Chapter 2: Man for Bed

The first night we move enter the new hostel, na so I wake up for midnight say I wan use toilet.

As I comot leg from bed, that cold harmattan breeze just bite me small. I tiptoe reach door, dey careful make I no wake Zainab wey dey snore for corner. Na there I see one man waka enter the room, turn back, then climb on top my roommate Halima bed.

Na so fear hold me like when NEPA take light for bush path. I freeze, my leg no even dey my body again. My heart dey drum like juju festival drum for village square.

Next thing, I hear Halima dey make some kind strange, shameful noise.

The sound no be like say person dey dream. E get as e dey do me for chest, like say something no pure dey happen. I just dey sweat, even though weather cold.

But I reason am: the hostel door dey locked from inside. If person pick lock, I for hear am na.

I check the latch again, confirm say e still dey for place. That thing just dey confuse me more. Who fit enter?

So e mean say na she open door for the man by herself for night.

I carry my mind waka everywhere, dey reason if Halima get boyfriend for this school. But Halima dey claim holy pass reverend sister. E shock me.

The next day, I drag her go one side, begin para for am.

Under the mango tree behind hostel, I shout, “Halima, how you take dey bring man enter our room for night? You no dey fear God?”

But she just dey look me like person wey dem cheat, then carry me go check the hostel CCTV.

Halima no even talk, she just pull my hand, drag me go security post. The old security uncle fit dey sleep, but today, na our matter full e table. As we enter, the uncle dey doze, mutter, “These small small girls and their wahala.” He shift, rub eye, then rewind camera, play the midnight tape—TV screen just dey flicker, suspense hang for air. Nobody waka enter at all.

Nobody waka enter at all.

I blink, rub my eyes. No shadow, no person, nothing. The room just dey as e be. My mind dey do me 419.

How e take happen?

I dey think maybe na devil dey play us rough. My chest dey pound as I walk go back room.