Chapter 7: When We First Meet

3

I be one small noble lady wey nobody send.

One year ago, because I wear the same colour as chief wife, she punish me for three hours say I no get respect.

Na that time, Auwalu come bring iced watermelon and fruit. With small talk, e make chief wife laugh, help me escape punishment.

I go find am, wan reward am.

But I jam am dey get punishment from old steward.

For hot dry season, dem pour hot tea for the boy body, but e still kneel straight like iroko tree.

E no get all those beg beg wey stewards dey do.

Instead, e get strong mind.

Me—wife wey dem nearly banish go cold room.

After all these things, I feel say we dey suffer the same wahala.

I pity am small.

So I send person go ask am quietly if e go gree serve for my side of the compound.

“E no reach as good as serve Chief, but work easy.”

Even though my rank no high, my family still get money.

“If you follow me, I no go do you anyhow.”

I talk am from my heart.

Auwalu shock small.

For him almost perfect, rain-wash eye, smile show small.

“Thank you for your favour, Madam, but this servant lucky to dey serve Chief, e no easy to leave.”

E reject am with correct respect.

That day, sun dey shine well.

E long, fine eye lift small, but e no cross boundary look me direct.

E eye land for the baobab behind me—respectful, calm.

E get one kind aura wey ordinary steward no get.

My heart skip beat—

Steward Auwalu fine no be small.

As I dey remember that day, na the sun wey hot pass for harmattan dey my mind. The way Auwalu dey kneel, even as old steward dey pour hot tea for e back, e no cry, e no beg—na strong head wey I never see for any servant. I pity am well, because me self dey face wahala for compound, my heart no get rest. When I offer am space for my side, na from deep place for my spirit. But e still maintain e code, show me respect, no cross line. E kind of gentle pass ordinary, the kind wey fit make person question the world. As e look that baobab tree, e eyes shine like star for dry season. Sometimes, I wonder if e dey hide more than I fit see.