Ilemona had just returned from the market and was about to start preparing dinner. The sun was setting and Baba would return home soon. He didn't like having to wait for his evening meal. He had to hurry. Young children in their family compound played with an old car tire, taking turns moving it with a stick while older children played Whots. They had begun to claim that Ocheja had cheated in the card game and that they should start a new game. Ilemona smiled as she watched them argue. She missed the times when she and her best friend Unugwa argued over trivial matters like this. But Unugwa was now married and living in Lokoja with her husband. The news of Unugwa's engagement had come as a shock to her. Unugwa had never mentioned that she was getting married even though she had known about it for a long time. Ilemona hadn't understood it; he hasn't done it yet. They told each other everything. He had told Unugwa this when he started having his secret meetings with Oyidi under the cashew tree on his father's farm. They were returning from the Iye Ele stall when Unugwa broke the news. “I will marry Ile,” he said, looking at the reddish earth. He examined the sand as if seeing it for the first time. She looked defeated. Ilemona laughed. He believed this was one of Unugwa's pranks. She had once lied that she was pregnant with Adejo, the pastor's son. Ilemona was so worried that she didn't eat for days. She could only think about what Unugwa's parents would do to her. Her father was a retired soldier and she was an only child. They were about to graduate at the time. But what could have inspired this new lie? Maybe it was the Mexican... in the center of the card... avily that night. The gods knew he needed everyone to sleep soundly. She had told him. It didn't take long. She only took some clothes and food in case she got hungry along the way. He also took some of the money that Yahaya had given to his father. He had hidden it in an empty pot in their kitchen. He wouldn't take everything. His father had to eat. He waited for the rain to stop before going to his mother's grave. She didn't know the next time she would be there. He knelt and prayed for guidance. Their dog watched her. She was watching him too. She would miss him, but now was not the time to be sentimental. He knew what he wanted. Ilemona had big dreams. He didn't look back as he ran to the parking lot. He saw Odu-Ofomu disappear from his life as they drove towards Ibadan. The village was dead but she was alive. He was about to learn the way.