Chapter 15: Amina’s Daring, Er’er’s Fear

Next day, I waka go academy happy.

Skipped down hallway, eager for adventure.

I reach early, but she don reach before me.

Amina sat at desk, head down, scribbling.

I asked, "Why you reach so early?"

She glanced up, shrugged. "I like the quiet."

She said, "Because e far. Or you feel say na because I like to read?"

Eyebrow arched, daring me. I grinned, thinking she clever.

E make sense.

I nodded.

After small time, teacher never come. She leaned, "You sabi palace well?"

She scooted closer, voice low. I puffed chest, ready to impress.

I nodded, I don dey here long.

She said, "Why you dey look like mumu?"

Her lips curled. I frowned.

Me: ...Why she dey insult me?

I glared, but she just laughed.

She talked again, "Forget, you sabi anywhere wey dey fun?"

I hesitated. Palace be like maze.

I think say palace no get fun.

She rolled eyes, shook head.

Before I answer, she said, "No mind, you go talk say nowhere dey fun."

I shrugged.

I nodded.

She said, "My mama talk say royal garden fine, e far? Show me."

Eyes sparkled, curiosity contagious. I caved.

This girl sabi talk. She push me to talk.

I said, "No far, but we get class."

She winked, plotting.

She eye shine, "No wahala, I get plan."

She tore sheet, scribbled.

She go back write.

I peeped, saw: Teacher, Ifeanyi Tangola get stomach pain, I dey carry her go doctor, family know already.

Me: ...

I wanted to protest, but her confidence swept me.

I asked, "Why you no talk say na you sick?"

She shrugged, grinning. "I dey save my own day for later."

She glanced me, "Next time."

She dropped note on desk, bold.

She asked which be side door.

I pointed, nervous, excited.

I point, she just waka lead me out.

She marched ahead, I hurried to keep up.

I showed her royal garden, "See, nothing dey here."

Flowers swayed, Amina unimpressed. She dragged me deeper.

She dragged me into bush, "Na because you no sabi play."

Her laughter bright and wild. I followed, giggling.

Later, we saw bird nest. She said egg dey inside.

She pointed up, eyes shining. I squinted.

She asked if I fit climb. I said no. She said she no fit, but don see people do am.

She hitched wrapper, determined.

She tried, really climbed anyhow.

Tree thick. She perched. I asked, "Egg dey?"

She peered, grinning. "No egg! But nest dey."

She said no, but another nest dey higher.

I squinted, unsure.

I dey fear, told her make she no climb, but she no hear.

She kept going, laughter echoing.

She really saw am. I asked, "Egg dey?"

She said yes, happy, brought egg.

Then she no fit come down. She hugged tree, cried, I panicked.

So she dey cry up, I dey cry down, night dey come.

Shadows long, air cold. I called for help.

Amina tired, "You, stop crying, why you no go call help?"

I wiped nose, determined.

If I call help, queen mother go hear. I told Amina, "Jump come down, I go catch you."

I held arms out, praying.

Amina said, "You mean am?"

Eyes wide, desperate.

I no know who to call.

Bit lip, thinking.

So I ran to find Tola Shun. As he saw my red eye, he followed quick.

He didn’t ask, just ran, long legs fast.

I dragged him to bush. As we reached, everywhere dark.

Trees cast shadows, wind rustled leaves.

Amina saw me, cried more, "I think say you no go come, you take too long."

I apologized, reaching for her hand.

You no know how big palace be.

I gasped, "I try my best!"

Tola Shun asked wetin happen. I said, help first.

He called guard, who shimmied up, brought Amina down.

Tola Shun waved, shadow climbed, carried Amina down.

Amina sniffled, clutching egg. I hugged her, relief.

As I wan explain, another shadow, "Your Majesty, queen mother dey come."

We froze.

I begged, "Abeg, make queen mother no know."

Tola Shun nodded, ushered us away.

Amina sniffed. Tola Shun told her, "Quiet," ordered, "Escort Miss Amina go her papa house."

Guards led her away, I watched, heart pounding.

Then he dragged me, we jam queen mother.

Her footsteps echoed, face stern.

Na scolding sure for me.

She crossed arms, eyebrow raised.

Queen mother asked, "Wetin happen?"

Tola Shun quick, "Er’er say flower dey there wey she never see, call me look."

Lie smooth. I bit tongue, grateful.

Queen mother sighed, "No dey waka for night, escort Er’er go."

She waved us off.

She walked away.

I breathed relief. For road, Tola Shun asked, "You fear mama like that?"

I laughed, shook head.

Me: "No be fear, na the punishment to copy book dey fear me."

I shuddered, remembering sore fingers.

Tola Shun smiled, "Me too."

He winked, I felt less alone.

I told him say na bird egg wahala. He called me mumu.

I stuck out tongue, laughing.

I said bird egg fun. He said I dey childish.

I shrugged, grinning.

As we reached my door, Tola Shun asked, "Why you dey cry before?"

I hesitated, heart heavy.

I no fit answer. I asked, "Amina go come tomorrow?"

He patted my head, reassuring.

Tola Shun: "She go come."

Voice sure, calm. I smiled, trusting him.

If Tola Shun talk am, na true. He no dey lie for me.