Chapter 1: When Morayo Lost Guard

Before JAMB wahala start, for our Surulere compound, my neighbour’s big sister Morayo fall for one yellow-hair street boy—everybody begin talk.

That period, as we dey for compound dey gist, people for our street dey always look Morayo with one kind eye—some dey jealous, some dey pray make their daughter no follow her lane. For our area for Surulere, if you see person wey dye hair yellow, you go just know say him dey run with street. The gist spread reach market women dem, who go whisper, "See as small girl dey lose guard because of boy." Dem go slap thigh, dey say, "If na my pikin, I go tie am for leg!"

She dey skip class every day, dey sneak go follow am enter small cinema, cheap guest house, and even hide for bush corner…

Sometimes, she go come back with sand for her slippers, perfume wey no be her own, or she go dey smile like person wey just win bet9ja. The evening air go dey smell of suya and burning tyre, but dem no send anybody. I remember one day I see her dey hide for corner of one bamboo fence, dey giggle with the boy, her school bag throw one side. Na so breeze carry the smell of roasted corn wey dey nearby reach us, but dem no send anybody.

After I try beg am make she stop and she no gree, I go tell her mama.

No be say I quick talk. I try tire, I even write am small note, beg her say make she focus. I even buy her gala and La Casera one afternoon after lesson, dey tell her say life no hard reach like that. But as she no gree, I reason say her mama fit do better pass me.

Dem force am break up with the yellow-hair guy and repeat her final year.

That day, wahala blow for their flat. Morayo mama tear wrapper for chest, call her ancestors, dey shout, "Wetin I do you, Morayo? Who curse me for village?" Olorun maje ki oruko mi baje! (God forbid my name spoils!) Neighbours gather, some dey try separate dem. E no funny at all. Last last, dem seize her phone, no let her come out, make she repeat that final year.

Years later, me and her come fall in love, marry join.

Nobody believe am at first. For engagement, some aunties dey whisper say, "So na this same Morayo? Wonders shall never end o!" Even my papa just dey shake head like say him see film trick.

The day wey she born, she carry one small pikin wey black like charcoal for hand, dey laugh anyhow.

Hospital dey smell Dettol and baby powder. One old nurse mutter say, "Black pikin dey bring strong luck," but everybody just dey look. My mother dey fan herself, dey look ground. Nurse dey smile, but e get as e be.

"Na revenge I marry you for, so you no go fit show your face for this life again."

Morayo voice come out like person wey dey dance for village square. She even raise hand, pikin dey suck finger. Na so she burst laugh, her teeth flash like kerosene lamp for night.

I shock like say thunder strike me—and before I know, I jam motor accident.

My leg weak, my ear just dey ring like church bell. Next thing, everywhere dark—cold breeze blow me like say na harmattan for December. I just dey float.

When I open my eye again, I don turn back to my third year for secondary school. My body cold, my hand dey shake, I dey look my uniform like say I thief am.

I open eye sotey I think say na dream. My school bag dey my hand, my shoes dey dust, and na that same wooden desk wey I dey use for JSS3.