Chapter 9: Two Worlds Apart

[Those etiquette teachers just praise me say I dey improve.]

I dey laugh small. I fit imagine Chinelo dey speak phonetics for class, dey form posh. If dem see her real self, dem go shock.

[I get three 'Excellent' for oral class. If na you, you no go even get one, abi?]

I dey imagine her dey roll eyes, dey do small shakara. All those expensive teachers go just dey hail her.

[Psychology teacher dey funny die, she dey beg me go dey play for sun. My life too sweet—even if rain dey fall every day, e no fit touch me.]

She dey form enjoyment pikin. E dey sweet her to live my old life.

[Hehe, you know? Househelp just tell mama say I finish all my Tuesday target. Mama too happy, she buy me designer dress sharp sharp.]

Designer dress?

My mind dey cut. I dey remember all those times my mama go buy cloth I no like. Na only for show-off.

Wetin dey special there?

For wardrobe, more than ten designer dress dey. All those expensive clothes no even sweet reach school uniform.

Uniform get own power—if breeze blow, you fit jump, if e dirty, you fit wash am sharp. Designer dress na wahala.

Because once I wear those dress, na "Madam Ife daughter" I go be. For those kind place, even my face and feelings no be my own.

Na like say you dey live for cage, even with all the money.

"Nelo, your mama no fit carry you again?"

Aisha from next class hail me. Her soft voice bring me back. I smile, "Yes, mama need take care of my sister."

Her voice dey always gentle. She dey carry me like egg. I dey thank God say I fit still get friend for this life.

Aisha just hold my hand, link arm with me. "Why you no dey vex today? You no dey like your sister before."

I shock, come dey smile. Chinelo na wah. E mean say she no dey show love for her small sister? I dey plan to change that one.

No like her sister?

Chinelo small sister na real soft, cute pikin. If she just blink, call me 'sister' with her baby voice, my heart go just melt. Why Chinelo no go like am?

E pain me say na money fit separate sisters for this country.

Na because of money again?

I dey reason am, dey vow say I go show the small pikin real love, even if na small suya I buy for her after school.