Chapter 4: Market Jists and Palace Lessons

From then, the two of them dey come Omu’s quarters steady.

Since small, I no too get friends wey be my age. With these two, life sweet small. Sometimes na small gist, sometimes na big wahala—but always, I dey learn from their talk.

Read, ride, sometimes sneak go market play—time begin fly. We dey taste roasted corn and boli, dey joke with market women. Okoro Chukwudi sabi play draught, Musa dey win people for ayo.

When I go see my mama, her face dey somehow. "Amaka, I hear say Okoro and Musa boys dey come Omu’s quarters often—even… sleep over?" Her brow crease, she dey measure my answer like ogbono soup.

I confuse, I move near, whisper, "Mama, no be us talk say make we blend with Okoro and Musa family?"

She pause. "True, but you different from them—" Her eyes dey worry, e show say she dey fear for my safety and the secret wey we dey hide.

I nod. "I sabi since."

She raise head quick. I continue, "I be crown heir. Even though I suppose humble, ruler and subject get difference. I understand." My voice steady, I dey assure her say her lesson no waste.

Mama face soft. "Yes, yes, your level different. Apart from me, Amara, and Nanny Ngozi, no let outsider near you—especially when you dey baff or use toilet." She hold my hand, squeeze am.

I answer sharp, "Mama don teach me since small. I go remember." I give her that look wey pikin dey give when dem promise to behave.

She still look me, worry, as I bow go. I carry her worry for mind, but I no fit let friendship spoil.

Night before my birthday, Musa Danladi say he wan open my eye, carry Okoro Chukwudi follow body.

Dem no too close, but since dem dey jam for palace, dem sabi each other. Dem go dey argue small small, but for my sake, dem dey keep peace.

For Madam Kemi’s House gate, Musa Danladi wave. "Tonight drink na my own!" Him voice loud, like say he win lotto.

He waka enter. "Bring out the finest babes!" He shout, hand for air.

Him servant whisper for back, "Oga, Young Master Okoro, our second master practice that line for house tire. He no fit come alone, na una two he dey use hold body." Everybody for entrance laugh small.

Me and Okoro Chukwudi just waka enter gently. Palace dancers greet us, servant tell madam, "As we arrange before."

No wonder place empty tonight.

She smile wide. "Gentlemen, this way. The girls dey wait." She lead us inside, wrapper dragging floor.

Sweet perfume everywhere—five, six ajebutter girls from town, all body show, their wrappers tie high, beads for waist dey jangle like festival bell. The way dem dey move, you go think say dem dey dance for masquerade.

Okoro Chukwudi face strong, I no sure if na vex or shame. His ears red, like tomato for sun.

Musa Danladi shock. E open mouth, close am, no know wetin to do.

Me, I just sit for main seat, two finest girls rush come sit for my leg. Their laugh loud, their eyes full of game.

Okoro Chukwudi maybe think say I be proper person, sit my left, whisper, "Your Highness really get self-control—I think am too much." He shake head, face ground.

Musa Danladi sharp jump my right. "Amaka, that, that—" His hand dey shake, e dey try form bold.

The full-chested girls begin dance, music dey loud. Their waist dey twist, beads dey jangle.

Dem bend down for Okoro Chukwudi front, dey brush am with perfume handkerchief, make am blush like tomato. He nearly spill him drink for lap.

Musa Danladi see say Okoro Chukwudi dey shy, come alive: "Hahaha, your face red like palm oil!"

I no answer, I just dey look the girls chest dey wonder. I dey compare am for my mind, dey think if na the same way my own go ever grow.

That morning, my own chest pain me small. I rub am for night, e still dey pain.

I look Okoro Chukwudi chest—flat like board, different from the girls own. I dey wonder if boys dey ever feel this kind pain.

One bold girl twist waist, begin sing old folk song:

"—Touch my soft, tender waist, touch the gentleman’s pillar, hard and long—" Her voice deep, eyes dey shine like person wey sabi market praise-singer.

Okoro Chukwudi finally push the girls go, carry tea cup hide face, ear red.

I no fit hold, I ask, "Pillar? Na that thing boys dey hide for boxers when madam pass?" Na real confusion I dey, no fake am.

Okoro Chukwudi choke for tea, cough scatter. "Your—Your—Amaka—" His cough loud, almost spill tea.

Musa Danladi put hand for my neck. "My correct Highness, our oga, that one na—" He pause, try hide laugh.

Musa Danladi talk as if I suppose know, but I really no understand.

Which treasure? Which thing? My brain dey spin, but nobody wan talk true.

E tire me.

I bone face, "No be one, I get ten." I say am with straight face, see if dem go explain.

Everywhere quiet. Girls stop dance, even madam look our table.

Musa Danladi just salute, "Na true oga we get so." Him face serious, but I see small smile for corner mouth.