Chapter 6: The Escape

For gate, small grey keke napep dey wait.

Engine dey on, na only the cough cough sound dey fill air. Sun dey set small, orange light dey paint compound wall. Harmattan breeze dey blow, dust dey dance for road.

Just dey wait carry wife go.

The keke man dey press phone, eye dey shine. He dey look me like person wey get news for town.

As I come out, gate man, wey remember how I show face before, no gree see me off, just hiss say, "She dey come."

His voice dry, no respect again. He no fit even look me for face. The power wey I get before, don finish.

Then he slam door shut.

The slam loud, like final bell for market. I freeze, hold pouch tighter.

Morayo family keke riders stand well, dey look me.

Dem dress like men wey never chop, but their eyes sharp. I no fit trust anybody.

I look dem too: "Abeg, make una chill. Madam still dey yarn with oga inside."

I put fake smile. My voice sweet, so dem no go suspect anything. Street wisdom no dey buy for market, you must use am.

"Your madam? Who you be?"

The taller one look me from up to down. Him dey reason my load.

"Me? I be her maid. Thank you well, bros."

My face humble, I bow head. I give dem small salute like real maid.

I smile, give dem small change, then wait for one side.

As I drop the naira, their face break into smile. Small money dey open road for Naija.

As I dey go today, na old hairpin and plain wrapper I wear, no makeup, nothing show say I be favourite wife.

No single gold for ear, no perfume. I dey blend like groundnut for sand. Nobody go recognise me.

Chief Femi dey always think say I dey pretend pity to touch him heart.

He no sabi say this last one, na true. My heart don break finish, only shell remain.

But he no know say na for today I dey do everything.

Today, my spirit free. Every step na new hope.

True true, keke riders believe me, still dey squat dey wait.

Dem dey gist, dey laugh, no suspect. God cover their eyes.

After small time, I smile again.

I show teeth, make dem relax. For Lagos, I for don run pass, but Ibadan slow.

"Bros, una no dey thirsty? One sweet drink kiosk dey front. Make I buy for una, and get small thing for my madam."

I wave hand, point kiosk. My voice dey bright like morning radio.

Dem happy well.

One of them dance small. 'Thank you, aunty!' Their mind no dey here again.

I waka pass, throw small naira give sweet drink seller, tell dem to give the riders later.

The woman smile, nod. She sabi wetin dey. Street people dey help each other.

Then I turn, waka fast comot for town.

My legs dey fly. My heart dey pound, but my mind clear. I dodge okada, run for gutter, hold pouch tight.

I don wait too long for this chance, plan am tire, think every way—even try change gate man two times, lose two children join.

Every failure, every pain, na training. My spirit no die, even as my body break.

Now, I don make am.

Air fresh for my face, hope dey my chest. I dey see new beginning for front. I no go look back.

Everything, finally, fit start afresh.

For the first time, I fit breathe like free woman. The sun for evening na blessing, the road open, my name still dey my mouth—Chichi, tomorrow go better. As I waka enter street, I no look back—today, I carry my own story.