Chapter 3: New House, New Trouble

After that thing, my family begin pamper me pass before.

If I sneeze, mama go run bring hot water, grandma go find anointing oil. My papa dey call me "our ogbonge blessing." My cousin dey tease me, but na me dey collect biggest meat for soup. Even for Christmas, I get my own new cloth before anybody.

Grandma and mama dey rush who go take care of me, my aunties wey get two boys each dey jealous.

Dem dey use eye look my mama, say she dey spoil me. Auntie Ifeoma say, "You go turn Sisi to village head soon!" I just laugh, dance round, carry my own bowl of puff-puff. Grandma dey defend me like court lawyer.

My papa and mama no even think to born boy again; dem just wan take care of me well.

Some people still dey talk, but papa no dey answer anybody. He go say, "God give, God know why." Mama go nod, her face dey soft.

When I reach two years, papa lose work, decide to start business.

At first, everybody worry. Grandma dey pray, mama dey sing worship song for evening. Papa no gree sit down, dey waka up and down, dey plan.

Who go believe? The first business no fail—he pay all the money wey he borrow within one year.

Even elders for village surprise. "Okoye, you get luck o!" Papa just smile, say na prayers and good heart. Neighbours begin ask for advice.

After small time, mama leave her own work join am, and another year, dem begin make small profit.

She dey help papa keep account, sell goods, dey run small shop for front of house. Sisi get small chair inside shop, dey eat chin-chin. Family dey strong together, everyday get new hope.

Life for house better well, my papa and mama begin reason say make we move go city. School and hospital for city better pass village own.

Everybody dey talk city now. "Sisi go wear city uniform, carry fine bag." I dey dream about big house with tiles, big TV. Mama dey make list, papa dey check newspaper for house advert. Grandma just dey pray for journey mercy.

Early morning, mama carry me from bed.

"Sisi, today we go city with papa and mama go find house, you hear?"

She whisper for my ear, her voice gentle like night breeze. I turn for bed, dey struggle open eye. The smell of fried yam dey enter my nose, make my stomach do gbim.

I just dey sleep dey let mama dress me, still dey close eye dey wash face.

She rub my face with wet cloth, comb my hair small. I grumble, she laugh, say, "Lazy pikin, you go sleep for road?" I just smile, hold her hand.

After we chop grandma food finish, three of us begin go.

Grandma give us yam and akara for flask, say make we no chop city food wey get too much oil. She break kola nut, sprinkle water for ground, call God name three times. She pray for us, give me two kobo, say, "Buy sweet for city o!" The sun never rise finish as we enter okada go park.

Since my papa and mama dey do business, dem sabi some better area for city.

Papa dey brag, "I know where fine school dey. My pikin go learn well." Mama dey nod, dey follow waka. I dey look everything through window, eyes wide like frog.

First place we reach, I just no like am.

The air for that side dey smell like polish, everything dey shine. E too fine, e too cold. I feel lost inside crowd. My chest dey tight.

The houses for there na correct ones, and the place full with people.

Children dey run with scooter, security man dey salute everybody. Mama dey smile, but I dey hide behind her. I fit hear my heart beat.

As my papa and mama dey listen to agent, I sit down for mama lap dey look everywhere.

Agent dey talk quick quick, her English sweet. Papa dey nod, mama dey ask question. I dey watch one butterfly wey land for fence.

Na that time, one fine couple waka enter with one small girl.

Their car shine like mirror, driver open door for dem. The girl get beads for hair, the woman wear lace, man wear agbada. His agbada white, shoe dey shine like new coin. Everybody stop dey look dem.

The couple look familiar—the man tall and fine, the woman soft and beautiful, but her face yellow like garri wey soak too long, eyes dull, lips dry.

Her lips dry, she dey hold small handkerchief, cough small. The man no smile, just dey guide her. I look them well, I think say I see them for market before.

The girl wear princess dress, white shoe, but her face just dey squeeze.

She look stubborn, her mouth no dey move, eye dey red. The dress fine, but she no smile. She sit for edge of chair, dey kick leg, as if she dey wait make wahala start.

Once the agent see them, she rush go. "Chief Olumide, Madam Olumide, na you come today? Na your pikin be this?"

Agent voice high, she dey bow small. Chief Olumide greet her with small nod. People dey whisper, say na big man for city.

The small girl just look her like say she no send.

She suck teeth, roll eye. Agent try joke, she no smile. Even mama see say the girl no dey happy.

Chief Olumide reply, "We wan choose another house by ourselves today. My wife no like the one we buy before."

His voice get authority, he no dey play. Madam Olumide look around, cough again, rub her hand for her chest. Chief squeeze her hand small, help her sit down.

As Madam Olumide cough small, the agent nod, begin show them round.

She talk low, dey point rooms, dey open doors. Madam dey follow slow, Chief dey support her. The air for the place come cold, everybody just dey tiptoe.

But the small girl no even send her papa and mama—she just sit down on her own, face like say she tire.

She dey pick her shoe, scratch wall. I dey pity her, but I no know why. For her mind, city house no sweet her at all.

My papa and mama stand up, wan go see the show house, carry me for hand.

Mama adjust my dress, papa hold my hand. I fit feel excitement for their body, but me I still dey fear.

As mama carry me, the family beside us notice us too.

Chief Olumide look us from head to toe, Madam Olumide smile small, then pause. Their eyes rest for me as if dem see something wey surprise them. I look them back, my own eyes wide, but I no talk.

Madam Olumide pause, look me well. Chief Olumide follow her eye, both of them shock small before dem return face, but dem still dey look us till we waka go.

The small girl peep at me, her face soft small. But as we pass, she look away again. My mama whisper, "See as those people dey look us. Maybe dem sabi papa from market."

My papa and mama like the house wey dem see.

The parlour big, window full everywhere, kitchen get modern tiles. Papa dey check tap, mama dey open cabinet. Agent dey praise the house, "Na this kind house dey give joy!" For their face, I see say dem dey happy.

But since we enter, I no like am. I pull mama hand, whisper, "Mama, I no like this place. Make we go another one."

I hold her wrapper tight, my eyes water. My body dey shake small, I no fit explain but my mind no rest. Something for this house dey make me fear.

"Sisi, abeg calm down. See as this bedroom big—you fit get your own room!"

She rub my back, her voice soft. I just shake head, my lips pout. Tears dey near my eye, my chest heavy. Papa dey look us, worry show for his face.

But I just shake head, face show say I no like am at all.

I face ground, refuse to smile. My hand dey cold. The agent dey look me like say I dey spoil market. Papa rub my shoulder, whisper, "No vex, Sisi."

My papa and mama just look agent, talk say dem go think am.

Agent say, "No wahala, take your time. If you blink, another person go carry this house—na hot cake!" Papa just dey nod, mama hold my hand, we waka go.

As we waka commot, papa carry me for hand. "Sisi, you really no like this place?"

His voice soft, he dey worry. I rest my head for his shoulder, whisper, "I no like am, papa."

"I no like am," I answer sharp sharp.

I no fit even fake smile. My papa kiss my forehead, say, "Okay, my baby."

"No wahala, we go find another one. House plenty."

He set me down, dust my back. Mama squeeze my hand, "We go see better house."

"You dey spoil this girl o," mama talk, dey smile.

She wink papa, laugh small. For her eye, I see love—she dey enjoy say papa dey listen to me. My mind calm, I fit breathe better.

My papa and mama say make we go chop first.

"Hungry no be better friend," papa joke. We cross small road, enter mama-put wey dey sell beans and dodo. The air dey full with fried oil and pepper smell.

Dem carry me enter one small street, the road rough, hard to waka.

Sand full everywhere, gutter dey open. My small shoe dey soak sand, but I dey hold papa finger. Mama dey adjust her bag, dey watch make okada no splash water.

Papa carry me, dey look the scattered houses.

He dey point some houses, "See as people manage life here. But people dey happy." Mama dey nod, dey greet some women wey dey fry groundnut for corner.

As we reach one old house, I begin struggle make I come down.

My spirit jump. I shake papa hand, "Drop me! Drop me!" He look me, surprise. Mama say, "Wetin dey bite this pikin now?" Papa laugh, put me for ground.

Once my leg touch ground, I run go the house, dey look.

I touch wall, run my hand over old paint, peep through gate. Something about the place dey call my spirit. My heart dey beat, but I dey smile wide.

I no know why, but I just like the place.

The compound big, mango tree for one side, sand dey everywhere, but my heart dey dance. I see one old bench, my mind dey paint how I go play with friends for there.

"Mama, papa, na here I wan stay!"

My voice loud, e echo. I jump for joy, spin around. Even mama surprise, her mouth open. Papa dey look me like say I craze. But my mind settle—this na my house.

My papa and mama shock. "Sisi, this place too old. E no even reach our village house. No be new one you go like?"

Papa rub head, mama shake her head. "You want live for this kain place? The other one get fan, get running water!" I no answer, just smile dey jump up and down.

"No, no, na here I want!"

My feet dey stamp ground. I hug mama leg, she nearly fall. "Na here sweet me!" I sing small song, everybody begin laugh small, but worry still dey their eye.

One old sign for door talk 'For Sale.'

Na hand paint, almost fade finish. Number dey scratch, but papa still fit dial am. The way the sign bend for breeze, e be like the house dey wait for us.

Mama try beg me tire, but I no gree.

She talk, "Sisi, abeg!" I just shake head, no look her face. Papa laugh, say, "This one strong pass your mama." Mama sigh, throway face.

Papa just call the number wey dey for sign.

He dial, the phone ring long. The owner answer, voice sharp. "You wan buy? I dey come now now." Mama no believe, but papa just smile.

The owner hear say person wan buy, rush come.

He waka come with speed, sweat for face, shoe dirty. He dey surprise say na small girl choose the house. He greet us, hand shake, open gate for us.

As dem open door, we see big compound—even though na junk full everywhere.

Old iron, bottle, broken chair scatter for ground. But my eyes dey see only how big the place be. I fit run round, play hide and seek. The house dey smell old, but my spirit no fear.

Inside, the house even old pass outside.

The parlour wall crack, kitchen door no close well. Rat run from corner, mama nearly shout. Papa cough, look around, but me I dey happy.

My papa and mama no like am at all, but me, the more I see, the more I like am.

I dey spin for parlour, clap hand. "See space! See window!" Papa dey shake head, mama dey follow behind, still dey worry.

I hold mama leg. "Na here I want. I like am well."

My eyes dey beg, my voice soft. Mama touch my cheek, sigh. Papa look her, then look me.

Mama look papa, her face dey worry. Me wey dey always gentle, no dey do like this before.

She whisper to papa, "This pikin get another sense? She dey feel something we no dey see?" Papa nod, say, "No be today Sisi dey see things."

Papa see as my face dey shine, he just talk, "We go buy am! If my pikin like am, we go buy am! If e no good, we go save money buy another one later!"

His voice strong, mama no argue again. The owner dey happy, begin dance small.

Mama no talk again after that.

She squeeze my hand, her face soft, eyes red small. I hug her, she hug me back. My joy dey complete.

The owner fear say we go change mind, give us last price, rush do transfer.

He even dash us old standing fan, say make breeze blow Sisi. Papa collect key, mama collect paper. Everybody dey smile, except agent wey dey look us from road.

As we hold the house paper, three of us just dey look ourselves, shock.

We no believe say we get house for city. Mama kneel, thank God. Papa carry me up, spin round. Sun dey set, breeze dey blow. Even old neighbours dey look us, dey wonder if we sabi wetin we do.

The house too full with rubbish, to clean am na work, so my papa and mama decide say make we dey pack our load from village small small.

Mama buy broom, papa buy big sack. Every weekend, we dey waka go city, dey sweep, dey clear backyard. Neighbours dey peep, dey gossip. Mama dey hum song as she wash window, papa dey whistle old song. Even Sisi dey help pick bottle, dey play for sand.

As we reach house, neighbours gather dey gossip how my papa and mama buy old house for city, dem dey munch puff-puff, groundnut dey scatter for table.

For junction, people dey gather, dey gist, "See Okoye people o! Na old house dem go buy for city?" Agbalumo seed dey fly, some dey snap finger, others dey hiss. The air dey thick with talk, some people dey laugh, others dey pity us.

"This Okoye family don craze, dey follow small pikin head."

Aunty Bola add mouth, "Pikin wey never reach five, na im dey choose house. Wonders!" The men dey shake head, some dey clap hand for leg.

"After all the money, na that kind house dem buy for city? Me I no go even stay there if dem dash me."

Another neighbour, Uncle Tunde, talk say, "Even goat go reject that house! See as e old." Dem all dey roast maize, dey gist like market day.

"Na true! That day I tell Sisi mama make she born another boy, she no even answer me," Aunty Kemi add, dey spit seed everywhere.

She spread her wrapper for sun, her mouth sharp pass razor. "No respect again for village. All of una go see result soon," she talk, voice high.

"No matter how girl lucky reach, she no fit reach boy. Make una watch, Okoye family go regret am."

Dem all nod, some dey tap chest, others dey snap finger. Aunty Chinyere laugh, "Na so! E go clear for their eye soon."

Grandma first no sure, but as she hear say na me like the house, she change mouth.

She tell people, "My Sisi no dey choose rubbish. God dey use her eye." Even for church, she praise me, "If na Sisi, I trust!" Her faith strong, her voice loud for family.

"If Sisi like am, buy am. No mind wetin people dey talk. At least now, we get house for city."

She tell mama, "No mind jealous people. Every blessing get season." She bring kola nut, pray for new house. Everybody say "Amen," the air calm down.

My papa and mama reason am like that, begin pack our load for house.

Papa say, "Na family we get, not house." Mama dey sing, dey arrange box. I dey dance round, dey carry my doll. Village people still dey talk, but we no send.

Next day, papa get phone call, come house dey look lost.

He enter house, sit for stool, no talk. Mama dey sweep, she stop, "Wetin dey happen?" His eye dey red, his hand dey shake. Even I stop my play, dey watch papa.

"Old Okoye, wetin happen? You dey behave like who dem collect him soul!" Mama wave hand for papa face.

Her voice loud, she dey tap his shoulder. Grandma look up from kitchen, dey wait. Papa swallow spit, his face pale. Everybody dey wait for answer.

After papa quiet for long, he talk, "Ngozi, the house we just buy, dem say dem go demolish am."

His voice low, but the whole house hear. Mama drop broom, her mouth open. Grandma drop spoon, say, "Chineke!" I look papa, fear catch me. As the red paint drip, e be like blood wey no wan stop. My papa hand dey shake, and for my mind, I dey fear say city no want us.

But as papa talk say dem go demolish our new house, I feel cold for inside, like harmattan breeze blow me—even though sun still dey shine.