Chapter 1: Wetin Life Hold for Us

After I wake up come find say my small brother go turn wahala for future…

You know when spirit just dey whisper for morning, say today no go be anyhow day? I rub sleep from my eye, look the small boy wey dey beside me. Him face strong like person wey dem thief him biscuit, lips pursed, no smile, just dey bone like Lagos LASTMA officer for heat. As I dey look am, I rub my hands together, begin dey make wishes—inside me dey beg say make better life land on top my head one day. I draw small cross for my chest, mutter, "God abeg o," under my breath, before I start to talk my wishes.

"Shina, abeg, for future, your big sis wan get one big mansion o."

I even stretch my neck small, like say na prayer altar I dey.

"And I go like get plenty fine clothes and correct handbags."

I twist face like all these Instagram slay mamas, eyes shine for hope.

"And I no go lie, I wan chop all those correct restaurant food too."

My brother just dey look me, shock dey him face: "..."

I notice say e dey struggle to hold laugh, but pride no go let am. E just dey blink, like say e dey measure how serious I be.

My phone dey vibrate for bed, but na only for my mind WhatsApp dey ring. Na that time, I see plenty WhatsApp status comments just dey waka for my eye. Like all those wahala friends wey no dey mind their business, dem just dey drop hot takes:

[See as big sis dey use future wahala boy do wishing well, I dey laugh taya!]

[Who be the real wahala sef? See as big sis take fear catch am, e face be like that Aki meme!]

[But true true, this boy go get money scatter for future...]

E fit be say this life just dey use style dey play with us. As I dey watch my brother dey bone, the comments dey jingle for my head like morning church bell.

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After our papa and mama die for accident, me and my brother land for our aunty place for Makurdi.

Rain beat us well that day wey we reach Aunty Rose house—na so we waka enter, clothes wet, heart heavy. Makurdi own na sun and dust mixed together, but that day, the whole place cold, like say the gods dey cry with us. Our slippers dey make squishy sound for Aunty Rose corridor, water drip from my wrapper join.

At first, she dey pretend for front of people say she good, but once I reach eighteen—maybe na when the money finish—she carry my eleven-year-old brother go amusement park, use ice cream take distract am, then she disappear.

I still remember how she package us for church every Sunday, dey parade us like trophy. But when money taya, na so true colour show. I think say e go small quarrel, I no know say she get bigger plan for mind.

Lucky for us, I notice say something no pure, I quick call police, na so we take find am. After that one, any relationship wey remain between us just scatter finish.

That day police find us, na so crowd gather for park, my hand dey shake as I hold Shina tight. I no even know say I fit get that kind courage, but hunger and fear dey show person way.

As I dey carry Shina commot from Aunty Rose house, my aunty stand for door, cross hand, all that fake smile don vanish, eye dey shine with wickedness: "Na here be your house? If you like, stay, make I see if I go still dey feed you."

Her smile wide like akara seller for market, but her heart cold. Her mouth sharp, but her eye na real thunder. People for compound dey peep, dey whisper. I no send her wahala, just hold Shina hand, waka commot small small.

Chai!

I still remember the dust for Makurdi that evening, how our slippers dey raise sand as we waka go gate. I hold my brother hand tight, swear for my mind say nothing go ever separate us again.

For this world, na only poverty sure pass. Everything else fit fake, but to broke na real.

Poverty na real spirit, e fit humble anybody, no matter the level. Even respect, na only for those wey get small change for pocket.

Na that time, my phone dey vibrate for bed, but na only for my mind WhatsApp dey ring. WhatsApp status flash for my face:

[So na so wahala boy dey when e small? E don dey keep to himself since. If no be say e follow aunty go park that day, all this one for no happen.]

[Big sis, no dey too nice to that small wolf o. E go turn bite you last last.]

[Looks like the wahala boy and e sister no too close, if not, why e go dey regret only after she waka...]

The online people sef, always dey talk as if dem dey live inside our house. Some go dey use us take catch cruise, some go dey add pepper join. Me: "..."