Chapter 4: WhatsApp Police and Block Tension

Because 504 quick send another message:

[@404 Abeg, no dey fear us then just go sleep! If you no explain, I go call police o.]

That kain warning fit wake spirit sef—everybody for Nigeria dey fear police wahala.

Na then 404 reply:

[Na joke I dey joke, the pikin mama just wake up feed am, calm am. E no dey cry again.]

E add small laughing emoji, as if e wan use cruise cover tension.

Na that time I fit relax small.

I reason say if na joke, e good—no need make community wahala start because of cry pikin.

But somehow, nobody reply for the group again—maybe everybody just dey fear.

You know the kain fear wey dey hang for air, like say everybody dey look mirror dey reason demself.

I wan drop my phone sleep, na im another notification land.

Phone vibrate sotey e nearly fall for tile. My heart beat two times, because I think say na another midnight alarm.

I open am—na the group wey we use when we first move in, dey buy furniture together.

That group na special level—people dey drop plug for carpenter, dey argue price of generator, or dey yarn how NEPA wicked.

404 no dey that group.

From day one, 404 never ask for plug or market price—maybe e get money, maybe e no just wan mix.

First to talk na 504:

[Una see am? Something dey wrong with 404.]

You fit hear the worry for e text. 504 no dey ever too talk, unless gist serious.

402 answer sharp sharp: [Wetin dey wrong?]

E add question mark sotey space remain, show say curiosity dey finish am.

504 just dey drop message back to back:

[The baby cry for almost thirty minutes, the mama no feed am?]

[And baby no be like adult—if them dey cry, even after you feed am, e go still sob small, e no go just stop like switch.]

[I just dey reason say something no pure.]

E drop 'hmm' and 'God abeg' join. Somebody drop that sticker wey pastor dey wipe sweat for forehead—fear dey block.