Chapter 9: The Weight of Survival

Second Sister face pale, she don understand papa true plan. To balance court no be to please everybody, but to bet for the right time. No matter how Prince Umuola shine, na still Governor dey control am. Wise person dey bet on who go win. This move show Governor say: Okoye family daughter go rather marry empty title than join fight for throne.

For Okoye house, na survival first, love and ambition fit wait. Halima body shake, she look mama, her voice low. Even breeze for parlour stop.

Second Sister still no gree, she stagger ask, "Since papa pick Governor, why we still dey go Prince Umuola house?"

She dey try test mama, dey see if small hope remain. But mama no blink.

Mama slowly dey play with her ivory bracelet. "My pikin, to attend party and flower show na normal for big people. If Prince Umuola do party, all nobles dey go. If Okoye family no go, e go look somehow."

Mama voice dey calm, but the warning dey clear. For big house, appearance mean everything. If you miss party, na your enemy go use am against you for meeting. Halima sigh, understand the code.

As mama talk am like that, Second Sister understand. All those talk years back about training Eldest Sister na just to see which daughter fit enter palace. Papa dey watch who fit hold herself, who fit hide her sharpness. Eldest Sister na love, Second Sister na plan—papa see through all.

That moment, Halima face show say all the old gist don make sense. Na game wey pass her, but she dey play along. For Okoye family, to see far dey save person.

"Eldest Sister lose her name; na me suppose enter palace."

Her voice low, but everybody hear am. Halima dey talk her true mind, but mama no smile.

Mama sip zobo, answer, "Three type of sense dey for this life: the lowest na to dey plan every time, the middle na to hide your own, the highest na to make people think you no sabi anything."

Mama voice dey soft, but her word dey heavy. For Okoye house, if you too show say you sabi, e go backfire. The real wise dey hide, dey play slow.

As she talk, Second Sister body shake. I quick go support her, press her wrist small. "Sister just dey think too much? Abeg, thank mama quick."

I try use joke lighten matter, but Halima hand cold. Mama look me, nod small. I fit see say Halima dey try hold tears, but pride no go allow her cry for parlour.

Second Sister look me deep, her eye full of pain, but now na only darkness remain. Papa don see say her sense too sharp. If she enter palace, she go do her own. But Eldest Sister, even though she look soft, sabi time pass. Wetin papa and Governor want no be the best, but the one wey fit the plan.

Na so e be for Okoye house. Sometimes, to be too sharp na problem. For palace, person wey dey too wise dey make enemies quick.

After all commot, mama keep me back. She pick Ajaokuta cup, zobo smoke dey rise, her gentle face dey study me. "You think say your mama wicked?"

Mama rarely dey ask me this kind question. I look her, then look the way cup dey shine for candle. For my mind, I dey balance answer—na Okoye way be that.

I look down, watch the silver design for my wrapper, then look the bougainvillea outside window. "Everything for life get price. No matter how fine hibiscus, if gardener no prune am, e go just be wild flower for road."

My answer make her smile, her face relax. For Okoye family, to talk like elder mean you dey ready for responsibility.

Mama nod, her eye shine. "Correct. Even though you small, your sense dey clear; na your strong point." She pause, her voice cool. "But as daughter, your heart dey cold."

The way she talk am, e be like blessing and warning together. For Okoye daughter, to get cold mind fit save head, but e fit make you lonely too.

Mama rub her palm together, whisper small prayer under her breath—"God, no let my pikin fall."

But for Okoye house, to shine na one thing—to survive, na another. And for this life, only the wise fit last till tomorrow morning.