Chapter 6: Goodbye Old Life, Hello Survival

Sani Garba arrange my transfer sharp sharp.

Na within one week, everything don set. My name appear for transfer list, and mama no fit ask too much question. For street, rumor begin fly—children dey whisper, even our malam for mosque hear am. I dey pack my books in silence.

The whole school hear say I dey transfer.

My classmates dey form pity face, but I sabi say many of dem dey happy say another sharp girl dey comot. Some dey hug me, others just dey look with mouth open like fish for pond. My teacher call me for office, her eyes soft, she squeeze my hand, give me one old biro for remembrance.

As I dey pack, I dey hear people whisper:

Their voices dey mix with the sound of bell, sandals, and brooms. Some girls dey talk for toilet, boys dey nod for corridor. Even junior students dey look me with wide eye.

"E shock you? Sani Garba really dey send Zainab away because of Hauwa? No be dem be childhood sweethearts?"

One girl from JSS3 dey tell her friend, "I been think say dem two go marry. Life no balance o!"

"You see am? Childhood friend no fit win new person. Sani Garba dey treat Zainab well before. Since Hauwa show, he no dey follow her go house again."

For the staffroom, even cleaners dey analyze the matter. One aunty sigh, "Ahn ahn, people heart dey change quick sha."

"E pain me. Zainab sabi book well—she fit enter UNILAG. To transfer now go affect am."

Some girls dey count my mock scores, dey shake head. "Na this kain girl suppose dey first three, see as life just dey play rough."

"Dem say na Palm Grove Secondary School she dey go. That place na for stubborn children. If she reach there, all her hard work fit waste."

Everybody dey talk like say my destiny don finish. I fit hear dem, but I just pack my books, dey focus.

……

I just hold my things, manage all their pity eyes, dey ready go.

My wrapper, my old birthday card, and my jam form dey inside Ghana-Must-Go. My body dey hot, but my mind dey cold. For my street, neighbour mama Kemi wave me, her face heavy with wahala. I just force smile.

Mama peep from kitchen, her eyes dey ask question wey her mouth no fit talk.

For stairwell, I hear Sani Garba friend dey beg am:

His voice low, but na true concern dey inside. For Kaduna, padi go always try talk sense into friend, even if na last minute. His face dey show worry, like person wey chop pepper.

"You don forget say Zainab ear no too dey work? If you send her go another school alone, if dem bully am nko? Una two grow up together, you been like am well before. You really fit send her away?"

His words hang for air, heavy like harmattan haze. The corridor empty, only footsteps echo for distance.

Sani Garba just lean for wall, laugh small:

His laughter dry, like person wey dey use joke hide pain. He shake head, hand inside pocket, the kind pose wey small boys dey form for football field when dem no gree lose face.

"Wetin I go dey regret? That one na past. You never hear? Childhood friend no fit beat who just drop from sky. In three months, I go let her come back."

He act like say the matter light, but his eyes dey red small. The lie dey choke for his throat. I just stand dey watch, heart dey squeeze.

As he finish talk, like say he sense something, he look up.

His eyes meet mine for stairwell, tension just hang for the air like thunder before rain. My hands dey shake, hearing aid broken for hand.

He see me for stairwell. His eye see my ear wey swell small, he frown.

He swallow spit, then rub him chin. For small second, guilt flash for his face, but e vanish sharp sharp.

He just waka come, hold my hand:

His grip soft, almost like say e dey beg for forgiveness without words. His palm warm, I fit feel sweat for his hand.

"Come, make we go buy new hearing aid for you. Just take am say I dey try make up."

His voice low, nearly a whisper. The corridor dey empty, only our footsteps dey echo. I shift leg, face him, voice calm but cold.

I just shake my head:

I pull my hand gently, face wall. My heart heavy, but I no wan show am. Kaduna girl dey hide pain like e dey hide money for wrapper.

"No need. That hearing aid na you buy for me before. Now, we don clear."

I drop the words slow, so e go enter him ear well. For Naija, when you close chapter, you close am clean. No carry old gist go new season.

When he spoil my hearing aid, the pain for my ear make me decide say I no go ever let Sani Garba tie me down again.

My mind done dey made up. The hearing aid na memory, but the pain na lesson. No be every sweet beginning dey end well. I walk away, my shadow long for the corridor.