She had finished with her tea and toasted bread. When her mother was out
of sight, Mr. Tetteh told her
‘I don’t see anything wrong with going back to see your friends there,
just be careful and come visit us anytime’
Aku was glad that her father didn’t see anything negative in her going
back to have a look at a place she grew up. She knew the place must have
developed by now and was anxious to see the changes.
She stayed and chatted
with her dad till noon. Her father inquired about where she would live and she
in turn told him that she was not so sure. Mr. Tetteh suggested the ‘Wato
hotel’. Aku chortled and said
‘Dad, that hotel has not been operating for a very long time?...I’m
thinking about staying at the Novotel hotel, it’s quite close but if there is
the chance that I could get to stay with either of my friends why not and
besides I plan to be there for a just a week?
Mr. Tetteh then reminded her that they didn’t know that she was coming
over so she shouldn’t count on that. He pleaded with her to visit a few places
and people on his behalf if they were still there. He had grown too old and was
more comfortable sitting and reading newspapers quietly.
When Aku was ready to
leave, her mother was still indoors and she wondered if she was still upset.
She had to let her know that she was leaving else that would cause another
trouble between them.
Aku met them preparing lunch. Mrs. Tetteh asked her to stay a little
longer but she declined and told her she would visit them as soon as she could
then hugged her and left. When she drove out of the house Aku thought about the
fact that she didn’t have any food in her house.
Eating lunch in her parent’s
house sounded nice but it would also give her mother the chance to query her
and she was not ready to answer any questions.
She stopped by a Chinese restaurant and ordered for sweet and sour pork
sauce with fried rice. She tried to remember how growing up in Jamestown was
like for her. She smiled and was soon lost in her thoughts. Her memories about
the place were only centered on her two best friends.
They had made a wonderful
trio and they had been feared then. She laughed out loud when she thought of
some of the things that they did to the other children. She realized that people
were staring at her because she was alone.
She pushed strands of her hair
behind her ear,lookedaway and soon her food was served. She was not too hungry but she
knew when she got into her house it would be impossible for her to get out
again. She ate her food slowly.
Her BMW 7series was packed across the street because getting out from
the restaurant was always difficult for her especially when it was lunch time
for most workers and perhaps because she didn’t want to dent the car that her
father got for her on her 29th birthday.
Aku wore a pencil skirt
with a turtle neck top that revealed her curves. Her mother was a not a fun of
weave-on so she grew up with that and was mostly seen with her permed
hair. When she got up from her seat, a gentleman who was also on his way out
held on to the seat so she could get out with ease.
She wanted to crack up on seeing his car after he offered to drive her home but offered her gratitude instead. They walked out together and
he still insisted. Aku shook her head, turned down the offer then pointed
at her car and walked past him. When she buckled her seat belt, she saw the man
enter into his Volkswagen beetle car. His rickety car was almost falling apart.
He was ashamed that he had picked on the wrong girl. She seemed too
simple to be rich. She drove off giggling and he caught up with her. She was
stopped by the traffic light. Aku shot a glance at him. He has shaking his head
to a hip-hop tune. He rolled down his glass and looked her way. Aku looked back
but was indifferent. Then he said still shaking his head
‘Nice car…but money is not everything you know? ‘He was smiling now. Aku
pretended not to have heard him and he began to repeat the comment again but
she cut in
‘Point well taken…..try to say that again when you have money’ she put
on her sun glasses and sped off so fast as the lights gave them a go ahead
leaving him behind.
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