Chapter 7: Snake Market

Snake plenty reach say we no fit chop finish.

E be like say every corner of our compound na snake dey reign. We dey give neighbours, we dey fry, we dey roast, but still, the number no dey finish.

Like say she plan am since, my mama bring out sign: Snakes for sale—fat and thick, good quality, cheap. One snake cheaper than puff-puff.

She write am for big cardboard, use charcoal. "Snake for sale! One snake—fifty naira only!" Even people wey never taste snake before dey tempted.

Meat scarce that time. No matter the kind, people dey rush come buy snake.

Fuel scarcity, market dry—nobody dey see meat. People dey fight to buy, queue dey gate, children dey drag wrapper, children dey cry, “Mama, buy for me now!”

Some dey wonder: with my mama sell am so cheap, she no dey lose?

Rumour begin spread for market. "How she dey get all these snakes? Abi na ofo?" Some dey fear, but hunger dey push dem.

She just smile, talk with style: "For village people, small loss no be anything."

Her smile dey reach ear, she dey wink. She talk soft, make e be like say she dey do us favour.

But me I sabi the truth: for her, this business no get cost. Wetin she wan lose?

Na inside my chest I dey keep am. I dey watch, dey learn, but I no fit talk.