Chapter 6: The Long Battle

I no expect say Chika go hate me, the stepmother, like that.

First day I enter Okafor house, he throw cup for my leg.

“Go. All of una, comot. I want Mama.”

That cup heavy, e knock my shin. The pain shock me, but na the words pain pass. The boy eye red, tears dey hide for corner. For that moment, I know say journey no go easy.

Chief Okafor just sigh behind me.

“His mama die early, and later we see say this pikin different from other children.

Dem say na autism three years ago, since then he don chase seven nannies comot.”

Chief Okafor voice low, the pain for him chest clear. I dey look am, dey see the worry for him face. E clear say him don tire for wahala.

I look the pikin wey curl for bay window,

Six years old, curl like baby, fingers dey pick the window frame.

Chika just dey look outside, as if him dey find way comot. Him feet dey tap for ground, him eye dey far. I kneel small, dey pray for strength.

I begin learn about autism,

Use ABA method, dey do daily routine cards,

Make sure Chika dey chop and take medicine on time.

But he dey always hide the medicine for cheek,

Go spit am for flowerpot as I turn back.

I read, I ask questions. I try join WhatsApp group for parents with special children. Some days, Chika go let me sit near am, other days, e go just hiss and run. I try put smile for my face even when e hard. But the struggle no small.

But e still better small small,

He begin take medicine, allow me come near.

Na so we dey make small progress. Sometimes, if e no too vex, e go let me hold am for hand. I dey count every little win, dey thank God for the small small joy wey dey come.

Now, four years don pass.

My mind just dey play old memory like film.

The pain wan drown me.

I dey think of all the times wey I try, all the nights wey I no sleep, dey beg God make Chika accept me. But today, I just dey empty.