Chapter 9: Cold Pass Wrapper
"Mummy, cold dey catch me." The girl for back seat start dey shake. Her teeth dey knock, hand dey rub together. For this mountain, cold fit freeze motor oil.
Kemi quick remove her wrapper. "Take, wear my wrapper." She no even waste time, just wrap am round the girl, rub her shoulder.
As the girl turn, she just scream, "Mummy, blood dey your body!" Her eyes big, she push wrapper comot, nearly fall for seat. The sound pierce everybody ear.
I no see blood for mirror, but the girl face show say no be play. I look back quick, na just wrapper pattern I see. My mind dey touch prayer bead.
Uncle Musa quick turn, hold the girl hand. "Where blood dey? Your mama wrapper na just pattern. Small girl, you don dey fear?" He try smile, but worry full him voice. I dey pity am, father wey dey try keep family strong for night wahala.
When the girl look Kemi again, Kemi don already wear her wrapper. "I dey okay, no blood. Na your mind dey play trick. But e cold true true—I sef feel am as I remove wrapper." Kemi pat her, try rub some heat into the girl's arm. Night cold no dey joke for mountain.
"Make the girl come sit for front," I suggest. "Heater dey work pass for here. She go warm up." My heater dey try, even though sometimes e dey blow only small heat. For Naija, any comfort na comfort.
Kemi and Uncle Musa first reason am, but as the girl begin shake well, dem gree. Uncle Musa stand for road, open door, the cold breeze hit us, make everybody shiver.