Chapter 8: The Promise

Anytime the snakes almost finish, my mama go tell Uncle Auwalu make he call the three-colour snake go my sister room again and again. I no even fit count how many times.

Sometimes na twice in one week. Each time, mama dey prepare room, sweep everywhere, buy new white wrapper for my sister. She dey treat the matter like festival, but my heart dey bleed.

My sister dey pale pass every day, until one night she waka enter my room for dark.

That night, I no expect anybody. The way she waka enter, spirit no go reach pass like that. Candle wey I light flicker, her face show like ghost.

I dey sleep well, but the cold wey follow her—inside dry season—make me freeze wake.

Sweat dry for my face. I open eye, see her for door. My heart nearly jump commot.

I breathe in, look her. Before I talk, she ask: "How old you be this year?"

Her voice low, soft, like breeze. I sit up for mat.

I scratch my head. "Seventeen. After Christmas, I go reach eighteen."

I dey shy small, but I answer true. E no get secret between me and her.

"Eighteen," my sister talk, her fine eyes just dey look me, dey reason.

She stare deep, as if she dey see future. Her face show pain wey words no fit talk.

After she think for long, she talk again: "Almost eighteen. We no fit wait again. You remember wetin I tell you?"

Her voice dey shake, hand dey tremble. The question land heavy.

All these years, the things wey my sister tell me no reach five. As she talk this one, I remember sharp: she tell me, no chop snake meat, not even one.

The memory clear, like yesterday. Her words strong for my mind.

I nod quick. "Sister, I remember. Since all these years, I never chop even small snake meat."

I talk am loud, heart dey pound. I no want disappoint her.

She breathe out like person wey drop heavy load.

Her shoulders fall. For her eye, I see small peace, even if na for just one second.

"As you remember, e good. You don try well before. From now, just continue like that. Snake meat—no touch am, you hear?"

She bend low, voice gentle but serious. "Swear for me," she whisper. I raise hand, swear for her.

She hold my hand, her grip cold, like water from clay pot. Her face serious pass normal. I nod and nod. "I remember, I remember. Sister, no fear, I remember everything."

She smile small, eyes wet. She rub my cheek, then she turn waka.

After she get my promise, my sister waka slow comot my room.

Her wrapper drag for floor, shadow long for wall. As she close door, the air cold pass before. For my heart, I pray make I fit help her, but I no sabi how. Night swallow me, but her words dey my ear.