Chapter 6: Memory Mansion

'I no wan stay hotel. Fit make I stay your place?'

My mouth just run, no plan am. Spirit wahala.

I no know why Tobi give that mansion to Tobi Junior, but I really wan see am again.

For spirit land, na only memory dey keep person alive. I dey miss all those small moments—Tobi laugh, the way e dey look my painting.

Na there all our happy moments dey.

That mansion dey full of memory. If wall fit talk, e for gist my whole story.

But my request shock Tobi Junior.

E face change. E mouth open small, close again. E dey look me like say e dey see vision.

'Wetin you want?'

E voice low, e dey try maintain composure, but I see say e dey fear.

'Tobi Junior, you know who I be, abi? You dey fear say I go scatter your uncle engagement? If na so, no be better make you dey watch me?'

I dey try talk sense, make e relax. I no wan make e dey suspect me too much.

I no know wetin dey his mind, but last last, e carry me go mansion.

Na so e gree, but I see say e still dey shine eye.

Nothing too change. The painting wey I draw still dey for wall.

My heart warm small. I touch the frame, smile. Na this painting Tobi say him go frame for our wedding, but wedding no reach.

Somehow, I remember say Tobi tell me before say e get friend wey like my painting. I say the person get taste, so I plan paint landscape for am.

I dey remember the way Tobi dey talk about that friend. 'Ngozi, this your hand dey special.'

But before I finish, I die.

That painting dey remain half, like my own story. I dey feel am for chest.

Anytime I remember for spirit land, I dey regret say I no finish that painting.

Even for spirit land, I dey reason, 'If to say I get time…'

Now wey I come back, I wan complete am.

E be like say na only thing wey fit make me feel better.

I waka go the southernmost room for upstairs. As I wan open door, Tobi Junior block me sharp.

E jump for front like bouncer. 'No try am,' e talk with serious face.

'Anywhere but this room—you fit sleep anywhere else.'

I just dey reason say maybe something dey inside.

'I just wan look inside.'

I no plan enter do anything, just look.

'No try am. Uncle no dey allow anybody touch things for there. Even me.'

The way e talk am, I know say the place get plenty memory.

'If you no tell your uncle, e no go know.'

I dey try bribe am with sense, but e no dey fall for am.

'No be so.'

This time, Tobi Junior no gree. E fear say I go still dey reason the room, drag me go downstairs.

E grip my hand, say, 'Aunty, abeg.' I no wan do wahala, so I follow am go.

No matter as I try argue, e no shake.

The boy head strong. Maybe na family trait.

I vex.

I cross my hand for chest, dey look am. I no wan shout, but my body dey hot.

'Why you dey stubborn like this?'

'Unless uncle talk say e dey okay.'

E dey use uncle as cover, but I sabi say e get him own mind.

'But you no wan make I see your uncle, abi?'

I dey push am small, make e talk true.

'Who know wetin you dey plan.'

E no trust me at all. For him mind, na me be wahala.

'Tobi Junior, you dey try me—'

Before I finish, bell ring.

E sound loud, make both of us freeze.

As I dey near door, I open am, still dey vex.

My palm dey sweat, leg dey shake like NEPA wire.

'Who dey there?'

I open am wide, no fear.

Na so I see Tobi face…