Chapter 6: Lessons and Longings

As I dey leave house, one mama tell me for corner: “Husband and wife fit enjoy without that place. Other place dey—you just no go get belle. Learn small, e fit help you.”

She draw me for corner, whisper like say na big secret. I confuse. For my mind, I dey wonder if I go ever need the knowledge.

“Eh?”

My mouth open, eye wide. I no fit understand.

She hide give me small booklet.

She cover am with small cloth, push am inside my hand. "Na for you. No let boys see am."

As I open am, my face red, heart dey beat anyhow.

The thing wey I see inside—my body just hot. E be like say I chop pepper for eye. My heart dey run marathon.

“You dey hot?” Musa eye dey look me direct.

He dey look me like say he see through my mind. I quick look away, pretend say I dey busy.

I panic. “E-eh, maybe this wedding cloth too thick. E dey hot small.”

I pull neck of blouse, fan myself small. For my mind, I dey pray make ground swallow me.

“Go bath, rest. I go sleep first.”

He adjust wrapper, turn back. Him voice get kindness, but him face still tired.

He pull wrapper, turn sleep.

Soon, his back rise and fall slow. Na only sound for room na his breathing. My own mind still dey run up and down.

Maybe he tire—soon, I hear am dey breathe soft soft.

I peep am small, confirm say sleep don really carry am. My heart calm.

I waka go dressing table, remove crown, dey remove cloth one by one for mirror, only thin undergarment remain.

I dey look myself for mirror, remember all the talk wey I hear since small—"Halima, na you get this body?" But na only me dey see the pain wey follow the curves.

Suddenly, I turn enter bathroom behind curtain.

I hear small sound for back. E be like say person dey there. I pause, look around.

Na there I meet hungry eyes.

For corner, Musa stand. His eyes big, full of something wey I no fit name. The way he look me, e be like say e dey see all my secrets.

Musa face red pass before, chest dey move up and down, Adam apple dey jump.

His breath heavy, hand shake small. For my mind, I dey reason whether I offend am or na something else dey worry am.

I rush grab wrapper for ground, cover my chest, dey confuse. “Ge-General, you no dey sleep?”

My voice low, fear dey my belly. I hold wrapper tight, back small from door.

After small time, his voice come, deep and hold back: “I fit sleep later.”

He no look me again. His face turn small, voice low like distant thunder. Silence fill bathroom.

Soap scent still dey hang for air, like morning after heavy rain.