Chapter 8: Shame and Gossip

The parents come dey argue for street, everybody dey talk their own, explain, make people judge if dem suppose pay.

Market women dey gossip, "Na so e dey start, small pikin wahala go turn family fight." Some dey take side, say, "Sani papa suppose pay all." Others dey say, "Everybody get blame."

Then some people for street wey like drama begin ginger them: “If na so, una no suppose pay. But the money dey with Okoli family, go collect your money from them.”

You know our Naija way—if you see wahala, add pepper, make e hot. Some boys dey laugh, dey clap, "Go collect your money o! Make dem share am well!"

“Yes, yes, every debt get owner—go meet them, make dem go find the real person.”

E be like play, but na real anger dey under. Everybody dey reason how to escape own wahala.

E clear say, nobody wan cross Sani family, so all the wahala, dem push am go orphan Okoli family head.

If you get small power, nobody go touch you. Na poor people go carry cross.

So these mumu people, after people ginger them, go Okoli family house.

If you see the way dem match go, na like police dey come arrest thief. Zainab and her mama dey inside house, no even know say storm dey near.