Chapter 12: New Rules

I see say Chinelo don really take Ifedolapo as her own, dey enjoy everything wey I hate before.

She dey shine, dey do as she like. For her mind, na upgrade. I dey look am, dey wonder if she fit really handle the life.

Na wetin I want be that. As long as she fit fool my mama, we both fit live as we want.

If she fit survive the house, I go dey free. I dey pray make Madam Ife no catch her mistake.

That day, I warn her many times say Madam Ife no be that gentle mama for news—she be cold-blooded demon. But Chinelo think say I dey jealous because she don collect my mama.

She dey laugh me, dey form big girl. She no dey listen to my warning. I just dey pity her for mind.

Last last, I give up. I write all the one hundred and twenty-one family rules for my homework book, give her. Before she even read am, she tear the five pages scatter.

The thing pain me. If to say she sabi, she for know say na for her own good.

"I no believe you. Na your way to collect your life back."

She dey point finger, dey accuse me. I no blame her—she never see Madam Ife vex.

"Even if na true, I no need your warning. I sure say mama go recognize me."

She dey overconfident, dey think say to live rich life na only to wear designer cloth and speak phonetics.

"Maybe mama go see say I change, but na because I don realize my mistake. From now, I go be good, sensible daughter."

I just smile. Na so e dey start. Wait till discipline time reach.

"I read your chat. I no understand why you want mama wey go dey your side always. Me, I dey thank and pity my mama wey dey hustle. If my mama dey house like some, I go dey suffer like beggar, even bus money I no go get."

She no lie. One time, rain beat her, mama forget send bus money, she borrow two hundred naira from me.

I remember as her shoe soak for water, but she still dey smile. Chinelo strong pass many pikin wey I know.

That time, message enter my phone:

[Baby, mama dey clean for neighbour. Use bus come house, okay? I make your favourite goat meat stew. If you hungry, cook some rice chop.]

Even though she forget bus fare again, I no know why, but just thinking say she dey make food for me, my heart dey sweet.

I dey realize say, sometimes, small love pass big money.