Must Read: The Player

6 years ago

Must Read: The Player

She was waiting when I got to the house. I had to knock five times consecutively for her to open the door. The only other people that knew that pattern was Ugo, Tope and Ogechi.

“Where have you been?” she asked, visibly worried.

“I went to church.”

“Are you serious?” she asked.

I didn’t reply her; instead I gave her the food I had gotten. I confirmed that she had taken her drugs and I retired to my room.

The house was empty; the only cozy place was Hanatu’s room. She had moved into our parent’s room. It once had a television, but I sold it last month. My room had a mattress and a table which doubled as my wardrobe, as my clothes were folded on it. In the estate, we had taps and all but water never ran, electricity was epileptic so we didn’t bother that NEPA had cut our lines a long time ago. My priorities were straight, food and drugs. Electricity and all were luxuries that didn’t bother me.

Just as I sat on my mattress, having ensured that Hana was ready for bed, she came into my room. She was 10yrs old but looked smaller. She was also too lean for comfort. She was a J.S.S 2 student in a cheap private school in the estate, very close to the house.

“I’m scared, can I sleep in your room tonight?” she asked.

“Why are you scared, what happened?”

“Somebody in class called me a sickler, he said I would soon die,” she replied.

“Don’t mind him, you will not die, you are strong,” I assured her.

She giggled and lay down beside me.
“I know, it just got me thinking. So can I stay here?”
“Of course, mama.”

I have been calling her mama since I could remember. It’s the name dad called her too.
“Thanks bro. I want you to promise me something”

“What?” I asked.

“That you will never leave me alone.”
“I promise, dear”
She smiled happily and turned facing the wall. I left the room to get her blanket and some drugs in case she needed it at midnight. The questions she had asked me and what her classmate had told her in school got to me. I didn’t know I was crying until the tears came between my lips.

She was asleep when I got back into the room.
I covered her with the blanket and slept beside her.

I dropped her off at school daily but that morning I lingered, I told her to point out the boy that said she would die. When he came in, I called his attention and led him to the school toilet.
“Do you know who I am?” I asked him after we got in.

“No,” the obviously pompous boy replied.

“I am Hanatu’s brother, and the next time you say any hurtful words to her, I will kill you.”

I must have looked serious because he tried running away. I caught him and twisted his eyes till he cried out in pain. I didn’t care that he was way younger than I was, I wanted to bury my fist in his face but I let him go.

Hanatu was all I had, and I was going to protect her with whatever was necessary. I exited the school and boarded a bus that led me to mine.