Chapter 13: Bus Palava

After school, Chinelo see me dey wait bus, block me. "Your mama leave you for your sister again? Sorry o. I go send you another one thousand. Take keke go house."

She dey talk with sharp tone. For her mind, she dey play big sister. I just nod, no argue.

She no even wait for my answer, just send the money, then run go black school run car.

Her mind dey on flex, she no dey remember say that one thousand fit buy soup for one week.

I collect the money, but I no plan take keke.

The money heavy for my heart. I dey think how I go save am, use am buy biscuit for Chinelo sister, or give mama later.

Chinelo family no get money. Her mama even dey clean for neighbour add. I want save the money, give her.

E pain me say na person pikin dey hustle like this, but na the life wey dem give us.

Rush hour, bus full.

People dey squeeze, conductor dey shout, "Enter with change!" I manage stand, dey hold iron for balance.

After people enter and come down many times, I no notice man with cap dey my side since.

Him body dey smell small. I dey shift, but no space.

Until driver brake, everybody shake, the man fall on me, hand press my chest.

My heart stop. I wan shout, but I hold myself. I dey pray make conductor see, make somebody talk, but everybody just dey mind dem own. I dey remember all the self-defence move wey I learn for taekwondo.

"Small sister, na you! Sorry, I lose balance."

E be like say he know Chinelo, just dey talk anyhow. I just bone, face another side.

People for bus dey look, but nobody talk. For Lagos bus, na your pocket you go guard.

I think say I dey safe, but his hand come dey my waist like ant. "Small sister, make uncle help you stand, abeg?"

My body just stand. I sharply hold his hand tight.

I twist am small, the man scream, "Ah!" I no send. Everybody look, he leave me sharp.

All the taekwondo wey I learn since small help me today.

Now I understand why Chinelo no want me take bus.

The world wicked. She dey try protect me before. I dey thank God say I fit help myself.

She don suffer from bad people before. Na why her mama dey always pick her. If mama no come, wahala fit happen again.

My mind dey boil. I dey vex for every man wey dey touch pikin anyhow. I dey plan to talk to her mama.

But why she no call police or tell family?

I dey reason am. Maybe she dey fear shame. Or say police no go answer. For Naija, sometimes wahala dey tire person.

Three hours later, I get answer.