Chapter 1: Return to Old Grounds

As I step out of my old Volkswagen Passat, hot sun dey roast my back, and Passat engine still dey smell faint petrol. The bonnet dey radiate heat, and my shirt don begin soak for armpit. I rub dashboard gently, as if dey encourage am say, "You try." The car paint don fade, one door dey scratch, but na still my pride.

As I reach the hotel car park, I see say many of my classmates don already land. Some dey snap picture for front of their fresh motors, others dey pose as if na advert dem dey shoot. Lagos traffic horn dey faint for background, and small Harmattan dust dey dance for air.

I never even come down finish, na so class prefect, Tunde—wey dey drive one big Lexus—waka come meet me with one kain yeye smile. Tunde swing Lexus key for finger, perfume choke everywhere, e cologne strong sotey e enter my nose before e reach me. “Ah ah, see our class brainbox! Over ten years don pass since we finish school, you still dey drive this your old keke? No wonder your oga never notice you since.” The way e dey run mouth, you go think say na him be owner of the whole hotel.

I just sigh. Before I lock my car, I glance around, remember that time dem tiff my side mirror for Surulere. I mutter small prayer—'God abeg, cover this Passat for me'—then lock my car door well because I no trust dem abeg.

For dinner, everybody dey raise glass dey hail class prefect, but na only me dem ignore. I just dey one corner dey look. E be like say dem dey compete who go shout pass, even the air choke with too much perfume and small chops smell, laughter wey no reach eye.

Na only Halima, the study group babe, come sit near me dey try make me feel better. She push small plate of puff-puff near me, and offer zobo with soft smile. “Ifeanyi, abeg, car no be life. Na your mindset matter pass. With your level, if you continue to hustle, one day you sef go buy better car.” She talk am with that soft northern accent wey dey sweet ear, pat my hand small like say she be my sister.

I just smile small. I take one puff-puff, even though my mouth no dey sweet. “You dey talk true, but this my car no be ordinary motor o. Na inspector’s car.” Halima giggle, shake head. "Inspector ke? Ifeanyi, you no go ever change!"