Chapter 4: Festival Promises

Musa notice say my mind dey shake, but he no know the real story. He think say na woman wahala. So, for Idoma New Yam Festival night, under plenty torchlight and moon, he swear for me:

Torchlights dey shine everywhere, moon dey full, children dey run about, women dey fry puff-puff and sing local song. Musa hold my hand for back of school, voice steady.

“I, Musa, no go ever fail you for this life!”

I smile, tease am: “Even if I be wanted person? Even if I do big crime? Even if I… lie give you?”

I shake my head, dey smile like sly goat. “Musa, you sure? Even if government dey find me, you go still dey my side?”

Musa hold my hand tight. “If you do crime, I no go cover you, but I no go ever leave you. I go dey your side—if you live, I live; if you die, I die.”

E grip my hand sotey my finger dey pain, but I no pull am. Him voice low, but e get power. For that place, moon dey full, I just dey look am, my heart dey dance like drum for festival.

I laugh, hug am, call am mumu. But tears just dey fall. That time for big palace, another person don talk this kind thing before. But last last, the person break promise.

My mind flash back to that night—cold marble floor, plenty promise, but no one dey keep. As I hug Musa, I dey pray say this one go different. Sometimes, na small promise dey save big heart.