Chapter 2: Shadows and Status

As I stand up go, the mocking never stop for my back.

My steps slow as I dey waka go side, dey act say I dey check my phone. But my ear sharp, I hear the whispers like mosquito for midnight. For this life, no matter how person try, Naija tongue long pass trousers.

"She even get mind say she no go give am chance—no be joke be that?"

Their voices low, but the meaning heavy like yam.

"True talk, orphan wey no even finish secondary school, come marry enter Adegbite family, five years now her belle never even show. She still dey dream say she no go give Chief Adegbite chance?"

The way dem talk am, na like say to get pikin na by power, not knowing wetin woman dey face for inside. I just keep my head up, dey waka like say I no even dey for the party.

"No difference from person wey dem go throw comot. Chief Adegbite no dey even hide am for public. If no be say Baba Adegbite like to save face, dem for don pursue am tey tey."

I squeeze my hand for back, nails dig my palm, but face still dey smile for anybody wey look me.

"Na only because she dey beg beg, dey humble herself she fit last reach now. If not, why dem dey call her clay idol—anybody fit mould am as dem like."

Dem no even send if I go hear.

Their own matter dey different. For their own house, na dem dey shout, dem dey control. Me, dem see as one kind shadow, just dey follow family anyhow.

Even though na Adegbite family party.

Even though I be the first wife for Adegbite family.

Even though their husbands dey depend on my husband.

But dem still feel say dem senior me.

Even though protocol say I suppose senior, status and pride for Naija family no dey hide. The moment your husband no dey your back, na there everybody show their real self.

Because everybody know say:

My husband, Tunde Adegbite, no love me at all.

For Makurdi, even okada man for junction sabi. E no be secret again. To endure marriage for big family na war.

I just bone, pretend say I no hear. As Adegbite family first wife, I just dey smile dey greet everybody.

My smile na my mask. Sometimes I go adjust my gele, pinch my cheek make e red small, just dey walk from group to group dey do 'Welcome! How far?'. For my mind, na only God fit judge person, no be all this fake respect.

Today na groundbreaking for Adegbite Pharmaceuticals new factory. Plenty old clients and partners show face.

Even people from Abuja and Kaduna travel come. Owambe level, live band dey play, MC dey crack joke, small chops dey go round. E be like mini carnival.

My father-in-law, Baba Adegbite, don already talk am:

Adegbite family number one rule na to maintain face. Anybody wey disgrace family go collect punishment as family law talk.

The law tight pass local government by-law. For family, na respect and face be everything. One small disgrace, and you go see meeting call like rain for rainy season.

Yes, for 21st century, the big Adegbite family for Makurdi still dey hold their own strong family rules.

Some people dey see am as old school, but for us, na normal. If you talk anyhow, e go reach your turn.

Na that time, we hear people dey hail for entrance.

Noise swell for gate, drivers dey run move car, security dey arrange way. Everybody eye bright. The MC quickly tell band to play welcome song.

My husband, Tunde Adegbite, don land.

Him assistant, Halima, dey follow am.

The two of dem wear matching white suit, flower pin for chest.

Na so dem dey always do—if e no be white, na navy blue. Dem no dey miss style. People dey talk say dem dey dress pass new couple for wedding.

Dem enter together, everybody dey look dem—

People dey press phone snap, small girls dey giggle. Old men dey nod head. You go think say na governor enter. The way Halima dey walk, her hips dey move, she dey smile like person wey get sure bet.

Like say dem just newly marry dey enter wedding hall.

Some aunties for side dey whisper, 'E be like say Halima don carry Tunde go juju woman, see as dem dey shine.'

"Chief Adegbite."

"Assistant Halima."

Everybody dey greet, voice sweet and respectful.

Some dey bend, some dey curtsy. For Makurdi, respect dey body.

"Assistant Halima, long time oh!"

That one na from one of the old partners. Halima just nod, she dey form humility but everybody know say she sabi herself.

All the wives for corner stand up, dey smile, dey wave.

Dem dey compete who go shine teeth pass. All this one na for show. Naija woman sabi play front yard, even if dem dey fight for backyard.

Halima just dey form, dey smile, dey nod.

Her own smile na like silk scarf—smooth, no dey stain. She dey greet everybody, no dey form anyhow.

As she reach me, she stop, greet me well:

Her tone gentle, but eye dey calculate. Everybody watch how I go reply.

"Aunty Morayo, abeg no vex. Chief late because him dey talk with local government people. As him assistant, na my fault say I no remind am. You really try today."

That “Aunty” sweet for mouth, but for her eye, na “outsider” she dey call me. I smile back, act as if na genuine thing.

I quick shake head, smile, "No wahala, your own work important pass. Na you and oga really try. You don chop? Make I tell dem bring food for una?"

I try to sound warm, like say I no dey feel the sting for her words. I even touch her arm small, play the doting wife role.

"We don chop already, no need to disturb."

She wave her French tips for air like mosquito dey worry her.

Halima just wave am off, then like say she remember something, she add:

Her eye sharp, voice still soft, but the meaning strong. The way she dey ask, everybody know say na test.

"Ah, but one thing... I park anyhow, block exit. I no trust the house help to move my car. Abeg, fit help me go park am well?"

She look me with that her polite smile.

Everybody just hold breath, dey wait my reaction. For Naija party, na small things dey spark big wahala. I manage my face, still dey act like say e no pain me.