Chapter 4: The First Night—Chop Meat Wahala

After wedding, dem lead me enter bridal chamber.

Room quiet. Koko waka small, then curl up for my leg, dey rub me.

Thank God say Koko dey. If not, for this strange place, I for cry alone.

“Koko, abeg no do anyhow~”

Suddenly, door open small.

I quickly put veil back.

Ifedayo come, smile, gently remove my veil.

Even though my sister don carry me go peep Ifedayo before, as I see am for real, I know say God no balance things.

Those brows, nose, body—everything just dey fine.

I blush, call am, “Husband.”

He nod, “Mm,” then open small cooler, bring out meat pie, gala, and sweet mango, drop am for table.

My eyes shine.

I never chop since midnight. My belle don dey sing since.

As I dey chop, he bring out big chicken leg give Koko.

“Koko chop too.”

I eye am, hiss small: "So na dog get better meat pass me for this house?"

Ifedayo shock, then try collect chicken leg from Koko to give me.

I quickly wave am off, fear say he go really put am for my mouth.

True true, this one get small sense problem.

But at least, he no dey mess everywhere like other mumus.

And he fine die.

After I chop, he run out happy: “Wife, wait, Ifedayo dey come!”

I nod.

That time, Mama Kemi come enter, dey smile, help me remove my hairpins.

Young master really sabi take care of people.

Mama Kemi na Grandma old maid wey follow come as dowry. Na she raise me and my sister.

To me, she be family.

After she remove my hair, Mama Kemi find some books for my box.

As I see wetin she bring out, my face red.

Mama Kemi smile: “Madam, no shy. Every woman pass here. I go teach you some tricks so you no go suffer.”

I nod.

After I hear small, I get hope say I go do well.

“Madam, tonight na your wedding night. Young master head never correct, he fit no understand. You go need ginger am make una do the thing, so dem no go look down on you later. If fit, try born pikin early.”

I nod serious.

Mama Kemi carry me go bath.

When I come out, Ifedayo don change to night wear, sit for bed dey wait.

As he see me, he pat bed.

Mama Kemi smile, bring two cups of wine.

…

After all the ceremony, Mama Kemi close door for us.

Ifedayo rush push me for bed, even cover me: “Wife, make we sleep.”

This “sleep” na real sleep o.

I wait, but the guy no do anything, I sigh.

Looks like na me go do the work.

I turn press am down.

“Husband, make we do the thing?”

Ifedayo hold my waist, confuse: “Which one be ‘do the thing’?”

I think: “To do am na to chop meat.”

“Chop meat?”

He scratch head, face pure like new yam: "Wife, which meat we dey chop for night?"

As I talk, I begin pull him trousers.

But this guy quick, hold my hand, face red: “Wife, Mama talk say make person no pull your trouser.”

I blink, explain: “No be so. Your wife fit do am.”

He reason am: “Mama say, listen to wife.”

Last last, he loose hand, lie straight like log.

But him body stiff like dead body, no move.

I sigh, carry his hand, slowly remove my own cloth.

As I reach last cloth, he shame.

“No, no, no touch.”

I bite my teeth, put his hand under my cloth.

“You fit touch.”

As he touch, I shy die, still ask: “How e be?”

Ifedayo eyes don change, him Adam’s apple dey move: “Soft… soft.”

“Mm~ e get softer one. Husband, you wan touch more?”

“Wan…”

I kiss am.

His hand for my waist hold me tight.

His smell full everywhere.

I open his lips, kiss deep.

As we kiss, this guy sabi pass me.

When air finish for my mouth, he release me.

I dey pant, lie for his shoulder.

He look me, face like person wey dem cheat.

“Wife, I dey feel somehow~”

I pat his back, reach down, shock: “How e take be like this?”

He rub me: “No know~”

I try calm am: “No worry, Husband. Remove your cloth, chop meat, you go dey alright.”

He agree, begin remove cloth.

As I kneel in front of am, I look this man, swallow saliva.

Those shoulders, that waist, abs—na temptation.

Ifedayo see as I dey look, give me hand: “Wife fit touch too.”

I no waste time, touch am.

From chest, to waist, to…

As I dey touch, Ifedayo begin moan small.

“When Wife go chop meat~ Ifedayo dey feel somehow.”

That time, his eyes red like puppy.

“Soon.”

…

When e reach this level, men sabi am by themselves.

Even though Ifedayo dey mumu, he try, dey learn fast, even dey ask me if e do well.

“Wife… Ifedayo try?”

“Wife… sorry… no cry… Ifedayo go gentle.”

“Wife… Ifedayo still wan…”

That first night, the house dey quiet, only the sound of night crickets and our own small laughter fill the air. Even Koko snore for corner. I never believe say I fit feel so shy and happy at the same time. As I drift sleep, I thank God say, maybe this new life no too bad.