Chapter 3: Street Way, Street Truth

For my business, you must talk true—the owner suppose sabi everything. Chijioke buy the car, but na for him brother. I sure say him never tell the brother the full story.

I no dey use juju, but if you no dey talk straight, e go still backfire. For this business, your tongue suppose dey clean like Alhaji prayer mat.

I dey guarantee the car condition, but no be everybody fit carry car with this kind history. Lucky say Chijioke leave contact, so e no hard to find am.

I no dey like run after customer, but I no wan wahala for future. My name too important for street.

That same afternoon, I close shop, go Umuola Estate. The place old, but property still cost 110k per square meter. As I reach Block 15, I see the BMW park for roadside.

Rain just finish, everywhere dey smell sand. I wipe my shoe for grass before I waka pass security. Car park dey full, but the BMW dey shine, as if e no know the wahala wey dey inside am.

I no go upstairs. I just call the number wey dem write for dashboard as contact to move car. Five minutes never even pass, man for thirties rush come down. He waka straight to the car, dey look confused.

E carry shopping bag—like say he just buy suya for wife. I greet am, "Good afternoon, oga. I be the one wey call."

I greet am. "Hello, na me call you. You be Chijioke brother?"

He freeze. "Yes, na me—Obiora. Who you be?"

He dey look me up and down. I know say him mind dey run, say wetin concern car dealer reach house?

"Oga Obiora, na me be Shen, owner of Victory Second-Hand Car Dealership. Na your brother buy this car from me."

I raise my ID, show am. Make e no fear say I be police or area boy.

Obiora reply, "Oga Shen, wetin happen? My brother owe you money?"

He sabi him brother style.

He dey smile small, like say e dey expect small scam, but e no know say na protection I come run for am.

I shake head. "No, but I no sure say your brother tell you true—this car get small wahala."

My voice low, make e no go dey think say na trouble. For this side, I dey respect family level.

"My brother talk say na used car."

True true, Obiora no know the full gist.

From the way e dey talk, I sure say Chijioke no drop better info for am. I sigh, continue.

I continue, "Oga Obiora, no be just any used car. Two people don die inside. The last owner die days after he buy am. If you want, I fit buy am back same price."

I open hand, show am my file. I no dey hide mouth, make dem no say na me run am.

I keep am short, expect Obiora to vex, but he just look me like say he no understand.

He even scratch chin, look at car, look at me. I fit see say e dey reason if na juju I dey use or I wan run fraud.

Before I fit explain more, one man wey carry fruit come back—na Chijioke. As he see me, him face change.

E eye sharp, voice rise. "Why you dey here? Wetin you dey tell my brother?"

He no even greet, just jump enter matter. Na so some people dey fear truth.

He turn to Obiora, "No mind am, bro. He sell car too cheap, now dey find way to collect more money. I no gree, so he dey disturb you. He go talk say two people die inside car, say if you no like am, he go buy am back."

Chijioke sharp. I fit respect am—he sabi street style. But truth be truth.

Omo, Chijioke get am for head.

He dey try save face for him brother front. Some people fit die before dem go admit say dem make mistake.

I know say Obiora go believe him brother. True true, Obiora stand for Chijioke side.

Obiora step forward, voice calm. "Oga Shen, business no be like that. You sign contract, you no fit change mouth because you sell am cheap. That one go spoil your name."

I just weak. I dey try help, but na lecture I dey get.

He talk as if na me wan run scam. My apprentice for mind dey vex, but I just calm, reason say e no go help to drag.

I talk, "Oga Obiora, if you no believe, make your brother show you the contract. Or come my shop—I go show you. Everything dey paper."

I talk soft. Some people go reason am later. For now, I just dey do my own.

Before Obiora fit talk, Chijioke cut in, "You too dey worry! Car don sell—why you dey follow us? My brother get date this afternoon, na this car dey give am morale."

He even laugh, drag Obiora go. Na so some people dey run from truth.

With that, Chijioke drag Obiora go. Both of them no even look back.

I just stand small, look car, look brothers. For my mind, I dey pray make nothing happen to dem. Sometimes, e better to leave matter for God.

I don do my own—talk everything I suppose talk. For after-sales, I try.

Business for this country, if you no get thick skin, na hypertension go kill you. I just turn, waka go back shop.