Ch 07 - Smothered

"And that is why my brothers and sisters we need to be ever vigilant of the devil he comes both like a thief in the night and as an angel of light! He knows what he needs to do to get to you so please WAKE UP! Brothers and sisters only A fool Sleeps in the presence of the enemy!" Pastor Elijah's impassioned speech touched all the people's hearts all the people in the congregation, who were filled more than usual sitting shoulder to shoulder. Ecstatic cheering and letting loose Amens and Hallelujah to Smother the silence of his every breath, a storm of the spirit raged on shaking all but the foundation of the church. He took this time to recover his breath after finishing his word before standing up again tired sweaty but smiling and shining. 

"Thank you... Huff...Huff... Thank you, Brothers and sisters... Huff...Huff... Let me pray a prayer for all of you for the week to come ...Fuuuu." Taking a deep breath, the congregation began to calm down and get ready for a time of prayer the shift from shouts to silence might have been out of place, but it worked ever so well. Closing my eyes, I bow my head to join in the prayer. 

"O lord we come to you today to thank you for the message we have received. Grant us judgment and discernment in these trying times against the." The silence starts to reverberate as he prays the 

"I pray that they 'Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; they do not seek them out, and so make themselves unclean by them, you will open our minds and give us the wisdom to move us forward during the week." The 

"A~humm" the congregation agrees and nods their heads as I do the same. 

"Please guide us through this week, guide our feet down the path to your glory. Raise us from our iniquity to your perfect grace." 

"Amen, Amen!" a sister on the side called out from near us. 

"For Thow is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. Forever and ever." He continued. 

After that, my darkness streaked red before quickly being swallowed again. 

"Aman!" The congregation cheered and clapped the sound reaching a similar fever pitch to the heat of the sermon. 

"Amen." Pastor Elijah lifted his head, but his voice was so soft despite this it was powerful rippling through the silence between the cheers. 

"amen?" I whisper as I see him do feeling a slight heat in my chest. 

... 

Walking off from the podium he makes his way through the crowd, the people flocking around him and smothering him with gifts of thanks and praise for today, each one he happily accepted and thanked the gifted in turn before turning to the rest. The tide of people was unending like muddy water up to the waste he could do nothing but move where they moved him. Seeing this I had to make my move. 

"Hi, Pastor Elijah can I borrow you for a moment please?" The word beardly above my inside voice received a reaction as though I shouted in all their ears, but it worked. Stepping through the tide he gave a last thanks before waving to the crowd outside and moving us to his office. We took our right seats, but I beat him to the first word. 

"I saw you looked like you were being overwhelmed there just thought you could use a moment to breathe." 

"Thank you, Brother Joshua, but I know they mean well so I don't mind." 

"That said well-done Pastor Elijah the message today was amazing at times you seemed to glow" 

"Thank you, Brother Joshua, I'm really glad today went so well. Many needed to be here today, I could see them, and I'm glad they joined us today. " He seemed more tired than I had seen, his skin flushed with blood and his breathing labored but he seemed gladder than I had seen in a while. 

"While I am glad to get a chance to catch my breath, I can see that's not the only reason we are here. Would you like to tell me?" His words pointed but as far as I could feel it wasn't accusatory. If it was... 

"Yes," his eyes glued to my lips as if I were about to breathe fire. "I would like you to...." his brow furrowed and focused even more. "Can you please keep a slot open for me for *next* week?" He was silent, even dumbfounded, for a moment before a large smile grew on his face. His previous tiredness seemed almost like he was lying about how drastic the shift was. 

"I'm so glad to hear, no worries I will keep one open for you. What are you thinking so I can inform Chris to get any music or sound you might need." I was glad to hear his words. 

"I'm not too sure yet but if you can keep one open, I would appreciate it." His expression froze confused, but not for long. 

"Don't worry I will." A soft smile settled on his face and his eyes let me know he was telling the truth. I appreciated that about him. I stand up, shake his hand, and make my way out of his office. There were a few of the elders waiting so I made my way out to find my family outside. 

I found only my mom waiting outside for me, so I decided not to keep her waiting. As I got closer, I saw a look of worry on her face I sped up to find out what happened. 

Giving me a hug, she quickly starts. "Sorry to spring this on you, but Joseph got an emergency call so he had to rush off so I need to run off to the store, would you mind getting Jacob home?" She looks more worried than before 

I put the kindest smile that I could on my face "No worries, you get that sorted and I will get Jacob sorted." 

"Thank you, thank you." basically running back to her car I wait for her to fully pull out before I stop her and reach out for her house keys which she gives me while still in a fluster. I say a little prayer as groceries shouldn't cause this much stress, the heat again rising in my chest.  

I made my way around the church to fetch him and get him home safely, making my way around to the back there was a huddle of children waiting for their parents to pick them off one by one. Huh? 

Shaking my head, I scan the group of children for him but quickly give up and call out for him, which he quickly responds to running out of the crowd and making his way to me, maybe a bit confused about why it's me not mum but still excited. 

"Hey, bud I'm taking you home today, that good with you?" 

"Yup!" his cheery reaction got a smile out of me 

Walking the way home, I make us take the more scenic route to avoid more of the traffic and people for safety. I must have been on autopilot, it's been happening more recently, as only a few minutes after I registered, he was calling my name. Looking down at him he seemed a bit miffed, so I tried to look as apologetic as possible. 

"Sorry little man what's up?" I say trying to put as much sympathy and softness into my voice. 

"I was trying to tell you about today's Sunday school lesson." He pouted a little at my indifference, but my indifference was stronger so hiding it was a bit of a challenge sometimes. 

"Sorry, sorry, I'm listening, if you still wanna tell me." I try to lighten his mood. 

luckily it worked and he is now the one to get lost in his descriptions of Abraham and his many sons letting the stories flow from him that I got caught up in it again I just managed to pull myself out of my stupor and see him about to just walk across the road without paying attention. 

I grab him more violently than intended, spin him around to me, and start yelling in his face. "Are you Crazy why would you just walk out into the road like that, do you want to get hurt! Do you want to ___!" I stop just before I go too far but even then, I know I've gone too far he is frozen before tears, the only thing holding them back is the terror in his eyes at what I did. 

pulling him into a tight hug I held it for what could easily have been a minute as I let his heart fall and soak in my blazer and shirt. "I'm sorry, I got super scared, I'm sorry, don't tell Mom and ... dad, I'm sorry." 

I can feel his breathing slow slightly and his tears start to slow so I hold him for a bit longer. his words are soft and unhearable in my shirt, so I don't try and push. 

He pulls out and begins to wipe the tear stains from his eyes. mouthing silent words whether apologies or childish curses, only for him to know. I rest my forehead against his and lift him up. I can only see his surprised face for a second before I set him on my shoulders. I know he likes it from how excited he gets when Mom or Joseph carries him even though he is getting a bit old for it now. I waited a sec and let him get comfortable and then start us on our journey again, taking the long way to avoid as many crossings as possible. 

We carry on in silence for the rest of the journey with him on my back it is a bit of a challenge but with him there I don't have to worry so much. The journey carried on much the same, long and boring, and I faded in and out as we made our way back, I'm not too sure whether it was a long or short journey, but we eventually made our way on and up our home street. 

Finishing our trek up the hill I put him down and he ran off into the house like a loose arrow and walked up to Joseph to help him with the shopping from mom's car but I couldn't get within 3 steps before he spoke. 

"Hi, Joshua" He grabs all the bags 'Don't worry I'll bring everything in it's not a problem." 

"Ok, ok." The irony is not lost on me. I make my way inside the house shaking my head all the way. 

Almost getting pounced on by my mother, she thanks me profusely for bringing Jacob home, but I didn't do anything too spectacular, I only did what she asked but I did respond kindly as I enjoyed spending that little bit of time with him. After being told off by him for trying to help with the shopping I go off to set the table. leaving my suit on just pressing the top button to breathe. Finishing the set, I take a breath push down a strange tightness in my chest and get excited for family lunch.