Chapter 6: Corridor Fear and Peephole Palava

As everybody dey drag feet, 402 talk again: [Why e go hard? Them dey my side. I go knock, check them.]

E talk am like person wey dey ready to act, no fear.

504 reply sharp: [No wahala, just shine eye, see wetin dey happen.]

504 get street sense—e fit dey play hero, but e still wan make person dey careful.

601 and 302 warn am—no go accuse person o, just show say you dey concerned.

E good as dem talk am, make e no be like say we dey carry false accusation for head.

As I read am, my mind just stand. Sleep no dey my eye again. I waka go entryway, stand for door.

My heart dey beat as if dem dey drum am for church service. I carry body stand gidigba for door, just dey hope say nothing go sup.

Because fire escape bend dey outside my door, peephole no dey show other people door.

For this kind block, dem arrange doors anyhow. My own dey face corridor, but e no fit cover everywhere. So na only ear I get.

I no open door, just press ear for am.

For Lagos, na so e dey be—you press ear, dey form James Bond.

I hear door close—na 402 waka commot.

E gentle, no even ring 404 bell, just knock small.

E be like say e use knuckle touch wood gently, as if e dey test water before enter river.

Then, wahala start:

I no hear any talk between them.

I try adjust ear, even hold breath—no sound, no whisper. Na dead silence.

I no hear 404 door open, but I hear am close well well.

That kain close, you go hear for bone—gbam! My mind jump.

I confuse o.

How 404 door go close if e no open? Abi spirit dey inside? I reason the matter sotey my head dey pain.

Na so?

E get as e be. Something no clear at all. My body begin cold.

Maybe them just dey talk low, or something else dey?

I begin dey reason jazz, or maybe na family quarrel dem dey settle low-low. But fear still dey my belly.

Corridor smell like soaked mop and yesterday’s ogiri—block wahala no dey ever hide. God abeg, no let wahala jam me for this block.