Chapter 6: Ties That Bind

Okoro Chukwudi cough small, bring me back. I say, "Big Brother Musa, no need for all this."

I smile. "I don learn new thing for street." My smile soft, to show say I no too vex.

Big Brother Musa serious. "Small punishment as warning. Wahala dey south. Papa wan send my second brother go get experience." He voice deep, like say e dey fear the south matter.

Musa Danladi look me with pity. I smile. "Okay, Musa, me and Chuks go give you advice today."

Big Brother Musa waka first. Musa Danladi throw the thorn branch. "E pain o—" His laugh weak, but e still try.

I signal steward bring balm, I rub am for Musa Danladi body by myself. The balm dey cool, I rub am with gentle hand, just like how my mama take care of me when I small.

"For this wahala, I get one advice for you." I whisper, so only he and Chuks hear.

My finger touch him back, he jump like fish. He face me, eye wide, like say I touch fire.

"Wetin happen? E dey pain?"

Musa Danladi blush, shake head. I finish, tie him chest myself. I fold the wrapper strong, show am the way palace people dey do.

"Be careful as you dey go."

We be good boys; we no suppose mess up. No dey show chest anyhow.

Make we tie am well, so dem no go talk say we dey seduce women. For palace, image dey matter—small mistake fit spoil family name.

Lucky say na only me and Okoro Chukwudi see am today.

Musa Danladi look me, no talk. I bend tie him belt. My heart beat small fast, I no know why.

He mumble, "Your Highness, I—I get one request."

"Talk am."

Musa Danladi shy, reason long before he talk, "Your Highness, fit give me your own sachet?" His voice low, almost like breeze.

Okoro Chukwudi eye open, almost shout ‘no respect!’ Him mouth wide, but he no talk.

Musa Danladi rush add, "I—I dey use to see Your Highness every day. Now I dey go south, I no know when I go return—"

I smile, remove one peace amulet sachet from my belt, throw am give am. "Na only for you, Musa. Make e guide you reach south."

He catch am, hide am for chest. "Your Highness palace dey smell different. E sweet pass everywhere." His face shine, he hold am like gold.

I reason say him nose get wahala; I no dey use incense for my palace. Na sweat, book, small soap, and maybe my own mind dey make the scent.

For this southern wahala, apart from power to open food store, I get another plan for am. If e do well, palace go talk am for years.

I wait make he do him work; now, if he talk say moon square, I go gree.

Musa Danladi waka go, dey look back every step. Okoro Chukwudi still stand. His eye dey soft, e dey think something.

"Your Highness, this one na partial."

I just smile. "You dey see me every day for palace. You know the smell here well. Na play I dey play with that Musa boy."

He bow head, smile small. "So Your Highness like dey play with people." His smile small, but I know say e happy.

Okoro Chukwudi don tall pass me now. His shoulders broad, his walk slow and sure.

Him fine face dey show grace, when sun touch am, e fine die. I dey catch myself dey look too long sometimes.

I smile. "I dey play with others, not you. Come see this letter." I wave paper, draw am near.

Okoro Chukwudi just purse mouth smile, mood don better. We sit for veranda, breeze dey blow, letter dey pass hand, heart dey soft.