Read Time:1 Minute, 26 Second
father spells his name with his footsteps I hear screams from across the house e-z-e! e-z-e! 1-2-3! e-z-e! I named the tv Nkechi, after our neighbor who never shuts up. I think they’re related— they look the same around the stomach my brother thinks life is a song always nodding and moving his legs to nothing. if life were a song, we’re on a long pause. my sister thinks life is a play crying one second and laughing another if life were a play, we aren’t shooting anymore they say some men, hearing the shooting had stopped, went out to play football, and bullets scored against their bodies mum likes to pretend like everything is right like the song is loud, and the play is on like the director just screamed ‘action’ and her role is to smile the heavens down into closed doors. I think I’d smile with her till the day comes when it’s safe to play with leather balls and plastic tins and not concede to bullets of steel and those of corona