Chapter 5: Head Jam, Heart Soft

For my corner eye, I see as he finish the last dish, I wan repeat am, but Ifedike stop writing, hug the notebook like gold, come give me small smile. Then, as if he remember something, he open notebook again, begin write.

That smile light my mind, as if my chest dey warm. I remember say, for Naija house, all this small gesture mean pass long talk.

I look the list wey don full everywhere, come remember—

As main guy, Ifedike brain no get wahala at all; na sharp guy. This list no go hard am.

E fit even dey type all the food for memory. This one na small challenge for am.

As I relax, na that time footsteps sound for corridor corner, and Mummy voice dey near.

“Ifedike, wetin you dey do for your sister door?”

As he hear am, Ifedike shock. Pen fall from him hand, land for ground with “kpai!” The black pen roll reach my leg.

I squat pick am, but he bend down same time.

“Gbam!”—our foreheads jam together.

We both hold head, hiss—“E pain o!”

I hiss, land for ground. As Ifedike see am, panic hold am, he rush try help me, but if person dey look, e go be like say na him push me.

I rub my forehead, say, “Chei! See as we jam head like agbalumo.”

That time, Mummy don already rush come.

I think say she go support Ifedike, but surprise—

Mummy quick help me up, dust my pyjamas, gently ask if I hurt. Before I fit talk, she turn face Ifedike, eye small vex, voice serious: “Even if you dey vex, no mean say you go hurt your sister.”

The way she talk am, e carry weight, like say she dey defend me for court. For Naija house, Mama voice na final judgement.

She just believe say Ifedike dey fear say I go collect family love now wey I return.

Ifedike try open mouth, but nothing come out. You go see the struggle for him face—like say him dey fight lion for chest.

For the door, Ifedike dey try explain. He shake head, but Mummy face too strong: “Apologise to your sister! You fit talk—you no be mute!”

The corridor fit cold, but her tone fit hot bread. My brother just stand, eyes red like person wey onion enter eye.

As he hear, Ifedike eyes just dull. The more he dey try, the less he fit talk.

[Hmph, see? I talk am say this sister no pure!]

[See as she dey plan from small—white-lily. I nearly believe say she change. My eye dey pain me.]

[So na here Mummy begin trust the supporting character. Chei, this kind powerless feeling—like say my fist no fit pass screen!]

My head dey heavy, but my heart dey soft for my brother. Sometimes, wahala na just misunderstanding, but family no dey tire person.

As the WhatsApp comments begin scatter everywhere—

Inside the darkness, I reach hand touch Ifedike shoulder, whisper, “No vex, e go better.” I see say, even for all the noise, small hope still dey for our side. Tomorrow fit shine small. For corridor, the bulb still dey shine small—tomorrow go reach.