June 10

I was silent and did not speak again until Aunty Matilda's friend looked at me. I closed my eyes.

"Perer, your aunty said that you are a good boy. And if you remain a good boy, I will be a good friend to you. And any time you see me or my husband passing close to you, don't forget to greet. When a boy doesn't live up to expectations, he must be scolded. Your aunty believes in you as much as I believe in you but you must prove yourself if you want me to trust you. The job in getting people to have faith in you is making them believe in what life has turned you into, making them believe that even if people may say terrible stuffs about you, you can prove all of them wrong. Do you understand all I am saying?"

"Yes, ma!" I said.

"Good," Mrs. Udo smiled. "I have been given the responsibility to take care of you and if I must do it successfully then I must teach you some important things about life."

"I understand what you have to do. If I must live in your house t