Chapter 4: Old Memories, New Doubts

Truth be say, I know Ifeoma for five years. I think say I sabi her well.

For this Lagos, five years na enough to know person finish. We don chop suya together, enter danfo, trek for rain, even quarrel and settle plenty times.

First time we meet na for NYSC orientation. She no fine, her dressing na just normal.

She tie wrapper, wear rubber slippers, carry small Ghana-must-go. Her skin dey glow, no powder, just that village freshness. Plenty guys dey look her.

But as she introduce herself for English, the village accent loud, everybody burst laugh.

She talk, "Good morning, my name is Ifeoma..." but the 'I' loud like bell. Me sef wan laugh, but as I see tears for her eye, the laughter just die for my mouth.

Second time we jam, dem put us for the same group. We smile give each other.

She carry one local bag wey carry Chanel logo.

Bag dey old, but she dey carry am with pride. The women for office dey roll eye, dey gossip.

I no like that kind thing.

All of us dey collect same salary—who wan look down on who?

If your family get money, na luck, no be say you get sense pass.

That time, I dey use nylon bag carry my own things, just dey support her quietly.

I go dey gist with her, make she no feel bad. Sometimes, I go buy her gala and La Casera, make she smile.

Because my papa, wey hustle from scratch after army, always teach me: all man equal, no judge person by look, no use money rate anybody.

Na so e dey for our house—my papa dey always remind me say if you dey look down on person today, you no sabi tomorrow.

So even as I be only son, only heir of Okoli Group, the richest family for city, I still suffer first, learn how life be.

I dey use small phone, dey enter bus, dey manage like every other corper. Na my papa style—no shortcut.

My papa arrange make I work for partner company, tell dem make dem train me well.

I dey live for small boys’ quarter, dey ride okada go work. Even when my mama wan make I come house chop better food, my papa no gree.

He say, "Make you taste life, so you no go waste am."

Because life hard, I dey always join Ifeoma for market run, dey find how to save money, dey buy things together.

We dey price tomato for market, dey laugh as market women dey hail us, "Fine couple!"

As we know each other more, I see say she get better heart, dey considerate, no dey vex anyhow.

She dey always share food, dey help people for office, dey greet cleaners. I dey proud of her.

When we start dey date, my papa check her family reach three generations, come talk:

“This girl no really fit be my daughter-in-law.”

He dey look family name, dey check background. For Naija, some parents dey reason like that.

I fire back with him own words: no judge by look, no use money rate person.

He keep quiet, then talk:

“Continue dey date. If the girl good, the family no matter.”

Na that day I respect my papa more. E show say he still get sense.