Chapter 9: The Mother's Suspicion

I no get choice, I go back house, my spirit low.

As I dey near gate, goat dey bleat, wind dey blow dry leaves for compound. My feet heavy, like person wey dey carry stone. For my chest, wahala dey dance.

As I reach door, my mama come meet me, face full of worry. "That old man talk anything give you, or give you anything?"

She glance my pocket, eye sharp like needle. Her eyes dey search my face, like say she fit see through my skin. For this kind matter, mama sabi know when pikin dey hide something.

I touch the cowrie pendant for my pocket, answer, "No."

I hide my hand well, the cowrie dey hot for my pocket. My voice dey steady, but my mind dey run. I no fit betray Baba Afolabi trust.

My mama no believe, she ask again, but I insist say nothing dey. Na then she relax, tell me make I go wash and chop.

She sigh, pat my back. "Go baff, come chop. Tomorrow go better." I nod, but my heart still dey jump. As I chop, I no taste the food.