Chapter 1: The Shadow in Palm Grove

I be the pikin wey no get papa name for Palm Grove Estate.

Sometimes, I dey wonder if na only me dey carry this type of wahala for chest. For estate, even small pikin go dey use style look me, as if say my shadow dey different. But na only me know wetin my eye don see.

Nobody sabi say every night, dem dey carry me pass secret road go land for Oga Presido bed inside government house.

Night breeze for that secret road dey bite skin like say e get teeth, and the keke driver no dey ever talk. I dey press my heart make e no jump come out for mouth. Na only when I enter that big government house, smell of imported polish and pepper soup mix, the marble floor cold under my bare foot, and the distant hum of generator dey vibrate for wall, I know say real wahala dey.

One day, I tire. I come beg for title.

My tongue heavy, words dey hide for my throat. I dey fear say if I talk, wahala go double. My voice low that night, like say spirit dey hold am. As I bend small for Mallam Lawal side, I dey look am, dey hope say him eye go soft. But e hard like stone.

Mallam Lawal stop, hold my hand. "The Madam don get belle. Just chill small."

He grip my hand like market woman dey hold change—no escape. I feel the coldness for him palm, but I still dey shake. My body weak.

I close my eye. Everybody dey talk say Aunty na the most favored woman for all the six compounds, e really true.

Her story be like folk tale. Even the market women dey use her gist cook pepper soup for their customers. If Aunty waka pass, everywhere go still. Na so respect full her body reach.

Later, when I waka go back house, Aunty hold handkerchief, ask me, "I don arrange marriage for you: make you go be General Musa Adedeji second wife. You go gree?"

She look me eye to eye, her own red as if she dey hold tears. I remember when she hold me for market that year wey papa die, promise say she go fight for me. Now, her own fight na this marriage. Her voice carry power wey dey make person chest dey tight. As she talk, she dey dab her face small-small, like person wey dey hide wetin dey pain am.

After I keep quiet small, I nod. "I go marry."

Na so breeze blow enter parlour, carry small hope with am. I no get strength to argue. My voice low, but my mind dey run waka. Wetin remain for me?