Chapter 3: Lessons from Last Life

For my last life, my cousin drop out for SS2 to dey deliver food, say people wey go university no dey make money again.

Na so e talk, full of city pride. "School? Na who e help?" That time, delivery work dey shine for boys wey get liver. For him mind, fast money sure pass.

After graduation, e still dey brag say dispatch rider dey collect pass graduate salary.

All those boys wey dey carry bag waka for sun, na dem dey run street. Even me dey wonder sometimes.

I try talk sense into am, say certificate now dey important pass anything, but he no gree—my uncle and aunt join am.

I reason am, call family meeting, but when elder no gree hear word, na wahala. Uncle and aunt just dey hail: "Na sharp boy!"

First month, Ebuka make over two hundred thousand naira. Second month, e reach three hundred thousand.

Whole compound dey hail am like star. Even landlord begin use am as example.

That time, I just finish school, get work, but salary no reach hundred thousand.

For family group chat, na Ebuka name dey trend. Me wey get degree, my name na last for mouth.

From that time, na me and Ebuka dem dey use for example: "School no dey pay, na delivery dey pay."

Any family wahala, na me dem go drag: "See your brother—no waste time for book!"

But dem no know say, three years later, I don change work three times, salary dey go up every time.

For Naija, if you mind your lane, God fit bless you. I dey see small change, step by step.

By then, my monthly salary don near half a million.

No be beans o! My parents begin dey smile small for me.

But my cousin, from all the wahala of running up and down, sometimes his knee go swell three times a month, e dey limp.

Hustle no be beans. Even tyre dey burst if you run am anyhow. Ebuka leg begin dey show. Aunty dey use Robb and hot water, but nothing work.

That time, na so e run red light, jam trailer—serious accident.

News land like thunder. One call, everybody rush. For Naija, if you hear trailer jam, you know say matter don pass.

For my last life, as I get call from uncle and aunt, I rush go.

Na like spirit I dey fly—bus, keke, leg I trek. For family, if you slow, dem go drag your name for mud.

Doctor say injury bad, amputation sure, make we decide quick, else the other leg fit spoil.

Naija doctors dey always shout urgency. "Decide now, time no dey!" The way e talk am, even my leg shake.

Uncle and aunt just dey cry for phone, no fit decide.

Dem voice dey break, burial ground level.

My cousin dey beg for conservative treatment.

Ebuka use all the tears for him body: "Abeg, no cut my leg!" For Naija, leg na pride. If you lose am, stigma go follow.

Doctor dey pressure me, so I try beg dem to listen.

I try talk sense, but stubbornness no gree go. For my mind: "If I no act, wahala go double."

Uncle and aunt drag leg till last minute, finally gree for amputation.

Nobody wan carry bad decision. Dem drag till doctor almost vex.

But dem no reach on time, so na me sign paper for them.

As usual, na me be scapegoat. Signature na my name. From that day, family meeting, my matter na always last.

Who know say, as Ebuka wake up see say e right leg don go, na so e begin shout, scatter everywhere for ward.

He fling pillow, dey curse, even try bite nurse like say na suya. Ward people dey fear to near am.

He even curse me say I no want make am better, say na to destroy am I want.

Dem swear for me, say if na abroad, family for sue me. E pain me, but wetin I go do?

By then uncle and aunt don reach, but dem just keep quiet, push blame give me.

Na Naija style—keep face for outsider, but chop your own behind closed doors. Dem just dey look me like say na me kill person.

Later, dem talk say nobody to take care of goats and chickens for village, so dem rush go back, dump my cousin for my new flat, make I look after am.

See ehn, village wahala. As soon as dem see say wahala pass dem power, na so dem run leave am for city pikin.

After that, my cousin refuse to go, say na me go dey responsible.

He lock room, dey form big man. Any small thing, "Chijioke! Bring water!" as if I be houseboy.

He even push me from 12th floor on my wedding day, carry my fiancée join.

Nobody fit believe am. Gist still dey fly for Estate Palava WhatsApp group. "Na family wahala cause am," dem talk.