Chapter 16: Mischief and New Sisterhood

Next day, I waka go academy early.

Feet barely touched ground, hope carrying me.

No see Amina. When teacher came, she still no show.

Heart dropped, worry gnawing.

Teacher noticed, "Miss Amina just sick, take one day rest. No worry, Miss Ifeanyi."

Voice kind. I nodded.

Me: "True?"

Teacher: "True."

He smiled, squeezed my shoulder.

I tried luck, "Since we no fit leave classmate, teacher, tell me story today."

I grinned, hoping to distract myself.

Teacher: "..."

He sighed, began new tale, voice soothing.

Next day, I came early again, saw Amina.

I rushed, "Amina, you dey okay?"

She grinned, eyes shining.

Amina: "You, you get luck. I think say dem go beat me for house, but nothing happen. I no go collect bird egg again, e no fun."

We burst out laughing, giggles echoing.

She laughed, I laughed, both no fit stop.

Na my happiest days since I enter palace.

For first time in years, I felt truly alive.

Later, Amina carried me go boat, pick water lily seed, but we no fit paddle back, na Tola Shun come rescue us.

He shook head, pulling us to shore, muttering about stubborn girls. We grinned, grateful.

She carried me fly kite, kite hook for tree, she climbed again, no fit come down.

This time, I fetched Tola Shun without panic. He rescued her, shaking head, but smiling.

But this time, she calm, hug tree, shout, "Ifeanyi Tangola, you wan climb? You fit see outside palace!"

Her voice full of excitement, daring me.

You fit see outside palace?

Thrilled and scared.

I asked, "You fit see general house?"

She peered, squinting.

She said she no know general house, make I look.

I climbed halfway, froze, heart pounding.

I said I no fit.

She teased, but didn’t mind.

Then Amina called me coward, na Tola Shun help her down.

We laughed, even as he scolded.

We enter plenty wahala, every time na Tola Shun cover us.

He never truly got angry, just shook head, "Small girls, big wahala."

Tola Shun and Amina began relate well.

They became friends, sharing secrets. I watched, half jealous, half proud.

Later, queen mother saw hairpin she wan give me for Amina head.

She frowned, but called us to dinner.

After council, as we dey chop, queen mother asked, "Who you give that hairpin, Your Majesty?"

Tone curious, twinkle in eye.

Tola Shun: "Amina."

Answered simply.

Queen mother knocked spoon. As quarrel wan start, I tried to hide.

I ducked behind bowl.

Queen mother: "That hairpin na for Er’er."

I froze, unsure.

Me: ...

Peeked at Tola Shun, pleading.

So much for hiding.

He grinned, shook head.

Tola Shun: "I go find better one for her."

Words softened mood. She nodded, smiling.

I thought e no need, so I stayed with queen mother, "Queen mother dey treat me well, I get plenty hairpin. His Majesty ask me, I agree before he give am."

She squeezed my hand, pride in eyes.

True, he asked me.

Truth cleared tension.