Chapter 2: New Roads, Old Faces

Me and my sister, both of us come back to life, return to the day dem wan adopt us from the orphanage.

For that moment, everything be like déjà vu. Na the same smell of disinfectant for the corridor, same sound of generator for backyard, same small small children dey peep from window.

Inside the director’s office, two families dey stand: the Adeyemi family and the Okonkwo family.

The tension wey dey for that room fit cut with knife. Both families dey look each other like say na competition. Even the director himself, he just dey sweat, dey clean face every two seconds.

All the Adeyemi family people shine, dress correct. The man wear suit and tie; the woman full of pearls and gold. Their only son, Tobi Adeyemi, wear school uniform, but e rock those sneakers wey only Lagos big boys fit buy.

As dem waka enter, the smell of imported perfume mix with the faint aroma of fried plantain from the kitchen. Even me notice say the perfume wey mama Adeyemi wear na that one wey dem advertise for DSTV. As she shift leg, her gele flash like street light. Tobi just dey press phone, no send anybody.

This Adeyemi family na the biggest for Palm Grove Estate. Papa Adeyemi na big business man, him company dey pay the highest tax for town. Mama Adeyemi na socialite, always dey go jewelry auction and charity dinner, dey mingle with celebrities.

If you hear say anything dey happen for Palm Grove, just know say Adeyemi hand dey inside. Their motor convoy dey make children run come window every time dem pass.

Their pikin, Tobi Adeyemi, everybody dey call am the Crown Prince of Palm Grove.

Even the principal dey bow greet am for school. People dey hail am for street, boys wan be like am, girls dey dream to marry am. Na so him matter take reach.

But the Okonkwo family wey stand near them just look tired. The man and woman hand don rough from work. Their clothes na the best wey dem get, but sweat stain still dey show.

Dem just dey hold each other hand, dey try smile, but you fit see say life don humble dem. Na their old school shoe dem manage shine with vaseline.

Director talk say both of them dey work for Palm Grove High School—the husband na janitor, the wife dey clean.

Even the way dem stand, e dey show say dem humble. Director voice low, e clear throat before e talk, like say e dey beg on top their matter.

For my last life, my sister Chisom no even reason am, she choose the Adeyemi family sharp-sharp.

That day, she no even look back. As dem call Adeyemi name, na so she waka front with bold face, dey form posh girl.

But this time, like say she no wan miss her chance, she rush enter the cleaner woman’s arms.

She hug the woman tight, tears dey her eye, she dey shake like leaf for harmattan breeze. "Mama, abeg carry me go house. I wan be your daughter."

"From today, my name na Chisom Okonkwo."

People for the office even begin whisper among themselves, surprise dey everywhere.

While my sister dey happy, I waka go meet the Adeyemi family.

I carry small bag, no talk, just bow my head. Papa Adeyemi nod, mama Adeyemi just hiss softly, but dem collect me all the same.

Just like that, decision settle, and we follow our new families go.

I fit hear the rubber slippers wey janitor wear dey slap ground, and the heavy perfume from mama Adeyemi nearly choke me for car. Na like that, new journey start.

As we dey come out from the orphanage, I hear the director dey talk to himself, confused:

"Wetin be this one? Chisom always like to compete. If person wey wan adopt wear simple cloth, she no dey even look their side. Now wey real rich people come, why she no choose them?"

Director just dey shake head, him hand dey rest for waist. E clear throat, look up, like say e dey talk to ancestors make dem explain.

Director no fit understand am.

Even the matron dey peep from the corridor, dey whisper with another staff, their gossip dey sweet dem like suya.

But me, I know.

For my mind, I just dey smile small. E be like say I sabi secret wey nobody else dey see.