Chapter 2: Shadows of the Past

Secondary school time na the one person no fit forget. I remember all the morning assembly, the cane, the smell of chalk, and that bell wey dey ring nonsense for ears. Some memories dey sweet, some dey pain, but all na part of who I be.

Even though my work now no too fit this kain gathering, I still gree show face for the reunion. No be say I get plenty time, but I reason say make I honour old friendship.

But as I just siddon, wetin I see for my classmates’ eyes na who get level pass, who sabi wash who pass. Everybody dey measure status with wristwatch, shoe, and the kind phone wey dem dey press anyhow. Dem dey size person up and down.

Talk everywhere na just empty gra-gra and fake respect. Everywhere just dey tight, I just dey pray make I chop finish comot quick. My own hunger sef die, as I dey chop jollof rice and small chops, the taste just bland for my mouth because my mind dey somewhere else. I dey remember when we dey share akara under mango tree after class, nobody send who get money.

Class prefect see say I never come toast am, im face come change, e ask, “Ifeanyi, I hear say people wey dey work for government sabi drink well well. Why you never come toast me?” E dey wait make I come bow for am. For him mind, na so dem dey measure respect.

Before I fit talk, im padi, Musa, jump enter with one kain sneer, “Yes now, we all dey Class 32, Senior Three. You no wan yarn with us again? Abi you dey look us finish?” Musa voice dey always loud, e carry for head like say na him get microphone.

I raise my head, give am one cold look. “I no dey look anybody finish. Na just say I no dey drink—I get meeting later.”

As I talk am, some people hiss low for their corner. For my mind, I just dey count minutes till I fit disappear.

Before I finish, Tunde jump stand. “Ifeanyi, wetin you dey talk? You dey form say we no reach your level because you be civil servant?” Na so Tunde dey always find wahala since school days.

Musa look me anyhow, raise im voice, “Abeg, who no know say you just dey carry oga bag, dey pour tea for am? Who you be?” Musa mouth sharp like razor, e go talk wetin dey pain person. For their mind, na only the person wey get money matter.

Some classmates burst laugh. One lady cover her mouth with napkin, but her eyes dey shine like person wey dey happy say dem roast me.

“Na true! No be ordinary clerk e be? E lucky if e dey see 35k every month. Sometimes e go follow oga chop for outside, now e dey form busy. Abi na way to draw attention?” One voice talk am with gra-gra. Dem just dey carry gist up and down. Na so dem dey talk anyhow for Naija gathering—if dem no hail you, dem go use you shine.

I look the person—one average guy with big round eyes. E resemble person I sabi but I no remember im name. For my mind I dey wonder whether na the same people wey dey borrow biro from me that time. I remember when dem dey hail me for spelling bee, now na cruise dem dey catch.

Another classmate add, “Some people too dey feel themselves. Dem think say na government work dey reign. People wey I dey chop with sef senior am for post.” The way e talk am, you go think say government post na beans.

“Abeg, na who book help again for this life? Na money dey talk now. See Tunde with him big Lexus, na those kind people get level.” Dem dey measure person value with motor and shoe, as if na those things dey write for CV of life.

Just because I no toast class prefect, everybody begin use me catch cruise. I just keep quiet, dey sip water slow, make I no choke from laugh wey no dey my body.

I come dey wonder, I really dey do bad like that? For my mind, I dey play back all the old gist, dey check if na me really change.

I wear simple Ankara jacket, my hair na low cut. No be say I dey form, na so I dey go work. My Ankara get faded pattern for shoulder but e clean well.

For my work, I no fit wear suit wey go cost hundreds of thousands, or drive Benz or Range. Sometimes, to even afford correct lunch, na hustle. I dey live my own, no dey chase shadow.

I no fit sit down again. I stand up to go. “Sorry o, I really get serious meeting. Make una enjoy, just tell hotel make dem send me the bill—na me go pay.” As I talk am, I dey feel the sweat for my palm, but I gats maintain.

As I wan waka go, one babe wey dey shine with gold and perfume block my way. Her skin dey glow, e be like say na only she dey see money for the whole place. Even her gele yellow like Lagos danfo, lace dey shine, dey sit like crown for her head.