Chapter 6: School Bells and Jerusalem Chain

I just hold the spirit, no let her follow Yinyin again.

I dey follow Papa new family from far.

Sometimes I go perch for fence, dey count star for sky, dey watch as dem dey live life wey no send me. I go dey hum song wey Mama dey sing for me when I small, just to feel near dem.

Yinyin dey attract plenty wandering spirit.

Some dey pass, dey look her with greedy eye. Some go try enter house, but I go block dem. I no tire. Na so four years waka pass.

But I too dey crave small warmth.

My own chest dey cold. Sometimes I go wish for ordinary hand touch, or even small smile. Spirit life no easy at all.

So I go stand for window, dey look Papa.

On the first day wey Yinyin start primary school, aunty cook plenty sweet food.

She dey sing, dey fry dodo, the aroma dey wake memory for house. I fit see Yinyin dey bounce for kitchen, dey drag wrapper.

She try tie her shoelace, tongue out, just the way I used to do when Mama dey rush us for school gate.

She pack Yinyin bag with snacks and toy.

The lunchbox fine, with cartoon sticker. Even the water bottle new, get pink ribbon.

Papa pat her head, say:

“Yinyin, if you fit read, read. If you no fit, just chop well.”

My chest just heavy me.

Papa dey talk the same thing wey him dey tell me before.

Na the same pat, the same smile, the same hope. My spirit twist, dey wonder if I be memory wey no dey matter again.

I stand for window dey mumble:

“Papa, Yanyan dey hungry. You never do remembrance for me again, you never bring anything for me chop.”

I dey wish say breeze go carry my talk reach am. Even if na piece of chin chin, e for do me.

When Yinyin waka come out, she point window, talk:

“Daddy, big sister…”

Her voice light, like breeze wey dey blow early morning. Her finger steady, eye dey wide.

Papa face change sharp sharp. He look the window strong.

His face squeeze like person wey swallow bitter leaf. For that moment, I see fear and regret join for him eye.

I wan hide, but I forget say Papa no dey see me at all.

For spirit world, you fit dey everywhere, but nobody dey see you. Sometimes e dey pain, sometimes e dey free.

After Papa and Yinyin commot, aunty kneel for window, dey cry, dey beg me:

“Yanyan, abeg go meet your mama. She don go Palm Grove—dem say the place fine, she even born small brother for you. If you wan find person, go find dem. Abeg, no hurt Yinyin, I dey beg you.”

Her tears dey flow like rain wey no wan stop. She hold window frame, dey shake. Her wrapper dey soak for sweat and dust.

“Aunty dey beg you.”

She knock head for ground tire, blood come out for her forehead.

The ground stain red, her voice dey crack. People for compound go begin wonder, but nobody fit understand wetin she dey fight.

Papa no talk anything. Next day, one Jerusalem chain appear for Yinyin neck.

The chain work o.

Anytime I try go near, e go burn me, I go weak for days.

My spirit go dey hot, as if pepper enter my bone. I go roll for ground, dey beg for breeze.

The good thing be say, I no need guard Yinyin again day and night.

Any spirit, even me, no fit near her again.

The chain dey shine for her neck like small river. Dem say na Jerusalem chain, blessed by seven prophetess.

As years dey pass, my spirit dey weak, I know say I no go fit last another year for this world.

Even to float begin tire me. My eye dey dull, memory dey fade. I know say my time dey near.

Aunty talk say Mama get small brother now.

Make I go see them—even if na from far.

Hope dey pinch my heart small. If I see Mama, maybe I fit rest.