Immediately after service, she went about saying hi to the few faces she had come to know. After a few small talks with people, she went outside of the hall with Zipporah to go get drinks and snacks down the street of the church. Zipporah was kind enough to pay for their items and Tomini thanked her happily, putting her arms around her neck. Zipporah giggled, whining about the tickle Tomini’s fingers were causing her. They walked back to the hall. Tomini tore open her sausage roll and began to eat while walking. She knew they were going to stay an extra hour or two, and she hadn’t had breakfast.

Back in church, Zipporah went off to take pictures with some others so Tomini sat in an empty chair at the back eating what was left of her snacks. She soon heard her name being called and turned her head to where the voice came from. Zion was walking up to her.

She hoped he didn’t want to further persuade her to join a unit in the church. Last Sunday, he had suggested she joined a department but she had refused gently. He had asked her why she didn’t want to, and had gone on for minutes on the importance of joining the workforce in church when she had no valid excuse for her refusal.

“Think about it,” he had said at the end, before leaving her. She had not thought about it. She did not think she could join the teens here in working for God, most of them who had grown up in church and knew much more about the Christian faith. She knew nothing, and felt small compared to the workers.

“Hi, Tomini,” came his voice, interrupting her thoughts.

"Hey Zion,” she replied, smiling sheepishly. He sat beside her and cleared his throat.

“You didn’t come for evangelism yesterday. Why? And I want a valid reason. If you don’t have one, then just say so.”

“Umm…” She was lost for words and covered up her slight embarrassment with a smile. Of course, she had no valid reason for her absence, except shyness and lack of confidence were good enough reasons to someone like Zion. Coordinated, prim and proper in everything he did and said. He was almost perfect, she thought. He would dismiss her fears or in this case, excuse, as nothing.

“Look Tomini, I won’t beat you. Just be honest with me. I know a few people must have told you I’m too serious, strict, wicked sef,” he laughed and then continued, “But you can be honest with me, dear. For real. If anything, I’d be honest with you.”

She let out a sigh and awkwardly looked around before returning her gaze to his face.

“I’m scared. I don’t know enough to preach to anyone. I only just became a Christian two weeks ago. What do I know? Plus, I’m quite shy. I don’t know.”

His eyes were narrowed as he listened to her, his face contorted in seriousness. He shifted in his seat and draped his hand on his seat.

“What makes someone a believer?” he asked. She hadn’t expected him to ask her a question, especially one such as this. He obviously knew the answer to this. Where was he going with this?

“If you believe the gospel, you become a Christian. Right?”

“Right. So what’s the gospel?”

“Umm…Jesus died to take away our sins and make us righteous. We receive new life if we believe that he died, was buried and resurrected.”

“Apt!” he said a bit loudly, putting both hands together and making a ‘clap’ sound. “Apt, apt,” he said again, this time, more quietly.

“So you know this,” he continued. “And you tell me you don’t know enough to preach to others. That’s the good news that saved you. It’s simple. You know it. You tell others this good news. Simple. You don’t have to be a Christian for years before you can confidently tell others about the love of Jesus. About your shyness, pray about it. The bible says in 2 Timothy 1 that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of sound mind, power and love.”

She nodded and smiled, feeling like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. He was a good counselor. She wanted to tell him that but stopped herself before the words rolled off her tongue.

Instead, she said, “Thank you, Zion. You’ve been very helpful.”

“I aim to please,” he said, humour filling his voice. “So that means I’ll be seeing you on Saturday now?”

“Yes,” she smiled.

“Okay. Would you like me to call you during the week to remind you?”

This boy was really serious, she thought.

She let out a laugh. “I won’t forget. Plus my cousin is there to remind me even if I forget.”

“Still,” he drawled. “I want to make sure that you are present on Saturday for evangelism.”

She nodded. He brought out an iphone from his pocket and she read her phone number out to him. Phone still in hand, he said, “Let me flash you now just in case you gave me a fake number.”

She laughed heartily and he joined her.

“What’s so funny?” she heard Zipporah’s voice behind her and turned.

“You’re done with your mini photo shoot?”

“Yass,” she replied excitedly and unlocked her phone before handing it over to Tomini to look at the pictures she took.

“My cue to leave,” Zion said. He was standing, a hand in his pocket. She smiled at him and he smiled back.

“Later Tomini, Zipporah.” He gave a wave and left. Immediately, Zipporah occupied the seat he had sat on, facing her friend, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

“Are you crushing on Zion?”

“What?! No! Why would you ask that?”

Zipporah was looking at her piercingly and she felt uncomfortable under her gaze.

“Girl, stop looking at me like you can read me!”

“Hmm, if you say so. But do you find him cute?”

Tomini bit her lip while shooting her a glare. “Who cares?”

Zipporah laughed loudly, hitting her thigh playfully.

“You’re being defensive so something is definitely up,” she declared, smacking her lips.
Tomini ignored her. Zion was cute, it was obvious to the eye but she didn’t have a crush on him. That he was handsome, talented, well-spoken and disciplined didn’t mean she liked him.

***
True to his words, Zion called her on Friday evening. She was in the kitchen with Lolade and Big mummy when his call came in.

“Hello?” she spoke into the phone, unsure of who was on the other line.

“Hey, Tomi. It’s me, Zion,” he replied in his deep, velvety voice.

“Oh, Zion! Hello!” she greeted in a chirpy tone.

After exchanging pleasantries, he spoke, “Hope you haven’t forgotten that evangelism is tomorrow by 4pm at the mall.”

She smiled as she gave her reply, “No, I haven’t forgotten just like I said but you insisted on having to remind me.”

“You can’t blame me. I’m just trying to make sure.”

There was an awkward silence before he broke it. “Don’t be late o.”

“I won’t, sir,” she said laughing.

“Good girl. See you tomorrow, hopefully.”

“Alright. Goodnight, sir,” she teased.

He laughed loudly and she smiled, happy she had made him laugh. She was far from being funny but she had her moments from time to time.

“Was that Zion?” Lolade asked immediately she got off the phone.

“Yeah.”

“Are you friends with him?” big mummy asked as she stirred her pot of soup on the gas cooker.

“Not really, ma. He only wanted to remind me about evangelism tomorrow.”

“And you’re going?”

“Yes, ma.”

“That’s good, dear. I’ll make sure Gbola goes with you both. He spends his Saturday evenings playing video games. All that has to stop.”

Lolade laughed in jest of her brother.

“Lolade, you shut up!” came big mummy’s stern voice. “Your younger brother is doing something wrong, you can’t correct him and put him right.”

Now it was Tomini’s turn to laugh. A look of annoyance crossed Lolade’s face as she responded.

“Mummy, does he listen to me? Does Gbola ever listen to me? You’re talking like I have some authority over him.”

“Àbúrò e ni. Not the other way round. If you’re stern enough he’ll listen.”

“Mummy be talking like she doesn’t know her son,” Lolade spat out in annoyance, her arms crossed on her chest.

“Okay o. Má binú,” big mummy said in a sarcastic tone.

The banter between mother and daughter made Tomini think of her own mother, how she couldn’t have these sought of conversations anymore. She’d give anything to just see her mum again. Her throat tightened and the urge to cry overwhelmed her.

“I’m coming,” she said to no one in particular, rushing out of the kitchen before her tears fell.

***
The next morning, she didn’t feel any better. Lolade on noticing her gloomy mood yester night had asked what was wrong. Instead of words, tears gushed out. Her cousin had comforted her in an embrace, running her hand up and down her right arm. No words had ensued between the cousins. Lolade’s presence had radiated warmth to her body and soul, calming her a little. She had always loved her cousin but at that moment, she loved her even more.
She did her chores and went back to bed, refusing to eat breakfast. Her mind drifted to the evangelism they were to go for. For a second, she changed her mind about going. She wasn’t feeling up to it. But she had promised Zion she’d be present and didn’t want to come off as unserious.

At 3pm she had another shower- A longer, warmer one. She prayed in the shower and that did the trick in lifting her low spirits. She left with Lolade and Gbola at 3: 30 pm and they got to the mall at ten minutes to four.
They met six teens from the church at the corner outside where they usually met to pray before going off to reach out to people.

“Hi everyone!” she said with a wave, as she walked to where Zipporah and Yemi were standing. Lolade, on the other hand, went from person to person, greeting and hugging each. Soon after, a few more people came, their teen pastor- Pastor Joshua inclusive. They held hands and PJ led the prayer. They choroused ‘amen’ at the end and PJ went ahead to give instructions and pair them up.
To her disappointment, she wasn’t paired with any of her friends.

“Let’s walk up to those two girls. The ones in pink and orange shirts,” her partner, Emeka said while they strolled side by side in the mall. He was a pretty good-looking boy who wore a pair of round black-rimmed glasses.

“Okay”, she nodded. She was nervous. This was the moment. She would speak up despite how scared she was, she determined. However, upon reaching the girls, her nervousness increased and the little courage she had managed to build up disappeared. After shyly greeting the girls she left Emeka to the task.

She let Emeka do the preaching to the next person they met, and the one after.

“Tomi, you should preach this next time. You’ve watched me do it thrice. The next person we’re walking up to, you’re going to preach o,” Emeka said. She detected a hint of annoyance in his tone but decided to ignore it. She couldn’t blame him for being annoyed at her. She was even annoyed at her lack of courage.
She simply nodded and swallowed hard.

“Let’s speak to that girl in black,” she spoke up moments after.

“Which one?” Emeka questioned, adjusting his glasses.

“The one on jeans walking towards the second exit.”

“Okay.”

They walked quickly, trying to catch up with her. They eventually did when she had walked a few metres from the entrance.

“Hey,” Tomini spoke up first.

The girl didn’t respond but her intent gaze told her she was waiting to hear what she had to say.

Tomini froze, suddenly become speechless. Emeka took over and began to preach to the girl. Tomini noticed an amused smirk on the girl’s lips as he spoke. She felt a nudge to ask the girl if she was sick.

“Umm, sorry, are you sick?” she asked softly when Emeka paused.
The girl looked a bit shocked, her eyes inquisitive.

“Sorry?”

“I asked if you were sick, something to do with your ears?” she said with boldness. The part about her ears had just flowed out of her mouth. She had no intention of saying such.

The girl’s eyes widened and she put a hand over her open mouth.

“Oh my God!” she exclaimed, causing a few heads to turn in their direction. She dropped her shopping bag on the pavement. “There has been a consistent ringing and pain in my right ear for a little more than a year now. This morning, I had cried and prayed for the first time in a while, that God should heal me somehow, anyhow.”

The girl burst into tears after her revelation and an equally shocked Tomini reached out to touch her shoulder and began to pray that the pain and ringing in her right ear will stop immediately. She was a little afraid that the girl will not be healed and she’d end up embarrassing herself.

A bible verse came to mind, one she they had read a few days ago during morning prayers. She hadn’t given much thought to it.

“They shall lay hands on the sick and they will be made well.” She remembered it was from the book of Mark they had read, chapter fifteen or sixteen, she wasn’t sure. Faith welled up in her as she rounded up her short prayer and stepped back.

“I can’t believe this!” the girl cried, fresh tears pouring out. “The ringing has stopped!”

“Really?!” Tomini’s eyes widened in pure shock. “And the pain?”

“Gone, gone!” the lady exclaimed happily.

“Oh my God!” Emeka said, clearly amazed. She was still dazed, too dazed to talk. She was amazed God used her to heal someone. The girl hugged her tightly. When she calmed down, they invited her to church and she delightedly accepted.

***
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