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“Ugwu, sah”

“Ugwu And you’ve come from Obukpa?”

“From Opi, sah”

“You could be anything from twelve to thirty” Master narrowed his eyes “Probably thirteen” He said thirteen in English

“Yes, sah”

Master turned back to his book Ugwu stood there Master flipped past soo to the kitchen; there should be soe”

“Yes, sah”

Ugwu entered the kitchen cautiously, placing one foot slowly after the other When he saw the white thing, ale His aunty had told hioing bad He opened it and gasped as the cool air rushed into his face Oranges, bread, beer, soft drinks: ed on different levels and, and on the topwu reached out and touched the chicken The fridge breathed heavily in his ears He touched the chicken again and licked his finger before he yanked the other leg off, eating it until he had only the cracked, sucked pieces of bones left in his hand Next, he broke off some bread, a chunk that he would have been excited to share with his siblings if a relative had visited and brought it as a gift He ate quickly, before Master could co and was standing by the sink, trying to re it to have water gush out like a spring, when Master walked in He had put on a print shirt and a pair of trousers His toes, which peeked through leather slippers, seeed to feet that alore shoes

“What is it?” Master asked

“Sah?” Ugwu gestured to the sink

Master came over and turned thein the first rooo?”

“Yes, sah”

Ugatched hih the back door He was not tall His as brisk, energetic, and he looked like Ezeagu, the e

Ugwu turned off the tap, turned it on again, then off On and off and on and off until he was laughing at thewater and the chicken and bread that lay bal room and into the corridor There were books piled on the shelves and tables in the three bedrooms, on the sink and cabinets in the bathroo in the study, and in the store, old journals were stacked next to crates of Coke and cartons of Premier beer Soh Master had not yet finished reading thewu tried to read the titles, but , too difficult Non-Para The Norland He walked on tiptoe from roorew increasingly determined to please Master, to stay in this house of meat and cool floors He

was exa his hand over the black plastic seat, when he heard Master’s voice

“Where are you, lish

Ugwu dashed out to the living room “Yes, sah!”

“What’s your naain?”

“Ugwu, sah”

“Yes, Ugwu Look here, nee anya, do you knohat that is?” Master pointed, and Ugwu looked at theknobs

“No, sah,” Ugwu said

“It’s a radiograramophones that you have to wind and wind You have to be very careful around it, very careful You must never let water touch it”

“Yes, sah”

“I’o on to the staff club” Master picked up a few books froet settled and have a rest”