Chapter 7: Blood and Loyalty

Early morning, I go hospital.

The sun never rise finish. Air dey cold. I carry flask of pap and bread, reach ward. Nurses dey nod me, dem sabi me for here well.

My brother Dayo just dey look ceiling, no dey move.

His face fine, but his eyes empty. For old picture, na him dey win science prize for state. I remember when we small, we go share one cup garri and groundnut, dey laugh for compound. Before, he be genius.

People dey call am 'small professor'. Teachers dey beg am make e tutor other pikin.

But as he dey go competition, accident happen, our papa and mama die. Na only him survive, but turn vegetable.

Car jam dem for Jos road. Na God keep am alive. I dey look am, my heart dey break every time.

Later, one foreign medicine wake am, but e cost pass one million every year.

But na hope sha.

Grandpapa, wey suppose rest, start work again, dey waka everywhere to find money for hospital.

Old man wey suppose dey farm for village begin dey beg, dey carry herbs go government office, dey do free consultation just to raise money.

After accident, I no fit continue school, life tire me.

People for school talk say 'pity case'. Some laugh, some avoid me. I just dey move like shadow, but Grandpapa no let me fall.

But Grandpapa tell me with him old voice:

I still remember the smell of his room, the way e dey hold my hand. For him, hope never die.

"Life get plenty way, no be only one. Even if you no go school, you fit still learn. I go live long, watch you grow, marry, and see Dayo wake up."

Every time I want give up, I dey remember this promise. Na why I dey force smile for public.

True, na Grandpapa pick Tunde for me.

At first, I no too understand, but him say na way to pay back old debt. For Grandpapa, loyalty pass money.

He say he owe Baba Adegbite, and if I marry enter Adegbite family, dem go treat me well.

He believe say big family na shield for orphan. For his eyes, Tunde na good pikin.

Twenty-five years ago, for one cold night, Baba Adegbite almost die for Grandpapa clinic.

That night, rain fall like say heaven dey pour water. Baba Adegbite almost go join ancestors, na Grandpapa herbs save am.

As dem save am, he kneel, beg Grandpapa to help am survive.

For that time, na big shame for man to kneel, but Baba Adegbite no mind. His tears dey flow, Grandpapa just hold am.

Baba Adegbite learn herbal medicine from Grandpapa for five years, dey humble, dey wash Grandpapa leg every day.

Every morning, before sun rise, Baba Adegbite dey fetch water, sweep compound, clean mortar. He respect the tradition.

At first, Grandpapa no gree, but Baba Adegbite dey cry, say na vow he make, if he no repay, thunder go fire am.

My grandma dey always laugh that time. She go say, 'See big man dey cry for my husband leg.' Na strong bond dem get.

After he finish, Baba Adegbite go back north, quick start business. Every Christmas, he rush come Makurdi to kneel, wash Grandpapa leg.

Na family tradition. Every December, e no dey miss. Even after he begin get money, e still dey come.

Eight years ago, he bring wife and pikin come Makurdi. By then, Grandpapa don be president for Herbal Medicine Association. With Grandpapa support, Baba Adegbite start Adegbite Pharmaceuticals.

The first shop na small kiosk, now dem get warehouse for three states. Na big testimony.

Soon, Baba Adegbite bring big gift, beg Grandpapa make I marry Tunde.

He come with kola nut, she-goat, new wrapper and cash. Dem call elders, do family meeting. Everybody happy for me.

But for my third year of marriage,

Life turn upside down. My shield fall, I dey on my own.

Grandpapa die of heart attack for medicine room.

I see am that day, cold for floor, herbs scatter. I cry tire, but nothing change. Na the first time I see Baba Adegbite cry since I know am.

One day, as I go meet Tunde for my brother hospital bill, I hear him and Baba Adegbite dey talk:

I dey back of corridor, dey adjust scarf, when I hear them. The words sting my heart, but I just hold breath.

"Her Grandpapa don die since—why we still dey support her and that her useless brother?"

Tunde voice sharp, like person wey dey vex. I dey shock, dey ask myself if na dream.

"Tunde, you forget, face matter pass. Baba help me well."

Baba Adegbite voice calm, but I know say e dey try balance family peace.

"But Halima don suffer too much. That time, for me to marry Morayo, she gree go abroad with belle, born Sulaiman. Now Sulaiman don reach five—no be time to recognize the real pikin?"

The words heavy. My leg weak. I dey wonder if my life na mistake.

"Of course, Adegbite blood must show, but we no fit rush am. Baba help plenty big people. If not, your uncle family for no get job like that."

Baba Adegbite dey try reason with am. For him, face and promise mean plenty.

"Papa, you too soft. That time, her Grandpapa no gree approve new product. If I no carry the medicine the day he get heart attack, Adegbite Group for no reach this level."

I dey wonder if na me dem dey blame for everything wey happen. I hold tears, run enter toilet.

Baba Adegbite sigh.

His sigh deep, heavy like harmattan breeze. I dey pity am, dey pity myself.

"That day, I see Baba dey struggle for ground, my heart break..."

Old man voice dey shake. Even as I dey hear, my mind dey remember Grandpapa last smile.