Chapter 2: The Scent of Old Secrets

I change into slippers, dey pick which essential oil I go use for Uncle Bala soon.

The morning sun wey dey enter my window that day make everywhere soft, but I still dey calculate which oil go match the man mood, because him get sensitive nose. I check the small basket—lavender, lemongrass, orange blossom—na lemongrass I choose last-last. That one dey always calm am.

Uncle Bala house dey old building, sixth floor, and no too many tall houses around, so sun dey enter well well.

Na those old block flats with brown water tank for roof, generator noise from downstairs, and smell of fried akara from neighbour window. If you open window, the sound of people dey shout from street, sometimes you go hear hawker dey sell gala or pure water.

If you look from the parlour window, you go see Unity Bookshop signboard. Uncle Bala talk say if you waka two or three kilometers more, turn small, you go reach the university wey he work for. Na there e teach all his life.

Sometimes I dey look that Unity Bookshop sign, dey remember the time wey I be student, dey hustle for extra lesson. The area get that old-school feel—mango tree for front, fowl dey find food for gutter.

Mama Nkechi dey sell puff-puff for junction, and conductor shout “Yaba, Yaba!” for bus stop.

I pick essential oil finish, Uncle Bala don already lie down for sofa, so massage begin.

“Morayo, make I tell you one local story today. I see am for old newspaper wey I dey sell some days ago. E get as e be.” As e dey talk, e voice strong like all those teachers wey no dey ever tire.

You know those people wey no dey laugh anyhow, but when dem dey talk, everywhere dey silent? Na so Uncle Bala dey.

“Okay, make I hear, Uncle Bala.” I answer am, no too send.

Every time I dey massage Uncle Bala, apart from our normal gist, e like to tell me stories, mostly about law or real life cases.

Sometimes e go pause, dey expect say I go reason deep with am. Even though the thing no dey too interest me, e better pass to dey quiet.

“This case happen for this our area, no far from here.” Uncle Bala begin, e point window. “Just near that Unity Bookshop, for school gate, na there dem catch the suspect die.”

As e talk, e voice low, like say e dey talk to only himself, but I dey hear everything clear. For that moment, even the AC noise for parlour fade small.

“......”