Chapter 3: The Debt of Pain

Mom come from next town as bride—or truth be say, dem sell her come here.

Elders go hush voice talk am, but everybody sabi. My mama na person dem price like bag of beans, dem don decide her matter before she even enter this house. Some say she no get people, no one to fight for am. Some say trouble follow her come.

Grandpa need bride price make my uncle fit marry, so e sell Mom to Dad.

Na shameful deal. My uncle new wife come same week as Mom, both of them with fear for eye. Mom no dey talk about those days, but neighbour gist plenty.

At first, Grandma and Dad treat Mom well. After all, dem spend money for wife, want peaceful house.

First months calm. Grandma give Mom chore, Dad dey come house early. Sometimes, laughter dey the house. But for our family, happiness no dey last.

But once I—a boy—land, family line secure, their true colour show. Na then beating and insult start.

E be like my birth open something bad. Grandma go shout, "Now we get boy, no need for this one again!" Dad drink more, come late, words sharp, fist heavy.

"You this jinx, only born me one son—shame!"

He go stagger in, mouth smell ogogoro, point Mom, "Na only boy you fit give me? Useless woman."

"What that girl even good for? I for listen to my mama, leave am for chemist."

The words dey pain my sister, wey go hide, dey cry. Mom go stand, collect the beating for all of us.

After I born, Dad wan throw my big sister away. Mom fight, save her.

Plenty night, I hear dem argue, Dad voice high, Mom steady. She no gree make dem send my sister away. Na only time I see fire for her eye.

After that, Dad and Grandma beat and curse Mom and my sister. Any time Dad lose for cards, na dem collect am.

House dey shake for those night. I dey hide under table, hand for ear, wish to disappear. Mom no dey scream, she just collect with dignity.

When my sister reach sixteen, she barely fit enter local secondary. Grandma slam table that night.

Sound ring, window dey rattle. Grandma face twist, spit dey fly as she shout say money waste for useless girl.

"What’s use of girl for school? She go marry. Halima grade bad—waste to send her."

Her mind done made. My sister stand by door, fist tight, tears dey drop.

"I don see husband for Halima—better marry her quick."

The man old, skin pock like yam, already get two wife. Grandma only want bride price.

Grandma set eye for pock man from next village, collect two hundred thousand, try sell my sister as wife.

Deal sharp, secret. My sister shrink, dey die inside day by day.

She cry, try drink bleach. Grandma beat her, tear her admission letter.

House scatter that night. I find my sister for bathroom, bleach smell. Grandma drag her out, beat with broom, shred school paper. Dad just watch.

First time, Mom stand up to Dad and Grandma. She carry knife, threaten police if dem no let my sister go school.

Knife dey shake for hand, but voice steady. "If you touch my daughter again, I go call police, I swear!" Grandma pause small, but e no last.

My sister and I hide behind Mom, watch as Dad drag her into room. He and Grandma beat her till she faint.

We dey listen, body dey shake as blows land. The silence after worse pass the noise. I think say dem kill her that night.

Dem lock door, talk say Mom need lesson, keep her three days. No matter how we beg, dem no open. Mom no talk inside.

We sleep by door, call her name. Only silence answer. Whole house smell fear and old wound. Neighbour pretend say dem no hear.

By July, house start to smell. Grandma dey curse, no sabi where odour come from. Locked room dey knock faint, remind Grandma person dey inside.

Smell creep everywhere, sour and thick. Grandma blame rat, but she know. Every night, faint knocking, like ghost dey beg make dem open.

When dem finally open door, stench rush out. Grandma nearly vomit.

She stagger, hand for mouth, eye wide. Dad curse, cover nose. Neighbour gather, whisper prayer.

"Ah! See smell! Na you, jinx, cause am."

Grandma spit for ground, blame Mom. Nobody give her water.

Mom beat sotay face twist, but her eye empty—no sadness, no joy.

She dey look nothing, face swell. Na like her spirit waka, leave body.

From that day, I feel like say I no know my mother again.

She dey waka for house like shadow, silent. Something don change—deep and final. Even me dey fear look her eye.