Chapter 8: Pyjamas, Pressure and Apology

5

Next morning, clock don reach 7, but Somto still dey sit for bed dey look like mumu, back straight, stubborn.

Sun don rise well, but Somto never move. Na that kind stubbornness wey only special people fit show. I dey watch am from mirror, dey prepare for work, but e just dey act statue. Sometimes, I dey feel say I dey train pikin, not husband.

I just laugh:

The laugh loud, belly sweet. Sometimes, if wahala too much, na to laugh remain. For Naija, laughter fit hide pain, fit hide love too.

'I don teach you how to change cloth for three months. Na autism you get, no be say you no get sense. You suppose don sabi by now.'

I talk am with small tease, but I dey mean am. For three months, I dey show am how to button shirt, zip trouser, but every morning, na drama. I dey use the matter take laugh, but e dey pain me small. I want make e learn quick.

He turn glare me, face squeeze in anger. As I see the bite mark wey remain for him mouth from last night, I just wan tease am:

That bite mark dey remind me say no matter how stubborn, e still dey soft sometimes. I dey try catch small reaction, make I know if e still remember last night wahala.

'Somto, you dey wait make I come tear your pyjamas again, abi?'

I throw the line like play. I dey watch whether e go shy, or vex, or laugh. Sometimes, small tease fit melt big wall.

Sharp sharp, shock show for him face, he just run go squat for room corner. Him pale hand, wey no dey see sun, hug him knee tight, blue vein show for skin.

Na real drama. E rush go corner, squat, hold himself like say cold dey catch am. The way blue vein show for skin, e just dey pitiful. I dey pity am, but I dey laugh inside. Na mixture of love and wahala dey move me.

See as this boy just dey pitiful and cute.

Even stubbornness get limit. As I look am for corner, I dey remember say, for Naija, love no dey always show for mouth, sometimes na small small action. My mind soften.

By this time, clock don reach 10. As I dey pull my suit for work, I change cloth for front of am, I just talk coldly:

I dey use that my work suit take form power. As I remove cloth, I no send who dey look. I dey do am like say na normal thing, but I dey use the chance remind am say I still be madam for house.

'I go give you five more minutes, Somto. If you no change cloth, I go come help you myself.'

I talk am with finality, voice strong. I dey count seconds for mind, dey watch as e go rush change. I want make am feel small pressure, make e learn quick.

Na last second of five minutes, Somto rush finish change. I ask am, 'Wetin you wan as reward?'

E shock me, the way e rush finish. As I ask the question, I dey smile small. I dey expect say e go say sweet, or ask for space.

He just open eye wide, face turn red sharp, finger dey point door.

E dey beg with eye, make I comot, make e get peace. I fit see the tension for him face. E pain me small, but I no show am.