Chapter 3: The Hibiscus Test

When flower party end, Princess Adeola allow everybody pick flower go house.

We gather, laughter full ground. Miss Ifeoma waka meet me.

"Magnolia fine, just like Tunde. This pot dey bloom, Sister, abeg carry am go put for Tunde study."

Her voice soft, but her eye dey search my own. I look am well, remember say dem say she never talk marriage for three years—she dey wait Tunde. I hint am small:

"But I no like magnolia. I be simple person, I like flashy things. Thank you, Miss Ifeoma, but I no want."

Her mouth shake, hand hold wrapper tight. I pick hibiscus pot, hug am, yarn am like play but e pain her. She stand, tears drop like July rain.

Everywhere quiet. I still dey wonder as Miss Ifeoma look up, voice shake: "Sister, you no fit really give me?"

"What?"

"Na just flower. Wetin dey there to give?"

Before I fit answer, I hear Tunde voice, see am rush from corridor, red agbada bright, fresh from palace.

Steps sharp, eye dey move fast. Tunde pause, eyes flash small, then he collect the flowerpot. I fit see say e dey rush, like person wey wan avoid trouble. He give am to Miss Ifeoma maid.

"We get plenty hibiscus for house. You no need this one."

He shock me.

E too quick, I no fit talk. I think say Miss Ifeoma really want the flower from me. If I say no, I go look stingy; if I say yes, I go look weak.

Na person dem dey test, no be flower.

The thing hit me like kpangolo drum. I look Tunde, look Miss Ifeoma, then hibiscus.

"Carry am."

My voice low, but Miss Ifeoma eye red from cry. She thank Tunde, "That poetry book you give me last month get hibiscus poem. I see this flower, I think of you, Tunde. Sister, you no vex? Otherwise..."

Her voice fade, only flower petals hear. Tunde laugh, "She dey generous, abeg, carry am."

Tunde’s laughter no reach my heart. I hold the empty space where the flower dey before, and I know say some things, once given, no dey return.