http://www.newyorker.

com/magazine/2007/01/29/cell-one
Fiction JANUARY 29, 2007 ISSUE
Cell One
BY CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE

Thefirsttimeourhousewasrobbed,itwasourneighborOsitawhoclimbedinthrough
thediningroomwindowandstoleourTVandVCR,andthePurpleRainand
ThrillervideotapesthatmyfatherhadbroughtbackfromAmerica.Thesecondtime
ourhousewasrobbed,itwasmybrotherNnamabia,whofakedabreakinandstolemy
mothersjewelry.IthappenedonaSunday.Myparentshadtravelledtotheirhome
towntovisitourgrandparents,soNnamabiaandIwenttochurchalone.Hedrovemy
mothersgreenPeugeot504.Wesattogetherinchurchasweusuallydid,butwedid
nothavetimetonudgeeachotherandstiflegigglesaboutsomebodysuglyhator
threadbarecaftan,becauseNnamabialeftwithoutawordaftertenminutes.Hecame
backjustbeforethepriestsaid,TheMassisended,goinpeace.Iwasalittlepiqued.I
imaginedthathehadgoneofftosmokeortoseesomegirl,sincehehadthecarto
himselfforonce;buthecouldatleasthavetoldme.Wedrovehomeinsilence,and
whenheparkedinourlongdrivewayIstayedbacktopicksomeixoraflowerswhile
Nnamabiaunlockedthefrontdoor.Iwentinsidetofindhimstandinginthemiddleof
theparlor.
Wevebeenrobbed!hesaid.
Ittookmeamomenttotakeintheroom.Eventhen,Ifeltthattherewasatheatrical
qualitytothewaythedrawershadbeenflungopen.OrperhapsitwassimplythatI
knewmybrothertoowell.Later,whenmyparentshadcomehomeandneighborsbegan
totroopintosayndosorryandtosnaptheirfingersandheavetheirshouldersup
anddown,Isataloneinmyroomupstairsandrealizedwhatthequeasinessinmygut
was:Nnamabiahaddoneit,Iknew.Myfatherknew,too.Hepointedoutthatthe
windowlouvreshadbeenslippedoutfromtheinside,ratherthanfromtheoutside
(Nnamabiawasusuallysmarterthanthatperhapshehadbeeninahurrytogetbackto
churchbeforeMassended),andthattherobberknewexactlywheremymothers
jewelrywas:inthebackleftcornerofhermetaltrunk.Nnamabiastaredatmyfather
withwoundedeyesandsaidthathemayhavedonehorriblethingsinthepast,things
thathadcausedmyparentspain,butthathehaddonenothinginthiscase.Hewalked
outthebackdooranddidnotcomehomethatnight.Orthenextnight.Orthenight
after.Twoweekslater,hecamehomegaunt,smellingofbeer,crying,sayinghewas
sorry,thathehadpawnedthejewelrytotheHausatradersinEnugu,andthatallthe
moneywasgone.
Howmuchdidtheygiveyouformygold?ourmotheraskedhim.Andwhenhetold
hersheplacedbothhandsonherheadandcried,Oh!Oh!Chi m egbuo m!MyGod
haskilledme!Iwantedtoslapher.MyfatheraskedNnamabiatowriteareport:how

hehadpawnedthejewelry,whathehadspentthemoneyon,withwhomhehadspentit.
IdidntthinkthatNnamabiawouldtellthetruth,andIdontthinkthatmyfather
thoughthewould,buthelikedreports,myprofessorfather,helikedtohavethings
writtendownandnicelydocumented.Besides,Nnamabiawasseventeen,witha
carefullytendedbeard.Hewasalreadybetweensecondaryschoolanduniversity,and
wastoooldforcaning.Whatelsecouldmyfatherhavedone?AfterNnamabiahad
writtenthereport,myfatherfileditinthesteelcabinetinhisstudywherehekeptour
schoolpapers.
Thathecouldhurthismotherlikethat!wasthelastthingmyfathersaidonthe
subject.
ButNnamabiahadntsetouttohurther.Hehaddoneitbecausemymothersjewelry
wastheonlythingofanyvalueinthehouse:alifetimesaccumulationofsolidgold
pieces.Hehaddoneit,too,becauseothersonsofprofessorsweredoingit.Thiswasthe
seasonoftheftsonourserenecampus.BoyswhohadgrownupwatchingSesame
Street,readingEnidBlyton,eatingcornflakesforbreakfast,andattendingthe
universitystaffprimaryschoolinpolishedbrownsandalswerenowcuttingthroughthe
mosquitonettingoftheirneighborswindows,slidingoutglasslouvres,andclimbingin
tostealTVsandVCRs.Weknewthethieves.Still,whentheprofessorssawone
anotheratthestaffcluboratchurchoratafacultymeeting,theywerecarefultomoan
abouttheriffrafffromtowncomingontotheirsacredcampustosteal.
Thethievingboyswerethepopularones.Theydrovetheirparentscarsintheevening,
theirseatspushedbackandtheirarmsstretchedouttoreachthesteeringwheel.Osita,
ourneighborwhohadstolenourTVonlyweeksbeforeNnamabiastheft,waslitheand
handsomeinabroodingsortofway,andwalkedwiththegraceofacat.Hisshirtswere
alwayscrisplyironed,andIusedtowatchhimacrossthehedge,thenclosemyeyesand
imaginethathewaswalkingtowardme,comingtoclaimmeashis.Henevernoticed
me.Whenhestolefromus,myparentsdidnotgoovertoProfessorEbubeshouseto
askforourthingsback.ButtheyknewitwasOsita.Ositawastwoyearsolderthan
Nnamabia;mostofthethievingboyswerealittleolderthanNnamabia,andmaybethat
waswhyNnamabiahadnotstolenfromanotherpersonshouse.Perhapshedidnotfeel
oldenough,qualifiedenough,foranythingmoreseriousthanmymothersjewelry.
Nnamabialookedjustlikemymotherhehadherfaircomplexionandlargeeyes,and
agenerousmouththatcurvedperfectly.Whenmymothertookustothemarket,traders
wouldcallout,Hey!Madam,whydidyouwasteyourfairskinonaboyandleavethe
girlsodark?Whatisaboydoingwithallthisbeauty?Andmymotherwouldchuckle,
asthoughshetookamischievousandjoyfulresponsibilityforNnamabiaslooks.
When,ateleven,Nnamabiabrokethewindowofhisclassroomwithastone,mymother
gavehimthemoneytoreplaceitanddidnttellmyfather.When,afewyearslater,he
tookthekeytomyfatherscarandpresseditintoabarofsoapthatmyfatherfound
beforeNnamabiacouldtakeittoalocksmith,shemadevaguesoundsabouthowhewas
justexperimentinganditdidntmeananything.Whenhestoletheexamquestionsfrom
thestudyandsoldthemtomyfathersstudents,sheyelledathim,butthentoldmy
fatherthatNnamabiawassixteen,afterall,andreallyshouldbegivenmorepocket
money.

IdontknowwhetherNnamabiafeltremorseforstealingherjewelry.Icouldnot
alwaystellfrommybrothersgracious,smilingfacewhathereallyfelt.HeandIdidnot
talkaboutit,andneitherdidmyparents.Eventhoughmymotherssisterssenthertheir
goldearrings,eventhoughsheboughtanewgoldchainfromMrs.Moziethe
glamorouswomanwhoimportedgoldfromItalyandbegantodrivetoMrs.Mozies
houseonceamonthtopayininstallments,wenevertalkedaboutwhathadhappenedto
herjewelry.ItwasasifbypretendingthatNnamabiahadnotdonethethingshehad
donewecouldgivehimtheopportunitytostartafresh.Therobberymightneverhave
beenmentionedagainifNnamabiahadnotbeenarrestedtwoyearslater,inhissecond
yearofuniversity.
Bythen,itwastheseasonofcultsontheNsukkacampus,whensignsalloverthe
universityreadinboldletters,SAY NO TO CULTS.TheBlackAxe,theBuccaneers,
andthePirateswerethebestknown.Theyhadoncebeenbenignfraternities,butthey
hadevolved,andnoweighteenyearoldswhohadmasteredtheswaggerofAmerican
rapvideoswereundergoingsecretinitiationsthatsometimesleftoneortwoofthem
deadonOdimHill.Gunsandtorturedloyaltiesbecamecommon.Aboywouldleerata
girlwhoturnedouttobethegirlfriendoftheCaponeoftheBlackAxe,andthatboy,as
hewalkedtoakiosklatertobuyacigarette,wouldbestabbedinthethigh.Hewould
turnouttobeaBuccaneer,andsooneofhisfellowBuccaneerswouldgotoabeer
parlorandshootthenearestBlackAxeintheleg,andthenthenextdayanother
Buccaneerwouldbeshotdeadintherefectory,hisbodyfallingontoaluminumplates
ofgarri,andthateveningaBlackAxeaprofessorssonwouldbehackedtodeath
inhisroom,hisCDplayersplatteredwithblood.Itwasinane.Itwassoabnormalthatit
quicklybecamenormal.Girlsstayedintheirroomsafterclasses,andlecturersquivered,
andwhenaflybuzzedtooloudlypeoplejumped.Sothepolicewerecalledin.They
spedacrosscampusintheirricketybluePeugeot505andgloweredatthestudents,their
rustygunspokingoutofthecarwindows.Nnamabiacamehomefromhislectures
laughing.Hethoughtthatthepolicewouldhavetodobetterthanthat;everyoneknew
thecultboyshadnewerguns.
MyparentswatchedNnamabiawithsilentconcern,andIknewthatthey,too,were
wonderingifhewasinacult.Cultboyswerepopular,andNnamabiawasverypopular.
BoysyelledouthisnicknameTheFunk!andshookhishandwheneverhepassed
by,andgirls,especiallythepopularones,huggedhimfortoolongwhentheysaidhello.
Hewenttoalltheparties,thetameonesoncampusandthewilderonesintown,andhe
wasthekindofladiesmanwhowasalsoaguysguy,thekindwhosmokedapacketof
RothmansadayandwasreputedtobeabletofinishacaseofStarbeerinasingle
sitting.Butitseemedmorehisstyletobefriendallthecultboysandyetnotbeone
himself.AndIwasnotentirelysure,either,thatmybrotherhadwhateverittookguts
ordiffidencetojoinacult.
TheonlytimeIaskedhimifhewasinacult,helookedatmewithsurprise,asifI
shouldhaveknownbetterthantoask,beforereplying,Ofcoursenot.Ibelievedhim.
Mydadbelievedhim,too,whenheasked.Butourbelievinghimmadelittledifference,
becausehehadalreadybeenarrestedforbelongingtoacult.

Thisishowithappened.OnahumidMonday,fourcultmemberswaitedatthecampus
gateandwaylaidaprofessordrivingaredMercedes.Theypressedaguntoherhead,
shovedheroutofthecar,anddroveittotheFacultyofEngineering,wheretheyshot
threeboyswhowerecomingoutofthebuilding.Itwasnoon.Iwasinaclassnearby,
andwhenweheardtheshotsourlecturerwasthefirsttorunoutthedoor.Therewas
loudscreaming,andsuddenlythestairwellswerepackedwithscramblingstudents
unsurewheretorun.Outside,thebodieslayonthelawn.TheMercedeshadalready
screechedaway.Manystudentshastilypackedtheirbags,andokadadriverscharged
twicetheusualfaretotakethemtothemotorparktogetonabus.Thevicechancellor
announcedthatalleveningclasseswouldbecancelledandeveryonehadtostayindoors
after9P.M.Thisdidnotmakemuchsensetome,sincetheshootinghadhappenedin
sparklingdaylight,andperhapsitdidnotmakesensetoNnamabia,either,becausethe
firstnightofthecurfewhedidntcomehome.Iassumedthathehadspentthenightata
friends;hedidnotalwayscomehomeanyway.Butthenextmorningasecurityman
cametotellmyparentsthatNnamabiahadbeenarrestedatabarwithsomecultboys
andwasatthepolicestation.Mymotherscreamed,Ekwuzikwana!Dontsaythat!
Myfathercalmlythankedthesecurityman.Wedrovetothepolicestationintown,and
thereaconstablechewingonthetipofadirtypensaid,Youmeanthosecultboys
arrestedlastnight?TheyhavebeentakentoEnugu.Veryseriouscase!Wemuststop
thiscultbusinessonceandforall!
Wegotbackintothecar,andanewfeargrippedusall.Nsukka,whichwasmadeupof
ourslow,insularcampusandtheslower,moreinsulartown,wasmanageable;myfather
knewthepolicesuperintendent.ButEnuguwasanonymous.Therethepolicecoulddo
whattheywerefamousfordoingwhenunderpressuretoproduceresults:killpeople.
TheEnugupolicestationwasinasprawling,sandycompound.Mymotherbribedthe
policemenatthedeskwithmoney,andwithjollofriceandmeat,andtheyallowed
Nnamabiatocomeoutofhiscellandsitonabenchunderamangotreewithus.
Nobodyaskedwhyhehadstayedoutthenightbefore.Nobodysaidthatthepolicewere
wrongtowalkintoabarandarrestalltheboysdrinkingthere,includingthebarman.
Instead,welistenedtoNnamabiatalk.
IfweranNigerialikethiscell,hesaid,wewouldhavenoproblems.Thingsareso
organized.Ourcellhasachiefandhehasasecondincommand,andwhenyoucomein
youareexpectedtogivethemsomemoney.Ifyoudont,youreintrouble.
Anddidyouhaveanymoney?mymotherasked.
Nnamabiasmiled,hisfacemorebeautifulthanever,despitethenewpimplelikeinsect
biteonhisforehead,andsaidthathehadslippedhismoneyintohisanusshortlyafter
thearrest.Heknewthepolicemenwouldtakeitifhedidnthideit,andheknewthathe
wouldneedittobuyhispeaceinthecell.Myparentssaidnothingforawhile.I
imaginedNnamabiarollinghundrednairanotesintoathincigaretteshapeandthen
reachingintothebackofhistrouserstoslipthemintohimself.Later,aswedroveback
toNsukka,myfathersaid,ThisiswhatIshouldhavedonewhenhestoleyourjewelry.
Ishouldhavehadhimlockedupinacell.

Mymotherstaredoutthewindow.
Why?Iasked.
Becausethishasshakenhim.Couldntyousee?myfatheraskedwithasmile.I
couldntseeit.Nnamabiahadseemedfinetome,slippinghismoneyintohisanusand
all.

Well,inthe
weddingofmyboyhooddreamstherewasanopenbar.BUY THE PRINT
NnamabiasfirstshockwasseeingaBuccaneersobbing.Theboywastallandtough,
rumoredtohavecarriedoutoneofthekillingsandlikelytobecomeCaponenext
semester,andyettherehewasinthecell,coweringandsobbingafterthechiefgavehim
alightslaponthebackofthehead.Nnamabiatoldmethisinavoicelinedwithboth
disgustanddisappointment;itwasasifhehadsuddenlybeenmadetoseethatthe
IncredibleHulkwasreallyjustpaintedgreen.Hissecondshockwaslearningaboutthe
cellfarthestawayfromhis,CellOne.Hehadneverseenit,buteverydaytwo
policemencarriedadeadmanoutofCellOne,stoppingbyNnamabiascelltomake
surethatthecorpsewasseenbyall.
Thoseinthecellwhocouldaffordtobuyoldplasticpaintcansofwaterbathedevery
othermorning.Whentheywereletoutintotheyard,thepolicemenwatchedthemand
oftenshouted,StopthatoryouaregoingtoCellOnenow!Nnamabiacouldnot
imagineaplaceworsethanhiscell,whichwassocrowdedthatheoftenstoodpressed
againstthewall.Thewallhadcrackswheretinykwalikwatalived;theirbiteswere
fierceandsharp,andwhenheyelpedhiscellmatesmockedhim.Thebitingwasworse
duringthenight,whentheyallsleptontheirsides,headtofoot,tomakeroomforone
another,exceptthechief,whosleptwithhiswholebacklavishlyonthefloor.Itwas

alsothechiefwhodividedupthetwoplatesofricethatwerepushedintothecellevery
day.Eachpersongottwomouthfuls.
Nnamabiatoldusthisduringthefirstweek.Ashespoke,Iwonderedifthebugsinthe
wallhadbittenhisfaceorifthebumpsspreadingacrosshisforeheadwereduetoan
infection.Someofthemweretippedwithcreamcoloredpus.Onceinawhile,he
scratchedatthem.Iwantedhimtostoptalking.Heseemedtoenjoyhisnewroleasthe
suffererofindignities,andhedidnotunderstandhowluckyhewasthatthepolicemen
allowedhimtocomeoutandeatourfood,orhowstupidhedbeentostayoutdrinking
thatnight,andhowuncertainhischanceswereofbeingreleased.
Wevisitedhimeverydayforthefirstweek.WetookmyfathersoldVolvo,because
mymothersPeugeotwasunsafefortripsoutsideNsukka.Bytheendoftheweek,I
noticedthatmyparentswereactingdifferentlysubtlyso,butdifferently.Myfatherno
longergaveamonologue,assoonaswewerewavedthroughthepolicecheckpoints,on
howilliterateandcorruptthepolicewere.Hedidnotbringupthedaywhentheyhad
delayedusforanhourbecausehedrefusedtobribethem,orhowtheyhadstoppeda
businwhichmybeautifulcousinOgechiwastravellingandsingledheroutandcalled
herawhorebecauseshehadtwocellphones,andaskedherforsomuchmoneythatshe
hadkneltonthegroundintherainbeggingthemtolethergo.Mymotherdidnot
mumblethatthepolicemenweresymptomsofalargermalaise.Instead,myparents
remainedsilent.Itwasasifbyrefusingtocriticizethepolicetheywouldsomehow
makeNnamabiasfreedommorelikely.Delicatewasthewordthesuperintendentat
Nsukkahadused.TogetNnamabiaoutanytimesoonwouldbedelicate,especiallywith
thepolicecommissionerinEnugugivinggloating,preeninginterviewsaboutthearrest
ofthecultists.Thecultproblemwasserious.BigMeninAbujawerefollowingevents.
Everybodywantedtoseemasifheweredoingsomething.
Thesecondweek,ItoldmyparentsthatwewerenotgoingtovisitNnamabia.Wedid
notknowhowlongthiswouldlast,andpetrolwastooexpensiveforustodrivethree
hourseveryday.Besides,itwouldnothurtNnamabiatofendforhimselfforoneday.
MymothersaidthatnobodywasbeggingmetocomeIcouldsitthereanddonothing
whilemyinnocentbrothersuffered.Shestartedwalkingtowardthecar,andIranafter
her.WhenIgotoutside,Iwasnotsurewhattodo,soIpickedupastoneneartheixora
bushandhurleditatthewindshieldoftheVolvo.Iheardthebrittlesoundandsawthe
tinylinesspreadinglikeraysontheglassbeforeIturnedanddashedupstairsandlocked
myselfinmyroom.Iheardmymothershouting.Iheardmyfathersvoice.Finally,
therewassilence.NobodywenttoseeNnamabiathatday.Itsurprisedme,thislittle
victory.
Wevisitedhimthenextday.Wesaidnothingaboutthewindshield,althoughthecracks
hadspreadoutlikeripplesonafrozenstream.Thepolicemanatthedesk,thepleasant
darkskinnedone,askedwhywehadnotcomethedaybeforehehadmissedmy
mothersjollofrice.IexpectedNnamabiatoask,too,eventobeupset,buthelooked
oddlysober.Hedidnoteatallofhisrice.

Whatiswrong?mymothersaid,andNnamabiabegantospeakalmostimmediately,
asifhehadbeenwaitingtobeasked.Anoldmanhadbeenpushedintohiscelltheday
beforeamanperhapsinhismidseventies,whitehaired,skinfinelywrinkled,withan
oldfashioneddignityabouthim.Hissonwaswantedforarmedrobbery,andwhenthe
policehadnotbeenabletofindhissontheyhaddecidedtolockupthefather.
Themandidnothing,Nnamabiasaid.
Butyoudidnothing,either,mymothersaid.
Nnamabiashookhisheadasifourmotherdidnotunderstand.Thefollowingdays,he
wasmoresubdued.Hespokeless,andmostlyabouttheoldman:howhecouldnot
affordbathingwater,howtheothersmadefunofhimoraccusedhimofhidinghisson,
howthechiefignoredhim,howhelookedfrightenedandsoterriblysmall.
Doesheknowwherehissonis?mymotherasked.
Hehasnotseenhissoninfourmonths,Nnamabiasaid.
Ofcourseitiswrong,mymothersaid.Butthisiswhatthepolicedoallthetime.If
theydonotfindthepersontheyarelookingfor,theylockuphisrelative.
Themanisill,Nnamabiasaid.Hishandsshake,evenwhenhesasleep.
Heclosedthecontainerofriceandturnedtomyfather.Iwanttogivehimsomeof
this,butifIbringitintothecellthechiefwilltakeit.
Myfatherwentoverandaskedthepolicemanatthedeskifwecouldbeallowedtosee
theoldmaninNnamabiascellforafewminutes.Thepolicemanwasthelightskinned
acerbiconewhoneversaidthankyouwhenmymotherhandedoverthericeandmoney
bribe,andnowhesneeredinmyfathersfaceandsaidthathecouldwelllosehisjobfor
lettingevenNnamabiaoutandyetnowwewereaskingforanotherperson?Didwe
thinkthiswasvisitingdayataboardingschool?Myfathercamebackandsatdown
withasigh,andNnamabiasilentlyscratchedathisbumpyface.
Thenextday,Nnamabiabarelytouchedhisrice.Hesaidthatthepolicemenhad
splashedsoapywateronthefloorandwallsofthecell,astheyusuallydid,andthatthe
oldman,whohadnotbathedinaweek,hadyankedhisshirtoffandrubbedhisfrail
backagainstthewetfloor.Thepolicemenstartedtolaughwhentheysawhimdothis,
andthentheyaskedhimtotakeallhisclothesoffandparadeinthecorridoroutsidethe
cell;ashedid,theylaughedlouderandaskedwhetherhissonthethiefknewthatPapas
buttocksweresoshrivelled.Nnamabiawasstaringathisyelloworangericeashe
spoke,andwhenhelookeduphiseyeswerefilledwithtears,myworldlybrother,andI

feltatendernessforhimthatIwouldnothavebeenabletodescribeifIhadbeenasked
to.
Therewasanotherattackoncampusaboyhackedanotherboywithanaxetwodays
later.
Thisisgood,mymothersaid.Nowtheycannotsaythattheyhavearrestedallthe
cultboys.WedidnotgotoEnuguthatday;insteadmyparentswenttoseethelocal
policesuperintendent,andtheycamebackwithgoodnews.Nnamabiaandthebarman
weretobereleasedimmediately.Oneofthecultboys,underquestioning,hadinsisted
thatNnamabiawasnotamember.Thenextday,weleftearlierthanusual,without
jollofrice.Mymotherwasalwaysnervouswhenwedrove,sayingtomyfather,
Nekwa ya!Watchout!,asifhecouldnotseethecarsmakingdangerousturnsin
theotherlane,butthistimeshediditsooftenthatmyfatherpulledoverbeforewegot
toNinthMileandsnapped,Justwhoisdrivingthiscar?
Twopolicemenwerefloggingamanwithkobokoaswedroveintothepolicestation.
Atfirst,IthoughtitwasNnamabia,andthenIthoughtitwastheoldmanfromhiscell.
Itwasneither.Iknewtheboyontheground,whowaswrithingandshoutingwitheach
lash.HewascalledAboyandhadthegraveuglyfaceofahound;hedroveaLexus
aroundcampusandwassaidtobeaBuccaneer.Itriednottolookathimaswewalked
inside.Thepolicemanonduty,theonewithtribalmarksonhischeekswhoalwayssaid
Godblessyouwhenhetookhisbribe,lookedawaywhenhesawus,andIknewthat
somethingwaswrong.Myparentsgavehimthenotefromthesuperintendent.The
policemandidnotevenglanceatit.Heknewaboutthereleaseorder,hetoldmyfather;
thebarmanhadalreadybeenreleased,buttherewasacomplicationwiththeboy.My
motherbegantoshout,Whatdoyoumean?Whereismyson?
Thepolicemangotup.Iwillcallmyseniortoexplaintoyou.
Mymotherrushedathimandpulledonhisshirt.Whereismyson?Whereismyson?
Myfatherpriedheraway,andthepolicemanbrushedathischest,asifshehadleft
somedirtthere,beforeheturnedtowalkaway.
Whereisourson?myfatheraskedinavoicesoquiet,sosteely,thatthepoliceman
stopped.
Theytookhimaway,sir,hesaid.
Theytookhimaway?Whatareyousaying?mymotherwasyelling.Haveyoukilled
myson?Haveyoukilledmyson?
Whereisourson?myfatheraskedagain.
MyseniorsaidIshouldcallhimwhenyoucame,thepolicemansaid,andthistimehe
hurriedthroughadoor.

ItwasafterheleftthatIfeltsuddenlychilledbyfear;Iwantedtorunafterhimand,like
mymother,pullathisshirtuntilheproducedNnamabia.Theseniorpolicemancame
out,andIsearchedhisblankfaceforclues.
Goodday,sir,hesaidtomyfather.
Whereisourson?myfatherasked.Mymotherbreathednoisily.
Noproblem,sir.Itisjustthatwetransferredhim.Iwilltakeyouthererightaway.
Therewassomethingnervousaboutthepoliceman;hisfaceremainedblank,buthedid
notmeetmyfatherseyes.
Transferredhim?
Wegottheorderthismorning.Iwouldhavesentsomebodyforhim,butwedonthave
petrol,soIwaswaitingforyoutocomesothatwecouldgotogether.
Whywashetransferred?
Iwasnothere,sir.TheysaidthathemisbehavedyesterdayandtheytookhimtoCell
One,andthenyesterdayeveningtherewasatransferofallthepeopleinCellOneto
anothersite.
Hemisbehaved?Whatdoyoumean?
Iwasnothere,sir.
Mymotherspokeinabrokenvoice:Takemetomyson!Takemetomysonright
now!
Isatinthebackwiththepoliceman,whosmelledofthekindofoldcamphorthat
seemedtolastforeverinmymotherstrunk.Noonespokeexceptforthepoliceman
whenhegavemyfatherdirections.Wearrivedaboutfifteenminuteslater,myfather
drivinginordinatelyfast.Thesmall,walledcompoundlookedneglected,withpatchesof
overgrowngrassstrewnwitholdbottlesandplasticbags.Thepolicemanhardlywaited
formyfathertostopthecarbeforeheopenedthedoorandhurriedout,andagainIfelt
chilled.Wewereinagodforsakenpartoftown,andtherewasnosignthatsaidPolice
Station.Therewasastrangedesertedfeelingintheair.Butthepolicemansoon
emergedwithNnamabia.Therehewas,myhandsomebrother,walkingtowardus,
seeminglyunchanged,untilhecamecloseenoughformymothertohughim,andIsaw
himwinceandbackawayhisarmwascoveredinsoftlookingwelts.Therewasdried
bloodaroundhisnose.

Whydidtheybeatyoulikethis?mymotheraskedhim.Sheturnedtothepoliceman.
Whydidyoupeopledothistomyson?Why?
Themanshrugged.Therewasanewinsolencetohisdemeanor;itwasasifhehadbeen
uncertainaboutNnamabiaswellbeingbutnow,reassured,couldlethimselftalk.You
cannotraiseyourchildrenproperlyallofyoupeoplewhofeelimportantbecauseyou
workattheuniversityandwhenyourchildrenmisbehaveyouthinktheyshouldnotbe
punished.Youareluckytheyreleasedhim.
Myfathersaid,Letsgo.
HeopenedthedoorandNnamabiaclimbedin,andwedrovehome.Myfatherdidnot
stopatanyofthepolicecheckpointsontheroad,and,once,apolicemangestured
threateninglywithhisgunaswespedpast.Theonlytimemymotheropenedhermouth
onthedrivehomewastoaskNnamabiaifhewantedustostopandbuysomeokpa.
Nnamabiasaidno.WehadarrivedinNsukkabeforehefinallyspoke.
Yesterday,thepolicemenaskedtheoldmanifhewantedafreehalfbucketofwater.
Hesaidyes.Sotheytoldhimtotakehisclothesoffandparadethecorridor.Mostofmy
cellmateswerelaughing.Someofthemsaiditwaswrongtotreatanoldmanlikethat.
Nnamabiapaused.Ishoutedatthepoliceman.Itoldhimtheoldmanwasinnocentand
ill,andiftheykepthimhereitwouldnthelpthemfindhisson,becausethemandidnot
evenknowwherehissonwas.TheysaidthatIshouldshutupimmediately,thatthey
wouldtakemetoCellOne.Ididntcare.Ididntshutup.Sotheypulledmeoutand
slappedmeandtookmetoCellOne.
Nnamabiastoppedthere,andweaskedhimnothingelse.Instead,Iimaginedhim
callingthepolicemanastupididiot,aspinelesscoward,asadist,abastard,andI
imaginedtheshockofthepolicementhechiefstaringopenmouthed,theother
cellmatesstunnedattheaudacityoftheboyfromtheuniversity.AndIimaginedtheold
manhimselflookingonwithsurprisedprideandquietlyrefusingtoundress.Nnamabia
didnotsaywhathadhappenedtohiminCellOne,orwhathappenedatthenewsite.It
wouldhavebeensoeasyforhim,mycharmingbrother,tomakeasleekdramaofhis
story,buthedidnot.