Chapter 8: Pride and Punishment

4

Papa and Mama always talk say I dey look gentle like quail, but my mind strong well.

Before I enter compound, dem give me plenty gold and jewel, say if wahala show, make I use money solve am.

My family no dey lack money.

Even if dem no send me, I dey live well for compound.

But after belle full and cloth dey, person go begin get feelings, and I begin like Auwalu, this small steward.

Who send am make e too fine?

I use money help Auwalu build connection, dey give am food.

Maybe na because I dey spend for am,

I no see am again dey sweat under sun do outside work.

I no see him hand and leg crack for harmattan cold again.

But I no know say my good heart go make other stewards jealous, dem set am up for punishment before Chief.

Na flogging.

As e be now,

him body no get one place wey no wound, but e still turn, dey pet me, “This servant dey okay.”

I feel more guilty.

My eye red, my heart soft, words fly from my mouth before I know.

“Auwalu, why you no just follow me?”

As I talk am, I shock myself.

Because this time, when I talk ‘follow,’ e no mean just serve for my side, but…

The one wey person suppose hide from everybody.

‘Follow.’

My cheek red sharp, I begin regret.

E hear wetin I mean so?

This kind talk fit make person lose head; I no suppose talk am anyhow.

To admire flower no mean say you go pluck am.

I dey warn myself, but I see bloodied Auwalu kneel for my foot, gently hold my leg, softly kiss am.

“This servant dey beg Madam to love me…”

Even though I wear shoe, my foot dey burn like say something dey grow for there.

“Then you go behave from today.”

As I talk finish, I run.

I remember say, before I come compound, Mama warn me, "My pikin, for this life, no let your heart follow where your head no reach." But na so heart dey do person. Auwalu dey suffer because of my kindness, and when I see all the wound for e body, my heart cut like razor. As e kneel, hold my leg, and beg softly, na so my spirit leave my body, wahala dey my head. I run comot before I disgrace myself, because love for compound dey scatter person brain pass ogogoro.