Chapter 6: House of Many Sisters

"Small bro, you still dey school or you dey work?"

Na Morayo dey ask. She dey smile, dey shine teeth.

"Just finish school."

My voice small, like say I dey beg. Everybody dey look me like TV.

"You don get work?"

"No, I dey prepare for masters."

I dey try maintain form, but my mouth dry. I dey hope dem no go ask wetin I study, because I dey shame small.

"Why you come dey here? No better to go house?"

That one pain me small, but I just gree talk true.

"When I still dey run up and down with open yansh, I tell my mama say when I grow, I no go collect shishi from house."

Dem burst laugh, some nearly fall chair. That one soft the tension.

"Hahaha, you get mind!"

Everybody dey hail me. Na so dem begin introduce themselves. The room warm, laughter full everywhere.

After small drink, everywhere come dey lively. Everybody introduce themselves.

Morayo na real Lagos babe—her English dey blend, but her Yoruba accent still dey show. She sabi cook, sabi laugh. Na her room big pass.

The fine girl for master bedroom na Morayo—the one with white feet and pink slippers.

The two for second room be Zainab and Ifeoma, besties wey dey work for big supermarket. Zainab dey buy things for store, Ifeoma na cashier. Most of the house things na sample Zainab dey bring.

Dem dey act like twins. Any time you see Zainab, Ifeoma dey her back. Dem sabi gist, sabi package. House always get tissue, soap and Maltina because of dem.

The girl for third room, just finish school too. She don try work here and there but e no fit her, she dey shy. Her name na Amaka.

Amaka dey always hide. E be like say world too big for her. She dey greet soft, dey smile small, but na only when you call her name she go answer.

Temi, you already sabi her.

Temi dey keep to herself, but she get fine handwriting. All her jotter neat, dem dey arrange for shelf.

Two more sisters: one, about thirty, dey sell health product, short hair, sharp woman, dey drink direct from cup—Aunty Halima. The other, age I no sure but she never reach thirty, dey talk sweet—Sister Bisi.

Aunty Halima na original business woman, her Yoruba sweet. Sister Bisi dey always smile, dey wear Ankara like party dey every day. Her perfume dey enter nose quick.

The food no too plenty—na mixture: grilled chicken, pizza, stir fry, malt, beer. But I chop with joy.

For my mind, e dey like Christmas. I dey wonder when last I chop chicken and pizza for one table. I thank God say I manage come this house.

"Erm, I fit disturb una small," Morayo raise hand. "My boyfriend fit come stay two days."

Her voice gentle, but e get that small fear. Everybody dey look her, dey wait who go talk first.

Me I no mind. For shared house, partner dey come visit sometimes.

I just bone face, dey reason my own. As long as boyfriend no find my trouble, e dey okay.

First, Temi blush, say, "I don belleful." Then Ifeoma waka: "Na just two days, abi?" Last last, Sister Bisi laugh: "No too do, abeg."

Everybody just dey cruise. Na so life be if people get understanding.