Chapter 2: Pain, Promises, and Envy

One of Ifeoma’s friends tell me make I go wash her car, na that time my papa, Mr. Nnamdi, come house.

She point finger anyhow, voice like bell for market. I hold my chest, waka go outside as I hear motor horn. Na so Mr. Nnamdi enter, perfume and power for him body. People dey greet, dey bow, but na only Ifeoma him dey see.

Him assistant follow am, dey hold one correct crystal castle, wey dem give Ifeoma.

I never see castle for real life before, except for TV. The thing dey shine, catch sun, scatter rainbow everywhere. Everybody open mouth.

For small time, all Ifeoma’s classmates shock, dey look the thing with eyes full of jealousy.

Dem begin dey whisper, dey eye me like say make I disappear, like say I dey block their own luck.

Then I hear Mr. Nnamdi voice, full with love:

The way e call her name na like prayer. I fit hear the joy for e throat. Na voice I never hear for my own matter since long.

"This castle na for princess."

"Happy birthday, my one and only small princess."

The only princess.

Him words like bell for church, loud and clear, make everywhere still. Na so my hope just break, fall for ground like that crystal castle if e drop.

As I hear am, my heart just dey pain me more.

E be like person dey press my chest. My eyes dey shine, but tears no gree fall.

Today no be only Ifeoma birthday.

I wan shout, make everybody remember. But na only me know the date dey join.

Na my own too.

But, like every other year, I no see anything.

No cake, no wrapper, no small gift. Na only duty I get for this house.

Because for Mr. Nnamdi eye, I be sinner, I no deserve birthday.

Because na me kill Mama.