Chapter 6: Alliances and Exile

My papa no like Ifedike before, but I add pepper: "The guy get plenty plan, his character get question mark. He wan marry my house girl—he fit do am for corner, but he make am loud so everybody go hear. People think say na me he dey marry, but na house girl he carry go. If no be for Tunde, na me for be laughing stock. He be WAEC champion—suppose get sense, but see as e do. I feel say he don join your enemies for politics, papa. Abeg, shine your eye."

Papa adjust glasses, nod. "You dey see road now. I go watch am well."

My papa listen well.

He pull me for corner, say, "My daughter, na this kind wisdom dey save family."

I talk almost the same thing to Councilor, mix am with small complaint and suspicion, Councilor just start dey dislike Ifedike.

For village meeting, I drop hint. Councilor nod, face squeeze. For Naija politics, information na power.

Councilor na Tunde cousin, so we dey close.

Councilor dey always buy suya for me and Tunde anytime we visit him office.

When he hear say I dey marry Tunde, he happy. "You suppose thank Ifedike. If no be am, Tunde no go rush come propose."

He slap Tunde back, laugh loud. Everybody for council quarters go hear the gist that day.

He add, "Tunde, wetin you want? I go give you wedding gift."

He dey expect make Tunde ask for ram or small change.

Tunde no waste time. "That your hot spring villa outside town."

People burst laugh. For Tunde mouth, wahala na play.

Councilor shock. "You know how much that villa cost?"

He shake head, eyes wide. "Chai! This boy ehn."

He come talk, small shame dey catch am, "Chidinma dey fear cold."

He wink, whisper. "No let harmattan finish her for my house."

Yes, cold dey worry me. Ifedike know too, na why he use cold finish me.

Any small breeze, I dey sneeze. Na why that pond wahala pain me pass.