Chapter 2: The Bet Wey Pass Money

Big cousin look me up and down, surprise dey his face. He laugh, "Small cousin, una don broke finish. Wetin you wan use take gamble with me?"

His laugh come with that pride wey dey pain person chest. E be like say the whole world dey for him pocket.

"Tunde, abeg no gamble with your cousin..." My papa open him eye small, try drag my hand, dey beg, "You no fit win your big cousin."

My papa voice dey shake, e sound tired like old bicycle. E grip my wrist small, but the strength no dey like before. For my mind, na memories of when I small dey flash—him go carry me for back, now na me dey carry him pride for head.

"No gamble o." My mama too come hold me, dey try stop me.

Her wrapper dey slip for one side, face draw like person wey chop bitterleaf. She try use her body block me, like say her own presence fit shield me from shame wey don already pour everywhere.

I look my mama. She just shift her eye, no wan look me for face, like say shame dey catch her.

The tears wey dey for corner of her eye just dey glisten. I fit see say she dey pray for her mind, dey mutter inside, 'God abeg, no let my pikin fall hand.'

I no answer them. I just turn, go sit down for card table. "Big cousin, I still get thirty thousand naira for my mobile wallet."

My body cold but my chest dey burn. As I siddon, e be like say spirit of my ancestors dey my back, dey tell me say, 'No let them finish your papa pride.'

Big cousin just twist mouth, look me anyhow. "Small cousin, thirty thousand na small money. Make I help you raise the level."

E talk am like say he dey offer me gift. Na that kain talk wey dey make person blood boil, but I just dey watch am, dey wait wetin e wan run.

"Go on." I wan see wetin dey his mind.

Na my own confidence I dey use as cover—make e no see say fear dey catch me small. For my mind, I dey pray make thunder fire his pride.

His greedy eye just waka go door side, where one tall babe in black lace dress dey sit—my babe, wey dey press her phone quietly.

My babe, Ronke, just dey mind her business, gold earrings dey shine for her ear, dey scroll Instagram. She no sabi say na her own life we dey gamble with for here.

"How far? Use your babe as collateral for 300,000 naira bet. If you lose, make she spend the night with me." Big cousin bite him cigarette, blow smoke for my side.

Na there my head burst. The insult reach ground. I hear aunty from backyard shout 'Tufiakwa!' under her breath. Even small children stop dey play.

My body just dey hot. The insult too much.

Na the kain thing wey fit cause fight for village square. If no be say respect dey ground, I for jump table meet am.

Other relatives dey whisper say big cousin don drink, but the guy just throw one million cash for table, shout, "I get money—I fit do wetin I like! If you no fit play, abeg commot."

The cash land with sound—na real ego display. Na so some aunties begin hide face, dey murmur. Some dey curse am for mind. 'See as devil dey use this pikin.'

Everybody just shame. After all, big cousin just collect eight million from my papa—he don pass all of us.

If na another family, elders for don call am to order. But for here, na money dey talk.

"Tunde, abeg no gamble!" My papa rush come, grab my arm, dey beg, "I dey beg you, make we go house."

Papa voice don break. Him dey grip my wrist like say him wan drag me back to 2003 when I still dey fear am.

If I lose, my babe go suffer shame for big cousin hand. My papa no go fit bear am.

Na that kain shame go follow person reach market—women go gossip, men go point finger.

"Papa, I must play!" I look am for eye, shout till my voice crack, "If you no gree, I go use my head knack wall die for here!"

The room quiet. E be like say all the ancestors pause, dey watch. Even the wall clock stop for one second.

As my papa see say I no go gree, he just fall for ground, no strength again.

Aunty Nkechi run come help am, dey fan am with wrapper. E just dey mutter, 'God, abeg, no shame catch me here.'

"So you really wan gamble?" Big cousin face light up, dey happy.

His eye dey shine like cat for night. You go see say na this kain drama dey give am joy.

I look my babe for door side.

Ronke eyes red, mascara don run. She dey shake as she dey cry. The kind silent pain for her face, e fit make stone melt.

She bow her head, voice dey shake as she dey cry. "Tunde, you wicked o. I no believe say I dey worth just 300,000 for one night."

Her voice dey low, but e carry plenty meaning. Some aunties look her with pity, others just dey shake head—'God forbid bad thing.'

"Big cousin, abeg deal." I look am straight, talk with low voice.

My own voice hoarse like person wey shout for match. But I no go show fear. For this life, na pride remain for me.

Big cousin just dey grin. "Since sister-in-law no talk, I go give you 300,000 chips." He push the chips come my side.

Him finger tap table like ritual. All eye dey my side. The kind tension dey for air, you fit cut am with knife.

I pack the chips, agree say minimum bet na 1,000 naira, and each round go start from who win last.

I arrange the chips gently, try compose myself. I fit feel the sweat for my palm as I dey prepare for the first round.

Soon, dealer share three cards for each of us.

The dealer na one old Mallam, e hand steady. The card just dey waka smoothly. E look me, wink small, like say e dey wish me luck.

I look my hand—three Queens. No be small thing, na strong set be that. Only three hands fit beat am: 2-3-5 (the lowest straight), three Kings, or three Aces. I no believe say my cousin luck reach that side.

My heart skip. I look big cousin—him face dey calm, but I see small shake for e hand. I breathe in, try hide my own surprise.

As I wan play, big cousin just talk, "Fold," throw him cards away.

E just throw the cards like say na pure water sachet. I surprise, because this guy never dey fear.

E be like say I dey punch air.

The thing weak me. Wetin e dey plan? My hand too strong for am to fear like that.

"Small cousin, you lucky o—three Queens straight!" Before I know, big cousin don collect my cards show everybody.

E raise my cards high like say e win trophy. Everybody mouth open—no be everyday you see three Queens for one hand.

Everybody shock—three Queens just like that.

Na Oga Kunle for corner talk, "Ah! Tunde, this your luck strong o!"

I frown. I see as big cousin first look him card, e happy well, so him hand suppose strong. But e fold quick and shuffle him card back for deck. As for me, I no show face at all. This guy dey play mind game.

E get as the thing be. I dey sense set up, but I keep my eye steady. No let am see fear for my face.

"Tunde, you no fit beat your big cousin. Him sabi card pass you," my papa whisper, face white with worry.

Him voice low, but pain full am. I feel am for my chest, like person dey squeeze my heart.

"Uncle, you dey praise me too much," big cousin mock am, look my papa. "But for gambling table, family no dey. No blame me."

Na the kind talk wey dey make elder vex. But my papa just bow head, dey swallow shame.

"Why you go talk to your uncle like that? No get respect." My eldest uncle waka come, dey smile as he scold big cousin. He bring out cigarette, light am, blow smoke enter my papa face.

Na that old kind Benson & Hedges—e light am with style. But e be like say na disrespect he wan use kill my papa.

My papa cough from the smoke.

Aunty Yetunde tap am small, handkerchief ready. The room still dey tense, smoke just dey mix with wahala.

"Deal again," I tell dealer.

I tap table two times. Na my own way to show say I dey ready—no fear.

Dealer share again.

The cards waka round the table again. This time, tension even higher. E be like say na masquerade festival dey start.

I open my card—6, 9, and King of hearts. E no too good, e no too bad.

I dey reason how I go take play am—no go too raise, but no go fold early.

"Ten thousand." I bet 10,000 naira sharp.

I talk am with bold voice. My hand no dey shake, but for inside, my heart dey drum like talking drum for Sallah eve.

"Who you wan fear?" Big cousin laugh. "100,000. If no be for bet limit, I for finish you for one hand."

Him laugh loud, slap table. Other cousins dey hail am—"Ikenna, carry go!"

This round, nobody fit raise pass ten times last bet. Since I bet 10,000, big cousin no fit raise pass 100,000 this round.

Na family house rule. Everybody nod, even small children fit recite am. Na so gambling dey for our blood, e be like.

I look am, surprise, then throw my card. "Fold."

Na tactical move—I no wan lose everything one time. Big cousin hiss, collect the chips.

"Tunde..." My papa dey stomp foot, worry dey worry am.

He dey tap ground with slippers, just dey shake head. My mama grip her wrapper tight.

"See am? Small cousin, na so I dey play card." Big cousin gather my 100,000 chips.

He arrange the chips with pride, dey shine teeth. You fit see say he dey enjoy my loss.

"Tunde, abeg stop. You no fit win your big cousin."

My papa voice low now, almost like prayer. E dey rub rosary for hand—e be like say Holy Spirit fit intervene.

"Abeg, just let your babe go bar with big cousin drink small. As for that sleep matter, na joke—we be family," eldest uncle talk with cigarette for mouth.

He talk am with that mischievous smile. But everybody know say, for this family, joke dey turn real quick.

Other relatives begin beg me too. Some sabi this card game, but all of them don lose to big cousin before.

Na so everybody dey give advice—some dey speak Yoruba, some Igbo, some pidgin. Na real Nigerian gathering.

"Small cousin, you get only 200,000 left. If you lose, your babe go really spend night with me," big cousin dey mock.

He dey lick lips, eyes dey shine. E be like say na victory dey hungry am pass food.

"Abeg, no talk too much. Deal again," I talk, put both hands for pocket.

I bone face, dey show say I no dey fear anybody. Inside my pocket, my hands dey sweat.

"Hmm, your head strong sha," big cousin hiss, signal dealer to share.

He tap table two times, dey bounce leg. Na so dealer shuffle again.

As he pick him card, joy just show for him face. He push all him chips—full 500,000 naira—enter table.

Everybody mouth open. Even mama Justina wey dey sleep for corner wake up. The whole place quiet, only generator sound dey background.

"You go call or you no get money? Oh, I forget—you no get reach." Big cousin look me with side eye. "Small cousin, if you no fit pay, abeg fold."

Him voice carry that mocking tone, like say na small pikin e dey talk to.

My papa just shift back, hopeless. Our family no get that kind money at all.

Papa just cover face, dey breathe heavy. Na so pride dey crush man.

"You see? I tell you before make you stop. Now e don late," eldest uncle talk with wicked smile.

He nod head like say na prophecy e dey give. Other uncles dey clap hands for him back.

"Who say I no go call?" I pull out my phone, begin apply for online loan.

Na naija fintech app, quick loan. I type with speed, dey beg God make them approve sharp sharp.

Soon, I borrow one million naira online, send am enter my mobile bank, casino staff bring one million chips come.

Na so some cousins dey whisper, 'This pikin get mind o.' Even mama Justina dey cross sign of the cross for herself.

"You dey craze!" My papa rush come, dey shout, "If you lose, your life finish!"

Papa voice don change to tears, but I bone face. E dey shake me, but I no fit show am for face.

"No stop your pikin—e no get choice again, make e go all in," my mama hold my papa back.

Her eyes red. E be like say she dey ready to faint, but pride dey hold am down.

My papa just dey shake with anger.

E teeth dey grind—he no fit talk, just dey vibrate like generator wey no get fuel.

I no send them, I call the 500,000.

I push the chips forward, try show say I still get heart. For my mind, na only God dey my side.

"Small cousin, I no believe say you fit borrow one million online."

Big cousin eye wide. E be like say he dey respect my guts small, but still dey look down on me.

"But one million na small thing for me. Make I show you wetin be real money." Big cousin stand up, point my face, dey laugh.

E chest dey swell. You go think say na governor son he be. Some of the women hiss—'Na pride go kill this boy.'

He buy 10 million chips, stack am for table.

The chips high like yam heap for market. Even the dealer adjust seat, dey look am with surprise.

Everywhere just quiet. Tension full the room, all eye dey my side.

Even the small generator for corridor reduce noise. E be like say world pause for my matter.

For their mind, I don finish—my papa lose eight million, me lose hundreds of thousands, my babe go soon disgrace.

Nobody talk, but eyes dey talk. 'God abeg, no let shame kill this family.'

"Ikenna, abeg forgive your cousin. Your uncle go kneel down for you." My papa rush go big cousin, kneel down.

E kneel, dey beg. Some aunties wipe tears. Family pride just dey scatter for ground.

"Papa, wetin be this!" I try help am stand up.

I grab am, but e heavy like stone. E no wan get up, e just dey cry.

"Forgive you? How una take treat us that time?" Big cousin point my papa nose, dey curse, "You dey look us down."

Na old family wound e dey open. Some relatives dey nod head, some dey cough, others just dey avoid eye contact.

"Big cousin, you dey talk true? My papa no try for una family before?" I vex, talk back.

My chest dey hot. Na family matter wey never die since e reach our generation.

That time, my papa pay 120,000 naira bride price for eldest uncle wedding. For year 2000, that money fit buy two house for Makurdi.

People for Makurdi still dey remember that wedding. Dem say, 'Ah, that wedding, rice no finish.'

That time, eldest uncle and aunty dey thank my papa.

Dem kneel, sing praise. My papa chop big meat, dem give am chieftaincy name for that family.

But later, when second and third uncle wan marry, my papa give each of them 300,000 naira.

For their own wedding, people dey dance from morning till night. My papa carry the show, everybody hail am.

But my papa no understand people mind.

He think say na help be help, no know say envy dey hide for corner. Family wahala deep pass river Niger.

As dem talk, na inequality dey pain person pass. When eldest uncle and aunty hear, dem vex, say my papa dey partial, dey look them down.

The thing enter their mind. Dem begin spread am like rumour for church. E affect how people dey greet us for compound.

One time, eldest uncle even slap my papa when e drunk.

Na under mango tree, Christmas night. Na so fight wan break out, but elders separate dem.

Since then, wahala dey between the families, reach our own generation and big cousin.

Na so every small thing dey turn big fight. Even children dey inherit the beef.

"Your papa dey look my mama and papa down," big cousin dey curse, point me. "But I no wan talk old matter. Make we settle am for card table."

Him voice sharp, e dey use family pain play game. Other relatives dey nod, dey form judge.

"Na true, brother-in-law. For gambling table, family no dey. If you and your pikin no fit win, na una wahala," eldest uncle talk with cold face.

Him eye dey red—maybe from smoke, maybe from old pain. E cross leg like say e dey chair family meeting.

My papa waka go meet second and third uncle, hope say dem go help am.

E dey use old friendship call for help. But money dey scatter respect for naija.

"Hmph, brother-in-law, you dey owe us since. You get mind dey beg us?" Second uncle hiss.

He tap ground with stick, face hard. For his mind, old debt dey pain am.

"Brother-in-law, person need respect like tree need bark. You look us down, no come beg us now," third uncle dey mock.

Na so e talk, face twist like say him dey swallow bitter kola.

My papa vex so tey tears come out, wan talk, but I stop am.

I grip his hand, shake my head. 'Papa, no beg dem again.' My own heart dey bleed, but pride dey hold me.

"Second uncle, third uncle, person suppose get clean mind," I talk with cold face.

I talk am, eye dey red. Na so everybody quiet small—some dey fear wetin go happen next.

Their so-called beef na just because my papa no give them enough money all these years. Dem dey always call borrow, but my papa no fit always agree.

Na true. Dem dey ring my papa phone every December. Sometime, dem go even call me join.

My mama even threaten say she go pack commot, say make my papa help her brothers.

Na real wahala for house. For naija, na only woman fit threaten that kain thing—e dey enter man bone.

But my papa no gree again, since I don big, fit take care of myself.

He talk say, 'Make man chop him sweat.' E still dey help, but no be like before.

"Pa!"

My mama voice sharp like knife. Na that kain voice wey dey scatter market.

That time, my mama rush come, slap me.

The slap land—my ear ring, my eye see spark. Even generator hum pause small. Everybody open mouth. Some dey nod, 'Na so.'

"How you go talk to your uncles like that! No get respect!" She point my nose, dey shout.

Her finger dey shake. You go think say she go bite me join. Na old Yoruba woman anger.

"Correct, sis!" Second and third uncle clap for her.

Dem dey clap like say na masquerade win wrestling match for shrine.

I turn face my mama, talk softly, "Mama, sorry, na my fault."

I lower my eye. For naija, even if you get reason, you go humble for your mama.

"No tell me sorry—go beg your uncles," she command.

Her eye sharp. Na real African mother command—no be request.

I turn, kneel down for ground, bow my head, do traditional apology.

I press my head for ground, talk, 'Uncle, abeg forgive.'

"Nephew, e don late to kneel now. Quick, find money finish this round with your big cousin," second and third uncle talk.

Dem voice dey harsh, no mercy. Some other relatives dey murmur, 'Family don scatter finish.'

"Small cousin, if e no work, make your babe spend night with us too. 300,000 naira per night," second and third cousin dey laugh.

Dem voice loud. Some dey even snap picture for WhatsApp. Na so social media go carry the gist.

I just bone face, go sit down, cover my cards with hand, dey check am.

I dey squeeze the card, try hold myself. E dey pain me, but I no go cry for here.

"Quick quick," big cousin talk, cigarette for mouth. "By the way, your babe like mango or strawberry flavor umbrella?"

Na there everybody burst laugh. Some old men dey whisper—'Umbrella?' E reach my babe side, she no raise head.

("Umbrella"—you sabi, that Naija code for condom.)

For Naija, that kain talk dey shameful for family gathering. But for here, e be like film.

Big cousin talk finish, everybody burst laugh, some dey look me like say I be mumu.

Even the children dey giggle for corner, no sabi wetin dey happen but dey feel the tension.

"Sister-in-law, which one you like? Mango or strawberry? Wetin you prefer—0.01mm or 0.02mm?" Big cousin dey disturb my babe, wey still dey press phone.

E dey poke her, try provoke me. Some women dey curse am under breath—'God punish disrespect.'

"I like strawberry, and the 0.01mm one," my babe answer, head down, tears dey drop.

Her answer scatter the room. Even old uncle for window choke on kola nut. Everybody shock. Na shame and pain dey push am talk, but she just dey hide face.

Everybody shock. She no even resist big cousin, e be like say she even dey ready.

Na deep pain—her own pride don finish. Some people dey pity her, others dey judge.

People dey look me with more mockery, but I just look dealer. "Dealer, abeg, I wan use myself take collect loan."

Na so everybody head turn. Some dey say, 'This boy don craze.' Others dey shout, 'No let jazz dey this family.'

"No wahala. Our casino dey do human organ collateral. From your health, we fit give you 10 million naira," dealer smile.

The dealer talk am like say na gala e dey sell. Him smile wide, e teeth white like Egusi seed.

"This boy don craze!"

Mama Justina scream. Some people dey fan themselves—na so gist dey spread.

"E don lose mind, wan sell himself."

Everybody dey talk for low voice. Some dey snap video. Na so social media go carry am—'Family drama in Lagos.'

Everybody face change as I dey talk with dealer. Dem think say I don mad.

But I no care. For my mind, na last card I dey play. If I die, at least I die try rescue my papa name.

Big cousin face come dark—he no expect say I go mortgage myself.

Him jaw set, e eye dey red. E be like say e dey fear small now.

"Son, if you die, your papa go follow you die," my papa talk, hopeless, pat my shoulder.

The tears for his eye dey show. Him hand cold. The old man don weak.

"Papa, abeg trust me. I go dey alright." As I see my papa like that, my heart just dey pain.

I hug am small. For my mind, I dey swear—if I survive, I go make am proud.

"All of una don craze," the three uncles shout.

Dem voice loud—anger and fear mix. Some neighbours dey peep from window.

My mama wan talk, but she just quiet.

She just fold hand, dey bite lips. I fit see say prayer dey her mind.

Soon, dealer bring organ donation contract. I sign am, dealer give me 10 million chips. For my mind, I dey reason whether I fit still run marathon after this kind contract.

Pen dey shake for my hand, but I sign am sharp sharp. Some people dey take video. My life don turn reality TV.

I push all the 10 million chips enter pot.

The chips make table bend small. E shock everybody—na so the tension rise again.

"Big cousin, continue. You still get money?" I dey mock.

I look am with small smile. For my mind, I dey tell am say 'Na here e go end.'

Big cousin just twist mouth, wicked smile. "Small cousin, I go call your bet with 20 million!"

He raise hand, fingers dey snap. The pride never finish for him body.

"You no get 20 million chips now, abi?" I ask am.

I lean back, cross leg. Everybody dey look am—na suspense movie dey play.

Big cousin turn to dealer. "Dealer, abeg, I wan mortgage myself too."

He dey rush to sign like say na new car him dey buy.

"Your health no too good—you fit get only 7 million," dealer talk.

Dealer dey type for laptop, dey nod head. People dey shout, 'Ikenna! No try am!'

"We go join too!" Second and third cousin rush come.

Dem dey run come, face full greed. Everybody dey wonder—who go stop this madness?

"Una own health no too strong. All together, three of una fit get 20 million," dealer talk, dey type for laptop as he check their health.

Dealer use small machine, check blood pressure, dey nod. The wahala just dey increase.

As I see say three cousins join hand, I know say second and third cousin dey involved since.

I nod small. The beef deep pass what eye see. Now e don turn full family battle.

Na full family plan be this.

For naija, family dey unite only when money dey table.

Soon, the three cousins sign their own agreement, dealer bring 20 million chips.

The chips just dey pile. Some people dey snap picture, others dey whisper prayers.

"I go all in—20 million!"

Big cousin voice loud, e chest dey up. Some boys dey hail, others dey fear.

"I get three Aces—show your card!" Big cousin stand, slap three Aces for table.

He throw am with force, card scatter like thunder for Harmattan.

The card land with sound.

The whole parlour vibrate. E be like say festival bell ring.

"Ah! Three Aces!"

Aunty Yetunde scream, children dey jump. Some people dey run come see.

"Na big hand be this!"

One old Mallam shout, 'Kai!'

"Na best set for here!"

Old men dey nod, dey clap small. Na so people dey use person pain do entertainment.

"No way e go lose this round."

The whole house dey shake. Even mosquito stop fly.

...People just dey shout, dey envy. With this round, big cousin go win over 30 million.

E fit buy land, build house for Ajah. Some people dey calculate how e go spend am.

My papa just force smile, look dealer. "Dealer, abeg, I go mortgage myself too—just give my son anesthesia."

E dey beg like person wey want buy time. Everybody dey look am with pity.

As I hear my papa, I burst cry.

Tears no gree hide again. I cover face, body dey shake. Na so mama hold me, dey whisper, 'God dey.'

Na now I know how my papa love me. All the suffer he don suffer for my sake. I swear, I go cherish am from now.

I remember all those times e go sell yam for me to go school, even when money no dey.

"Na una fault! Una too stubborn and selfish," my mama dey curse us.

She dey wave hand, face red. Some women dey comfort am.

Dealer just smile for my papa. "Uncle, e no hard, but for my eye, you dey rush."

Na joke, but pain full the room. Some people dey wipe sweat.

My papa just shake head, no talk.

E just look ground. E pride don finish.

"Small cousin, abeg, show your card," big cousin blow smoke for my face.

E lean near, eyes red. Some people dey move back small—tension too much.

I look am, sigh. "Big cousin, I no believe say your plan go reach like this, but you make one big mistake."

I steady my hand, wipe face. I look everybody, then look my papa.

"Pa!"

I slap my three cards for table.

The sound echo. People hold breath, dey wait. The next moment go decide everything for this family. As I siddon, all my ancestors dey watch, and my own pride dey for table.

All eyes dey my hand. If I lose, na our name go scatter for Lagos. If I win—ehn, make dem talk.