Chapter 4: Yinyin and the Spirit

As I see Papa, I happy, wave for am, “Papa, you come see me? Yanyan dey hungry small.”

“You bring anything for Yanyan?”

But as Papa near, I see the small girl wey him carry, I just freeze.

She be like two years old.

Her cheek round, her plaits scatter for head, she dey suck finger. Something for her face remind me of myself, the way I dey look Papa with trust for my eye.

Papa look worried, hold her well, no even look my grave.

“Yinyin…”

Papa softly pat her cheek.

She open her sleepy eyes, point for my side, talk:

“Daddy, see big sister.”

She call my papa ‘Daddy’, I just shock.

So, after three years wey I die, Papa born new pikin.

The way her finger dey point, I feel cold and warm at the same time. Even as spirit, I dey wish she fit hug me.

Papa shake head, talk:

“Yinyin dey get fever, na why she dey see things. Which big sister go dey here for night?”

His voice get worry, but na fear dey hide for am. Na so dem dey talk say small pikin dey see spirit. But Papa just dey look away.

The aunty from next compound nudge am, hint:

“Yanyan…”

She talk low, eye dey shine, as if spirit go jump come out for bush.

That time, Papa face squeeze, he look my side.

Him eye full of vex.

I stretch hand, softly ask:

“Papa, Yanyan do anything bad?”

My spirit voice small, na only wind hear am. I dey wish say he fit answer better.

Papa turn, bite him lips, talk:

“Every wahala get who cause am. Na your mama cut your wrist, na why you die. If you try disturb Yinyin again, I no go take am easy with you.”

His words heavy, e fall for ground like stone. My own spirit shake. For that moment, I wish say I fit disappear.

I no understand.

My spirit dey float, mind dey spin. Why the blame no dey finish?

But e no tay, I come sabi.

One spirit wey hang herself dey follow that small girl.