Chapter 7: Blood for Blood

Halima hear say madam wan marry me give gatekeeper son.

She burst cry, hold my hand, say, 'Sister, no let dem do you like that!' Her tears full her face, I use wrapper clean am.

She cry, “We serve am with all our heart, how she go wicked like this?”

She kneel for my front, dey beg God. 'We be orphans, we serve dem, make dem no cast us out.'

That gatekeeper son, e head no correct, like pikin, but e dey beat people.

Everybody for house dey fear am. He dey talk to himself, sometimes go slap anybody wey pass. I no wan my life spoil for am.

Na only if I marry that kind person, dem fit keep me away from Oladimeji.

If madam really wan punish me, na so she go do am. She fit use gatekeeper son hide my face from chief.

I go beg old mama, say I ready to become eldest master widow.

I carry kolanut, kneel for her room. My head low, I beg, 'Mama, abeg, help me.'

Old mama happy, ask my name, birth date, where I from.

She bring out big book, write my name, calculate with cowries. She smile, say, 'My pikin, your date sweet for our family.'

The master check am, nod. “This girl date match eldest master own, and she be poor person—good match. If she become spirit wife, eldest master go get luck for next life.”

Elders dey nod, dey say prayer. Even mama drop small tears, thank ancestors.

Oladimeji and madam hear, rush come.

Their footsteps heavy. Everybody for parlour pause, dey look dem.

As dem enter, I dey kneel for old mama leg, dey massage am, when I hear Oladimeji voice, dey laugh. “Na this girl wan marry my brother?”

He dey try cover him surprise with laughter, but I see say he dey worry.

Madam too just smile. “Which maid be this, get good heart. Mama suppose reward her.”

Her smile tight, eye still dey shine like glass. For her mind, she dey reason wetin fit happen.

As dem dey talk, I turn, greet. “Chief and madam, na me.”

My voice strong, but my heart dey shake. I kneel low, greet dem proper.

Oladimeji shock see my face. “No be you no dey talk?”

He look me well, mouth open. He dey remember all the night wey I keep silent.

I shake head. “I fit talk, but madam no like my voice, she say make I no talk.”

My voice break small, but I talk am anyhow. Everybody for room just dey watch.

Just those few words, madam face don white like ghost.

She grip her wrapper, her eyes dey wide. She no believe say I fit betray her.

Old mama hold my hand, her old face full of joy. “I no expect say your side get good pikin like this—so loyal.”

She pull me up, pat my back, her tears fall for my hand. 'You get clean heart,' she talk.

She wipe tears. “But if you become spirit wife, you go remain widow for eldest master... you don think am well?”

She look my face, wait answer. Everybody dey silent.

I knock head for ground. “I no go ever regret.”

My forehead touch ground three times, my tears soak my wrapper. My voice strong, but my mind dey fear. Inside me, I dey beg God make this path give my sister better chance.

From corner of my eye, I see Oladimeji hand dey shake for him side.

He try hide am, but I notice say him body dey tremble. Maybe him dey sorry, maybe na pride.

He just dey look me, no believe.

He no talk. Madam just dey squeeze her hand, dem no fit understand my own pain.

Old mama pat my hand. “Pikin, you want anything? Money, gold—if I fit do am, I go do.”

Her voice soft, eyes red. For her mind, she wan reward me.

I look madam, my eye cold.

I no even blink. I dey wait her reaction. She act like say e no touch her.

She force smile, but body just shift back small.

She cross leg, dey form big madam. But for inside, I know say she dey fear.

After small time, I lower my eye, talk soft. “This servant get younger sister, Halima. Abeg, make she dey serve old mama.”

I voice my only wish. I wan make Halima free from madam hand.

Old mama gree sharp sharp. “Na small thing. As long as she be maid, I fit decide. Because of your loyalty, I go protect her forever.”

She stand, hold my hand, promise with old woman word. My heart calm small.

Madam force smile. “Mama, Halima na my maid. I no wan be stingy, but she follow my dowry come, so I fear...”

Her voice dey tremble, but she still dey try form strong for old mama.

She never finish, Oladimeji deep voice cut am, “Na just maid. If mama want am, give her. Wetin dey there?”

Oladimeji eye dey sharp, voice deep. For him mind, all this matter no reach anything. My mind rest small, knowing say Halima go dey safe now.

For the first time, I fit breathe, even if na grave dey wait me.