Detective neighbours

Emmanuel recently moved into a compound, and with his low-key life coupled with his tight work schedule, his new neighbours found it difficult to get acquainted with him as he leaves for work very early and returns around 6:30 p.m. every day, including weekends.
Each evening, he would come home with different women who would spend the night there.
The neighbours, though trying to mind their business, became shocked at how he's living a very non-sociable life with neighbours but comes home every evening with different kinds of ladies.

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The suspicion intensified when Lanky, one of the occupants in the compound, stuck in traffic on his way from work, received a handbill for a church, and saw his new neighbour, Emmanuel, as the pastor. He couldn't believe his eyes.

"Hey, hold on, is this the pastor of your church?" He asked the young guy who handed him the handbill.

"Yes, please, I'm expecting you this Sunday." The guy replied and rushed off to meet another person.

Upon arriving home, he called the other occupants, Tessy and Erik, to share what he had seen.

"Wait, wait, wait, stop it; don't sell me a dog. You mean this man is a pastor of a church? I doubt that." Tessy quickly interjected with full scepticism.

"Bro, it's possible you saw the wrong face and name. Besides, we only know his first name, Emmanuel, so don't be so sure," Erik contributed, attempting to dismiss the idea. However, Lanky's laughter made him pause.

"Haha! I knew you guys would think it's a joke. Here's the handbill, and the church is located on the next street," Lanky said, stretching out the handbill to them.

"No way, I can't believe..." Tessy paused and reduced her voice, "look, he's back with another lady," She hushed them as she spotted Emmanuel entering the compound with a woman clinging to him.

"Good evening, neighbours," Emmanuel greeted them as he and the lady walked inside.

"Good evening, ooo! Welcome." Lanky, Erik, and Tessy replied in unison.

"Hmm, God forbid," Tessy muttered under her breath, making a sign of prayer with her hands to avoid being like either the girl or the neighbour.

"Okay, guys, the only way to find out is to trace the church and be there next Sunday to see for ourselves," Tessy suggested, showing interest in uncovering the truth. Both Lanky and Erik agreed to the plan.

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When the following Sunday arrived, they woke up at 6:00 a.m., dressed, and waited for Emmanuel to leave first.
Meanwhile, Erik was positioned in the compound to act as a spy and to notify the others as soon as Emmanuel left the house.

Just as expected, around 6:25am, Emmanuel came out, dressed in a black suit with a back leather bag in his hand, and with the lady that spent the night with him, and walked away.

Erik quickly picked up his phone and texted others, informing them that Emma had left.
They all dressed up in normal 'righteousness' outfits for Sunday and stormed the church in Lanky's car.

When they arrived at 6:55 a.m., they saw a structure with wood and tarpaulin for walls. The floor had a cement finish that was already deteriorating; it wasn't tiled.

The church service was yet to kick off. They met a few members seated and waiting for the kickoff of the service at 7:00 a.m.

They sat down on the white plastic chairs in the back row.

"Are you sure it's this church?" Erik asked, double-checking the address on the handbill.

"Come on, how many Fiamcy streets do we have in this city? Of course, it's this one," Lanky replied, taking the handbill from him.

"Let's wait since the service is about to start," Tessy suggested.

They kept mute, with their eyes scanning the whole environment, especially at the doorside of the altar, hoping to see Emmanuel.

As the service began, they saw Emmanuel, their new neighbour, mount the pulpit and begin to pray while everyone in the church rose up to pray accordingly.
They were in awe, with their mouths open, and found it hard to believe what they were seeing.

Meanwhile, Pastor Emmanuel sighted them from the altar and didn't feel anything. He continued his prayer in a more intense tone, praying down to heaven.
All through the service, they found it so hard to believe their eyes. The pastor ministered very well and had a lot of prayers, which they were moved to echo "Amen" with the congregation.

After the service, Emmanuel approached them, expressing his surprise at seeing them.

"Hey, neighbors, I'm glad to have you join us today. Sorry for not inviting you earlier," Emmanuel said apologetically.

"We enjoyed the service. We just decided to worship in a random church, and we were led here," Tessy explained.

"We didn't know you were a clergyman. That's nice," Tessy added.

"Thanks; I hope to see you guys again," Emmanuel said, smiling and shaking their hands before returning to the church office.

They were silent all through their drive to the compound. How the pastor reacted as if there's nothing wrong with going around with different ladies as clergy was a surprise to them.
Well, they have learned how to mind their business ever since that day.

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