Chapter 6: Aftermath and Resolve

Because of how dem train me, I no dey show elders bad face anyhow.

Even for our place, if you show elder vex, dem fit call family meeting. I just dey hold myself, dey count to ten for mind.

Fourth year after we marry, when I born our son Sulaiman, him papa and mama use excuse say dem wan help with baby, come move in.

Dem carry load come, say dem no fit leave only pikin for young couple. Na so dem just entrench for house.

First month, him mama go carry baby sometimes, but later she start to complain of back pain. Him papa get old knee wahala, no fit help anything. In short, dem no help much, but Auwalu still dey pamper dem.

Na so so complaint, but Auwalu go buy balm, go call doctor, go buy goat meat for soup—make dem dey happy.

Even with all that, since all these years wey we dey live together, I never vex for dem once.

Na me dey sweep, wash cloth, cook, go market, still carry office file come house. But I just dey respect my in-law, dey swallow my stress.

But as I hear wetin him mama talk, remember Auwalu irresponsible face, I just reply, "No wahala, nobody go disturb am again. If you and Papa no dey comfortable, una fit go back home. After all, I no fit change the children routine—they still need go school, abi?"

I talk am calm, but my eye don red. I fit see say mama dey surprise. She open mouth, but words no come out.

After I talk finish, I grab my bag, comot. Before I close door, I hear the old woman dey mutter, "Why she dey vex like this? Wetin our Auwalu dey suffer, e too much."

She dey talk as if na only her son dey try. I just hiss, enter my car, start engine.

I never even reach work when Auwalu call me.

Na that airport wahala voice I hear. Announcement dey shout, people dey rush for background. My hand dey shake for steering, as I hear him voice blend with airport wahala. I wan shout, but I swallow am.

By now, he suppose dey airport. The background noise loud, airport announcement dey everywhere.

E clear say he don dey ready to fly. I dey imagine how he go dey reason me now.

"Why you tell Mama make she go back village? You and the children no dey house during the day, dem fit look after themselves, and for night dem fit help you with the children. No be better like that?"

E dey talk as if say na my fault. Na so I grip steering well, dey breathe heavy. My blood dey hot.

"Our hometown no get light, Mama and Second Aunt no dey get along, dem dey quarrel every day, if she vex fall sick, na we go still take care of am."

I dey reason, na me dem wan use do sacrifice for everybody headache?

"Morayo, you be good person. Even with wetin your parents do you, you still dey support them. My parents dey kind, how you go treat them like this?"

Those words cut me for heart like knife.

Na so my eye just dey cloud. I dey remember all the wahala for my papa house, how I survive, how I manage. Yet, na me dey suffer for another person family.

That wahala wey I suffer for house flash for my mind, I nearly lose control of steering on my way to work.

I just pull car for one side, dey breathe, dey pray make I no crash. I wipe my face, start engine, and for my mind I dey plan—this time, I no go let anybody use me shine again.