Amen-mening

sunday morning.
half past eleven.
the preacher is going strong.
pews creaking as people shift body weight with each harsh but loving truth spoken.

every now and then you hear an "amen" from across the sanctuary
as the sermon goes on, more "amens" erupt,
some wanting to verbally agree
others mimicking piety.

behind where I sit, a man in his thirties has been amen-mening for the past few minutes.

the gentleman to my right occasionally speaks up when he hears something of value to agree to.

after noticing the younger man behind me amening quite often and quite loudly, the older man to my right spoke loudly his "amen" and leaned forward as to shift his body into a more comfortable position, turning and looking behind him to catch a glimpse of his competitor. He shifted into his original position and turned to face the preacher again, solemn and with determination

the older man beside me and the younger man behind me continued their duel, an amen fight: who can say it loudest, and say it first?
Sometimes one would amen whilst the other would not, and one would win...for the moment... until both their voices erupted in AMEN minutes later, just to pour vinegar on the wound.

This duel lasted until the invitation.