Chapter 1: Shame for Jos Market

My noble fiancé don turn prisoner.

The shame for my chest heavy like stone. Once upon a time, na this same Suleiman dem dey call 'His Excellency', the young prince everybody for Jos dey fear to offend. Now, as I look am, na like market goat wey dem wan price for slaughter. The pain for inside me no be here; if dem fit treat prince like this, wetin remain for common man? My mind dey race as I see the blood wey stain e ear, how e head bend small one side as if breeze blow person wey no get root. In my heart, I dey beg God, make e no let me cry for public. Make dem no see my eye red, make dem no know say my hand dey shake. God, cover me for this market, no let my enemies see my tears.

Dem beat am sotay one ear no dey hear again, then throw am for street to sell am.

The kind way dem treat Suleiman—na real disgrace. For this our Jos, na only enemy go wish another person make e end up for this kain mess. I remember when we dey small, na Suleiman dey dash beggars money, dey play with small pikin for compound. Now see as e own don spoil. For Naija, if God wan test person, e dey quick.

I squat for front of am and whisper, "If I come break engagement now, no be say I dey kick you when you don fall finish?"

I bend close so only Suleiman ear go fit catch my voice. The market noise loud, smell of pepper and fish everywhere. As I talk, my voice dey tremble small, but I manage act like say e no pain me. For my mind, I dey wish make e fit forgive me, or at least, make e know say I dey try.

Na only God know say my hand clean for this matter. My finger dey dig my palm, my throat dry.

For this Jos, na only God see inside pesin heart. If person go swear for shrine, na so e go say, 'My hand dey clean.' If dem wan judge me, na only Almighty fit talk true.

Yesterday when I come, na so so respect Suleiman get, na him be the big oga pikin for Jos.

All those market women wey dey rush greet am, dem dey sing am name, dey hail am. Even boys wey dey sell sachet water go clear road. Me sef dey feel somehow to waka beside am that day. Jos na place wey respect senior, and Suleiman senior all of us.

How e take be say, just one night, na so e turn criminal slave?

Na wah! For this our country, today you dey up, tomorrow you fit sleep for gutter. No be only Naija dey like this? E pain me say na Suleiman e happen to. I dey reason say, if devil dey sleep, na person go go wake am.

E open eye look me, face calm like say nothing concern am.

E dey surprise me, because most people for Suleiman shoe go dey beg, dey cry, dey shout. But e just siddon, e eye no shake. You go think say e still dey inside palace, as if shame no dey touch am. E chest stand like soldier, even as e dey suffer.

Shout come from back: "You go buy am or you just dey look? If you no want, make we see road."

One mama with big wrapper and chewing stick for mouth talk am, her voice sharp like pepper. For this market, if you slow, dem go push you commot. I turn back, I see dem all dey wait, dey form circle like say dem dey watch film.

All the madams for Palm Grove Market dey wait to see am face.

The sun dey burn, yet nobody wan move. You go think say na beauty contest dey happen. Some dey peep, others dey laugh under their breath. Person fit swear say dem dey expect to see magic.

Buy am, e go be like money tree—who no go want?

Na real business talk. Some dey rub chin, dey calculate profit. If Suleiman fit waka, fit work, even if e no get one ear, dem go see am as investment. For this Nigeria, money matter pass sympathy.

"See as she rough, she no fit afford am."

The way the woman talk am, na pure insult. My clothe no fine like dem own, my hair rough small. Dem eye dey sharp like pepper seller, dem mouth dey run like generator. I look myself, try act as if e no pain me, but my body dey vex. Who dem be to judge person pocket?

As I hear that one, vex catch me: "Who you dey look down on? Na me go buy this person."

I stand gbaladun, face strong. I talk with all the power wey I get. No body go disgrace me for this market. Even if I no get reach, I go borrow.