CHAPTER 9- BATTLE OF THE BRETHREN

©OPEYEMI AKINTUNDE
AS INSPIRED BY THE CREATIVE ONE

Mama’s Raised Brow

This is still Mabel…Let’s step into the woman wing now…where side-eyes come with coded concern. This report is from the room where whispers become orders.

If Daddy G.O. is the lion of Holy & Fire Altar Assembly, then Mummy G.O. is the velvet glove that carries the paw.

You see her smiling on the women’s ministry banner, wearing her peach suit and subtle gold chain, don’t get it twisted… nothing moves in that church without her knowing.

So when she calls you by your full name and offers you Malt, just know… your file has entered her spiritual cabinet.

And that Saturday evening, T.J.’s file landed on the table.

We were in her office, sorting out details for the next “Daughters of Glory” breakfast hangout.

We had chosen pink and burgundy as colour code (because white scarf is now common), when Mama dropped her Biro suddenly and looked up.

“Mabel… what do you really think about this new girl… T.J. I am thinking of inviting her for a drink with me?”

I blinked.

I no be mumu, ( I am not stupid) but I acted slow. Whenever Mama asked you such questions out of the blues, you must understand that the room has shifted to an interrogative room, where everyone is a suspect.

“She seems calm, respectful, spirit-filled. Doesn’t talk much.”

She nodded.
Then sipped her tea.

“She doesn’t talk too much and yet she’s in everybody’s mouth.. Hmm.”

I smiled.
“Because of that rehearsal clip?” I said trying to help T.J stay out Mama’s radar.

“Not just that. I heard some of the protocol boys have started calling her Holy Slay Queen.”

Ah. First time I was hearing that one. It was on point though. If I were to be honest, she was beautiful and had good dress sense.

“There’s something about her that…” Mama continued and then paused “…pulls attention.”

I wanted to say, “Mama, no be her fault, Na oil” ( Mama, it’s not her Fault, It’s the Oil) but I kept quiet. You don’t rush defence when elders are still thinking. Especially this elder …Mummy G.O, the Chief Operating Officer of the Ministry.

Then she said:

“You know I’m for unity. But when attention shifts too quickly, people get distracted from the main thing, this can cause people to stop praying and start plotting.”

Boom.

Right there.

I knew Mama’s heart had started leaning away from T.J.
Not hatred.
But that quiet distance leaders create when they’re trying to keep things “in order.”
Yes! In Order.
You know, church order is very important to church owners. I use “owners” intentionally, because my Daddy G.O and Mummy G.O ran the church like their personal company…and Order was one of their most cherished values. No surprises there! Just like the Pharisees loved order and hated Jesus for disrupting it, that’s exactly how Mama would react to T.J. if she sensed even the slightest threat to her sacred structure.

Honestly, I could write an entire chapter on this “Order” matter. Did you know the choir had to submit a list of the praise and worship songs every Saturday night for Mama or Papa’s approval? There was nothing like, “The Holy Spirit took over the praise leader.” No room for divine spontaneity.

So, if Mama was beginning to feel threatened by T.J…or better still, if she believed T.J. was here to disrupt the Church Order…then T.J. had better slow down. Someone needed to warn her.

And I wasn’t sure that person could be me.
I couldn’t afford to jeopardize my position as Mama’s P.A.

---

On Sunday morning, it became clearer.

During altar service coordination, Mama told the ushers:
“Move new choir members to the far right corner this week. Let’s observe the flow from a distance.”

Flow ?
Me I didn’t argue. I passed the message to Edna and Pastor Dan. I saw the expression on Edna’s face when she heard it…pure delight masked as deep concern.

---

Then came the moment that sealed it.
After service, Mama and I were walking back to her car. T.J. walked past.

Mama slowed.

Watched her from behind.

Then turned to me and said,

“I don’t doubt she loves God… but is it really God who sent her here, or did she send herself?”

My chest tightened. What kind of question was that?

I didn’t answer.

Because in church, that kind of question isn’t just a question.
It’s the beginning of suspicion.
The beginning of red tape.
The beginning of “God is watching you, and so are we.”

---

Wahala be like what?
Wahala be like new anointing enter church, and old anointing dey hold meeting.
(Trouble starts when fresh grace enters a space that has gotten used to only recognizing old power.)

---

Later that night, I sat in my room and looked at T.J.’s number on my phone.

She had never called me.
Never asked for help.
Never even asked what time Mama liked visitors.

She just came to church, prayed, and left.

And maybe…that was the real problem.
She didn’t come seeking favour.
But favour was locating her anyway.

And people?
They don’t always attack what’s loud.
Sometimes, they attack what’s quiet… but GROWING . They attack it especially if their names are not attached to the story of the Growth.
T.J had not come to bow to Mama…

To be continued… ( TO PAY FOR THE THE FULL ACCESS TO THE E-COPY of this Story, Kindly Chat +234-9069926797 to buy your copy)

Follow Us:
🌐 www.deepthoughtsintl.org
📘 Facebook: @Opeyemi Akintunde
📸 Instagram: @OpeyemiAkintunde
🎥 YouTube: @Deep Thoughts TV

✍️ DEEP THOUGHTS NOVELS
Inspired by the TRUTH REVEALER
Written by Opeyemi Akintunde
📞 +234-8151103646