Chapter 1: Night Market Secrets

“You get juju wey fit make woman no born pikin again?”

The man wey stand for my front wear masquerade mask, e come dey force him voice make e sound deep.

For this Lagos night market, men dey always hide face come buy juju, but this one stand well, no even fidget. As the kerosene lamp flicker on his mask, e shadow long reach my feet, like wetin dey chase person for dream. The air get that sharp, bitter scent of burnt ogbono and fried suya mixing with the night breeze. Somewhere, a hawker dey shout "Ewa go warm!", while a baby dey cry for back. I dey wonder who this stubborn stranger be, with boldness wey resemble pride.

"E no suppose spoil the woman body o, just make am no fit carry belle."

E bend small for my stall, back straight like person wey get level.

I blink eye, dey wonder.

Even though e cover everywhere with black cloak and mask,

I recognize am quick—na my husband, Ifedayo.

My hand nearly drop the clay pot, but I catch am quick. If I shake, e go notice. See as my chest begin drum. For this kind market, juju people and police dey always drag, but e no dey my mind. I dey look am, dey wonder if na play. All my spirit just dey watch am, dey calculate wetin I go do next.

No be for university e suppose dey, dey read? Wetin bring am come night market?

As I no talk, Ifedayo face come fall small.

"You no get am?"

"Dem dey talk say your juju insects strong pass all for this night market."

The way him voice dey tremble, e be like person wey fear but no wan show. That kind desperation you fit smell like hot pepper in air.

I hold all the questions for my mind, just nod for am.

"I get."

"You wan make the woman no born forever or just for some years?"

Ifedayo shock, pause small, then talk for low voice,

"Forever."

"But abeg, make e no spoil her body."

Why e go wan do this kind wicked thing?

E fit be say na for him padi?

We don marry for two years now, always dey open to each other.

This na the first time wey I dey doubt whether I really sabi Ifedayo.

For our place, you no dey carry wahala reach outside, but this one heavy for my heart like wet wood. As I dey see him hand dey shake small, I fit smell sweat even for this cool air.

"You get the woman birth date and details?"

Ifedayo pause, raise him head, dey look me well.

I don use disguise juju; I no fear say e go sabi me.

"Why you need birth date and details to set juju?"