Chapter 14: Mama Lion

When Chinelo’s mama carry me come back from chief’s court, na 9 p.m. already.

The sky dark, generator noise dey everywhere. My body dey weak, but I dey safe.

"Nelo, go baff. I wan go carry your sister."

Her voice low. She dey try hide her pain, but her face show everything.

"Okay."

I nod, try smile. For my mind, I dey pray make nothing bad happen to her.

As I see her eye swell, red from cry, my heart dey pain me.

I dey reason say, even strong woman dey break sometimes. She fight for me today, I no go forget am.

Truth be say, nothing do me today. I even break two teeth for the pervert. But Chinelo’s mama just dey blame herself for no picking me after school.

She dey mutter, "If to say I come early... If to say I hold her hand..." I wan hug her, but I no sure if e go right.

She really try. With dirty wrapper, she rush come chief’s court, dey try hold herself. But when she hear say na the third time the man do am, this gentle woman turn lion.

She shout for court, "If una no jail am, I go show una wetin Lagos woman fit do!" She swear for the man, say thunder go fire am if he near her pikin again. Na so people hold am. The elders dey beg her, chief dey nod head.

She grab the man hair, drag am for ground, wan use chair break his head. If no be community elders, she for finish am there.

People dey shout, "Leave am, leave am!" But she no gree. E shock everybody. Na so I sabi say true love dey strong pass muscle.

She call Chinelo’s papa, he just talk: "You dey disgrace us. Make una come house quick."

Him voice cold, no concern. I dey vex, but I no fit talk.

I don used to the man wahala, but I no expect say as I open door, he rush slap me hard for face.

The hotness blind my eye. My cheek burn, but I no cry. For this house, tear na weakness.

My mind dey scatter. For my head, I dey think: "So, na like this dem dey treat person for poor house?"

"You this useless girl,