Chapter 6: Night Prayers and Secret Wishes

Maybe because na only us remain, me and Shina begin close well well.

No be say e begin talk anyhow, but e dey help arrange house, fetch water, even dey try learn how to cook rice. For days, na crayfish party, then goat meat party.

Even though e no dey talk, after I cook, e go wash plate.

E no dey grumble, just dey arrange, sometimes e go whistle small gospel song. But sometimes—

E go hint, voice low: "Sister, only two dishes dey okay for us."

Me: "Okay."

But that main guy dey chop ten dishes per meal! My brother, as future wahala boy, suppose chop reach that one.

I laugh, rub am head. "No worry, your time dey come."

One night, after food, small boy dey kitchen dey wash plate, back face me, water dey run.

I just dey lounge for sofa, dey watch WhatsApp comments dey waka. My phone dey vibrate for bed, but na only for my mind WhatsApp dey ring.

[Why e be like say wahala boy get sense? E dey help sister wash plate.]

[But poverty too much for here o...]

[The wahala boy’s sister get strong mind, I swear!]

Me: "..."

I smile small, proud but still dey fear future. No be everybody wey dey calm for face dey calm for mind.

I look Shina back, think something, wait till e finish, then wave am: "Brother, come here."

E no know why, but e come.

As e reach, I rub my hands, close my eyes, tap my forehead three times, then mutter, "God pick my call this time o," before I begin make wishes—

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

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

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

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

Even the WhatsApp comments pause, then scatter:

[See as big sis dey use wahala boy do wishing well again!]

[Who be the real wahala? See as big sis turn am to meme!]

[But true, wahala boy go get money die for future...]

I fit see say Shina confuse—e still small, e no understand.

No wahala.

I pat him head, tell am make e pray for am own dream too. Make I just dey dream my dream.

But I no know say, that night, Shina go back him room, write down—

All my wishes.

E use old biro, write for back of exercise book. The handwriting rough, but the dream strong. As e dey scribble, I hear am mutter, "God, abeg, help my sister," voice low, heart full of hope.