Chapter 10: Police No Believe

Next morning, vex still dey my body, I call police make dem arrest old man.

I dial area DPO, talk everything. E just laugh, say make I rest, say na exam stress dey worry me. E even ask if I chop last night.

As I dey talk, the DPO secretary interrupt, “Oga, na that girl wey talk ghost again o!”

Police shout for me, “Which kind university student dey talk ghost up and down?”

Na so dem hang call for my ear. I dey vex, my body hot. For my mind, na who go believe me remain.

I see say I no fit explain, I go find old man myself. I no go let am harm people again.

I tie scarf, brush my shoe well. I dey ready to drag old man go shrine if e try me.

But I reason, if I go make noise, old man go suspect my best friend plan, fit break am. Maybe better make I wait two days.

For Naija, person need get sense for this kain matter. If you rush, your own fit spoil.

But if I no show today, old man go suspect, fit try break my plan.

I dey reason as I dey pace up and down for hostel corridor. Zainab wey dey come back from library look me one kain.

After I think finish, I go, just lie for am, also check who e really be.

I wear my best Ankara, spray small perfume. Na confidence I dey carry go.

But old man no gree look me eye to eye. E no talk anything.

E just dey carve wood, e hand steady. I greet, e nod head. I talk my own, e just dey smile.

I no send, just talk my own, waka go.

I turn, dey go, e still dey watch me.

But old man call me back, say make I carry the mahogany wood threshold.

E voice calm, almost soft. “My pikin, carry am, e go help you. Sometimes, na small thing dey save life.”

“Tonight Spirit Gate go open. Maybe e go protect you.”

E voice deep, e eye shine. The thing make my skin crawl.

I no trust am again. I no fit let am confuse me.

I reason say na juju e dey try again. I just dey thank God say I dey wise now.

But old man say, “Better take am. Use am or not, your survival na your hand. I don do my part.”

He no even shout, e just talk am like elder for village square. For my mind, I dey reason whether to troway the wood for gutter.

Anybody go fear hear that one. I reason am long, last last I carry am. After all, if I no fix am for door, e just be ordinary wood.

I grip the threshold tight, dey recite Psalm 91 as I waka go hostel. My spirit dey prepare for night, but my body dey shake like leaf. For Naija, anything fit happen.