HE CAN LIE!

He speaks English with inappropriate grammar and a fake American accent. He speaks it with so much pride and confidence that it’s almost unbelievable that he’s unsure of his words.

Where did he get that accent from?? It’s irritating when people speak with fake accents. As if that isn’t enough, he’s a terrible liar; not in a good way, as in you can easily tell he’s lying, only that he talks too much and eventually gives it all away.

He’ll probably read this some time so its safer I don’t go into details but gosh! He can lie!!!

We all tell lies but don’t you think it’s a little bit overwhelming when someone fabricates stories and tells them so well that it eventually consumes them. In such, they’re convinced their lie is true therefore tell it flawlessly. They say a lie told a thousand times becomes truth.

Wow.

It gets better. He says “I know I’ve got many faults, but I’m an honest person, that I know”.

Yeah! I know that too.

7 DAYS OF RETROSPECTION [IV] — AKU TELLS HERS

Abena: Aku, take your son home. Now!

I’d wanted to tell her how sorry I was for how things had turned out, but she wouldn’t have listened, not now. She repeated her order that we leave, this time, she sounded intensely raged with tears stuck in her eyes. I didn’t want to see them fall.

DAY IV.
Paa hasn’t spoken a word since we left Abena’s. He didn’t even wish me a happy birthday yesterday, and he’s still tongue-dead. I watched him leave for school without eating breakfast and saying bye. No mother’s happy to see her child going to school without having breakfast, especially when she’s made it all ready for him to reject it. How long will this… Oh God!! What have I done?!

Agoo… Agoo… Agoo, Aku!!

Aku: Abena hi. Umm… Come in. Come.

She wouldn’t sit. She insisted.

Abena: This is what’s going to happen; this, yesterday’s dinner, this meeting, never happened. I’m getting married to Kobbie in 2 days and we’ll move to the city the day after. Let’s just say I forgive you for involving Paa in all this.

She knew about it all this while? Wow!

Abena: You never loved him anyway. He was young and foolish back then. For God’s sake Aku, he thought you’d gotten rid of the pregnancy 13yrs ago.

Should I be astounded or just confused. She knew all along??

Paa won’t forget about this. He’s too smart and intelligent to let this go. All the while, I kept staring at Abena in complete dismay. This wasn’t what I envisioned when she came knocking at my door. I expected furious screams accompanied by little spits of saliva in an intense setting. Far from that.

She knew all along. Ei!

Abena: I came here to make things easier for us. See, I met Mallam Yusif, the medicine man who’s a few meters away from the town square. He gave me these herbs and said to pour it in Kobbie’s drink on our wedding day; he’ll forget about last night.

Mallam Yusif? His being defines fraud itself. The same medicine man who made a boy identify a red cloak after he’d healed his eyes. Who identifies a coloured cloak after being healed from blindness since birth?

What of my son Paa?

Abena: As for Paa, he still thinks you’re imagining things. I bet he’d want to seek the truth from Kobbie. By then, the medicine would’ve taken effect and we’ll both be safe.

It’s as if I never learned how to speak or express myself. I was dumbfounded. This was someone I thought I’d hurt and disappointed, not knowing she on the other hand kept me in the dark.

Agoo… Agoo… Anyone home?

Abena: Kobbie?

Aku: Kobbie???

She immediately hid herself in the other room just when I stepped out to receive Kobbie.

Kobbie: Hi

Aku: Hi

Kobbie: I like what you’ve done to your hair. I couldn’t get the chance to say it last night after…

Aku: Thank you, Kobina, I mean, Kobbie. If I may ask, why are you here?

He steps closer and hugs me tight, whispering in my ears, “I miss you, Aku, I never forgot about you. Forgive me. Mother and Father found out about the pregnancy and decided it’s best if we were apart. Please forgive me. I’m sorry you had to find out this way”.

I could’ve stopped him talking but for some reason, I wanted Abena to hear him. Was that mean on my part?

Aku: No. No. Do not complicate this. We had a thing in the past, it ended. After years of no communication, we moved on individually and you met someone else you chose to spend the rest of your life with. What’s stopping you?

Kobbie: You are. The moment I saw you, everything changed. You… You still have my heart and I…

Aku: Nothing. We wouldn’t want to make Abena unhappy, would we?

Kobbie: And Paa? You never got rid of the pregnancy, did you? Paa is my son. Tell me he’s my son.

Aku: He’s not your son!!

Kobbie: I will leave and never bother you again if you look me in the eyes and tell me again that the boy who looks like me and has my hair and eyes is not my son.

Aku: You should leave.

Before I could feel my heart’s next beat, his lips were on mine. It’s been so long that I even forgot how to kiss. It felt good. Really good.

O! Abena’s still in there.

7 DAYS OF RETROSPECTION [II] — AKU TELLS HERS.

DAY II:

The central question here is, if it’s biologically healthy to share and confess our secrets, what is it about human nature that fights so hard to keep it?

Kwabena: You mean to ask, ‘should I keep torturing myself, keeping the truth about my son’s father from him?’ C’mon Aku, he’s not fathered his son for 13yrs and would blindly pass by him without recognition. As for the bride, well, people hurt and get hurt. People offend and get offended; there’s no perfection in this world, darling. As your friend, I’ll advise you to let her know. Abena won’t blame you for not knowing she was going to marry your baby daddy.

Kobbie. His name is Kobbie. I hear he wears polished shoes everyday while his son still walks in the 5yr old Blue Bird Chale Wote, and has a white collar job in the city. I try for my son. For a single mother disowned by her parents after giving birth out of wedlock and being the talk of the town, I sure do try; at least he goes to school, and I provide him with the basic needs any parent would.

Kwabena: Except for having a father to look up to. He doesn’t know how to ride a bicycle, and walks like a girl. He can’t even climb a tree or uproot cassava from the ground. I’ve watched him, Aku, he’s an intelligent child, but it’s never the same when a male child doesn’t have a father to nurture him.

…or a father figure, ideally.

Kwabena returned from the city during vacations to spend time with his folks and friends. Apparently, he cannot get involved with my son because then, he’ll have to marry me and take care of us all. Thing is, he’s younger; our culture is different, we’ve only heard stories of the Whiteman marry older women in the Western world. Here, it’s different.

Abena must know. Although I may be desperate to keep this secret, the harder I bury it, the higher it rises to the surface after time. It’s like I’m compelled to confess, neurologically eventually. It’s good for the body, and the soul, I guess.

Paa: Mother!!! Mother, who are you talking to? There’s no one here, mother. And what was it I just heard you say about my father? Auntie Abena’s fiance is my father?? Mother, say something. What is going on? You said father’s dead, what is going on, mother??

I SEE YOU

Everyone is doing something
Whether in the light
Whether in the dark
Everyone is doing something

You’ll be a fool to think you’re not seen
For in the dark
The dark sees you
For in the light
The light sees you
Everyone is doing something

MY PRIDE… HIS OBSESSION _VI

Muna: He’ll be fine, Lise
   
      Ms. D: Yeah he’ll be fine, the doctor said it’s not as bad as it seems.
   
      Lise: Are you kidding? The man in that hospital bed thinks I’ve lived a lie with him for 20yrs… 20yrs!! He tries to kill himself and now his right leg is amputated because of me… all because of me!! And you say it’s not as bad??
   
      Ms. D: He could’ve died you know? Let’s look at the brighter side
   
      Muna: Ms. D, really? I mean, I get you but… Anyway [she cuts in]
   

      Lise: Girls, it’s ok, really. You need not be here all day. I am fine, really.
   
      Muna: Umm… Yes you are… Like you look it [sighs]
   
      [Girls set off in Ms. D’s new car]

      Muna: So you finally bought the Jaguar
   
      Ms. D: Hahaha… Ooooouuu did I?
   
      Muna: Oh wow… Who’s that boy?
   
      Ms. D: [looks at her and smiles] Mmmhh…
   
      Muna: Oh Nooooo… Not who I think it is… Ooooww… Girl!! Really?
   
      Ms. D: A happy belated birthday to me!!
   
      Muna: So when are you guys getting married?
   
      [Looks at Ms. D’s face and notices her sarcastic smile] C’mon why are you doing this? It’s hard time you make a choice. You are beautiful, smart, well to do, you don’t lack anything at the moment… Well, only a fixed decision for the kind of man you want to spend the rest of your life with.
   
      Ms. D: He loves me, that’s what matters… Primarily.
   
      Muna: You’re playing with fire and you know it
   
      Ms. D: I can handle it. It’s just a bit hard for me now… But I will make a decision soon. I mean, even if I don’t choose Terra, he would eventually understand… He’s a gentleman.
   
      Muna: Terra?! I thought we were talking about Bobby. Ei! Don’t do this to Terra, besides, I like that guy. He seems true.
   
      Ms. D: [laughs] Anyway, how is Conrad and my favourite girl, Diana?
   
      Muna: They’re doing good oo… Conrad’s been receiving some threatening letters and emails lately.
   
      Ms. D: W-H-A-T?!! Do you think Sam’s resurfaced? That guy just went insane about you. I won’t be surprised if it’s him though
   
      Muna: [shakes head in disappointment] I really don’t know… I’ll alight here… Yeah… Right here
   
      Ms. D: why here?
   
      Muna: That’s my ride there. 
   
      Ms. D: Oh wow! Nice!!
   
      Muna: See you aren’t the only one with good taste in cars… Plus I bought this, with my own money [says teasingly and both laugh]
   
      Ms. D: hey… Do you really love Conrad?
   
      Muna: You know, when I look at Lise now, I fear I’ll see myself. I don’t want that to happen at all. I love Diana too much to make that happen to our family. Sam and I are history, and it should end there. 
   
      Ms. D: So you are with Conrad for convenience?
   
      Muna: He is happy, I am happy now… That’s what really matters.
   
   [Steps out of the car and leaves]
   
      Ms. D: hmm… She’ll be fine… They’ll all be fine.

»»A PENNY FOR SHAWN«« EPISODE I__TELL IT AS IT IS…

      Shawn: U make my world stand still when all I can see is you

       Penny: Really? The other time u said I make your world go round… How did that change?

       Shawn: Umm… Well… It depends on the mood… U know… When I wanna give you all the attention, the world stands still…

       Penny: I see… And it goes round when…?

       Shawn: When you do things to show me how intense your love is… So intense it makes me feel dizzy…

       Penny: I should believe you, right?

       Shawn: Any reason to doubt me?

       Penny: Ooohh is there?

       Shawn: Penny, why… Is there anything wrong? Is there something you wanna discuss?

      Penny: I should be asking you that, I guess…

       Shawn: [thinking] Ei this woman… Hope she hasn’t found out yet… Dayum!! I’ve got some explaining to do

       Ok this is it… I am sorry, I really wasn’t aware of myself. I didnt want to hurt you or anyone else. I kept thinking about you throughout the…

      Penny: huh?! Wait… Shawn… Throughout the what?!

      Shawn: [silent]

       Penny: You didn’t go dumb all of a sudden did you? [Sits on the edge of the couch] Start talking Shawn… Now.
   

                     …to be continued…

MY PRIDE… HIS OBSESSION_IV

Lise and Eben are lovers. He’s an elder in the church and she’s a new convert. Just like any other woman despised by her own father and abandoned by her mother after school, and having been hit with misfortune from all phases, she finds solace in a man who promises her a better life. She genuinely loved him. She did.

Just when she came out of the clinic to share the amazing news of their pregnancy with him, she meets a church member.

Church member: Would you be at Elder Eben’s Engagement next Saturday?

Lise: Which engagement?

Astoned at the news, she comfronts Eben who in turn explains that he ‘accidentally’ impregnated a woman some months back and her family wouldnt settle for anyhing but marriage. She left without telling him he was supposed to father the child in her womb from 7mths to come.

But how could he? He’s an elder. He promised he would marry her. Fornication is sin but well, he was gonna marry her anyway. But to repeat that sin with another woman… What would God call it?

There was another man in the picture. Fiifi. Fiifi wouldnt rest until Lise says YES.

She couldnt stand the humiliation of what to come after 7mths. Even now, she’s not got a job even to boast of salary, how much more the baby she’s carrying?

So to her, YES was just that word that would save her and her child in the longterm. To the world but her, her son, Eli, was Fiifi’s.

It’s 20yrs now and her secret is safe from the world. Safe until Eben falls critically ill.

Guilt embraces her so tight and wouldnt let go… For days! Days!! Several days!!! Uneasiness sets in. “Do I tell Eli? Oh my God!!! Fiifi would kill me. But my son needs to know his real father. I can’t deny him that… Not now”

She keeps contemplating yet Eben’s health geta worse by the day. Just when she’d wanted to consider making a decision, that phonecall of a new whole drama sets in. He’s dead. Eben is dead.

Eli: I know you’re closer to her than any of the friends. At the moment, I just need you to let her know that I know what’s going on. I can’t stand seeing her like this. She’s so torn, Aunty Muna.

Muna: Wow… How are you taking all this?

Eli: Well, it’s not like I knew my biological father anyway. To me, Fiifi would always be my Dad cos that’s what he’s been doing all my life.

Muna: How do you think he’ll take it?

Eli: I honestly dont know. I dont.

Muna: [whispers to herself] Oh my God… Lise, you’ve got some explanation to do.

Back in Lise’s house

Muna: You’re in some deep messy sh*t honey. Why didnt you tell me?

Lise: Hoh! I couldnt have told anyone. Would you have? I mean, after school everyone was outta range. No communication or whatsoever. My family got broken and I was trynna save Eben from humiliation in church [she interrupts]

Muna: I think Fiifi deserves to know.

Lise: What??

Muna: [nods her head]

Lise: But I hope you understand what I did. I wanted to live, Muna… I wanted a life for Fiifi too. And Eben, he loves me too much to handle the truth

Muna: Lise, if you dont tell him, I would. And I’m not gonna stab you in the back cos I’m telling you that I will do it if you don’t

[Standing from the couch to get a drink from the bar, Lise sees her husband standing motionless staring at her]

Lise: [panics and takes a step back] Babe, how long have you been standing there?