Chapter 2: Halima’s Curse and the Spirit Tree

"Na woman."

My aunt wipe her eyes, join mouth, "Na that mute orphan girl for village, Halima. About two weeks ago, she fall seriously sick. The pikin think say na die she wan die, so out of frustration, she hang herself. But she no hang for house o. She hang herself for one old iroko tree for her compound, the tree sef don die for many years. But the strange thing be say, the day after Halima die—

Her voice choke, then she sob again, "People dey talk say as Halima spirit waka, na so the dead iroko tree for her yard, overnight, just burst full with flowers. The flowers red, fine well-well. I even go see am that time. But as night reach, all the flowers for that tree wither finish."

"True-true?" Mallam Danladi sigh deep, then ask, "Your son and Halima, dem get any connection?"

My aunt clear throat, "My grandson no get anything with Halima. He dey on im own, na good boy."

Before my aunt fit talk, Baba Musa rush talk, "Old brother, my grandson own... Na Halima dey worry am? That pikin get wahala. She no dey talk, but her eye sharp, she sabi pass her age. Who for this village no know say iroko tree dey pursue evil? But Halima still hang herself for the iroko tree. Me, I no understand her at all."

One old woman, Mama Nkechi, nod her head from back, "Iroko tree na spirit tree o. Nobody for my mother side go ever let iroko tree stand for front yard, talk less of person hang for am."

"Iroko tree dey suppress evil, but..." Mallam Danladi frown, "Halima no suppose fit do anything. But young man wey get full strength, go sleep for woman grave—That one no pure at all."

As he talk am, he turn face my aunt again, "Tell me your son birthday and the time he born."