Dear Jesus,

Mrs Walker was fussing all over me when we got to their house.

James came out rubbing his eyes when he heard our voices. He was still sleepy and couldn't fathom why we were in their house at such a time.

Mrs Walker ushered him back into his room before he could utter his sleepy mumble jumble.

Their cottage isn't really big so Mom and Dad took the single guest room they had. John was like he'd sleep in the couch while I took his bed.

I knew I could never sleep in his bed. Not with his scent so close.
The flesh is a cunny monster.

I politely insisted that I'd be fine in the couch. John looked skeptical but Mommy Sarah agreed since John and James shared a room.
She said I'd want the privacy and I couldn't agree less.

I fell into a fitful nap on their soft couch.

The aroma of baking sweet potatoes woke me up from sleep.

Rays of early morning sunshine lighted up the comfy sitting room.

I heard Mommy Sarah's voice humming a lively tone from the kitchen.

I sat up and prayed. Briefly.

"Dear Lord, I thank you for making me and my family safe from the onslaught of the enemy. Thank you because you always cause us to triumph. Thank you for the Walkers, how you sent them to be of help."

"I don't know what tommorow will bring but I can rest assured that you have promised to be with me no matter what I pass through. Holy Spirit help me. To be strong. To be vigilant and watchful. For in Jesus' mighty name I pray. Amen."

I took my Bible and read the book of Isaiah chapter forty-three.

Holy Spirit spoke to me.
Fear not...
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you...
When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

I basked in the comfort your still small voice gave.

I stood up and stretched.

Finding the kitchen wasn't difficult. All I had to do was to follow the delicious smell wafting through the cold morning air.

"Good Morning ma'am," I innocently and shyly greeted.

She turned, placed her clean left arm on her waist, and looked at me in a way that sent the message, Told you not to call me that, haven't I?

"Sorry, Mommy Sarah," I corrected myself.

She smiled. "I like it that you attached the Mommy prefix to it. Did you sleep well?"

"Barely," I said quietly as I organized the bowls she was washing into the plate rack on the shelf.

"You don't have to. I can handle it."

"I'd love to help."

"That just what I am looking for in my employees. The Love to help," she said approvingly.
"That reminds me," she continued, "I know it barely even a day since I made the offer, but have you had time to pray about what it?"

"Yes. And it's a yes."
I got my confirmation from the code you gave me in my dream, that the answer is before me. And besides, it wouldn't hurt to acquire some money for my personal upkeep during this holiday.
I could reduce the strain on my parent's expenditure as a result of spending to repair our house.

She broke into a wide grin and looked ready to pull me into a bear hug but for the fact that both her hand were damp with soapy water.

By the time the whole house was up, breakfast was set on their six seater dinning table.

John looked really cute, pouting when his mom told them no brushing, no breakfast. His hair was sticking out at odd angles like a little boy's.

James was to take a seat on the couch cos the dinning could only take six people and we were seven in number.

I took pity on the lad and offered to accompany him, disregarding the prospect of having to seat right next to John at the dinning table.

Poor James looked so downcasty-outcasty that I couldn't resist the pull I felt inside of me to him. Typical of me to feel sympathy. I love kids. Can't help myself.

I hope to get in his good records. He cheered up when I took my plate and sat with him.

And I discovered he actually talks.
A lot.
Perhaps only when he's in the mood to, when he's impressed.

I took my bath in the guest room's bathroom.

Mommy Sarah gave me a clean plaid top and faded blue jeans out of what she called her 'college days closet'. It was pretty and fitted me so well one would think it was originally tailored for me, though I had to hold the jeans with a fashion belt.
I was so grateful to step out of my embarrassing childish Disney PJs.

By mid-morning, Dad wanted to go and see what could be done to our house in terms of repairs and recovery. Mom had left earlier for her part time Music teaching at her school.

I would have followed Dad if Mommy Sarah hadn't hijacked John and I to go with her for shopping and cleaning of her restaurant, Sarafoods.

And guess where we went for shopping? Viscer Mall!

Yup. The same place where I had first met with John.

The moment their Toyota Corolla drove towards the mall, memories started flooding.

I smiled internally. John was also smiling— saw him from the corner of my eyes. His eyes caught mine. I averted my gaze, suddenly finding a sign displayed on the shopping Mall's door interesting.

Mommy Sarah, completely oblivious to it, skipped gaily into the Mall.

We went through the fruit section and bought tons of veggies and fruits. We bought beef, chicken, fish, pepper and other perishable.
Thankfully, the restaurant had a deep freezer to preserve the perishables.

Sarafoods was a quaint restaurant. Not too far from Congress hall, it surely had seen lots of official customers.

Gee... This is going to be serious learning and stuff.

What's more? There's a lawn patch behind the restaurant with trees and nature. Like a mini park.

Mommy Sarah said that's one of the reasons her customers love her place, cos it's so close to nature.

The place was a bit dusty and cobwebby, nothing brooms, mops and dusters couldn't fix.

Within thirty minutes of thorough cleaning and arrangement, the whole restaurant was squeaky clean.

Mommy Sarah allowed us a short break.
I was starving. It took all in me not to gobble down the delicious crusted honey and ginger cupcakes gave us to snack on like a hungry wolf.

Mommy Sarah is a terrific cook, I must admit.

Afterwards, John took me on a tour of the area.

"I never knew you do cleaning so well," I said, trying to start up small talk. I kicked a small pebble off the green lawn on which we were currently strolling. We were in the mini park.

He chuckled in amusement.

"Well, that's a must. My Mom treated us like girls. (His tone dropped a bit here, like he was sad) Making sure we do house chores and help around in her restaurant after school. And I am the first born after all."

It was on the tip of my tongue to comment on how much of a first born he truly is, seeing that it's always James who bears the brunt of the chores. I decided to thank him instead.

"Thanks for everything John. I don't know how I would have survived this trying time without you guys' help."

"It's nothing."

His gaze turned sharply upwards a tree. Like he saw something. He frowned deeply.

I looked and suddenly my spiritual eyes were opened.

There were two spiritual serpent's lurking in the branches of that tree.
Their eyes were beady and glowed a scary reddish-black hue. Their slittering and hissing sound irritated my spiritual ears.

My eyes widened.
What now? Can he also see them?

"John," I called grabbing his hand. "Let's pray."

He nodded. He closed his hand over mine.

I closed my eyes.

I recalled all that Gloria had taught me in my dream. No serpent was going to mess around with me or anyone around me.

"I trample under foot every serpent and scorpion in the name of Jesus." My cross seals flared. I knew I was holding my sword right.

"I release the fire of God to consume any power that is not of God in this environment in Jesus name," John prayed.

I began to speak softly in tongues. I was slightly amazed to hear John join in.

You know how rubber melts before fire, that's how those snakes melted out as we prayed. I knew cos I saw it even with my eyes closed.

"Did you see them?" I asked John when we finished thanking you after knowing victory was won. For now.

"No, but I sensed the presence of evil."

"Must be the minions of the dragon. This battle is much more intense than I imagined."

I sighed and sat at the edge of a fountain that was there.

He sat by my right.

"I see things. Jesus has appeared to me severally. He gifted me with visions and dreams. And gave me this."

I lowered the arm of my top to show him the cross seal on my right shoulder.
His grey eyes widened a bit but he didn't look as surprised as I expected him to be.

"The Holy Spirit told me. He told me you are a warrior. When I got baptized, he made me a priest spiritually. That's why I was interceding yesterday night," he said.

"Wow! So I guess, he wants us to work together."

"Yeah! Something like that."

My phone rang. It was a WeChat call. Did I leave my data on?

The screen read Kathy. Uh oh. Here comes the lash of fury.

I gingerly picked it up.

"Where are you?" Kathy's voice was abnormally loud. She's normally cool and talks in a musical voice.

Sigh..."Sarafoods at Mangrone Strait. Girl I-"

The call was disconnected.

**********
Did anyone suspect that they'd come back😾?Scowls. This is what happens when the devil is on one's neck. We are in a constant battle. Do not be ignorant. 😔

And yeah! Radiance showed her cross seals to John. I'm like, whaaaattt?🤩😆😅

Drop your comments and leave a big fat vote. ✨✨✨

Love y'all.💖💖💖
God be with you.🙏