Chapter 3: The Kneeling Scam

But you think say I go just leave am? For three days, I no let the matter rest for my status.

My status full of fire. I even dey tag battery brands join, as if dem fit bring am back. Some people dey reply with prayer hands, others dey laugh. One padi say, "E fit be your neighbour o."

Just as I wan forget the matter, one month later, one morning as I dey rush go find okada, one old woman with grey hair block me as I come out house.

Early morning breeze dey blow, my mind dey work. As I see the woman, I first think say na landlord go increase rent again.

Morning rush hour—everybody dey hurry. She just drag me one side. I look am: “Mama, anything?”

People dey dodge left and right, but as she hold me, dem begin slow down. For Lagos, anything fit happen for morning.

She look tired, eyes red. As she see say I no understand, she bite her teeth, kneel down with gbam for front of everybody.

The way her knees hit ground, e loud pass before. Some people even stop dey watch. I see one small girl whisper for her mama ear: "See drama!"

My sleep run comot. Even people wey waka dey look.

If na joke before, e don turn serious. My head clear immediately, heart dey beat like generator.

I quick go help her up: “Mama, wetin happen?”

For Naija, if old person kneel, wahala don enter another level—dem fit call your mama for village. My hand dey shake as I try help am. My mind dey run.

But the way she begin cry, I freeze.

Tears dey run for her face, she dey sob like pikin. The cry get one kind sound, e dey attract people.