Chapter 8: The Final Lie and Last Goodbye

As I leave school gate, boarding notice for hand, I just breathe out.

My body light small, but my mind still dey heavy. I dey reason, hope papa no go scatter my plan.

[Na small remain—if papa catch am, e for bad.]

[Chijioke get sense—he play both sides well.]

[No be say he dey form victim, na true him dey talk.]

[No too happy—papa no go just let am go hostel like that.]

The comment dey ring for my ear. I dey prepare for wahala.

My mind dey shake.

I dey reason all the lies I need talk to survive. For Naija, if you no sharp, street go finish you.

Bullet comment dey right.

E dey pain me, but na truth. I no fit just waka go hostel, drop mama for that man.

Mama don dey craze, her body dey weak, but for house, na me and her dey serve that yeye man.

If I go hostel, mama no fit cope alone.

She go suffer pass before. Even water, na me dey fetch. I dey pray say God go protect her.

And if I carry him money, he go find me for school.

No hiding place if he reason say I thief am.

......

I waka go house, give papa the boarding notice.

I dey brace myself, dey ready for shout. I dey hold the paper tight.

As I expect, papa tear the paper, hold my ear, shout,

His hand dey twist my ear, voice dey loud. 'You dey craze? Na me you dey talk to like that?'

"You this pikin, if you go hostel, who go serve me for house?"

His mouth dey spit, his eyes dey big. I dey shake, but I gather courage.

Tears dey rush from my eye. I quick explain,

I dey talk fast: 'My classmate no sabi book, but him papa get money. Dem put us for same hostel. He say make I teach am, he go dey pay me 30,000 naira every month.'

My papa just free my ear. "Thirty thousand? Which day dem go pay you? Why you never pack go hostel?"

Na so his face change, money don enter matter. He dey look me up and down.

I rub my hand. "But... hostel fee na 3,000."

As I see papa eye dey red, wan vex, I quick add, "Na 3,000 for whole term."

I dey sweat, dey pray say the calculation go enter his head.

Na just small money every month, and my classmate promise to dey buy my food.

I dey add small small, dey sweeten the lie. My voice dey low, but sure.

Small money to make 30,000—he fit reason am.

His head dey calculate, him eye dey shine like say he see new business.

He used to do business, just get big dream.

Back then, he dey do transport. Now, na only beer and betting remain.

Papa enter room, bring 3,000 naira, order me,

He throw am my way, say, 'No chop am o. Bring back change if dem dash you extra.'

"Tell your classmate make e give you food money for hand. I no send if you hungry, thief or rob. Next month this day, I wan see 40,000, if not I go skin you!"

His voice low, but threat dey inside. I dey shake, but I still smile, dey nod like mumu.

I nod fast, he throw me out with my bag.

I carry bag, my leg dey weak, but I no look back. E fit change mind, so I waka quick.

Before I go, I look my mama well well.

She dey corner, her eyes dey beg me, tears for face. I press her hand, whisper, 'I go come back, Mama. No give up.'

I hug her tight, her body dey shake, her breath hot for my neck. I whisper, "I swear, Mama, I go come back for you."

Mama, give me just one week. I go come back save you.

Na so I promise, my mind strong, my heart dey beat.

Abeg, just hold on small.

God, abeg, keep my mama. Make I no return come see empty house.