Chapter 5: Grandpa’s Kitchen—New Hope

Back for Grandpa house, I cook Indomie, put one egg each.

I break egg, mix with pepper. Grandpa dey gist about him secondary school days, say, "Na so we dey chop beans for hostel!" We dey laugh as noodle dey boil.

Me and Grandpa chop, no leave anything.

We lick plate, use bread wipe sauce. Grandpa burp, laugh, "Life sweet when you get correct company!"

After food, Grandpa enter him room.

He carry old radio, dey find NTA news. I hear him cough, clear throat. I wash plate, arrange kitchen small.

I go my own room, begin read.

I open book, light candle. Mosquito dey hum for ear, but I no mind. I dey focus on my dream.

I read till late night.

My eye red, but I dey happy. Rain start fall for roof, breeze dey enter window. For this house, peace full ground.

When I go kitchen find water, I see say Grandpa light still dey on.

I tiptoe, peep inside. Grandpa dey serious, glasses for nose, hand dey type fast.

Through the door, I see Grandpa dey type for computer.

Old laptop, screen dey flicker. I dey surprised say Grandpa sabi tech. Na so I smile, my heart warm.

I carry hot water go give am.

I balance cup for table, say, "Grandpa, cool down."

I think say na Facebook he dey browse, but I see say Grandpa dey write proposal.

Na real business proposal. He dey calculate figures, dey edit with mouse. Grandpa sharp—age no hold him down.

I give am water: “Grandpa, you don old small. No dey stay awake too late. Try sleep early.”

I rub his back, voice soft. For Naija, elders dey like respect but na love dey move person pass.

Grandpa look me, hiss: “Seventy years na small pikin age!”

He adjust glasses, eye dey shine. He tap my hand, "You go reach here too!" I laugh, the wahala of day disappear.

I just laugh.

My voice fill the room. Grandpa laugh join, say, "You sabi joke well!" For that moment, happiness dey flow like fresh palmwine.

After two life, I no know say old man fit sweet like this.

I remember how I dey fear Grandpa before, but now, na my real padi.

Grandpa pause, then ask, small small: “As you see wetin that girl dey chop, dey wear, and how dem dey pet am—you no dey jealous?”

He squint face, dey wait answer. For here, people dey expect say pikin go envy beta life.

I shake head.

I smile, say, "No be by cloth. Na peace I dey find." My heart dey calm.

Last life, I jealous, but e no bring me anything good.

Envy chop my joy finish, scatter my mind. This time, I dey wiser.

Now, I no get hope again. My mind calm, nothing dey pain me.

I take deep breath, exhale. I look Grandpa, smile. I feel like leaf for Harmattan breeze—light, forgotten.

Grandpa look me again: “If you no jealous, me I dey! No think say because I old, I no get power. Sharp knife no dey blunt. Watch and see, my pikin—I go make sure say you live pass that girl!”

He knock table, eyes bright. Grandpa get fight for body. I dey surprised say him still get energy for wahala.

I no expect Grandpa go dey envy that family join.

I grin, shake my head. “No mind them, Grandpa. Na God get last say.”

My chest just warm, I nod: “I dey happy as I dey now. Food dey, place dey. Grandpa, no dey jealous. I go read hard, make sure say you live well for my hand.”

He pat my head, pride full him face. For that moment, I feel true love—no pretense.

Grandpa burst: “No wahala, make we hustle together!”

He raise hand, snap finger. I do high five. Our laughter echo for night.

“True talk, make we hustle!”

I shout am, joy full my voice. Grandpa nod head, we dey in sync.

That night, me and Grandpa busy till day break.

Generator dey hum, laptop dey shine. We plan, dey gist, dey laugh. I do small assignment, Grandpa dey draw business diagram. For Naija, true family na the one wey stick together for dark.

I think say na play Grandpa dey play, but e serious.

He dey call people for phone, dey arrange meeting. His network still strong for town. I dey learn business sharp sharp.

Before long, he find business partner, start new company.

Lawyer dey come sign paper. Even Mama Ibeji contribute small money join. Grandpa name begin trend again for old circle.

He no dey find love from that family again, he put all him mind for work.

He dey whistle every morning, spirit high. Our house dey bubble with new hope.

Within two months, Grandpa buy better car.

Toyota Corolla, neat. Neighbours dey hail, “Baba Amara, God don bless you o!”

Three months, he pay for new house.

He dash old house to church, buy duplex for GRA. He give me my own room, paint am pink, put reading table.

Me, I read tire, finally move from normal class enter best class for Unity High School.

Principal dey call my name for assembly, “Best in maths, best in English!” I dey smile, my hardwork dey show.

I no go see that family again, but na Mummy call me first.

My phone ring for evening. Her voice soft, "Amara, my daughter…" But this time, my heart no shake—her voice no fit break me again.