Chapter 5: Mango Tree Decision

Ifeoma’s mama na just ordinary maid wey my papa no like at all.

People for compound dey whisper say na charm she use. But papa bone strong, he no send. But the pikin—na wahala.

But she always act weak, making it look like I dey bully her pikin.

Even elders dey believe am. She dey twist her mouth, dey clean eye with wrapper. Pity dey help dem win.

And every time, Tunde go just show up as I dey ‘bully’ Ifeoma.

The timing too perfect. E be like person dey use juju clock.

Na wa o, he no dey see through her tricks, always falling for am.

Some people dey say love dey blind. E be like na true.

For this my younger sister, he dey talk to me anyhow and always quarrel with me.

Sometimes, I just dey wonder if na only me dey see the game. But my mama sabi my pain.

……

“Mama, I no wan marry Tunde.”

I talk am with clear mind, voice no shake. My chest dey strong, but my heart dey cut.

That evening, as my mama returned from my grandparents’ house, I told her straight.

Na for backyard, under mango tree. My mama carry basket of okro. Sun dey set, sky dey red. She stop, look me well.

Mama shock, then frown.

She drop the basket for ground, eye sharp. "Amaka, wetin you talk?"

“Amaka, I hear wetin happen today. Tunde really overdo, but that small witch for backyard dey like her mama, always dey plan how to seduce men.”

My mama dey vex, her voice low. She fit curse if not for mouth wey dey outside.

Mama touched my pale face, pain showing in her eyes, her teeth clenched in anger. She use her wrapper clean my face, the cloth dey smell of ogbono soup and sun.

She use her thumb wipe my cheek. Her hand dey cold, but e give me small courage.

“No worry, I don talk to your papa. We go arrange her own wedding same day as your own, marry her off quick so she no go disturb again.”

She dey reason like true Igbo woman—quick fix, sharp sharp, make wahala no grow.

But I shook my head and looked at Mama seriously. “No, I no fit marry Tunde.”

My eye strong, my voice soft. I ready.

“He like Ifeoma, and Ifeoma no happy with her own marriage. She get feelings for Tunde, she dey eye my marriage. Since both of them want am, make we just help them.”

Mama jaw drop. For that moment, she forget her anger. My words surprise am.

I saw Mama’s shock, then I smiled. “Mama, abeg, go talk to Aunty Ngozi, see if dem go agree to swap the marriage.”

As I smile, I see tears for my mama eye. She no know say her pikin get that kind wisdom. E pain her, but she respect my choice.