Chapter 16

Lamais's pov

I breathe a sigh of relief that I was not the preacher for tonight, as I look down in the congregation and saw my mother and my oldest sister Dewette sitting beside each other. Ramario was sitting on the left side at the back with men who appeared to be his friends and Cushane sat beside a woman who had only eyes for him over on the other side at the back.

The bishop greeting the church ask that
I greet the church with a song because it's been a while since he has heard my beautiful voice singing and I thought Oh Lord. Same time Ramario shouted a loud "praise the Lord," my eyes went immediately to where Shanty stood by the back door and I saw her looking gratefully at him.

I felt nervous and afraid as he continues then start to pretend to be in spirit. "Sham Manama," he went and I thought good Lord.

Not him mocking God, with so many spiritual people present I think to myself sadly. "Sham mamamamamama, stop going a man yard late a night and call yuhself a pastor! Sham mamamama!" He shouted loudly and two of his friends covered their faces hiding their laughter.

My eyes went to Cushane who was looking across at him in surprise, he look up and saw me looking at him and he held his head down. My mother and my sister were stifling their laughs and I held my head wishing I did not look at them. Ramario was shaking and jumping along the back of the church still uttering his jingle of when he was pretending to be in spirit so grandma would think he had been truly listening in the service.

Another person began to shout and I lift up my head to see that it was Shanty, she had a tambourine hitting Ramario and pushing him toward the back door.

"The blood of Jesus against yuh Satan! Move! Move! Moooovvee! Get out Satan! Get out Satan! Get out Satan! The bloooooooooooooood of Jeeeeeesus!"

Persons moved out of the way as some people in the congregation begins to laugh, it was because of her funny walk while shaking, hitting and propelling him out of the church. She pushed him outside and some ministers had there head down laughing, I could not laugh even though it was so funny. He had been insulting me and everyone who knew that he is my brother must know that I was the one he had been talking about.

I stood up slowly as the moderator calls me to the microphone to do my greeting, words fail me and I could not think of any songs. Oh please help me God, was all I kept uttering in my mind, I walk down from off the rostrum and went with my face set in seriousness to stand at the alter. I knelt down and rest my forehead on the alter, I prayed asking God to forgive my promiscuous behaviour and let me not be ashamed.

Voices of Hallelujah and praise the Lord, sounded from the ministers on the rostrum, choir and the congregation. I humble my spirit as I stood and raise both hands and shouted Hallelujah. I am not innocent or without sin and there isn't any set times for God to forgive sins, he said ask and you shall receive and commit your ways before him.

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A song came into my mind and I went back up on the rostrum and began to sing it prayerfully. The creator came first in my life and everything and everyone else second, so I go of me and sing in worship to him. I heard people giving praises in the spirit, speaking in tongues and shouting out praises. I felt like I've felt on some occasions when I'm worshipping God with my all and the choir began to sing as I move in the spirit.

Cushane's pov

I'd heard the song a lot of times but not as how Lamais was singing it, it touched me to my core and shook. I stood up and worship God while I whisper a silent prayer, I don't know why I felt so light as if I was being lifted from off the ground. The melody of Lamais's voice reverberates through the speakers and penetrated my soul, I was vaguely aware that I was shaking and I was unable to stop it.

I close my eyes as she began to sing the chorus again and all I found myself saying was "glory to Jesus." The choir begins to sing and I couldn't hear Lamais's voice anymore, I felt like I was set on fire from my bones and I began to shout "Ohhh!" I was shaking and could not stop as I continue to shout "Oh Jesus."

The band was playing and I began to dance, someone was tying something around my waist and I open my eyes. I was a bit shock to see that I was halfway up the aisle, two men was standing before me and I recognize them to be ministers that had been introduced earlier. I look down at my waist and saw that it was tied with a prayer shawl, then I realize I had been caught up in the spirit.

I shook slightly as I began walking slowly back to my seat, feeling a little embarrassed because people were looking at me- kindly though. One of the ministers who had followed me to my seat, remain standing beside me as I sat down and I did not see Nicole who had been sitting beside me earlier. I was even more afraid to look up to the rostrum, but did so as I heard Lamais began to speak- greeting the church.

The minister remain sitting beside me until the service ended, Nicole who had went to a seat some distance away came up to me. "Will you be needing a ride home?" I ask her.

"That would be good," she replies.

Shanty was busy in the tuck shop serving and Lamais stood near the alter talking with some ministers and people who had raise their hands to be baptized. I bought fry chicken and juice, got it with bread and offered some to Nicole who walked beside me out of the church yard. I spotted Ramario leaning against his car that was parked in Lamais's driveway. Kemar who was directing the vehicles saw me and looked toward Lamais's gateway.

"Yuh ready?" He ask walking over to me.

I glance at Nicole and told him that when I was ready I'd let him know, he said ok and went back to his duty. "This chicken eats really good, I would definitely eat some more," I said to Nicole.

She was about to say something but just then Wendy and her husband came up to us. "What a lovely service," Wendy stated and I agreed with them.

"Yuh nah get baptize?" She ask me.

I was taken aback by the question and I chuckled before telling her that I was not in any haste. We stood speaking for a good half an hour until Wendy's husband said their drive was ready, she pull Nicole to leave with her and I was glad that she did. I walk across to Lamais's gate and said good night, Ramario introduced the two women standing there as his mother and sister. He sounded like such an hypocrite, talking as if we didn't almost fist off last night.

I had wanted to talk to Lamais but seems like she wouldn't be coming over any time soon, I stood aside debating on what I should do because it seems she will be having her mother and sister with her and we won't have any privacy to talk. The road was less busy now and the church yard was almost empty, I walk to the gate and punch in the code opening it.

"Ramario, could you back up out of the drive?" I ask Ramario who was staring at me.

"I want to drive out," I said when he didn't say or make any effort to move.

"Oh! Yuh car park inside?" He exclaims and ask.

"Yeah," I answered and open the gate wide.

When I drive out Kemar was at the gate, he hurries to close it as I drive through and I parked at the curb and call him. "Do you know if Lamais will be coming over soon?" I ask him.

"She's in a prayer meeting until midnight," he replies.

"Ok, I'm going to go then, see you tomorrow night," I told him and he answers.

It was eleven thirty when I reach home and I shower and sat waiting to call Lamais, I did not want to go to sleep without talking to her. It had become so normal for us to communicate I don't think I'll be able to stay sane if we didn't and what was wrong between her and Ramario. It seem he was a carrying a deep malice for her, why though? And I still can't believe that it was actually her house he had gone and did what he did.

I sighed and began to pace, not having lunch nor breakfast was taking a toll on me as my stomach grumbles, I had wanted to buy more of the tasty fried chicken selling at the tuck shop but totally forget. I toasted two slice of bread then add cheese spread and salad, I poured a bottle of pineapple ginger tropical rhythym into a glass and drank. Feeling much better I check the time and pressed on Lamais's number, it went to voicemail without ringing and I figured I have either been blocked or her phone is off.

I went to bed with a heavy heart and could not fall asleep even after two, I tried calling her again and got the same thing. I knelt down and prayed fervently before humbling myself and lieing back down on my bed.

To be continued....