Web of Lies Read Online Free Page B

tell your parents you’ll be finished by five o’clock.”
     
    “Well done, my boy!” Femi let Papa hug him. “I should have practiced more with you myself but—”
    “It’s okay, Papa.” He knew the old apology.
    If only there was more time in every day!
    Two pairs of red-and-black goalkeeper’s gloves hung above Femi’s bed. The larger pair had hardly been used. They had been a present from Mama—for Papa and Femi—bought just before she died.
    However, Papa had something else on his mind.
    “Soon it will be dark by five, and I’m not happy with you coming home alone. Perhaps you should wait at school until I come and get you.”
    “No, Papa!” Femi protested in dismay. “You may be late!”
    It was true. Whenever there was an emergency at the center, Papa was late. More than once he had missed his supper, rushing in and out in order to start his cab shift on time.
    “Gary will be with me, Papa. We’ll walk down theHigh Street together. You worry too much, Papa. Gary’s parents—”
    “What Gary’s parents do is not my concern. You are my concern.”
    “You gave me a key, but you think I’m still a baby!” Femi’s eyes brimmed with tears.
    “I hope your mother can’t see us from wherever she is. She would ask what kind of place I have brought you to—” The words sounded like a bitter mouthful. Whenever Papa spoke of Mama, Femi never knew what to say. He swept the back of his sleeve roughly across his face.
    “If I say yes…”—Papa waited until Femi was looking directly at him—“I want you to assure me that you will come straight home.”
    Once again Femi promised.
    “Your word is your bond now. If you don’t keep it,”—Papa weighed his words—“there will be no more football.”
     
    After school on Thursday, Mr. Hendy put Femi into defense.
    “There’s something terrierlike about you, lad, that makes me think you won’t be a pushover.”
    Femi grinned. Gary was made a forward. With Mr. Hendy’s voice ringing in their ears, they darted, tackled, and tumbled like sworn opponents. In the changing room afterward, while others were joking and laughing, they changed quickly. Femi had told Gary about Papa’s warning.
     
    The sky was a deep blue as they set off down the main road, past the first row of small shops. Crates of yams,plantains, pumpkins, and various greens were piled up in front of a grocery store. But it was the smell of roasted peanuts in spicy suya kebabs, being barbecued in the restaurant next door, that brought a sudden pang to Femi’s empty stomach. Sade would be preparing their meal, but nothing she cooked was ever as good as suya .
    “What was my dad fussing about? It’s still light,” Femi grumbled. He kicked an empty can into Gary’s pathway. Gary kicked it back.
    “Did your dad make you walk home with your sister when you were in your own country?” Gary asked.
    “In Nigeria our dad drove us every morning in his car and”—Femi hesitated—“our…our mum picked us up in hers.” He aimed the can at a lamppost. It zinged as it hit the target and bounced across the pavement.
    “You had two cars! Dead rich! You never told me!” Gary exclaimed. “That’s wicked, man! How come you live here, in this dump, then?”
    Femi felt his chest tighten. He was about to say that it was too long a story when the can suddenly shot toward his foot. It didn’t come from Gary. Femi peered up as James stepped out from a doorway ahead. Just beyond him was the abandoned petrol station.
    “Good shot there, little brother. Practice makes perfect, I see.”
    James blocked the pavement in front of them.
    “We’ve been at football. That’s why we’re late.” Femi felt his words rushing.
    “It’s still early, man! What’s the problem?”
    “His dad said—” Gary came to his defense.
    “Yeah, yeah!” James interrupted. “I know what his dad says. Just like my dad used to, just like all dads. What’s your name?”
    “Gary,” Gary said