Chapter 5: Bad Omens on Set

My wife hold my hand for hospital corridor. She whisper, 'Chijioke, no let anything happen. We dey pray.' I nod, squeeze her hand, smell her hair one last time before I waka go meet destiny.

During the ritual, the candle wey dem give me just refuse to light. When I finally manage, after one bow, the thing quench. Na very bad sign—like say karma dey block my way. Fear catch me, my hand begin sweat, candle no gree light at all.

People dey look me, dey whisper. For this kind work, na bad omen. My mind dey run like thief for market. Ejiro, the makeup girl, just dey look me like say I get leprosy.

People around begin whisper, some dey shame, some dey fear, some dey happy dey gossip my bad luck:

"Chijioke fit really get accident for set o. I never see candle wey no gree light before!"

"Even heaven no wan bless am!"

"I dey think say na just story before, but now... e be like say e get as e be. Dem say, when bird dey fly for afternoon, e get as e be."

Some people dey cross themselves, some dey mutter prayer. One old crew, Baba Nnamdi, shake head, say 'E don happen.'

All their talk just dey make my mind shake. Then, one slim guy with black eye circle squeeze come my side, try calm me:

"Brother Chijioke, e fit be say rain beat the supply truck yesterday. Maybe this batch of candle don soak. Take, use this lighter light am!"

He give me one lighter wey get strange shape.

The lighter cold for my hand, but the way Musa smile, e get as e be. His shirt big, e tie rubber slippers, e smell small of kerosene. But for him eye, na respect I see, not pity. Generator hum dey low for distance, crickets dey sing their own chorus.