Chapter 7: Old Man Yarn

The next day, I carry the threshold go meet the old man.

I tie am for nylon, waka like person wey dey go drop evil load. I no even greet anybody for road.

I ask am if na real iroko wood.

I talk am sharp, “Oga, abeg, na true iroko wood be this?”

The old man gree say no be iroko wood.

E nod head slow, “No be iroko o. Na another thing.”

But e no know why I go find Spirit Gate Threshold.

E scratch chin, look me deep, “But you, why you dey find this kain wood for that side?”

I vex, drop the threshold for ground. “This na Spirit Gate Threshold! Last night ghost dey knock head for am. Two more days, Spirit Gate go open, we go die finish!”

My voice high, I fit cry. People for market dey look us, I no even send.

The old man say, “Na mahogany wood be this. Between mahogany and iroko wood, which one you think dey open Spirit Gate?”

He cross leg, like say e wan teach me lesson. I just dey look am with corner eye.

I confuse.

I scratch head, my own juju knowledge no reach this side. I dey lost.

He explain, “Mahogany wood na yang, e dey block ghost. Iroko wood dey carry ghost; if you use am as threshold, na bridge for ghost be that. Your hostel dey Spirit Gate—if you put iroko wood threshold, na hundred ghost you dey invite!”

He pause, look me like say I be stubborn goat. E shake head.

Suddenly, I reason am—no be true say iroko wood dey attract ghost? Since small, dem dey talk say ghost dey live for iroko tree. Why I no remember?

I flashback to the old stories wey grandma dey tell us by firelight. “If you see iroko, no pluck leaf o!” My skin crawl. I really dull.

But my best friend no fit lie give me, we grow up together. I no fit doubt her just because of old man.

I dey reason say two of dem no fit dey lie, but who I go believe now?

So I ask the old man wetin e be, why e sabi all this.

I cross hand for chest, “Uncle, how you take sabi all this spirit matter?”

He talk say the hill behind school na mass grave before, plenty wronged souls dey there, no fit rest. Him family don dey guard Spirit Gate for three generations. But dem turn the place to university. Teachers no believe ghost, stubborn, build hostel for there—girls hostel join! Na so every year, some students for our school dey die anyhow. All of dem na people wey stay my hostel room.

His face dark, like say e dey remember something wey e no fit talk finish. “Every year, pikin go die for that room. Nobody dey hear.”

Nearby market women cross themselves and mutter, “Chineke!”

Fear grip me. I don hear say people dey die for our school before, but I think say na normal thing. I no know say na my hostel room dey cause am.

My body cold like fufu water. The thing shock me. I remember one fine girl last year wey just disappear, dem say na typhoid kill am.

Then old man ask, “After you put mahogany wood threshold yesterday, your three roommates no enter room?”

He lean forward, eyebrow raise. “Dem show face?”

I say dem fear ghost, sleep for another hostel.

I yarn am, “Dem run o, say dem no wan stay with ghost matter.”

The old man laugh, “No be ghost dem fear. Dem be ghost—dem no fit cross threshold!”

The laugh loud, like thunder. E almost choke me.

I think say the man dey lie. If my roommates na ghost, who be the man wey dey climb bed for night?

I dey think, dey shake head. If na dem, then who be the ghost dey disturb us before?

Old man see say I no believe, say, “Go back tonight, put each roommate shoe for their bed—one toe face in, one face out. If dem be human, nothing go happen. If na ghost, dem go lost, no go fit enter bed.”

E voice calm, e face sure. Like say e dey do ordinary mathematics.

I waka go, half believe, half doubt.

I drag leg go hostel, mind heavy. For my mind, na wetin I go see for night remain.