Chapter 4: New Fox, New Life, New Drama

I file complaint for Lin Shola.

No forget to drop strong review for her for agency app.

I write am sharp: "Unprofessional conduct. Encourage pet to rebel. No recommend." My star rating na one. I even add, "If you like your job, avoid this nanny."

As I expect, Lin Shola lose her better work.

Later, I hear say dem call her for agency meeting. She try explain, but oga no gree hear. For Lagos, once wahala enter your record, e dey hard to clear am.

The comments dey count down for me:

[Only six months remain—make supporting female just wait for regret!]

People dey count like say na end of world. E be like Big Brother eviction day.

Regret?

“Regret” no even dey my dictionary.

Better, make I use these six months worry dem well.

If dem wan see drama, make I give dem drama. I go live my life, enjoy my money, do anyhow.

I move Chuka go the small nanny room wey Lin Shola dey stay before.

Just as he like am.

I arrange small pillow for corner, drop one old blanket. No more big man treatment.

I no drive Chuka comot, no be say I dey expect one miracle love story.

Na because Chuka cost die, and nobody wan buy am online.

I post am for WhatsApp, even try Jiji, nobody gree respond. For this economy, na only mumu go buy wahala join body.

If I drive am, na free gift for Lin Shola be that.

I go just lose three hundred thousand—lai lai.

In this Lagos, even if na old mattress, you must sell. Free things dey hard me.

Chuka old room just dey empty.

Anytime I pass am, I just dey shake head.

I dey remember when I dey dream of family, of play and joy. Now, na only cold breeze dey that room.

My feelings for Chuka dey somehow.

Sometimes I still dey miss him small—old habit hard to die. But e be like old wound wey no dey heal.

Like.

Affection.

I give am everything—wetin I get, wetin I no get, even wetin I dey wish for.

My heart dey soft. Na so my Aunty dey talk: 'Person wey too dey give, na him dey chop pepper pass.'

But I no ever reason say because I spend money, Chuka suppose be my own by force.

If he like me, dey near me, e good.

If he no like, as long as he behave, e dey okay.

For my mind, I dey repeat: love na choice, no be by force. If you wan stay, stay. If you wan go, go.

Sometimes, I go just dey see one soft fox tail dey shake for my front.

But Chuka no ever let me touch am.

I even try dash am biscuit, e no take. Even at that, I no force am again.

If Chuka dey gentle, or even remember my kindness small—

If he like Lin Shola and talk to me well, maybe I for gree.

If na to reason am as adult, I for sit dem down, talk. But now, e don pass talk.

But Chuka no dey remember good.

So my money and feelings just waste.

I dey write for diary: 'Next time, na to buy fish, not beastman.'

No wahala, beastmen full everywhere.

The market dey full. I no go kill myself for one fox.

I buy new fox beastman—her name na Pei Anuli.

She move enter the big room.

Anuli soft like Agege bread. Her fur dey shine, she dey purr anytime I enter room.

Pei Anuli na female fox beastman.

She dey gentle, dey cute.

She like to curl for my lap, dey form baby.

Her tail dey brush my face, she dey call me “aunty” with sweet voice.

She dey even try taste my efo riro, na so I dey laugh, warn am say pepper too much. E dey sweet me as she dey snuggle, call me "aunty" with that small baby voice. I dey forget my wahala.

So anything Pei Anuli want, I dey buy.

I spoil am, buy toy, treat, new bow for neck. My house dey shine again.

When Chuka finish him plain boiled yam and dry fish, come back to the nanny room, na so he go dey look me with bad eye.

Sometimes, e go peep from corner, eye dey red. E be like say e dey jealous. For my mind, I dey laugh.

I no even know whether na because I chase Lin Shola comot, or because I dey show Pei Anuli love.

Na their wahala. For me, na new dawn.

E no concern me.

Chuka dey vex, na my own happiness be that.

As dem dey say: 'If old fire burn you, you go use new fire warm body.'