Chapter 1: The Party and the Mask

As the hot gist dey flow, laughter just dey burst for that side where the women crowd full, their gele and lace wrapper shining like sunrise for harmattan. Some dey hold meat pie, some dey sip Chapman, all mouth busy with gist and snacks. Kizz Daniel dey blast from loudspeaker, even the old women dey tap leg. Me, I join dem laugh, but my mind dey far—like say na another person body I dey borrow. As I dey laugh, memory flash me—Tunde perfume for hotel bedsheet, that text wey I see: "Miss you already, babe." My heart cut, but my face still dey smile as I dey chew puff-puff.

My own answer make everybody look me with one kind eye, dey laugh anyhow.

As my voice land, e be like person drop small maggi for hot oil. Everybody just freeze, then burst laugh, even people wey no dey the gist before, come join mouth. My cheeks burn, but I manage smile as dem dey point finger: 'See am, see as she dey form bold!'

"Aunty Morayo, abeg I hear well? Even you say you no go give am chance?"

One of dem—Aunty Sade, wey like wahala—shout this one loud. She bend forward, clap hand, look the others, her gold bangle dey jangle for her hand. Her voice loud like market woman for Oshodi.

That one just make laughter full everywhere.

Even the men wey dey another corner just dey look our side, their beer bottle freeze for hand, dey wonder wetin dey happen. Na so laughter scatter everywhere. Some women even fall hand for chair, dey wipe tears from eye.

I join dem laugh, but my mind dey far—like say na another person body I dey borrow. My laugh no reach belle. I just dey follow dem so dem no go talk say I dey form strong face. Inside me, something dey bite, but for Adegbite family party, person no fit show weak point.

Because everybody sabi am.

For our circle, na me be the weakest, the most useless original wife.

Dem dey call me 'clay idol' for back—person wey dey look fine for altar but no get real power. Fine pot, empty for inside. Na so-so smile and silent dey follow me everywhere. Sometimes, I go hear house help dey whisper, 'madam too gentle, if breeze blow she go fall.'

Later, when dem remember that scene, fear catch dem:

The 'chance' wey I talk, and the 'chance' wey dem dey talk,

No be the same at all.