Chapter 2: Preparing for Survival

We rent fourth floor. Higher go too hot, lower go too dangerous if everywhere scatter.

Fola dey calculate. "Fourth floor na middle ground," e talk. "No be for sun to fry us, no be for thief to rush us." Sani agree, say, "Ground floor people dey see wahala pass."

Next day, we check our supplies, notice say we still need power bank, cooling things.

Eldest get notebook, dey write list like house prefect. Musa dey check ceiling fan, dey tap am with broom. I dey count water like accountant.

So we share work: Fola go buy anything wey get to do with power, I go buy cooling things, Musa and Sani go buy food and water.

Na proper team work. Everybody know e job. We dey plan like say we dey shoot action film.

We move sharp.

We no waste time. I dey wear slippers, Musa dey carry sack. For my mind, I dey pray say price no go climb because of our rush.

I no too get money, so I just go gift wholesale shop for underground plaza, buy like twelve battery fan, more than ten pack battery, six, seven hand fan, five packs of cooling patch.

For plaza, one Alhaja dey look me, dey ask, "You dey open shop?" I smile, say, "Na for family." For Jos, if you buy too much, dem go reason say you dey plan party or burial. I dodge am, just buy my things.

I still reason say e no do, I price for electronics shop, use 30k buy four small rechargeable fan.

The guy wey sell am look me, ask, "Oga, you sure say you no wan buy freezer join?" I just laugh. Na only fan I need, abeg.

After I drag everything go house, I waka go chemist, buy like ten packs of Agbo, seven, eight packs of fever patch.

Pharmacist ask me if e get new malaria wave. I say, "Oga, na body dey prepare."

Remember say fridge small, I buy ice pack, cooling mat, ice pillow—make e help for heat wahala.

I ask madam for shop if e get big block ice. She say, "Na only small one remain." I buy am all join.

I waka tire that day, finally drag body reach flat for evening, just weak.

For stairs, I rest twice. My palm dey pain me, but as I see the boys face, I just dey happy say we dey try.

Musa and Sani don come back, dey arrange supplies.

Dem dey talk about who almost fight for market over last bag of garri. We laugh small, even though fear still dey our body.

Now we get thirteen 1.5-liter water, two big bags of drink, six packs of instant noodles, four big packs of cabin biscuit, twenty-five packs of self-heating rice, five packs of bread, two bags of ice cream, three bags of sardine and kilishi, three packs of tissue.

Sani dey count everything, e dey arrange biscuit like say e dey do census. Musa dey hide sardine under bed—if hunger wire us, na there we go first search.

Better still, dem buy big drum, fill am with water for bathroom. Dem use almost all their money.

Fola talk say, "No be today I go use my destiny buy water." We help fill drum, tie headscarf, dey joke say if water finish, na wahala remain.

With wetin I bring, fridge, shoe rack, cupboard—everywhere full.

The place dey look like small shop. Na only our body still dry. My room dey smell like chemist mix with bread shop.

As three of us collapse for bed, knock land for door.

We think say na agent. Sani dey whisper, "Abeg, hide bread."

We open, na Fola—sweat full body, one hand carry carton, other hand carry small generator, two torchlight under armpit.

Eldest waka in like say e just return from pilgrimage. E dey sweat, but e dey proud. E drop everything for floor.

We rush help am. The eldest just raise chin like oga. We dive check supplies, all of us shout:

"Omo! Eldest too get sense—generator, more than ten power bank, three hand-crank torch, two big rechargeable torch, three bundle candle, one pack lighter, big box of matches, two bundle glow stick, four foldable knife, even first aid medicine!"

Everybody dey hail am. Sani dey dance azonto. Even Musa use e wrapper clean generator like say na car wey dem just buy.

With all these, if we manage am well, we fit last three months.

Fola raise hand, talk say, "Abeg, ration be our best friend." I dey nod, dey think how to survive on biscuit alone if wahala too much.

We know say after wahala, na instant food go be our portion, so we gather our last cash, decide chop one last better meal.

We reason say, "If we go kpeme, make e be after good food." Sani wan order suya, but Fola say, "No, proper swallow!"

On 30th, we go chop correct food for Mama Kemi's bukka, then call our parents, tell dem say weather dey behave anyhow, make dem buy food keep.

Mama Kemi see us come, e talk, "Boys, una wan chop last supper?" We laugh, order semo, egusi, nkwobi, even zobo. I call my people, tell dem make dem store beans, garri, pure water.

As I hear my papa and mama voice, my nose just dey pepper me. If end really come, na my parents I go worry pass.

For Jos, no matter how you try form hard man, mama voice fit break you. My mama dey ask, "Obiora, you dey alright?" I dey form strong, but my chest dey heavy.

That night for flat, eldest order more than ten takeout, keep for fridge while NEPA still dey, so we fit chop well for first few days.

We dey arrange food like say we be soldiers. NEPA dey behave well that night, so we freeze every possible thing. Sani use marker write "No Touch" for ice cream.

Next morning, heat wake me. Musa still dey snore beside me.

E dey snore dey call e mama name. I shake head, laugh small, but I feel sweat for my neck before 7am.

I quietly go first floor. Eldest and Sani already dey, dey charge power bank. We four play yesterday forget this one.

Sani dey tell story of how e see lizard dey sleep inside freezer. Fola dey arrange charger, dey look out window.

Time never reach 8 a.m., weather app show 30 degrees.

For December? My phone almost fall from hand. Even the app self dey write, "Warning: Unusual Weather!"

My mind cut. Na real—heat wahala don land.

I rub my chest, dey reason say maybe na spiritual attack. I pray small for my mind.

Musa wake, waka come down. See as I dey check forecast, e pat my shoulder.

"Obiora, calm down. The real one never start. We gats prepare."

"Guy, I no dey lie. Na just the beginning. While e never too hot, buy anything wey you feel say we need."

Eldest and Sani surprise say na Musa talk am, dem ask me,

Eldest ask, "Obiora, you too see am for dream?" Sani dey look me, dey expect answer.

"Obiora, you too don come back?"

I nod, repeat wetin happen before. Everywhere just quiet.

Na so, all of us just dey silent. Even generator sound outside no reach our ear. For mind, I dey reason how Naija boys, wey dey always use vibe survive, now dey plan end time like film.

I no too dey emotional, just small regret. My guys come back, but the me from before don lost for that wahala.

I dey think of all the times I no help Sani buy pure water, or the time I use Fola toothpaste without ask. Small regret dey my heart.

Sani just talk play,

"Maybe na God send us come save you. No worry—this time, we go make sure you survive."

E laugh, punch my shoulder. I smile, small relief enter body. Even in wahala, Naija boys dey find way play.

I laugh, punch am small, my mind come down.

Next two days, four of us dey go out for evening buy more things.

We dey waka together, sometimes with face cap, dey avoid attention. Fola dey talk say, "If people see say we dey stock, dem fit follow us come house."

Fola bring radio, reason say after blackout, na only that one we go use hear news.

Old school transistor radio, plus spare battery. E even buy extra antenna. Musa dey hail am, say, "Na Baba Olowo you be."

Musa bring door stopper, plan say once temperature reach fifty, we go block door, no go out again.

E dey test door, dey use shoe kick am. Sani dey record video say, "If wahala happen, na Musa go save us."

I stand for window, dey look people outside with summer cloth, I just feel say peaceful days don finish.

Some girls dey use umbrella for sun, small pikin dey cry for heat. I just dey think say, "Na this kain wahala go make person appreciate old Jos weather."

Everyday, I dey check Facebook, always see people dey complain about heat.

Memes everywhere—one show roasted corn with caption, "Na me be this soon." Another one, "If heat kill me, abeg no bury me for Jos."

Sometimes, you go see post wey dey remind people make dem buy food and stay house, but dem go delete am quick, say na 'spoil morale.'

Some people dey talk say e dey bring bad luck. People wey drop warning dey collect insult, dem dey use fake name post.

True true, few days later, temperature pass forty, authority release orange heat alert, tell people make dem dey careful.

NEPA begin dey off, on, off, like Christmas light. Some churches begin do special prayers. Old men for mosque dey recite special dua.

I dey reason whether anybody notice as we dey move things in and out.

We dey package am like say na students dey do end-of-year cleaning. But for my mind, I dey pray make nobody suspect say our house dey full.

To avoid wahala, we decide from that day, nobody go comot again.

We use rope tie door stopper, put big padlock, and shift sofa to cover back door. Fola dey read out checklist: "No open curtain, no loud music, ration everything."

We install door stopper, use sofa block door double.

Musa dey fix chair like carpenter. Sani dey use broom wedge window. I dey watch, dey wonder if na movie we dey act.

To fight heat, we dey bath three times daily while water and NEPA still dey, fan dey run steady, curtain never open.

Our bathroom turn like public swimming pool. Everybody dey queue. We dey soak small wrapper for water, dey use am cool body. As Naija boys, we dey manage, dey joke say we dey do spa day.

Outside, temperature dey rise. Everyday, online reports say people dey die from heatstroke.

I see picture for Twitter—one old man faint for bus stop, people dey pour sachet water for e head. News dey carry names of people wey no survive. People dey pray, dey send voice note say, "Make God save us."

Soon na January 8th.

New Year don waka, but wahala remain. Even church no dey ring bell again. Mosquito sef no fit survive the heat.

I dey toss for bed, no fit sleep, heat too much. Even with fan on low, e still dey hot.

Sweat dey gather for my back like say I dey run marathon for dream. Sani dey snore, Musa dey talk for sleep. Me, I dey count ceiling fan blade.

I open curtain small, hot breeze just slap me.

I close am sharp sharp, dey curse my luck. The hot breeze fit cook yam. Na so my mind dey spin.

Everything outside dey bend. Mango leaf for down don wither, street empty, only few keke dey pass. Just small time, sweat begin pour for my body.

I see one mama dey drag bucket for gutter. Her wrapper dey soak. Everybody dey move like zombie.

I close curtain, run go bath. Water flow don weak—water cut dey near.

I dey squeeze every drop. Tap dey sound like person wey dey cough.

Eldest wake as I dey do noise. I tell am make we fill everywhere with water, soak towel and mat, lay for ground make e cool.

Fola rub eyes, say, "Make we gather all rubber, fill am. This na survival." We dey fill bucket, bottle, even old paint container.

Wall thermometer show 32 degrees inside. I check phone—first news na official notice.

Government post emergency notice, use red banner. Everybody dey share link, dey copy am for WhatsApp group.

Dem talk say outside don reach fifty degrees. Make people no comot unless e sure, community go share food, government dey try, dem no go abandon anybody.

One senator even do video call, say, "We dey with una. Make God help us."

I scroll comments, everywhere dey hot:

People dey para. One girl write, "I miss when I fit bath for evening." Another, "If I kpeme, abeg make una carry me go Plateau rock."

[Too hot. My house near stream, but stream dry.]

[I try go find food, just small waka, my hand burn. Picture.jpg]

[Old people and pikin no fit survive—even for house, dem dey get heatstroke.]

[Na end be this? I don read plenty story, temperature just dey rise till everything burn finish.]

[Abeg, keep quiet.]

I tire, open TikTok Naija. Plenty video show outside—farm don dry, stream don vanish, some places, heat crack building wall.

I see one video, small boy dey fry egg for car bonnet. Another one, mama dey cry, dey pray under tree.

The more I watch, the more my mind dey heavy. Last life, we no survive reach far, so I only sabi January story. Wetin happen after, I no know.

My heart dey beat fast. I dey try remember all the prayer my mama teach me. I dey beg God make we see better ending.

I dey fear—our food go reach till this wahala end?

I check under bed, count biscuit. I dey ration water, dey squeeze small pure water into cup. If na hunger wan kill us, na disgrace.

"Bang!"

One loud sound wake us. As e sound, fan off.

Everybody jump. Sani dey shout, "Na armed robber?" Fola dey check socket. Me, I dey look window.

Panic catch us.

Musa try light—nothing. I run window, peep—transformer for down dey burn.

Flame just dey dance. NEPA boys for junction dey run. Everybody dey panic.

Because everywhere hot, fire spread quick. Flame dey catch tree near transformer, big baobab dey crackle.

The baobab wey dey back fence na real monument for estate. To see am dey catch fire—na sign say wahala pass normal.

My mind no rest. Fire dey like ten meters, and green area full everywhere. If e spread, e fit reach our flat.

I dey reason how to pack bag quick. I dey find where I put my ATM card, dey plan escape route for mind.

Sani reason am too, try call fire people, but line busy. Fire too plenty, firefighters no fit reach everywhere.

Sani dey curse, "Oga, this na 911 for film. Here, nobody go answer you." All of us dey sweat, dey look each other.

No light, inside heat shoot up to forty. Sealed flat turn sauna.

We dey pour water for each other, dey pray for breeze. Musa dey use fan, but e just dey blow hot air like generator exhaust.

We no wan touch fridge for ice pillow yet, dey hope say we fit hold. We run go bath, soak body, plug fan to generator. Fan just dey blow hot air, but e better pass nothing.

We dey run generator small small, dey save fuel. Sani dey check fuel level every two hours.

We collapse for floor, dey talk rubbish to forget heat. I dey sleep dey wake.

Fola dey talk say, "If dem give me cold kunu now, I go give my school fees." We all dey laugh, but na nervous laugh.

I no know how long I sleep. When I open eye, everywhere dark except candle for table.

Candle dey flicker. Mosquito dey hover, but e weak from heat.

Musa see me wake, joke:

"Obiora, your body be like wall for old house—small thing, you don dey faint for heat."

Everybody laugh. Even me, I join, just to remove tension.

I notice cooling patch for my head, but e don warm from my body.

The thing dey feel like warm towel. I dey wish say I fit pour ice for head.

Fola and Sani bring bread, kilishi, drink. We sit chop dry dinner.

Nobody talk. Bread just dey go down throat like stone. We dey drink sachet water like medicine.

I go look outside. Everywhere black, fire don quench. I just breathe—fire no reach our side.

I close window, kneel small, whisper thank you. Even for wahala, small mercy dey sweet.

Few days later, water cut. Na only internet remain. Government dey send notice—just heat alert and 'make una no fear.'

We dey count each drop of water. Sani dey talk say na only water wey we fit turn to gold now. Internet dey slow. NEPA boys for estate no dey show face again.

Temperature dey rise. Inside reach 52, outside almost 60. For outside, we dey hear tyre and glass dey burst.

At night, I hear one loud "pop!"—my neighbor car tire explode. Musa dey talk say dem dey roast yam for boot.

Fear full internet. People dey beg for help, but everybody dey struggle for their own.

Nobody fit trust anybody again. Even my cousin for Lagos send message say, "Abeg, if you get extra water, send am come." Everybody dey hustle.

After that, water, light, internet—everything cut. Life come hard. No internet, na just talk, sleep, play whot remain.

Fola try radio, e work small, then battery die. We dey draw Ludo for wall, dey play. Musa dey teach us card trick. Na so life reduce to old school.

Heat too much, I dey dizzy everyday. My shirt always wet, I drink half the Agbo alone.

Agbo dey bitter, but na only thing wey dey help headache. Sani dey joke say, "If person survive this heat, e go live reach hundred."

We four manage survive with generator and fan.

Generator dey sound like music. We dey use am for only two hours per day. If fuel finish, na real wahala remain.

For night, to rest fan, we sleep for ground with ice pillow.

Na floor dey cool small. Sometimes, we dey share one pillow. Everybody dey turn like pancake.

We struggle reach end of January. When temperature hit seventy, e stop to dey rise. This one, even for last life, we no see am.

For outside, if you put egg for ground, e go boil. Window glass dey crack. Na miracle say we still dey alive.

Temperature no rise again good, but seventy degrees enough to wipe life for surface, and give bad people chance.

Street dey empty, but night thief full everywhere. People dey move like rat, dey find where to pick food.

Like this, people wey food and ammo finish dey go out for night find supplies when temperature small.

Na so Musa dey reason say, "If you hear noise for corridor, hide sharp."

Dem dey thief, dey rob anyhow. Every night, we dey hear people dey shout, heavy things dey fall.

One night, somebody dey knock for door down. Dem dey shout, "Open, open!" We just dey hold breath, no talk.

Even though we be four young men, we dey fear, dey move quiet for day, dey do night watch, dey pray say nobody go break in.

Fola dey arrange night shift. Sometimes, na me and Musa, other night na Fola and Sani. Na so we dey do till sleep carry all of us together.

Na only four folding knife we get. If people pass us, we no get chance.

Sani dey use knife cut kilishi, dey pretend say e fit fight. For mind, all of us dey pray say nobody test us.

Soon na early April. Maybe because people for our building no plenty, or maybe others no survive, but we never chop robbery, though our food dey finish.

Every morning, I dey count biscuit again. Na only one and half bottle water, small kilishi, and one bread remain. My mind dey shake.

Since January end, because we no dey move, we dey chop once per day. Even like that, food dey finish quick. Now, na only one and half bottle water, half pack noodle, two bags kilishi remain.

Fola dey draw table for wall—who go chop what, when. Sometimes, we dey cut bread like communion.

We four just dey look the small food, quiet. Fola finally talk:

Fola sigh, say, "Na calculation fail us, no be us fail calculation."

"Tsk, calculation no correct. Heat no gree drop, food dey finish. Maybe we go..."

E look us, no talk finish. All of us know say e mean say, "We fit risk go find food." My heart dey beat.

E no complete, but we all know. After all this, to die from hunger no make sense.

Fola look window, say, "Person no fit suffer like this, come die from hunger."

We plan.

We dey reason say, if we do am together, e go better. Nobody dey form hard guy.

Food fit last seven days. We go plan for two days, then, from next night, two of us go dey go out every other day find food. Start from this building, go front desk find caretaker key, knock door one by one. If nobody answer, we enter. If person dey, we dodge—safety first.

We write plan, share key, carry knife. Fola say, "If wahala happen, use whistle. No be hero work."

But before we fit start, big thing happen outside.

Na so, April 3rd, everything change for good.

April 3rd, Musa wake me with shake.

E dey shout like pikin wey see Christmas gift.

"Guy, Obiora, see outside!"

Musa dey jump. For a moment, I think say e don craze. Rain sound for window like drum. Na so I jump too.

Musa voice dey full of joy, I hear rain. Still dey sleep, I follow am go window—everywhere dey rain!

We dey shout, "Rain! Rain!" Even Sani, wey no dey show emotion, dey laugh, dey dance. People for compound dey shout, dey run outside with bucket.

Survivors rush outside, dey shout for joy for this rain wey save life.

Some dey kneel, dey pray. Others dey roll for ground. E be like festival.

"Bang!"

Crack enter double glass in front of us. The sudden cold break am, but who care—temperature don drop.

Sani dey dance, say, "Let glass break, no wahala! Rain don land!"

As we see rain, we no fit hold body, we rush downstairs join others. Still hot small, but the cool rain dey sweet die.

Rain begin fall, my body just cool—e be like say God pour balm for my skin. We dey sing old song: "Thank you, Lord!" I fit still remember as I use hand pack water splash Sani. Everybody dey happy.

We wash sweat for rain, stand small, then go back up.

Fola collect small rain water for rubber, dey say, "I go use am do eba later."

Water, light, internet never come back, so we no rush go hostel, just dey flat.

We dey play whot, dey look outside. Nobody dey bother cook again—rain dey enough.

Rain last three days, three nights. During this time, some shop open, water, light, internet dey come back small small, people for Facebook dey thank God for the rain.

Facebook full with testimony. One guy post, "I use rain bath, my body reset." Another, "This God too good!"

As soon as internet return, we call house. Except Sani, all of us reach our people. I console Sani say maybe e parents network no dey. E no talk, just nod.

Fola dey pat am for back, say, "No worry, dem go answer."

On fourth day, rain stop, but sky still grey. We decide go hostel check.

We dey carry umbrella, dey waka for street like stranger. Everywhere still dey wet, but our mind dey strong.

For school gate, we see police car, cordon block entrance.

Dem write, "No Entry: Health Hazard." Police dey wear mask, dey drive away anybody wey near.

I remember wetin Musa talk about hostel fight. We no fit enter school, so we go back flat.

As we dey waka back, I dey look Sani face. E dey try form hard, but I see small tears for e eye. I talk say, "Guy, we go dey alright."

On the way, Sani get call from e parents. Dem and villagers hide for mountain cave wey dey store yam. Cave dey warm for harmattan, cool for dry season, so dem survive—na just network no dey. When rain stop, dem come down see Sani message.

Sani jump, shout, hug Musa. We dey smile, dey thank God. E say, "Obiora, na you bring me luck!" I just laugh.

As we reach, rain start again.

This time, rain worse. Outside dark, rain dey beat glass.

E be like say sky dey vex. Thunder dey roll, Sani dey shout, "This one na Noah flood!"

As we dey look rain, nobody wan go out. We order food, play game till sleep catch us.

Fola say, "If I die now, I no go suffer again!" Everybody dey laugh.

Normally, rain no suppose last, but when we wake by noon next day, e still dey pour.

Na so water dey lick under door. Sani dey use rag dey block am. The rain no dey gree stop at all.

Rain for past days don soak ground, but e never stop. Water for road don pass leg.

Fola dey use ruler measure water for stair. Na so people dey waka for corridor with rubber boot.

People for next compound dey insult caretaker. Underground garage don flood, water pass tyre, dem no fit drive car.

Caretaker dey shout for megaphone, "All of una, carry car come up! If you no fit, na your own wahala!"

After that kain heat, this kain rain no normal. Our flat dey fourth floor, but if rain continue, even fourth floor go flood.

I dey check my bag, dey reason say if I fit swim up, abi na to dey float mattress go upper floor.

Sani tell us make we wait, e go out come back with bunch of keys.

E dey shake key like landlord. Fola dey hail am, "Oga caretaker!"

Na key for eighth to twelfth floor. We pack our things, go twelfth floor, choose room wey window still dey ok.

Musa dey drag bag, Sani dey carry radio, I dey hold bread and water like gold. We dey run like people wey dey avoid landlord for house rent.

Fifth day, rain never stop. Authority release red rain alert, start emergency drainage, loudspeaker dey shout make people no comot.

Security dey use megaphone, "Make una stay for house! If water reach window, call this number!" People dey drag rubber boat for parking lot.

Sixth day, rain stop, but thick cloud, pressure dey—bigger rain dey come.

We dey look sky, dey pray make another heat no follow. Fola dey draw cross for air, Sani dey recite Psalm.

Water for road reduce small, so me and Fola wade knee-deep go supermarket two times, pay big money buy food, supplies.

I dey use polythene bag tie trouser, Fola dey laugh. Shop owner dey price bread like gold, but we still buy. Na so Naija dey—if supply short, price fly.

We wan buy more, but shop owner still dey fear heat, no wan sell extra.

E dey talk, "Oga, I go keep am for my pikin!" We no fit beg am pass.

Seventh day, rain start again. First e small, then e turn heavy. First floor don flood, people dey move up, building come full.

We dey help carry small pikin, old mama dey complain say leg dey pain am. I dey wonder how dem go manage if rain continue.

More people, less safety, but we get keys for eighth to twelfth, so we dey safe for now.

Fola dey talk, "Make we dey rotate room, so dem no go suspect say na only we get key."

Within two days, new light and internet wey just return begin shake, water dey brown from rain. Authority announce say each area go get only four hours light per day, make dem manage.

Some people dey curse PHCN. Others dey look for generator, but fuel no dey again. Brown water dey come out tap, Sani dey boil am before use.

After that, heavy rain every day, temperature fall—the highest na just eleven degrees.

Omo! After seventy degrees heat, now cold wan kill person. Everybody dey wear sweater, wrapper, dey cough for night.

Na so Fola wrap three wrapper, dey shiver, dey shout, “See cold o! After all the heat, now na pneumonia wan finish person?”

The sudden cold after heat make many people sick. Me sef no escape.

I dey sneeze, dey cough. Kilishi no dey taste sweet again. Fola dey give me hot agbo, Musa dey tell me make I drink hot water with lime.

Lucky say eldest buy medicine before heat. After I use am, I recover quick. But some people no lucky, na their body dey fight am. Old people, pikin, weak people dey die. Everyday, we dey see people throw dead body down.

For window, you go see person dey drag mattress, then next thing, dem go throw something white for water. I dey pray make my people dey safe.

Ninth day, water reach second floor. Rain sometimes slow, but never stop.

I dey look window, dey count level. For my mind, I dey plan say, "If water reach roof, na to swim go mountain."

I sit for bed, dey scroll news about disaster everywhere. Some village for mountain just wash comot from flood, fear dey everywhere.

Online, I see video—whole bridge just collapse. Some area, house dey float go Benue. Pastor for radio dey shout, "Repent, end time don reach!"

As things dey bad, some bad people dey sell food, medicine for crazy price.

Black market dey run. Bread wey be 200 naira, now na 3000. People dey fight for compound, dey steal garri.

That time, I hear knock, and old, rough voice dey call.

"Hello, anybody dey? Pikin never chop for days, abeg, even if na small water."

My chest tight. Musa dey look me, I dey look am. Fola dey turn face, dey sigh.

My mind just stand. Musa hear am too.

Sani dey look window, dey reason if e fit help.

E waka come door, listen. I follow, peep—na old man and pikin. The man look familiar—na our university lecturer.

As I see lecturer face, I remember all the times e dey hail us for class. I dey feel small pity.

I tell others wetin I see. All of us just keep quiet.

Everybody dey reason say if we open, e fit bring more beggars. But heart no gree us lock door.

We know say for this kind time, na everybody for himself, make you no carry soft mind.

But you know Naija, soft mind dey always leak out. Even if wahala too much, spirit of helping dey call.

But the lecturer na better person, always dey help, everybody respect am.

E dey pay student fee from e pocket. One time, e help Sani carry handout go print. E strict for class, but soft for heart.

One time, Sani dey get wahala, no fit get bursary. The lecturer hear, help am get am.

Sani dey look ground, e dey try hide tears. All of us dey remember.

E strict for class, but end of semester, e dey help people pass.

E dey do extra lesson for free. No be every lecturer go do am.

We confuse.

All of us dey quiet, dey look Fola. Fola dey shake key, dey reason.

Knocking stop. Fola peep, see lecturer don go another door. Soon, one man shout from far,

"Comot! Why you dey knock? Me sef never chop, if you no go, I go beat you!"

Everybody dey hiss. Rain dey beat window, but we dey feel cold for inside body.

Na the shop owner downstairs.

That one wey dey price bread like gold. E no dey smile, even for normal day.

As we hear, Sani squeeze hand. E say e wan give e own food to the lecturer, go find another room so e no go disturb us.

We dey beg am, "No do am, we go manage."

We shake head, say we fit manage, make lecturer enter. We young, strong—if e hard, we fit go find food.

Fola unlock door, gesture softly. "Sir, abeg enter. No vex."

Fola open door gently.

The sound small, but for my ear, e sound like music.

"Click."

Na so small pikin rush enter, hold lecturer hand. Rain dey soak their cloth, lecturer dey shake.

Door open.

We dey step back, dey give space. I dey hold bread, dey reason if e go reach six people.

Fola cough, wave lecturer and pikin enter, close door.

Sani bring towel, give lecturer. Musa dey help pikin remove wet shoe.

Inside, lecturer just dey look us with surprise, e voice dey shake.

"Na una! Thank God o say una dey alive. I think say..."

E dey wipe tears. Even pikin dey look confused. I dey feel cold for heart, but I dey happy say we fit help.

Lecturer just kneel for floor, tears mix with rainwater. “God bless una, my pikin. If to say una no open, I for don give up.”

Lecturer just pass fifty, but e don old, thin, hair white.

E no resemble the man wey dey shout for class again. Now, na only soft voice dey come out.

We give lecturer and pikin two bread, two water. After dem chop, lecturer tell us wetin happen.

As dem dey chop, I dey watch pikin lick bread like e dey chop birthday cake. Lecturer dey thank us, dey try explain.

During heat, e stuck for Palm Grove mall, so e survive. E no comot till rain start.

E say, "If no be God, I no for dey alive. I hide inside generator room, dey drink melted ice cream for three days."

First thing, e go school, but everywhere na dead body.

"I no fit look. All my friends for staff quarters no survive. Everywhere smell."

E try go staff quarters, but room no fit live after heat scatter window, wall, so e come this flat.

E say e trek for rain, e shoe cut, but e no stop. Hunger dey pursue am.

E first stay first floor, but as water dey rise, e move up with others.

"I dey follow people, but some dey wicked. If dem see you carry food, dem fit push you."

The pikin na person wey e find alone for mall, e no fit leave am, so e carry am.

"The girl na orphan. I see am dey cry for mall. I fit no get food, but I no fit leave pikin for that kain place."

Time run reach late April. Water, light, internet cut again, food and water for six of us no reach. For more than half month, we four and lecturer dey take turn go find food for other room.

Sometimes, we dey use whistle for code, dey call each other from corridor. Night dey cold, but heart dey warm small.

At first, we dey fear to see dead body, dey vomit, but after a while, we no dey feel am again.

E turn normal. Sani talk say, "If I see one more dead rat, I go faint." But we still dey move.

The pikin, maybe because e no wan disturb us, dey sneak go downstairs find things for flooded room, but we catch am many times.

We dey warn am say, "No go down alone." But pikin dey stubborn. Sometimes, e go find bread, bring am up, dey share with us. As pikin dey share bread, I realise—even for end time, Naija heart no dey finish. But who know wetin tomorrow go bring?