Chapter 6: Kunle for President

6

Few minutes later—

Bell ring.

I stand for corridor, dey hear form mistress voice from inside.

Each period na forty-five minutes.

She use at least twenty talk about wetin happen.

If na truth she talk, no wahala—but she add her own pepper.

As she reach the part say I thief wallet, I fit imagine my seatmate face.

His name na Seyi.

No be only seatmate, na my roommate for hostel too.

When we start school, people no dey talk to am, na only me be friend.

After some months, other boys discover say Seyi dey thief.

I no know wetin dey worry am.

He even wear the cloth wey he thief, say na him mama buy am.

When dem catch am, he kneel down, cry, beg, say e no go do am again.

But just one week, he thief again.

That time, dem beat am well.

Strange thing be say, he no hate them, but he hate me, say I no help am.

Just yesterday—

He accuse me for class say I thief his thing.

Our seat dey near window.

Seyi sit by window.

I waka go there, look am for eye.

True true, no shame for his face.

He smile, use voice only me hear, say, “You dey form good boy. I go just say you thief—make I see wetin you fit do.”

As I hear am, e be like say fly enter my mouth.

I too dull that time.

Inside that class, the chalk dust dey float for air, some students dey chew biscuit, others dey gossip. But me, I just dey look Seyi, dey wonder how person fit dey wicked like that. The kain small evil wey dey hide for people eye shock me. If no be God, na this kind thing fit make person run mad.

7

“Kunle.”

Form mistress shout, “Why you dey near window? You wan threaten your classmate to forget the matter?”

She think say she sharp, continue, “Even if your seatmate no talk, as your teacher, I go find out the truth.”

I just weak.

For this world, some people just dey look for who to spoil.

I never even talk, accusation don land for my head.

I grit my teeth, keep everything for my mind.

If devil plan say your own go spoil by midnight, even if you rush by ten, e no go change.

Just ten minutes remain before class finish.

My body dey shake—I never happy reach this kind level before.

Seyi seat dey see me clear.

He think say I dey fear, e face dey shine with joy.

“You don finish.”

He do hand like say he dey cut throat.

Next thing—

Ding-ling-ling~

Ding-ling-ling~

Bell for end of class ring.

The sound sweet me, I close my eyes, dey enjoy am.

As form mistress come out, she see small tear for my eye.

“You don dey cry?”

“You go get enough time to cry later.”

She look me like say I no reach anything.

I wipe my tear, then smile, show her my teeth: “No be cry, na tears of joy. I don wait over ten years for today. I suppose dey happy reach to cry, abi?”

I turn face Seyi, my eye sharp: “No fall my hand.”

Seyi shock, hide behind other students.

Under my breath, I whisper, “Na today you go know say person fit die and wake, come turn fire for your yansh.” I watch as Seyi face pale, him own wahala never start. Tomorrow, dem go write my name for wall—no be as thief, but as the boy wey fight back.