Chapter 2: My Sister’s Sacrifice

My sister say she no gree.

Her voice strong, chin up. "I no go gree for this thing! Wetin I do? Make una find another way." Everybody shock, even fowl for backyard stop to scratch ground.

My mama kneel down dey beg, bow so tey blood dey come out for her forehead.

She drop for ground, forehead press till sand stain her face. Tears mix with dust. "Biko, Nne, abeg. Na you dey save your brother. If you no do am, wetin you want make happen to me? Make I carry this pain?"

Her voice just dey shake as she dey cry: "If you no save your brother, you want make I die instead?"

Her hands dey shake, she drag wrapper tight, voice almost break. Even her chest dey heave, pain deep for her cry.

People gather everywhere, dey shout their own, spit almost drown my sister.

Neighbours, friends, even people wey no know us before gather. Some dey shout, "Wicked girl! You wan kill your brother?" One old woman for back shout, “If na my pikin, I go tie am for tree!” Spit and curses dey fly, like market square wahala.

My sister no get choice, she just nod, tears full her face.

She stand still, stubborn, but her body dey tremble. Tears dey wash her face, but her lips pressed tight. Nobody talk again, even wind slow down that moment.

Na that time my mama jump stand, rush go meet Uncle Auwalu make e arrange quick spirit marriage between my sister and the three-colour snake.

Mama nearly break leg as she rush go meet Uncle Auwalu for corner. "Abeg, do am sharp sharp! Make the spirit no vex," she beg, voice quiver, hand dey clap.

For the spirit marriage, as Uncle Auwalu dey arrange the matter, one elder mutter, “God abeg, cover us with your hand, make wahala no pass like this.”