But what will kill me is that smell.’ ‘What smell?’ ‘In their mouth. I smelt it when your madam and master came in to see me this morning and also when I went to ease myself.’ ‘Oh. That is toothpaste. We use it to clean our teeth.’ Ugwu felt proud saying we, so that his mother would know that he too used it. But she did not look impressed. She snapped her fingers and picked up her chewing stick. ‘What is wrong with using a good atu? That smell has made me want to vomit. If I stay here much longer I will not be able to keep food in my stomach because of that smell.’
