Chapter 5: The Hospital Plea

"Daddy, Ajani is injured. Can I stay with him more at the hospital these days?"

I nod without thinking. "Of course." I wave hand make she commot.

"Then, I might come home late. Can you come and pick me?"

"No." I refuse straight. I no get power for midnight waka.

Bullet comments explode. Some dey vex, some dey cry.

[The girl papa don start again.]

[Says he gives her freedom for true love, but won’t let her spend time with her boyfriend. This papa na wah.]

Morayo eyes fill with tears, her hands dey tremble, voice break as she beg, "Daddy, Ajani is really badly injured. I’m worried for him."

I hesitate, eyes rest for one old picture of her as small pikin—back when she dey dance for parlour in pampers. But my heart just lock. "Wetin concern me? I need to sleep at night, I no get time to come pick you. If you dey fear to come back, sleep for hospital."

"Huh?" Morayo look lost, mouth open, close am, like fish wey no get water.

Bullet comments dey fly, like Agege bread sellers for morning rush—everybody dey shout:

[No be so e suppose be for the story?]

[Just allowing a girl sleep outside with her boyfriend, this papa no dey try at all.]

[You people sef, if he block her, you complain. If he leave her, you say he’s careless.]

[I still think the girl papa is pretending, so the girl will give up.]

[But he no know say our girl don come back to life. For her last life, she kill her papa for love. Our girl get strong mind.]

That last comment hit my chest heavy—like slap. Kill her papa?

Since I become Morayo papa, I give her everything. Sacrifice no dey count, na my duty. Only thing I hold back na for her own good—make her future better. But at the end, na me she go kill? Is this how God dey reward papa?

I wave hand, tired. "If nothing else, leave me. I want to sleep. Tomorrow I have to take Musa out."

"Musa? Who be that?"

"A small boy. Abeg, go out. Don’t disturb my sleep."

My patience almost finish. If I no rest, I fit just vex break something.

Bullet comments above Morayo head just dey roll:

"Who be Musa? I no remember this character."

"Probably just a side character, not important, that’s why he no show later."