At midnight the first time Mrs. Adebayo saw light in Flat 3B, she said to herself, "I don't want to know!"
The flat had been unoccupied for three months. It had previously been occupied by Tunde, who had left due to his rent rise. The door remained closed since then, the windows remained closed, and dust covered the balcony.
However, Mrs. Adebayo woke up as a result of the heat on Tuesday night. The light had been turned off and her electric fan wasn't working. She peeked through her curtain.
The light was thin and yellow behind the curtain of Flat 3B throughout the building.
“Who is there in that house?” she whispered.
The next morning she said to Mrs. ngozi when they were standing by the tap.
"Mrs. Adebayo said that she had seen light in Flat 3B last night."
“But no one resides there,” said Mrs. ngozi.
"The problem with that is that I'm worried about it."
“Perhaps, the landlord gave it to someone else.”
"So why are there no chairs out side, no clothes hanging out on the line, nada?”
Mrs. ngozi had a look at the flat. “Hmm that's strange.”
All evening long it was known. The compound had six flats with a narrow passage in the middle, and a mango tree near the gate. Very soon all had an idea.
The thieves may be “it,” said Mr. Chukwu.
“Perhaps someone ran away from the police”, said Emeka, his younger brother.
But Mrs. ngozi replied, “Please, do not say such things." “We do not know.”
Mrs. Adebayo spotted a black nylon bag, near the mango tree, on Wednesday morning. In the inside you'll find empty water bottles, two meat-pie wrappers and folded paper with numbers.
She presented it to Mr Chukwu.
“See? That place is being used by somebody, he said."
Mrs. Adebayo said, "That paper may be important."
He opened it. “1, 2, 3. These are just numbers.”
"Perhaps they are codes,” Emeka said.
That night, Mrs. Adebayo didn't sleep. She heard a faint scraping noise outside about 10 or 11 o'clock. She quietly went to her window.
A tall figure was near Flat 3B. The person was wearing a dark hat and carrying a large bag.
Her heart began to beat fast.
She saw the person unlock the door and go in. After a few minutes, the yellow light turned on once again.
On the following day, she phoned the landlord, Mr. Balogun.
“Sir I think there is something going on in Flat 3B,”
"What is it about?"
“At night, somebody enters the flat.”
“So, did you notice him/her?"
“Yes. A tall man.”
“Did he break the door?”
“No, he has a key,” he says.
“Maybe he has permission then.”
“But we didn't know that.”
Mr. Balogun sighed. "I am going to arrive this evening."
Almost all were waiting by the mango tree by about 5 o'clock. Mr. Balogun came in his old brown car. He was in earnest, his stomach was round, and he wore specs that hung down his nose.
“What's the matter with this guy?” he asked.
“He arrives in the night,” Mr. Chukwu said.
Mr. Balogun looked at Flat 3B. "I did not provide any of these flats to anyone."
The place fell silent. Even Emeka put a stop to his talking.
Mr. Balogun brought out a spare key. “We will check.”
She was followed by Mrs. Adebayo. So did two neighbours, Mrs. ngozi and Mr. Chukwu.
The door squeaked when it opened. Initially, the flat appeared to be empty.
Then they heard a cough from the back room.
Everyone froze.
“Who is there?” Mr. Balogun called.
A voice replied, “Please, do not be angry.”
A young girl came forward. She was slim and was dressed in an old blue dress. A little girl with a schoolbook in hand stood behind her.
The woman was recognized by Mrs. Adebayo.
“Rukayat?”
“Good evening ma,” the woman said quietly.
One of the people who used to clean in the compound was Rukayat. She had ceased attendance 2 months prior.
Mr. Balogun frowned. "Why do you live in this flat?"
Rukayat gazed at the child. “My sister passed away in Ibadan, this is her daughter Zainab, I have no other place to sleep during the day, other than the market, but I come here only at night.”
“You had a key?”
"I used to help Tunde clean, but I did not want to steal anything, he gave me one before he left."
Mrs. Adebayo glanced around. A small mat, plastic bowl, water and a bag of clothes were located in one corner. Taped in a line on the wall were sheets of paper.
The numbers she had found were written on them.
“What do you mean what are these?” she asked.
Zainab spoke softly. “They're my practise for maths.”
Rukayat smiled sadly. “She's about to take exams soon, I did not want her to cease learning.”
At that time, no one spoke. Mr. Chukwu looked down.
Mrs. ngozi approached Zainab. “Have you been able to eat today?”
The girl nodded but her eyes looked at the empty bowl.
Mrs. ngozi informed Rukayat to come to her flat. In the afternoon, I cooked up some stew.
Mr. Balogun took off his glasses and wiped them with his shirt.
“Why didn't you call me?” he whispered.
He said to me, “I was afraid, sir.”
He saw the mat and then Zainab. Secretly cannot stay here, but there is a small room behind the security post, it is to be cleaned but it can be stayed for now.
Gasping, Rukayat lifted her hand to cover her mouth. She cried with tears in her eyes.
“Thank you, sir.”
Evening breeze came through the open window and Mrs. Adebayo was standing by the door.
The compound was surrounded by the gently swaying mango leaves. The light from Flat 3B was no longer yellow.
This resembled a lamp that is on for a kid attempting to complete her homework.
