Chapter 5: Kaiye’s Breaking Point

When Oladimeji come back, I still dey kneel, my mind far.

I dey think say my leg go break. My eyes red, my mind dey run up and down.

Madam smile, stand up. “Chief don come back. You don taya these days?”

Her voice sweet for him, but for me, na mockery. I no fit talk anything.

“This girl break one precious cup from Ghana. I punish her make she kneel for small time.”

She lie sharp sharp. Oladimeji just nod, him no send.

Oladimeji waka pass me, no even look me.

Him shadow cover me small. I smell tobacco for him cloth. My heart beat, but he no even notice.

Him hair scatter small, face show say e don taya. “How elder brother?”

He rub face, drop bag. Him voice deep, like thunder for rainy season.

Madam sigh. “I ask all the women for compound these days... Chief, to talk true, spirit marriage matter dey fear people. No girl wan gree.”

She shake head, eye dey red. Her finger dey tap table small small.

Oladimeji frown. “Wetin dey there? Pick anybody, hold her family.”

He wave hand, like say e no mean anything. His face hard, soldier style.

Madam pause, dey hold handkerchief. “This kind thing no good for person spirit. I fear say old mama go hear.”

Her voice shake, but she still dey form strong. She no wan make trouble with mama.

Oladimeji no send. “If money plenty, person go brave. If punishment strong, marriage go happen.”

He knock table, laugh small. For him mind, everything na matter of force or money.

“Mother no too like you. If you do this thing well, she fit change her mind.”

He look madam sharp, small warning for voice.

Madam just nod small.

She bow her head, but her mind dey turn.