Chapter 9: Rivalry

After I reason am finish, sleep carry me well that night.

Na the first time for long time wey sleep sweet me. Dream come, I see myself dey fly for big compound, dey wear wrapper wey fine, dey chop meat for soup.

As I wake, I rub powder well, put lip balm, ready myself for new battle.

I tie scarf well, use white chalk brush small for face—no dull moment. As I dey look mirror, I dey remind myself say na today my destiny fit change.

Fola too don hear the gist. She dey dress sharp sharp these days.

Fola no dey play. Every morning, she go wear fine cloth, tie gele, even dey use perfume wey no belong to her.

When we jam, our eye talk the matter—any old friendship just disappear. She dey look me with clear suspicion.

Before, we dey gist and laugh. Now, na cold war. Any time I see her, I go nod, she go hiss. Na real contest begin.

Me and Fola dey look each other, smile no reach eye. Na cold war, everybody dey watch who go win.

Before concubine maid contest, we turn real rival, dey show our talent.

Everybody dey bring out their best. Fola dey sing, dey dance, dey make young master laugh. Me, I dey carry food, dey decorate tray, dey pray make my effort show.

Anytime young master return, Fola dey quick serve am tea, water, help am change cloth, dey always near am, no give me chance reach near.

Fola dey waka like shadow, always dey block road. She sabi use smile, dey scatter young master head.

Me, I put more energy for tea and snack, dey create new style wey young master like, collect plenty praise.

I begin dey invent—coconut puff, groundnut cake, spicy chin-chin. Young master go always ask, "Who make this one?" Madam go point me.