Chapter 2: Spirit Power and Bitterleaf Wahala

Two days later, wild spirit power don strong like say e fit move mountain.

E dey do things wey shock even stubborn goats for backyard—carry yam sack like feather.

My real papa body wey weak before, spirit heal am finish. Na miracle. Leg wey dey swell before don flat, skin dey shine small. Back straight, e even tall pass before.

Neighbours dey greet am, dey whisper: "See as Baba grow young again. Na so spirit dey work?"

He waka go table, open the bitterleaf soup wey I cook.

“For where I come from, even goat no go chop this kind thing—e dey scratch throat. Na who get mouth sabi chop nonsense.”

He talk am loud, mouth twist like person wey lick bitter kola. E dey behave like say e be big man for other side.

I quick notice the strange talk.

This kind grammar no be my papa style. E get as e sound, like person wey come from far.

“For where you come from na where?”

I ask, dey look for clue. My heart dey beat strong. Maybe na spirit from Ogbunike cave? Or ancestral world? Abi na from spirits wey dey gather for big iroko tree? This one pass my power.

See as e dey chop, e sure say e be evil spirit?

If na real evil spirit, e for reject food. But this one dey chop like tomorrow no dey. Spirit dey ever hungry?

Papa and Mama no do bad thing for life. I just hope say for death, dem dey chop and wear better.

For village belief, dem talk say if you live well, for afterlife you go dey enjoy better yam, better wrapper. I dey pray my parents dey rest for good place.