Chapter 4: Children, Questions, and Close Calls

Since olden days, former chiefs hardly survive when stool change. Even if dem survive, na to shame dem. Palace elders dey always find way to erase old power. For this land, na so new chief fit sit well.

Shao Daoji purposely disgrace Musa Garba, make am use him crippled body, wear dirty green cloth, serve wine for guests. You go pity am—fine man wey dey ride horse, now dey drag chain like dog. Shao Daoji wickedness no get mate.

Everybody dey look each other, no sure wetin to do. Na only Musa dey calm, even dey make life hard for am, dey pour wine for ground, force Musa Garba crawl under table to pick cup.

Some men dey try look away, some dey whisper. Musa just dey endure, pride never die finish for eye.

For the royal family side, one small pikin no fit hold am, ask im mama: Na small girl, hair plaited with red thread. Her voice sharp, no fear for mouth.

"Mama, why chief dey bully am?"

Her voice loud, people pause. For palace, children talk dey always scatter ground. The mama quickly cover him mouth. "Hush, no talk that kind thing. Na bad person be that."

She press pikin mouth, dey eye me like make I support am. For this palace, to question chief fit bring wahala.

Shaoshan turn, softly tell the pikin, He squat small, eye kind, voice gentle, "You no go understand now, but sometimes, people dey do bad things because dem dey fear or dem wan protect wetin dem love."

"That time, traitor Uche Nwosu dey rule, force Chief send the late queen go palace as hostage. Chief think say Musa Garba na small pikin, only sabi chop and play, no fit harm the queen, so e just bear the pain, dey wait for chance to take back power and revenge. But, Musa Garba just dey pretend say e no fit harm person, but for back, e dey maltreat queen, even poison her for the back room. Chief, because of love, leave Musa Garba alive to use am take vent for his wife."

For Naija, story dey always get twist. People dey say make you no judge man until you hear all the side.

The pikin try understand, break from him mama, still confuse. Her small face pinch, eyebrow twist, like say she dey calculate big maths.

"But brother, if chief love his wife, why e give her to bad person? If person wan collect my bunny, I go fight to protect am."

Her innocence cut through the air—everybody pause, smile small. For mouth of pikin, truth dey come out clear.

Shaoshan shock. E no expect the question—e rub head, shy, voice low. All the palace people dey look, waiting for answer.

Our seat dey back, near pillar, behind curtain. As na family feast and people don high, rules no too dey strict. For this side, everybody dey relaxed. I dey thank God say wahala never reach me yet.

The pikin run come my side, eyes bright, ask, "Aunty, you be the woman wey go marry brother? You think say wetin brother talk na true?"

Her teeth white, eyes full of trust. I force smile, mind dey spin. For Naija, pikin question fit put you for trouble if you answer anyhow.

Shaoshan dey shy, face red, stammer like person wey dey confess, "...No, I no fit treat you like that..."

E dey dodge eye, pikin just dey smile. Small wahala, but pikin no dey care.

Some things pikin go understand, but adults go pretend. For palace, e get things you fit talk only for pikin front. I smile, touch her hair, dey play.

I rub the pikin soft cheek. "Good pikin." Her skin soft like fresh yam. I dey feel as if my own childhood dey far.

See as e hold unpeeled water yam, I carry small golden scissors, cut both ends, break am, bring out the white inside. For village, na so dem dey do—use small knife, sharp hand. People clap small, happy to see old style.

The pikin happy, "Aunty, you sabi! Mama talk say people from Okpoko Hills or capital no fit peel this—na only Umuola girls sabi am. Aunty, you from Umuola?"

Wahala! For this land, people sabi their own. If you miss one step, dem go catch you. My body stiff. My hand freeze. I dey try remember the lie wey I talk before, make e no tear for front of everybody.

Amina family na from capital, no be from south. E dey my blood to sound like capital, but this palace people sharp—dem dey catch accent.

Shaoshan don check my matter before, now e dey look me, dey wonder. His eye dey sharp, like say e dey see through cloth. I dey sweat.

Somehow, everywhere quiet, the pikin voice clear. People begin look my side. I feel their eye like pin for skin. My mind dey race for quick answer.

Everybody here na old face from Okpoko Hills, and dem only know one Umuola person—Shao Daoji wife wey e love pass. I dey hear whisper—dem dey remember old story. Wahala dey near.

From behind beaded curtain, for chief’s throne, that man eye just dey my body. I feel am—sharp, heavy. If eye fit cut, my skin for bleed.

Thank God, na when wahala plenty, my mind dey calm. Na so my papa dey talk—when trouble full everywhere, na to keep cool head dey save life.

I drop the scissors, smile, stammer small, "My family... poor that year. Our neighbour dey smuggle things from south, dem dey pay me small money to help peel water yam." Sharp answer. For Naija, poverty dey cover many lie.

Clean excuse—Amina truly poor. Everybody relax, even palace maid smile, shake head. Poor pikin fit learn anything for survival. Everybody lose interest, look away.

Wahala pass. My back dry, I dey thank God for mind. Shaoshan, pity me, squeeze my finger, softly promise, "Those kind days no go come again."

E say am with confidence—like say e get power to change world. I just nod, small smile. I sweat, reply, "Mm."

Na only small answer I fit give, but for my chest, hope dey rise small. As I think say I don dodge wahala, Musa Garba just waka cross two seats, come pour me wine.

I see am dey approach, chain for leg dey drag, eye dey sharp. I dey hold my breath, my mind dey run. Na that time I see say na only bitterleaf wine dey him hand. No palm wine, no zobo—na only the thing wey fit kill me dey him tray. I dey wonder if na test or set-up.

My body already dey hot. If I drink another cup, rash go just show and I no go fit hide am. I dey count seconds, dey pray say make this one pass too.