Chapter 3: Photo Weh Get Shadow

Next day, people from Golden Retriever center come carry Tunde. Dem collect twenty thousand deposit. My body pain me, but I no get choice. I beg make dem dey send me video of Tunde every day make I dey sure e dey alright.

Night reach, I still go see Halima for bridge. She dey happy say dog no show. I tell am say Tunde don go far, make she relax. She smile, waka with me. My mind sweet, body dey light. Rain fall, everywhere muddy. I see her skirt dey sweep mud, I wan help, she no gree, say she dey alright.

I just laugh, say I no be bad person. Na so she smile, lower head, kiss my forehead. My body sweet, first time girl go kiss me for head like that. She say, 'I know say you be good man.'

We reach her house, she invite me enter. With Tunde no dey, I enter finally. She give me pure water, say make I wait as she wan baff. Water sound dey enter my ear, my mind dey fly. I too nervous, I text my mama, 'Mama, you think say Halima fine?' She reply quick, say Halima fine well for factory, say she get her picture.

I shy, text again say I like her. As I dey type, Halima come out, wear spaghetti-strap nightgown, skirt long, hair wet. She siddon near me. I no fit look her face.

She ask, 'You never get girlfriend before?' I say yes, but my head dey spin. Phone vibrate, na mama message: 'Wetin you dey talk? If she dey alive, she fit be your grandma.'

I confuse, then see she send old photo join—black and white, yellow don enter am. The photo old sotey, corner don tear, yellow like old garri. On top, e write, '1980 Makurdi Textile Factory Group Photo.' For corner, young fine girl stand wey resemble Halima.

I look photo, look Halima. Her face white, eyes dey shine. As I dey dizzy, I fall ground. I notice as light dey shine, Halima shadow no dey for ground…

I dey struggle breathe, eye dey open and close. Halima drag my leg, pull me outside. As she drag me, I hear my uncle voice for my ear, "No trust every hand wey dey soft for night." She look fragile, but her hand strong, drag me reach river side sharp sharp. As water touch me, my brain clear small, but I no fit move.

Water dey cover my face, I dey choke, pain dey wire me. Halima stand, hold my face, press me inside water. I try struggle, but strength no dey, river dey swallow me.

Suddenly, I hear dog bark. Halima shout, rush commot. Na that time I see Tunde—body full of water, dey bite my cloth, dey drag me go riverbank. I cough, spit water, dey confuse.

Halima photo… how e take enter 1980? My mama say if she dey alive, she go be my grandma. E mean say Halima don die since?

Tunde dey whine, dey push me head with im nose, as if e dey beg me make I stand. I pat am, try stand up. I wonder how Tunde take come back from far, but no time to reason am.

I limp with Tunde, rush bridge. Everywhere black, moon don hide, heart dey beat fast. As we dey run, I begin notice say something no pure… shadow dey follow us, but no body for ground.