Chapter 6: A New Proposal

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Baba Segun, im other name na Temidayo.

People dey call am Temi for short. Dem say na man of few words but correct action. Everybody for Mama Nkechi family respect am.

Na only son for Odogwu house.

Odogwu Ayodele, the big man wey get three chieftaincy titles for our town. Temidayo na im only hope.

Mama Nkechi own nephew.

She love am like her own pikin. If anything do am, she go run fly come.

At thirteen, na war he go; at eighteen, na Odogwu he be.

Na soldier blood dey him vein. Story full ground say how he fight for border, save chief life. People dey fear am, but elders respect am.

Only wahala: at twenty-one, he never marry, never get pikin.

Neighbours dey talk say, "Wetin dey do this Temi? Abi e dey wait for queen from heaven?" Even old women dey gossip for market.

But that one no reach any problem, compared to im family and war fame.

The man get name, get face, get money. Marriage na small thing for am, but na family wahala dey worry.

"Ah," Mama Nkechi sigh, "you no know, he… he…"

She cover mouth, bend close, talk as if secret dey ground. Her face change, eyes serious.

She cover mouth, whisper four words for my ear.

The words shock me. I look her, mouth open. I reason am for mind, weigh the risk. I no talk for long.

I understand sharp.

I get the message. For our side, secret na secret. I just nod.

But I no expect am to happen so fast.

As I dey reason am, I no know say solution dey near. I dey think say na long thing, but life get other plan.

I just tell Mama Nkechi say I go see am one day, check if e go fit.

I dey cautious, say, "Let me see the man first." She agree, we arrange meeting.

Next day, for some border wahala, he rush come north.

News spread for town say Odogwu son don land. Everybody dey talk, "Hope say no be fight dem dey bring!" I dey reason say maybe na fate join us so.

Dem talk say he no stop at all, run kill three horses.

People dey say, "Na man be this o! Who go run kill horse?" Even elders dey hail am, say "Odogwu dey come!" My own be say, God abeg, make this one no get wahala pass Odogwu.

Seven days later, before day break, he knock my temporary house door.

As cock crow, na so I hear knock. Chinyere run go open, see one fine man, white kaftan, shoes dey shine. I hide behind curtain, dey observe.

I don hear some tori about am—

Old women dey call am small King Yama, say he dey fierce, but others say he get soft heart. I dey suspect say e get two face.

Small King Yama, Odogwu wey everybody dey fear.

For street, if children see am, dem go bow. Even elders dey respect am, call am "Sir". But I never meet am face to face.

But the person wey I see na gentle young man for white, fine pass harmattan morning.

He smile, teeth white. Voice soft. For my mind, I say, "E be like this one no fit even kill fly."

He hold hand fan, point moon wey wan hide:

He dey shy, dey look ground. Hold small fan, use am cover face small. He no even look me direct.

"I see say tonight moon big and round…"

He start poetry, but e dey fumble words. I dey try hold laugh.

He stop, clear throat, try again:

He arrange voice, try again. "I see say tonight moon dey shine…" Even Chinyere dey hide for back, dey laugh.

"I see say tonight moon dey shine, stars no plenty, moon be like silver plate, moonlight like water, night clear, moon shadow dey waka, scent leaf dey smell. I come make we talk."

He finish, look ground. I smile, say, "Oya, enter. Moon no go bite you." I feel at ease. My heart dey cool.

I nearly laugh out.

His face red, he dey scratch head. I hold my laugh, say, "Odogwu, abeg, relax."

Odogwu, sabi fight, but e dey tear book, hate book people too much.

Dem say if you talk too much grammar near am, he go frown. Na man wey dey like straight talk. But today, he try impress me.

E be like say this marriage dey worry am.

I dey see say e dey fear rejection. For person wey don fight war, woman matter dey shake am.

E dey fear say I go look down on am?

He dey try prove say him no be only soldier, say he get feelings too.

"Odogwu, no dey shake."

I tell am, voice gentle. "I no go bite you. Come inside."

I carry am enter. "Mama Nkechi don tell me your matter. If you wan talk, talk."

I arrange chair, give am drink. I let am talk first. My mind dey open, I dey ready for whatever he bring.

I don ready.

For my heart, I accept say life no dey perfect. If this one be my own, I go manage am.

But I no expect am to be so straight.

He no waste time, no dey form story. He just go straight to the point.

"Aunt don tell you everything?"

He ask, voice calm. I nod. No fear for my body.

I nod.

He breathe deep.

He open bag, bring out documents. His hand no shake, his eyes dey bold. For first time, I see confidence.

"These na all my land papers. You go dey in charge."

He pass me bundle of papers. "All the land for Ibadan, Osogbo, even Lagos. Na you go dey sign."

"These na my money notes. You fit collect or keep as you like."

He show me bank book, ATM card. "Na you go hold my house key. I dey trust you, no be small."

"This na divorce letter wey I don sign already."

He hold out envelope, say, "If I dey misbehave, you fit waka any time."

"If wahala ever start, you fit use am free yourself, everything wey I get go be your own."

He talk am clear, no shaking. "I no go disturb you. My own, na peace I dey find."

"Miss Amaka." He give me the big bundle of paper,

He hand me everything, look me for eye. Respect dey his voice.

no even blink: "Marry Baba Segun as your husband!"

He kneel small, touch ground. His pride no show. For that moment, I feel say hope dey my side.