Chapter 1: The One Wey Fall From Sky

I be the childhood friend, but na Halima na im God send come from sky.

As people for our street go talk am, 'dem dey born pikin for yard, but na the one wey fall from sky dey cause kasala.' Sometimes, I go dey hear neighbours use am tease my mama. E be like say everybody sabi the story before e even start.

Everybody dey talk say childhood friend no fit reach the one wey fall from heaven. Not too long after she change school come our side, dem catch my stubborn padi, Musa, for empty staircase after school, him head bend like dog wey dem scold, dey quietly think about him mistake.

That day, rain just start to drizzle small for the old block, the kind soft rain wey dey make person dey reason life. Musa just dey there, im school bag for ground, one leg dey tap, like say na only him dey fight wahala. E get as e be for my mind that day.

Later, when wahala burst between me and Halima, Musa just talk am for mouth: "I no wan see Ifeoma for school." My parents, fear catch dem make dem no offend Musa family, arrange sharp sharp make I transfer go another school.

As dem dey talk for parlor that night, my mama eye red. She say, "Ifeoma, no bring problem home o!" The way fear grip my papa, e just nod like lizard wey fall from tree.

From that time, e be like say I disappear from him world, no even get liver show face for where him dey again.

I go dey peep am from far, sometimes my chest go tight. I no fit cross near him corner for street. Even market women for junction, wey sabi us two since small pikin, go dey ask, "Where your Musa?" I go just laugh, waka pass.

But later, on top him birthday, na so him knock my door, rain soak am finish, him face dey shame and vex: "You forget say today na my birthday?"

The rain wey follow am inside na that kind stubborn Benue rain, wey no dey look face. E shock me see am, because all this while, I dey hide my own shadow. Him voice dey shake, but him pride no gree fall.

Everybody dey talk say childhood friend no fit reach the one wey fall from sky. Before, I for just laugh that kind talk.

For my mind, I dey reason say all those old people wey get big mouth, dem no sabi wetin dey sup for young pikin body. But as I dey grow, I come understand say some talk na true.

But as I sit down for hall dey look Musa dey use eye dey follow Halima wey dey dance for stage, the love for him eye no even hide—

E be like say breeze just blow truth come out. Even the way him mouth small open, na so everybody for back dey whisper.

That moment, I believe am.

I just nod for myself. Wetin eye see, no need talk. Sometimes, na only your mind go fit swallow the truth.

I also believe wetin dem talk before, say dem see the stubborn Musa bend him head for Halima inside empty staircase.

The gist reach my ear sharp sharp. Even junior students dey talk am, like film.

The feelings wey I no fit talk, I just bury am for my heart forever.

Na so I pinch myself small, swallow spit, no let tears show. The thing dey bite, but I no fit disgrace myself.

As the song finish, I join clap for the fine girl for stage.

My palm dey pain me as I clap, but I no stop. Make dem no notice say my mind dey heavy.

Musa stand up comot, maybe him dey go find Halima. I sef stand up comot from the hall.

I waka jejely, no look anybody. Na only the echo of my slippers for corridor dey follow me.

Outside, I raise my hand. One gourd-shaped pendant dey my wrist, e dey swing for breeze.

The pendant na old gift, like say na juju, but na only me sabi the story.

"Ifeoma, this one... na for you."

I turn back, Musa dey there, voice soft pass usual. Even him eye dey dodge my own.

I look am confuse. "Wetyn be this one?"

For my mind, I dey ask myself wetin Musa dey plan. Him no dey give gift like that, except if e get meaning.

When he be seven, Musa watch one soap opera with him aunty, remember say dem dey use token dey show love.

For the whole week that year, na only love matter dey im mouth. Im aunty dey shout for am, but him no care.

"I go give am to Ifeoma. From today, Ifeoma go only like me."

Im swear that year na like child play, but for my mind, e strong.

"I go always protect Ifeoma for future."

He talk am for junction, for front of akara woman shop, so till today, anytime I smell fried beans, e dey remind me.

My eye just dey hot. I remove the pendant, hold am for my hand. Children promise no suppose serious.

But for heart, the weight heavy. I press am for palm like say I fit press memory commot.

But me, I take am serious. That stubborn pikin Musa na my joy and secret for all my teenage days.

Every time I dey low, na im go find me. Even fight with neighbor children, na Musa go carry cane for my side. I dey always look for him shadow.