Chapter 5: Prison Promises and Dog Dreams

Dem later jail my papa for ten years. The police come one night, drag am out, neighbours gather, nobody talk for am. The court case na small matter—Adeyemi family lawyer talk small, judge nod, matter end.

When I visit am for prison, he don hear say my mama die, but the first thing wey he ask be, “You don move enter Adeyemi family house?” His prison cloth dirty, but im spirit never tire.

I nod, say I don. I lie small, but I just want make he rest. My voice dey low, my eye dey look ground.

My papa sigh, “Oga Adeyemi try. He give your grandparents two million naira, even keep you. He say when I come out, he go buy me Land Rover. By then, your papa go dey drive Land Rover.”

I no ask am why he never mention mama or my sister. I just dey watch as him dey draw future with sand, like say all sacrifice na investment.

He get him own underworld dream, him own plan to blow. For prison, na only who get hope dey survive. He dey talk with pride, like man wey believe say tomorrow go better.

Ten years for prison, millions for asset, one million every year, even if na wife and pikin e use, later e go marry another person. His mind dey chase things wey no get name. For am, everything na gain or loss, not pain or memory.

I know say many people go say e worth am. For street, boys dey hail am, dey say na strong man wey no dey fear anything.

So I no ask. I just dey listen as he dey talk about future, but my mind dey with mama and my sister as dem dey waka for bush path. I dey imagine them, hand in hand, dey move inside thick forest where pain no fit reach.

I try reach them, but I no fit ever catch up. The distance dey always far, their back dey fade like early morning mist.

That day, as I comot from prison, I swallow my pain, tell myself: I go join them one day. I promise say this world no fit break me pass this.

Moving into Adeyemi family house na the beginning of my next wahala. The air for that house always cold, even when sun dey shine. The floor too neat, the chairs too soft, but for my mind, na only trouble dey wait for corner.

With big nylon bag for hand, I reach their big house. The gate man open small, look me up and down, no even greet. I drag my bag inside, the marble step cold under my foot. The houseboy just dey mop, dey whistle one old Fuji song.

Sade and me dey same school, same class. That day, she gather all our classmates, dey talk with pride, “Your papa na my papa dog, so you be my dog. Anything I talk, you go do.” Her voice sharp, her eyes dey shine, classmates dey gather like say dem dey watch movie.

She bring out her homework notebook, say make I dey copy her writing, dey do her assignment from today. She throw the book for my table, her hand strong, her face dey dare me to talk.

Classmates surprise, dey ask how she wan take pass if she no dey do homework. Some dey pity me, some dey fear say Sade go use dem next. One boy whisper, “Na wah o. This life no balance.”

Sade wan talk, but she pause, come smile, say e no matter—she sharp, she go still enter better university. She snap finger, fling braid, her confidence high. For her mind, America dey call, and nothing fit stop her.

I know say she wan show say she go soon go America. All her gist dey end for, “When I enter Yankee, una go see.” Her accent dey change small small, but I no talk.

But she no fit talk am, because dem still dey pretend. For Adeyemi house, everybody dey form family, but for inside, na every man for himself.

Na only my papa still believe say that betrothal mean anything, dey dream say I go marry Adeyemi family daughter. For his mind, na royal wedding dem dey plan. But for reality, na ordinary dog dem see me.

But everybody know, how dog go fit marry im oga? For Lagos, dog no dey climb table with master, talk less of marry im pikin.

Sade see say I no answer, and she dey fear—

She hiss, “You be my dog.”

But as I pick her book, I swear for my mind—one day, this dog go bite.