Chapter 9: Town Bound

Wild spirit papa, after selling salt, carry the money, say make we go town.

E pack all the money for old leather pouch, dey swing am for hand like big man. I fear thief, so I carry our only valuable thing for back. Na Mama last wrapper, I tie am with double knot for waist.

I see donkey cart for front, I shock: “Where you get this one?” I never see am before. For this village, donkey na big man transport.

“I borrow am, why you dey ask plenty question?”

E frown, but eye dey shine. I just humble myself, no want wahala.

Wild spirit papa wave him big hand, I just dodge back. If e too near, e fit pour another spirit cold for my body.

I climb cart, after one hour, we reach town gate. Na first time my leg dey touch town since I born. I dey peep from corner.

The gate guard fierce, dey wave cutlass: “Come down! Wetin carry you come?”

The man tall, voice loud, eye dey shine like new coin. I dey hide behind wild spirit papa.

“Oga, I come buy cloth for my pikin, and help villagers buy some things.”

Wild spirit papa no dey fear anybody. E talk am with confidence, dey smile, dey show teeth.

Wild spirit papa smile, bring out plenty cowries, dash the guards. The guards dey greedy—once dem see money, their face change like chameleon. Their face change sharp sharp.

Dem even call us 'my people', open gate wide. They keep cutlass, weigh the money, let us pass.

I dey shake small, but I dey hide am. Na so bribe dey work for this town.

Na my first time for town. Town dey busy, full with noise and colours. I never see so many people, so many big houses. My head dey turn. My mouth open, I no fit close am again. My two eyes no even reach.

I dey try watch left, right, centre. My neck dey pain me.

The smell of fried akara full air, traders dey shout for road, dust dey rise as people waka pass, market dey boil.

Wild spirit papa no stop, just dey drive donkey cart enter quiet street. E no even slow down to look at market woman or smell fried akara. I no understand.

I dey worry say e fit do another trick. I dey hold my things tight.

I quick hold him sleeve, ask, “Where you dey carry me go?”

Fear dey my voice, I dey hope say e no go vex. I remember how elders warn say make you no follow spirit enter strange place, but hunger and wahala don blind my sense.

“To go sell you, hahahaha.” He just dey laugh. E laugh so, the donkey sef jump.

He use whip, donkey cart speed up. The speed make my heart jump reach mouth. I dey fear true true.

Fear catch me: “You wicked! You no be my papa—my papa no go ever sell me.”

I dey shout, dey cry small. Nobody for street even look us twice.

“Your papa no sell your sister before? To sell another one no be big thing.”

E drop the words like stone. I dey freeze, dey remember the truth I no wan hear.

I just quiet. I swallow spit, dey look floor. My heart dey heavy like stone.

Real papa, wild spirit papa—none good.

I dey wonder if na so all men be. My heart dey break small.

After small silence, I beg softly: “Abeg, fit sell me go where my sister dey? I wan stay with her.”

I use small voice, dey plead like person wey dey beg for last ball of eba.

Wild spirit papa quick agree: “No wahala.”

E talk am like say na small thing. I dey hope say e go keep him word.