more let me know. Alright?

*Jim:* (laughing non stop) Chief! chief!! Thank you so much. God bless you so much. You don't have to worry about anything, your marriage is blessed already sir. See you on Thursday.

Chief Ike turns and leave while Pastor Jim broke into a dance at his office raising the money high like a baby. When he hears the sound of footstep approaching. He quickly hides the money inside his bag and sat down quietly.

___________________

Reverend Leo sat beside Rachael in the hospital watching her and wondering what suddenly came over his wife. When he married her she was burning for Christ, she had so much faith and would always encourage everyone around her to remain in faith. And suddenly she has turned into a desperate housewife.

Who would believe his story if he shared it with anyone. Who would even believe that the mummy of the church stabbed herself. As he sat beside her praying that God would intervene in their situation, he heard her make a sound and he quickly turned and faced her.

"Baby!" He called out to her. ''Baby, I am right here, I am right here and you are fine, praise be to God."

Slowly, Rachael opened her eyes and looked around her.

*Rachael:* Heaven or hell? Where am I?

*Leo:* God forbid it, you will not die but live. You are in the hospital dear.

*Rachael:* Hospital? And what am I doing in the hospital?

*Leo:* Honey you stabbed yourself, you used a knife and you stabbed yourself. How could you do that? How could you? Why would you even think of that?

*Rachael:* Who asked you to save me? Who told you to bring me to the hospital? I am asking you.

*Leo:* How can you say that? What was I to do? Should I have left you on the floor to die?

*Rachael:* Yes Leo, you should have left me to die, I told you what I want. I don't want to live without a child. And you know what to do.

*Leo:* Honey stop all of this. We will definitely have our baby in God's time. Stop this please. You were lucky to survive this. Thank God the knife did not hit any vital organ. What would I have done? What would have happened to you?

*Rachael:* Listen Leo, you are just wasting your time. You are going to call Alfred and you will tell him that I need to get pregnant, we need to have our own child and you will pay him any amount he demands to get me pregnant and when I am finally pregnant, we will relocate from here to another state and live happily ever after.

*Leo:* Never! I will never do that? Do you even know what you are asking me to do? I can never do that, Never!

*Rachael:* Never? Did you say Never? Then you wouldn't have bothered to save me because I will do it again. I will kill myself and bid this world bye bye. So that I will know I died without a child and as a sad woman.

Leo stood up to walk away from the clinic. But Rachael suddenly dragged the drip out of her hand spilling blood all over the bed, then she began to disconnect everything that was connected to her body.

*Leo:* What is this? What are you doing? Stop it, stop it right this minute. Have you gone mad?

He tries to stop her but she points the needle from the drip to him crying and sobbing.

*Rachael:* Don't come any closer, if you dare come closer I will stick this needle to my throat and die right here.

*Leo:* But honey you are bleeding, you are losing blood and you could faint and die from this.

*Rachael:* That is what I want. Let me die, I cannot continue like this.

*Leo:* Honey please let me call the nurses, please stop this I am begging you.

*Rachael:* Pick up that phone, pick up that phone and call Alfred now.

*Leo:* Honey...

Rachael carried the needle and stucked it into her legs and she screamed out in pains.

*Leo:* Honey... Stop, you are hurting yourself.

*Rachael:* (in pains) Call him now if not the next one goes inside my neck. Pick the phone and call him now.

Leo was confused, he didn't know what to do. He picked up his phone and dialed the number.

*Rachael:* Put it on speaker, I want to hear every discussion.

Leo puts the phone on speaker, and not long, Alfred picked the call and answered from the other end. Reverend Leo then informed him to come straight to the hospital. He told him he was coming immediately.

When Alfred got to the hospital, he was surprised and shocked at the sight of the Reverend's wife.

*Alfred:* Blood of Jesus, Reverend what happened to mummy. Mummy what happened to you?

*Rachael:* (to Leo) Tell him.

*Leo:* Honey, please don't do this, I am begging you.

*Rachael:* Tell him now if not...

(She raises the needle to her neck)

*Leo:* Okay, okay, okay, I will tell him. Just drop the needle.

*Rachael:* Tell him first.

*Alfred:* Tell me what?

*Leo:* (with tears and pains in his eyes) My wife wants you to get her pregnant.

Alfred was confused. He didn't understand what the Reverend was saying.

*Alfred:* Reverend, I don't understand. Get her pregnant? How? I don't understand.

*Rachael:* Brother Alfred please, you know my husband and I have been married for years and we have not been able to bear any child. So my husband and I concluded that you should help me get pregnant.

*Alfred:* (confused) help you get pregnant? How? I still don't understand.

*Rachael:* Honey, please spill it out to him, instead of weeping like a child that lost the mother.

*Leo:* She wants you to sleep with her and get her pregnant.

*Alfred:* Jesus! God forbid! Sleep with who? God forbid! Mummy, daddy, how can you even think of such? Are you not the same people that teach us to have faith in God? What then happened to your faith? Or are you among those that don't practice what they preach?

*Rachael:* Brother Alfred please, I know it's a difficult thing to ask, but my husband and I are begging you, please. We will pay you, any amount please. Once I get pregnant we will disappear and you won't see us again. I am begging you please. Honey beg him na.

Leo was just looking at his wife, without saying anything.

*Rachael:* Brother Alfred please, my husband will pay you 2 million naira, please.

*Alfred:* I am sorry mummy I can't do this. I am sorry. (He turns to leave)

*Rachael:* We will make it 4 million. I will even make it 5 million. Alfred please. I am begging you.

(Alfred stood and started thinking, 5 million will change his life and story forever)

*Alfred:* How are you even sure that if I sleep with you, you will get pregnant, am not God na. What if nothing happens, and you've dragged me into this terrible sin.

*Rachael:* I know I will get pregnant. I just know.

Alfred thought for a while and turns to leave again.

*Rachael:* Alfred if you don't do this, tomorrow you will hear of my death. My blood will be on your head.

Alfred stood confused. He looked at the Reverend and then to his wife.

Leo: She stabbed herself because I refused to call you, I know she will do it again.

A confused Alfred sits on the chair, the money was tempting and now threat to life has been added. "What should I do?" He thought to himself.

WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 4

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