Chapter 9: Jollof Rice Memories

That night, Musa no go. He just squat for my door.

But since e no get body, e back pass through door.

If you see am, e be like say door dey wear school uniform—e scary small.

But he no even know, just dey say, "Go sleep, Ifeoma."

Truth be say, I no dey fear too.

Because I remember that holiday when he sit outside my door all night.

I be thirteen that year.

My parents dey fight because of divorce.

One dey cry, "You ever love me?"

"All these years, you care for me even one day?"

The other just bone.

"Our marriage na mistake."

"If no be say you get belle, I for no leave Halima."

Dem argue, curse.

Nobody see as I run commot.

That time, I dey shy, no get friend, nowhere to go, I waka go one mama shop near estate.

The old woman dey kind.

She no dey ask question, just greet me, "Nwa m, you wan watch Super Story? Come sit, chop chin-chin."

I no even remember wetin dey TV that day. I just sit there long.

From noon reach evening.

From sun hot, reach when rain wan fall.

Musa show then.

He shout, "Mama, give me one bottle malt."

He shock as he see me.

We yarn small.

After he pay, wan go, come step back, dey form big boy, raise chin.

"Ifeoma, my house dey do jollof rice today."

"Come chop."

As e talk that time, na hunger dey push me, but pride make me dey form. Musa just look me, his small eyes dey shine, like person wey don see lost puppy. As I agree follow am, I remember say, for this world, na small kindness dey save person.