Chapter 6: Swap for Peace

The reply came fast.

Like say dem dey wait for this kind solution. Family meeting gather quick quick.

Aunty Ngozi was overjoyed, and Ifeoma happy like say she win jackpot.

Her laugh dey echo for corridor. She dey wear yellow wrapper, dey dance small for kitchen. Even her mama dey shine teeth.

The next day, she rushed to confirm with me.

She waka come my room, voice soft, face bright. "Big Sister, I hear say you still dey sick..."

“Big Sister, I hear say you still dey sick. This na the medicine Brother Tunde bring yesterday. He go hospital collect am from doctor. I take two doses, I fit stand up today. E really work.”

She talk am, dey show me the packet, her hand dey shake small—like say she wan make me jealous.

Ifeoma looked weak and pitiful, her small face pale.

She still dey use her eye do pity game, even though her step dey light.

I glanced at the two medicine packets, my face cold. “No need to show off how good Tunde dey treat you. You want this marriage? I go give you.”

I no get energy to do long talk. Wetin she want, I go give am. Let peace rest.

“The wedding na second of next month. We both go marry that day, then we go swap at the last moment. Once e happen, e don finish.”

My voice dey calm, but my heart dey count days. After that day, na freedom I go get.

Even though Papa no like Ifeoma, he never really treat her badly.

Na only small difference dey. But for Igbo house, pikin na pikin, even if mama dey different.

She was engaged to Musa, the eldest son from a military family, who is now fighting at the war front.

For this side, soldier son na big thing. Even my papa dey boast for market.

Even though his rank no too high, the man get sense and ability.

Word dey reach us say Musa sabi gun, sabi plan, him people dey respect am.

For person wey be second wife pikin like Ifeoma, na big catch be that.

No be small thing. Some girls dey pray for that kind luck.

But her mind high, she dey eye my own fiancé, always dey seduce Tunde, and the man just dey disappoint me.

E pain me say person no dey appreciate wetin God give am. Life sometimes dey funny.

Ifeoma put on her pitiful face, stepped close and lowered her voice. “Big Sister, you really no get sense. So what if you meet Brother Tunde first? He still like me pass you.”

Her whisper dey sharp. For that moment, na real face she show. Her smile crooked.

She sneered. “After people see you finish like that, you still get mind dey alive? If na me, I for don die. No shame.”

E enter my ear like cold water. My hand dey shake. But I bone.

Her words made my body shake with anger.

For olden days, I for slap am. But I hold myself, no be today fight start.

But then she switched back to her weak act, looking at me like she dey fear.

She try gather tear for eye, dey sniff small. Her acting get branch.

She bowed timidly. “Big Sister, you still dey sick, I no go disturb you. I go come greet you another day.”

She waka go door, dey peep me like say I fit bite am. Some people sabi act.