Chapter 3: Pepper Dem Gang

After I explain, my guy advise me to find lawyer first. Say e go help me trace the people involved.

Seyi just warn me, "Guy, make you dey careful, some people fit get long leg. Get lawyer, make e be official."

I rush go law firm.

I no even wait for cold Zobo wey dem serve visitors. My heart dey hot.

But after the consultation, my mind fall.

The lawyer talk say this kind school slot wahala no be new thing. Even if I win, the compensation no go near my real loss.

The man sigh, rub head, say, "Lagos sharp guys full everywhere. You go fit get justice, but e go drag like generator wey dey fail plug."

“This kind matter no dey solve for court overnight. I advise make you find other school for your daughter fast—at least make she fit go school somewhere.”

Na true e talk. All my plan dey scatter. My wife dey work extra, I dey sleep less. This wahala na heartbreaker.

I quiet.

I just dey look ceiling, dey count cracks. My spirit dey low.

My wife dey hustle extra work to help pay mortgage. My daughter dey happy every day, dey brag say she go soon enter Primary One. Even both our parents don empty their savings.

Ifeoma dey draw schoolhouse for her note, dey show us her "future uniform". Mama Ifeoma dey sell puff-puff for junction to support us. Family spirit strong, but my mind dey fail me.

How I go take tell them now?

I dey imagine my wife face if she hear. I fit see tears already.

Fire just dey burn for my chest, but I no get where to pour am.

I wan break bottle, but I no fit. I just dey squeeze my phone like say na the culprit.

But no matter how the thing pain me, I must do something.

If to say man dey run, I for don waka reach Abuja. But this one, na fight.

I call my wife.

I no fit dodge am. "Baby, abeg, e get wahala."

“Babe, I get bad news. Abeg, brace yourself.”

She silent for two seconds. "Talk abeg. Wetin happen? No scare me."

She sound worried. “Wetin happen? Abeg, no scare me.”

I dey imagine her hand for chest, her brows squeeze tight.

I explain everything.

My voice dey crack. She just dey breathe heavy. I talk from beginning reach end.

She vex, dey anxious. “How e take happen? Na our slot! How person go use am?”

She dey cry small. I dey hear her sniff. My mind dey break.

I bring her cold sachet water, press for her hand, just dey rub her back. “No cry, my person. God pass them.”

“The main thing na to solve Ifeoma school matter first. I don call police and talk to lawyer. Anybody wey thief our slot no go go free.”

I try hold her. "E go better. I go fix am, I promise."