Chapter 4: Market Wahala and Small Wins

I carry Shina go market.

First time for real Benue market, with all the shouting, sellers dey drag customer, pepper dey scatter everywhere. E never go market before, the wahala and noise dey worry am, e just dey frown.

E hold my wrapper, dey shift from leg to leg, eye dey sharp like hawk, dey look every new face. I no expect am do anything, just make e help me carry bag.

But the WhatsApp comments get their own wahala. My phone dey vibrate for bed, but na only for my mind WhatsApp dey ring:

[See as wahala boy dey form big man for market.]

[E just dey look as e sister dey do everything. That spoiled look dey vex me.]

[Wetin you want make e do? The boy dey suffer. As e sister, you suppose dey pamper am.]

I no send them, just waka go vegetable stand, pick small ugu, ask: "Aunty, how much be this one?"

The woman dey fan herself with old newspaper. "Six hundred fifty," she answer, eye sharp, dey check me like say I fit run with her leaf.

I price am, bring am down to six hundred, collect free scent leaf join.

I wink, tease am: "Aunty, abeg, this your ugu get spiritual power? E too fresh!"

She laugh, "Na so e be, my daughter!"

As a proper Naija babe, if you no price for market, dem go use your head chop suya. Shina just dey look me, e face like say e dey lost.

E dey use eye dey study, as if e dey learn new language. I think say e dey shame, wan explain, but I leave am.

Until we reach meat side.

The butcher, Aunty Blessing, na young woman, sharp mouth: "Fine girl, two thousand eight hundred."

I wan pay, na im the boy beside me talk, voice small: "Sister, you fit price am? Make am two thousand seven hundred."

I shock, look am.

Shina face still strong, but e ear red like tomato.

E stand with chest out small, like say e just join market union. [See as wahala boy dey learn to price for market! First time, e face strong like say na business meeting!]

[Laugh wan kill me, see as sister dey look am!]

[Who dey price meat with straight face like this?]

True talk.

The whole thing funny, I wan laugh, but my heart just soft.

Na the first time my brother use voice for outside, and na for my sake. But Shina mean business.

Aunty Blessing just laugh: "No wahala, small boy."

She collect the money, shake head like say e no believe. As e win, Shina look me, eye dey shine.

I pinch him cheek.

I use that chance tease am, "Market don dey change you o!"

Ehen, e dey cute.