Chapter 1: Arrival with Eyes Wide Open

I hear say my sister don marry better, so the first thing wey I do after I come down from mountain be to waka go greet my brother-in-law for their house.

As I dey enter their compound, the sun dey shine but breeze from mango tree dey cool my skin. I smell suya smoke from next compound, and somewhere, generator hum dey mix with distant church bell. The air just fresh somehow, like say blessing dey full everywhere. For my mind, I dey pray make this visit bring better gist, because for Naija, if your sister jam good husband, na the whole family dey enjoy am. As I reach gate, I greet the gate man, "Baba, how far?" He answer me with smile, "Madam, dem dey inside."

I look him face well, dey check the signs: him features plump for the area wey elders say mean children, and the lines for where marriage dey for face dey full—sign say e get correct destiny and luck. I notice small scar for him jaw—those kind wey elders call 'mark of survivor.' Dem say for our place, if mark dey for jaw, na sign say person don fight life and win. All these join show say Tobi no be ordinary man; e get him own shine for life.

I turn face my sister, come dey do as if I vex small.

“So, you don born pikin, no tell family? If I no come today, you for hide am from us forever?”

I talk am like play, but I still dey eye her well. For our house, gist and play na our own way to show love. Even as I talk, I dey observe how my sister eyes flash surprise, then she pause, eye me from head reach toe, then hiss and laugh—her way to hide that small fear. She cover mouth like person wey dey dodge senior aunties for village compound.

She tap my forehead, half vex, half dey laugh.

"Abeg shift, who dash me belle? You see my stomach big? Na so una dey start rumour."

She talk am like person wey no send, but I see say the joke still touch her. My sister dey always quick vex, but na that kind vex wey dey end for laughter. I remember how, when we small, she go knock me for back if I do anyhow, but later go buy me puff-puff. So, her reaction no too surprise me.

No pikin? I look my brother-in-law again. Him face dey show say e get son and daughter.

I try hide my surprise, but my mind dey run calculation. For our side, if you sabi spiritual eye, you go fit read wetin dey wait person. I remember wetin Mama always talk—"Spirit no dey lie, but human hand fit delay am." Maybe the children never land, but spirit don arrange them for Tobi future. My curiosity just dey grow. But for this house, every answer dey hide another secret. I swear, I go find am.