Chapter 1: Shame for Market

Ifedike came back from the south, all that his former gra-gra and love shakara don waka comot for body. He start to take family matter serious, no be small at all.

You for see am, the way e dey carry him step now, no more fast waka with chin up—just the gentle dignity of person wey don chop sense for life. The elders for compound even dey notice say Ifedike now dey quick answer greeting, help Mama Ifedike fetch water. He dey carry big yellow keg, water dey spill for him leg, but he no even complain. E no dey chase after evening drink again. Neighbours begin yarn, 'This our son don mellow, wahala don reduce for this yard.'

He never mention that woman again, and everybody just dey do as if the matter no exist, like say nothing ever happen.

E be like drama wey dem act, cover curtain, nobody wan talk am. Even Temi, small pikin wey sabi talk, never hear anything about am. Family meeting sef, dem dey jump am. Sometimes, at night, I dey look Ifedike, wonder if im truly forget or if na just pretense hold im mouth like padlock.

Na so e be, until that day wey I get wahala with the woman wey dey sell wara for roadside. As her vex don reach top, she just talk am:

The market dey hot, sun dey beat people, sweat dey flow for my face, and that wara seller eye red like person wey dem cheat. As I dey try price, the wara seller point her knife for air, hiss, 'You think say na only you sabi market wahala?' Then she face me, pour her insult for ground. The moment she pour that word, everybody stop dey price, just dey look me. Na shame just catch me for chest like pepper.

"No wonder your husband run from wedding that day. If dem do am again, e go still japa go Ibadan—just to avoid woman wey get coconut head like you."

I hear laughter from some women for back, but one old man just hiss, shake him head say, "This woman no try." But my body just dey tremble, shame and anger dey wrestle for my throat. I feel my ears burn, like when pepper enter eye, and I dey wish ground go open make I hide.

But Ifedike just dey look me, him face and eyes no show anything, as I dey cry until my eyes red like tomato.

Na so e just carry hand behind back, like person wey wan see how the matter go end. Not even one word from am. My heart just dey beat, as tears dey drop, even my wrapper sef wan fall from waist.

When we reach house, I pull am go one side, pain dey my heart, I ask am why e no talk for my side just now.

My voice dey low, e dey shake. I hold Ifedike wrist, but e just dey look me, eyes deep like Idanre cave—dark, you no fit see end. As I talk am, my body dey shake, voice almost wan break. 'If you no go defend me, who go?'

Ifedike just rub him forehead, as e do like person wey don taya.

E bend small, rub back of neck like say na headache dey worry am. Him breathe heavy, the vein for him temple dey jump, but e just hold am in. Even for anger, Ifedike dey hide himself.

He look window, rub hand for trouser, then finally talk. He look me. "Morayo, I don come back already. No be enough be that?"

He no even blink, voice flat. For some seconds, na only generator noise dey for compound. I just dey look am, dey find any sign say e go talk more, but nothing.