Chapter 7: Bitter Medicine

I no expect say the maid dey talk true.

The house cold, big—marble tile dey shine, big chandelier dey hang for ceiling, everywhere cold like hospital. As I enter, the smell of camphor mix with agbalumo.

Musa Junior sick seriously. Plenty chemists full the room. As I enter, I hear princess voice dey try pet am from behind curtain.

The doctors dey argue for corridor, some dey write prescription, others dey whisper for side.

"Musa, abeg take am easy."

Princess voice soft, but I sabi say her patience dey thin.

Chief Musa own voice deep: "If e no wan drink am, force am."

That voice no dey beg. For this house, na only Chief Musa dey command like that.

Princess reply, "How you go treat pikin like this?"

She try defend am, but I sabi say her pride dey hurt.

As she talk finish, the maid lead me enter, everywhere quiet. Princess sit for bed, fine cloth full body, look me up and down, cold face.

Her face hard, eyes no blink. Na only gold bangle dey jangle for hand.

"To invite prophetess no easy."

She spit the words, as if my presence dey stain her palace.

Chief Musa lean for chair, look tired, talk to princess gently: "You don tire. Go rest."

I never see Chief Musa look weak before. The sight dey surprise me.

"Na my duty to care for pikin. I no tire," princess answer soft.

She no wan gree, her voice dey tremble small.

Chief Musa lower eye, wave hand. Even as e soft, e no dey joke: "Go."

Nobody dey argue with that kind wave. I shift leg, watch her stand.

Princess face change small. She adjust her gold earring, waka out slow. As she pass me, her eye sharp like blade.

She hiss small, perfume trail after am. My skin crawl.

Most people for room comot. The medicine bowl dey steam. Chief Musa dey watch me from across the curtain, eye narrow.

E no talk, but im eye dey command me. I swallow spit, brace myself.

E want make I pet Musa Junior drink medicine.

I take deep breath, dey prepare myself. This kind matter fit turn to another insult if I misstep.

But as I reach, Musa Junior just bury head inside bedsheet, no talk.

E small frame dey shake, fever dey roast am. My heart soft, but I no let am show.

Chief Musa crack finger, vex: "Pet am like you dey do that pikin wey you dey raise outside. E hard to pet your own pikin?"

The way e talk am, like say I be stranger. For my mind, I dey sigh.

But even with all that, I no fit pet Musa Junior. Maybe because im papa be my oga before, and im too dey see me as servant.

I kneel small for bedside, voice steady: "Musa Junior, this medicine go help you. Make you try."

So my voice dry as I carry the medicine: "Young master, good medicine dey bitter."

I talk with respect, but I dey beg inside.

Suddenly, Musa Junior throw the bedsheet commot. E eye red, e look me. After we look each other for long, e bend come: "Feed me."

I surprised, but I no show am. Na so I scoop medicine, blow small, give am.

Before the medicine touch im mouth, e say e hot, make I blow am.

I blow, wave hand for am, test for wrist. All the while, e dey look my face.

After one sip, e say e bitter, want honey.

I reason say na trick to delay am, but I still pass spoon, smile small. "E go work well, just try."

E waste time so tey small bowl of medicine take forever. Chinonso better—no matter how bitter agbo, e go drink am finish, no complain. I remember how I go force Chinonso drink am for house, and e just squeeze face, swallow sharp sharp. This one dey whine.

As this small oga finally calm, I just thank God, dey hope say I go go house by morning. But Musa Junior say make I sing small song make e sleep.

My throat dry, but I try remember lullaby. I clear voice, look Chief Musa face.

I say I no sabi. E talk: "You dey sing for me before."

The room freeze, only the sound of feverish breath dey echo. My heart dey pound.

Chief Musa look me, make me dey fear.

E no blink, just dey watch if I go talk true.

That time, when Musa Junior dey three years, e fall for water, sick. Chief Musa lock me for corner house, no let me come out, but I sneak jump fence, wound my leg.

I still get scar for my ankle. All for pikin sake.

Through window, princess just do like she care, then waka. Maid dey sleep for outside, dey boil medicine. Musa Junior, wey fever dey worry, almost roll enter fire.

I shock, sneak enter, sing for am small. Na only that time I fit hold am.

E hold my finger that night, no let me go till morning. But by daybreak, dem carry me back corner, flog me.

Surprisingly, Musa Junior remember. I just bow eye, lie: "Young master, you dey mistake. I no dey allowed enter main house."

I no wan start trouble. My voice dey shake, but I force smile.

As I no gree, Musa Junior vex, push me. "If you no wan, comot. Who care."

I shift back, try avoid trouble. Small as e be, e get temper.

As e push me, I fall, bowl break for ground, my palm press enter broken plate, blood dey come out.

Sharp pain run through me. Blood dey drip, but I hold am, no shout.

Blood dey warm for my palm, but shame dey cold for my heart.