Chapter 5: A New Pattern

After that day, I no dey go out again. I just stay house, dey sew my wedding gown.

Morning till night, I dey with needle and thread, join lace and tulle, my thoughts deep inside every stitch. Mama go bring me fufu, check my progress, sometimes drop old wedding stories. Aunties come visit, dey pray for me, sprinkle holy water for my doorway. The smell of fresh fabric fill my room, and radio dey play old highlife songs. I allow myself small smile, remembering old days, but my hand steady. With every stitch, I dey sew new future for myself.

For centuries, noble families dey marry each other. The current Okoli family madam for Makurdi na my papa’s sister. Even though she be second wife, after many years, her word strong for the family, and she dey relate well with the first wife’s son. If I marry there, na close family, I no go suffer for mother-in-law hand, and e go join Okoli and Bolaji families together. Everybody gain.

Every elder for both houses dey happy. Even church pastor come pray for us last Sunday, say the union go bring blessing. I know say Okoli house no perfect, but at least na family. For our place, e better make you marry person wey you fit trust than dey fight for love wey no dey sure. The politics of marriage na serious matter for noble families—na who you marry fit determine your children future. I dey ready to do my part.

Days just dey pass like that.

The sun rise, the sun set. Some days, I fit hear children laugh for compound, other days, rain dey tap my window. My mind calm, peace dey grow small small. I pray every night, ask God make e give me joy for this new journey. The world outside fit dey turn, but inside my room, time move gentle, slow.

I see Tunde and Zainab again for poetry gathering wey Lady of Chief Eze host. The story say the Chief’s Heir wan marry his mentor’s daughter as second wife don already spread for city half month now. Zainab come today as Tunde’s fiancée. She dey act like young madam of Chief’s house. The two of them stand together, anybody go say dem fit each other well.

The hall bright with lamp and silk, the smell of fried plantain and hibiscus drink everywhere. Small chops and puff-puff dey pass hand to hand, hibiscus drink cold for cup. Zainab wear new lace, Tunde in starched agbada. She dey greet elders, smile dey her lips, but her eyes still dey find Tunde every time. People point, whisper, "See Heir and new wife." I greet people, but keep my distance. I no get strength for their wahala today.

But somehow, Tunde no happy. E lips tight, eyes dey look my side from time to time. I just avoid am, follow my mama as she dey greet Lady Eze.

I see the way him eyes dey follow me, but I no look his side. My mama voice soft, dey hail Lady Eze, her laughter dey carry everybody join. I busy myself with helping elders, making sure dem get enough drinks. If person no look well, dem no go know say my heart dey beat fast.

Lady Eze na Emir younger sister. When she young, dem dey call her best woman for city. After she marry, she just free, always dey host poetry gatherings, make friends with poem, dey enjoy fine things.

Lady Eze dress with gold and blue, gele high like mountain. She smile greet everybody, dey ask for family gist. Her laugh dey sweet like ogbono soup, and she sabi yarn proverb wey fit settle quarrel. Her compound always full of laughter, her house open to both rich and poor. I dey admire her way—how she dey move, how she dey talk, how people respect am without fear. Her poetry collection be legend for the city, and anybody wey she invite dey count am as honour.

I hear her tell my mama say the prize for this poetry gathering na original Uche Okafor’s ‘Omalicha Chess Manual,’ with him own handwriting. I love chess since I small, and even though I come today just to relax, when I hear this, I happy. But in the end, I lose by just one move to Ifunanya. She take the...