Chapter 3: Death for Sugarcane Corner
Big Timi dey follow me for back, dey talk for camera.
The way e dey waka behind me, e be like say na new craze dem dey display for market. You go dey waka, but camera go dey follow you like shadow. Me sef, I wan laugh, but I hold am.
"My people, this hundred naira street charity wey I dey run, don reach one year now. Na una support make me reach here."
E talk am with boldness, as if say na governor e be. E voice loud, people wey dey waka for market dey look back, dey wonder who be this one.
"No worry, anybody wey I dey pick for this show na real people wey need help."
Na so e dey try convince him fans say e no dey fake am. For Naija, everybody dey suspect everybody—nobody dey trust camera again.
"Hundred naira no too much, but e fit still help person small."
E smile, e try make the charity look like big thing. But we wey dey ground know say hundred naira fit buy groundnut, but e no fit cook soup.
"If you wan say I dey stingy, na your mind. My conscience dey clear."
As Big Timi dey talk, gifts just dey fly for screen.
He look me, continue:
"Today own, mama look like sixty. For her age, she still dey hustle for street, dey manage life. E no easy at all."
For Naija, woman wey still dey struggle at sixty, dem go respect am, but dem go pity am join. I just stand dey watch, no talk.
"Make we see wetin she go fit buy with this hundred naira."
He rush come my side.
The way e waka reach my side, e body language show say e dey expect something dramatic.
"Mama, where your people? How dem go allow you dey suffer like this at your age?"
I answer am calmly:
"My family don finish."
My voice no shake, because for this Naija, if your people no dey, na your two hand go carry you. Even as e pain me, I no go show weakness for front of stranger.
Big Timi sigh, shake head.
"Eyaa, mama dey really try. Life no fair."
The way e take talk am, you go think say e wan cry. But I see say na camera e dey perform for. Still, I keep quiet.
"If you need anything, just talk. I, Big Timi, no go fear to help."
Na so e dey boost e show—help for camera, help for likes. I dey look am, but I no talk. For this Lagos, na only God dey see true heart.
I turn look am, just dey watch am quietly.
I no say nothing, I just dey look am like say e be market drama. Na old trick for Lagos—if you talk too much, people go use your mouth do skit.
E come dey restless, ask me:
"Mama, wetin happen?"
I just raise mouth corner, smile small.
"No need, you don already help me."
Sometimes na small smile dey vex person wey dey expect story. I just dey watch am—if na blessing, e go come; if na wahala, I go handle am.