Chapter 2: Zobo for Luck

Before school close that day, Chinelo give me one cup of chilled zobo. "This na the first time I go treat you. I save money for half month buy the most expensive one. Abeg, no vex, just manage am."

She smile shyly, her fingers dey pick the nylon for cup. You go see say she get good heart, but small small shame dey her voice. Even her uniform, e don fade, but she dey stand with confidence.

I reason small, but I still collect am politely. I balance for chair, look Chinelo face, dey wonder if she fit see my small shakara. I sip am two times for formality.

As I dey sip am, I dey remember how my own mama go just frown if she see me with zobo. She go say, "Ifedolapo, you wan spoil your teeth?" But for Chinelo face, I see pure happiness. That thing sweet my mind small.

Na my best flavour—strawberry. "Thank you, e sweet well well."

I lick my lips, smile wide. For once, I no need hide my joy. Some classmates dey look us, dem dey wonder how two people fit dey happy over ordinary zobo. But for me, e mean plenty.

As I talk finish, na so one white light just flash for my eye. When I open my eyes again, na shock hold me—my soul don enter Chinelo body.

Everything just scatter like NEPA light. My leg weak, my heart dey drum kpom kpom for chest. My voice no even sound like my own. I touch my face, na another person face my hand touch. Omo, na wa!

"Chinelo, you—"

My voice crack, I wan talk, but the words just dey hang for mouth. E be like say wind blow my real self go another land.

"Shhh! Na you be Chinelo now. From today, na me be Ifedolapo. The rich madam mama don be my own."

She dey shine teeth, her eyes dey glow. As if na Christmas she dey celebrate. My head just dey turn.