Chapter 3: Birthday Without Hug, But Hope Dey

The only good thing about being baby na say you fit do anyhow you like. Real freedom—no bills, no wahala. Chop, sleep, cry. If anybody disturb, vex anytime.

If I no see Chijioke and Morayo for hours, I go just start to cry. Dem no dey last two hours for my side—my tears dey fetch them like bell for school break.

Nanny sabi routine. She know say if dem no hear my cry, everywhere go scatter.

Na so dem answer phone together, voice still dey shake from school wahala, but e soften once dem hear my name.

My mouth dey run anyhow—na my way to say, "I miss you."

"Ah ah."

She dey teach me proper thing, voice soft like breeze for harmattan.

"Goose goose!"

I mix am, but she still laugh. Na love be that.

Chijioke no dey waste time. E collect phone, voice sharp like first born wey dey run house.

He dey run my health package like hospital admin. Guy serious.

For his mind, na pikin welfare dey top. E dey behave pass some mama for my street.

Even nanny dey fear say Chijioke go soon collect her work.

Na so. My guy don master the job. Even if e dey frown, him hand dey gentle.

Morayo no dey tire to sing ABC for my head, or clap and dance for my giggle.

The two of them get their own wahala. Even as dem always fight over who go carry me, that empty bungalow now dey full of life.

Before, na only echo you go hear for that house. Now, noise full everywhere—na so love dey show face.

Today, dem no come house on time after school. I dey wait, my body dey itch, heart dey do jigijigi.

Oga steward try explain, him voice dey gentle. Him sabi say I no like am, but he still try.

Na so the book talk. Once in a blue moon, papa and mama go try act normal.

Their face dey form strong, but inside dem dey beg for small attention.

E pain dem. Na so call enter voicemail, nobody pick.

No sorry, no guilt—just send money casually. Alert drop, but love no follow. Na only bank dey happy. We still dey find who go hug us.

If na money dey buy love, everybody for dey happy. Children dey grow with wound for heart. Na only love fit cover am.

For their eye, any small affection na jackpot. Even if e dey burn them, dem go rush am.

Their shadow long, eye red. No smile for face. Dem no even come see me for nursery—waka straight to room.

I wait, I hope—dem no show. The house cold again.

I weak. But I know say my work never finish.

Time to scatter everywhere. Na my last bus stop.

"Waa—"

Cry wey wake dead. Voice carry reach kitchen.

Boy enter like thunder. Him eye dey vex, but hand still soft.

"You never poo. Why you dey cry?"

He dey try reason am—no fit understand why baby dey run mad.

No gree for am. My plan na to break that stone face.

E don tire. Time to bring backup.

Her hand dey shake small. Na vex dey control her. "Go and sleep."

My small hand dey tap the small bell for my cot—make e jingle, maybe e go chase sadness commot.

"Happy, happy, happy......"

My baby talk plus bell sound—e mix, turn small birthday song.

Na so the thing sweet for ear, dem two dey shock. Eye wide, mouth open.

E try hide am, but joy too much. That kind laugh wey person no dey expect.

She dey form vex, but smile don dey break through. Small light don enter their heart.

My job done. Na sleep remain for me.

E no wan miss the moment. For Naija, we dey record everything—fit use am for evidence next time.

E dey plan ahead. Dem go show this video tire for family group.

I roll eye inside. E clear say dem just wan use me shine for their own people. If you wan show off to your friends, talk am straight.

For the first time, laughter chase shadow from our house. I close eye, promise myself—I go protect this family, no matter wetin.