She was now thirty one and was already separated from him. He was very loving at first and she had fallen for his good looks. She gave birth to her first child at the age of sixteen. That was just two years after Aku had left James town. She felt a bit lonely as she was more close to Aku than Adoley .
She found solace in the arms of Akwei who treated her well till she got pregnant then the problems started. He was five years older than she was and had nothing. A drop out from school and was learning a trade. He would beat her up mercilessly at the slightest provocation. She ended up with her mother a few times but she was soon sent packing back to Akwei’s house.
They would live peacefully for a while and the trouble would start again. She always ended with wounds all over her body mostly her face. Her face as always seen swollen and some people gossiped about her in the area about how the husband had charmed her since she always came back to endure the same things over and over again.
They saw her as a fool and some even thought that was her usual face and got tired of talking to her about leaving him.Adjeley began to cry as she looked around the room. If she had been patient, she would have also been able to do well for herself instead of starting a family that quick.
The reason why she always went back was fear of not being noticed by another man since she already had two children and most of all she didn’t want her children to grow up without a man. They had not moved out of James town and she needed a strong arm in raising the children.
She couldn’t take it any longer.
He was unemployed but chased everything in skirt. She had started her small business in front of his house so whenever they had a quarrel, she would go back to the business then to him automatically. She gathered money and when her trouble with Akwei erupted again, Adjeley travelled to china without his knowledge and even her parents didn’t know her whereabouts. She called her mother after a month and told her where she was.
Her business had flourished just one year after she had disappeared and was free to do what she wanted. Adjeley was able to get three more stores with the help of Adoley and always stocked it with goods from United Kingdom and Dubai. She also got custody of her children. She had to give them to her mother because of the way she travelled out of the country.
She was always busy but somehow was not satisfied since she now had no man to call her own. She knew no other man than Akwei but he didn’t make her happy.
She was also worried about her children who didn’t see her often. She needed a break away from everything to think about her life so when Adoley brought up the idea of visiting Aku, she was very happy and didn’t refute the idea.
They were all together now but she still felt alone. Perhaps it was because she had been left all alone in the room. Adjeley tossed and turned on the bed. Her thoughts were filled with a man who abused her physically
. She remembered how she always screamed and cried for help whenever he started the act. She needed to get him out of her mind. She got up from the bed, looked on the mirror on the wall and said aloud as she tried to convince herself.
‘Adjeley …get a hold of yourself. You should be able to get him out of your mind!!….he is not worth your tears and you are still beautiful’’
She heard a voice behind the door asking her if she was okay. It was Aku. She wanted to make sure that her friend was comfortable. Adjeley told her she was fine so Aku left for Adoley’s door who also yelled back that she was fine as well. Aku went back to her room and pondered over her friends.
She had heard Adjeley say something as she passed by her door to make sure all doors were locked but it was faint that was why she asked. She heard a faint knock on her door and asked the person in. It was Adjeley.
She had changed into a night gown and when she approached her bed she smiled and admitted that she couldn’t sleep. Aku therefore asked if she would be comfortable sharing her bed and she gave her a nod and laid down. They had not done this in a while and it felt awkward. They faced each other and Aku broke the silence
‘’what is wrong?...Do you want to talk about it?
Adjeley turned her back at her which meant she was not in the mood to talk about the issue that bothered her. Aku sigh deeply and she also turned to the other side. Adjeley pretended to have slept off but Aku who couldn’t laid there in silence.
Thursday 7 February 2013
TRINITY (FOURTEEN)
The look on Aku’s face made Adjeley laugh as Adoley was already wiping tear drops from her eye. She shook her head and just stared at Adjeley. She then asked her if that was the only way she could describe her. But Adjeley retorted and told her that was description was the best way people could identify her with.
She was hoping that she could be wrong but it appeared that she still remained rigid and annoying. Aku looked at her friend’s eyes. She was beaming with smiles. She had really missed them. The happy moments they shared together. They all had problems to solve but they would spend this moment chatting and laughing.
The problem would be solved later. She threw her chair cushion to hit Adjeley who still pretended as if there was nothing wrong with the way she described her friend to a total stranger. She went into her room and brought out wine glasses. She didn’t have vodka so served them with the French wine that she had. She didn’t have food in the house but when she asked that they went out to eat, they both declined as Adjeley told her that she was too tired to go out.
She decided to drink tea instead. She wanted to make it herself so Aku directed her to the kitchen. She was not amazed that Aku didn’t have food as all she kept on about whenever she called her was work. It was so obvious that she didn’t make time to cook at home. When she left for the kitchen Adoley started to fidget with her bag.
She was looking for the cigarette and Aku wanted to ask her to stop but then again she didn’t mind her smoking in her house so they both sat in silence as she only watched Adoley finished with a stick.
Adjeley yelled from the kitchen and requested for milk which Aku didn’t have. She had not stocked her house with food stuffs as she usually did because there was no time to do that. She came back and joined them in the hall munching onto some cream crackers she saw in the fridge with a tea cup filled with something they didn’t know till she sat down beside Aku who peeped into the cup and asked her what she was drinking as it seemed it was just water.
She just smiled and gulped down the mixture then she placed the cup on the coffee table, Adoley grabbed it instantly and had a taste of it. Then she screamed amidst laughter.
‘’oh my gosh!!....you still drink ‘kolo tea’’?
This is the 21st century and my dear, this is not done anywhere. Why do you still behave like a villager.’ she queried Adjeley who was also quick too reply
‘’Unlike some people here…I have not forgotten where I came from and I can always make do of what is available..I was enjoying my tea till you picked it up. Give me my cup of tea and for your information it’s not called kolo tea!.She picked up the cup and sipped then added
‘’The actual name is cold tea….we just couldn’t pronounce it well…so now that you know I suggest you add it to your knowledge’’ Adoley eyed her and chuckled then asked
‘’And who told you that?..Your grandmother?? what we knew was kolo tea and kolo tea it shall remain!’’
She was becoming impatient so Adoley gave her the tea still giggling. The kolo tea as it was called was just a mixture of cold water and sugar. They were given that tea to drink when after meals when the food did not satisfy them Aku remembered.
During those days it was okay to drink it because there was nothing to eat at all. Taking it now made her uncomfortable because she couldn’t feed her friend for the first time that she came to visit her at home. Aku didn’t say much till Adjeley was done and announced that she was full.
They chit chatted late into the night about general things and how life had treated them and when they were all tired they decided to sleep. Aku showed them their rooms so they could feel comfortable. Before Adjeley had her shower, she looked at every comer of the room.
It was well decorated. Aku loved colors and she had chosen both nice interior decors as well as the colors. She laid on the bed after bathing. She thought of her kids. They were sixteen and eleven and were living with her mother. She didn’t want to think about them because they reminded her of the man who fathered them.
She was hoping that she could be wrong but it appeared that she still remained rigid and annoying. Aku looked at her friend’s eyes. She was beaming with smiles. She had really missed them. The happy moments they shared together. They all had problems to solve but they would spend this moment chatting and laughing.
The problem would be solved later. She threw her chair cushion to hit Adjeley who still pretended as if there was nothing wrong with the way she described her friend to a total stranger. She went into her room and brought out wine glasses. She didn’t have vodka so served them with the French wine that she had. She didn’t have food in the house but when she asked that they went out to eat, they both declined as Adjeley told her that she was too tired to go out.
She decided to drink tea instead. She wanted to make it herself so Aku directed her to the kitchen. She was not amazed that Aku didn’t have food as all she kept on about whenever she called her was work. It was so obvious that she didn’t make time to cook at home. When she left for the kitchen Adoley started to fidget with her bag.
She was looking for the cigarette and Aku wanted to ask her to stop but then again she didn’t mind her smoking in her house so they both sat in silence as she only watched Adoley finished with a stick.
Adjeley yelled from the kitchen and requested for milk which Aku didn’t have. She had not stocked her house with food stuffs as she usually did because there was no time to do that. She came back and joined them in the hall munching onto some cream crackers she saw in the fridge with a tea cup filled with something they didn’t know till she sat down beside Aku who peeped into the cup and asked her what she was drinking as it seemed it was just water.
She just smiled and gulped down the mixture then she placed the cup on the coffee table, Adoley grabbed it instantly and had a taste of it. Then she screamed amidst laughter.
‘’oh my gosh!!....you still drink ‘kolo tea’’?
This is the 21st century and my dear, this is not done anywhere. Why do you still behave like a villager.’ she queried Adjeley who was also quick too reply
‘’Unlike some people here…I have not forgotten where I came from and I can always make do of what is available..I was enjoying my tea till you picked it up. Give me my cup of tea and for your information it’s not called kolo tea!.She picked up the cup and sipped then added
‘’The actual name is cold tea….we just couldn’t pronounce it well…so now that you know I suggest you add it to your knowledge’’ Adoley eyed her and chuckled then asked
‘’And who told you that?..Your grandmother?? what we knew was kolo tea and kolo tea it shall remain!’’
She was becoming impatient so Adoley gave her the tea still giggling. The kolo tea as it was called was just a mixture of cold water and sugar. They were given that tea to drink when after meals when the food did not satisfy them Aku remembered.
During those days it was okay to drink it because there was nothing to eat at all. Taking it now made her uncomfortable because she couldn’t feed her friend for the first time that she came to visit her at home. Aku didn’t say much till Adjeley was done and announced that she was full.
They chit chatted late into the night about general things and how life had treated them and when they were all tired they decided to sleep. Aku showed them their rooms so they could feel comfortable. Before Adjeley had her shower, she looked at every comer of the room.
It was well decorated. Aku loved colors and she had chosen both nice interior decors as well as the colors. She laid on the bed after bathing. She thought of her kids. They were sixteen and eleven and were living with her mother. She didn’t want to think about them because they reminded her of the man who fathered them.
TRINITY( THIRTEEN)
She was in no hurry to open the door since she thought the person behind the door was being rude. She had a door bell. Whoever it was could continue to press on the bell not bang on her door as if to break it down.
When she turned the door knob, she was knocked dead. Her glass fell and broke. They pushed her aside and went ahead to take a seat. She was dumfounded. She was too shocked to say anything but she turned to look at them again. Then she heard one say
‘Look at her’ she chuckled then pointing at her she continued ’what is wrong with you?...after making us wait for close to twenty minutes you stand there and behave like you have seen ghosts’ they laughed at her hysterically.
Aku just stood there for numb and didn’t know what to do or say to them. They had caught her by surprise. They were still laughing. She wondered who gave them the directions to her house. They had grown bigger and it had been ages since they came together like that. The other one looked her over with cold eyes and told her
‘’if your eyes are getting worse….my dear I suggest you get glasses….you must be out of your mind.Didnt you hear your door bell at all?.’
With this, Aku sat down opposite them and continued to look. The very people that she was going to see had managed to locate her. She had been thinking of them and wanted to see them the next week. She was not sure they would believe that she wanted to come to them. When she was okay to talk, she asked how they were able to locate her.
Adjeley was quick to respond as usual. She had the same old attitude of playing smart .Her boutique business had grown very fast and she looked good. Adjeley had two boys but didn’t like to talk about men. She told her of how they went to the bank and asked about her and how Adoley had to slap the ‘old fool’’ as they referred to the manager there because he refused to give them any information.
Aku was bewildered. She couldn’t believe her ears. They could go buzzard, that was so obvious but for her to hit the branch manager, that was out of place. She started to say something but Adoley knew too well it would end in an argument so she cut in
‘You gave me your address you fool…you believe this silly woman here?...and that reminds me, we left our baggage’s outside your door.’ she said looking at Adjeley who was laughing out loud.
Aku became calm and sighed, then went out to bring their suitcases and sat down. They had not changed a bit or so she thought till Adoley reached into her bag and picked out a cigarette. That was new to Aku but she didn’t utter a word she just watched on as she got a lighter and lit the cigarette.
She held it close and inhaled. She held in the smoke a little while as if she didn’t want to let it go. They were both staring at Adoley who didn’t care about what they thought. Adjeley was not surprised but didn’t want to watch her being dramatic with the smoke so snatched it away from her. Forcing her to exhale.
‘Why the hell did you do that...I just need to relax’ she exclaimed
Aku began to think why her friend needed to relax. She knew she had to give them time to settle in before she could probe them on what’s new else Adoley would make it impossible for them to have a normal conversation.
They had a lot to catch up on. She had not seen her girls for close to eight years as they had kept in touch but that was on and off. She had not even offered them water to drink and when she asked if they wanted anything, Adjeley insisted that she wanted to eat as she didn’t get the chance because they had left the house a bit early thinking that they would get lost.
Her house was easy to locate as it seemed she was very popular in the area. Aku knew they were pulling her legs. She laughed at that thought but they didn’t and appeared serious. Then Adjeley asked what could be funny, she told them how alone she was in the area. Adoley amidst laughter told pointed at Adjeley who didn’t get the humor in it said to Aku
‘I only described you to a gentleman walking by the street and he pointed your house to us’
Adoley who was now laughing uncontrollably beckoned her to continue. And she did
‘I asked him if he knew a very beautiful but rude, rigid and annoying woman in the area and he pointed this house…what did I say wrong’ she asked looking at both women.
When she turned the door knob, she was knocked dead. Her glass fell and broke. They pushed her aside and went ahead to take a seat. She was dumfounded. She was too shocked to say anything but she turned to look at them again. Then she heard one say
‘Look at her’ she chuckled then pointing at her she continued ’what is wrong with you?...after making us wait for close to twenty minutes you stand there and behave like you have seen ghosts’ they laughed at her hysterically.
Aku just stood there for numb and didn’t know what to do or say to them. They had caught her by surprise. They were still laughing. She wondered who gave them the directions to her house. They had grown bigger and it had been ages since they came together like that. The other one looked her over with cold eyes and told her
‘’if your eyes are getting worse….my dear I suggest you get glasses….you must be out of your mind.Didnt you hear your door bell at all?.’
With this, Aku sat down opposite them and continued to look. The very people that she was going to see had managed to locate her. She had been thinking of them and wanted to see them the next week. She was not sure they would believe that she wanted to come to them. When she was okay to talk, she asked how they were able to locate her.
Adjeley was quick to respond as usual. She had the same old attitude of playing smart .Her boutique business had grown very fast and she looked good. Adjeley had two boys but didn’t like to talk about men. She told her of how they went to the bank and asked about her and how Adoley had to slap the ‘old fool’’ as they referred to the manager there because he refused to give them any information.
Aku was bewildered. She couldn’t believe her ears. They could go buzzard, that was so obvious but for her to hit the branch manager, that was out of place. She started to say something but Adoley knew too well it would end in an argument so she cut in
‘You gave me your address you fool…you believe this silly woman here?...and that reminds me, we left our baggage’s outside your door.’ she said looking at Adjeley who was laughing out loud.
Aku became calm and sighed, then went out to bring their suitcases and sat down. They had not changed a bit or so she thought till Adoley reached into her bag and picked out a cigarette. That was new to Aku but she didn’t utter a word she just watched on as she got a lighter and lit the cigarette.
She held it close and inhaled. She held in the smoke a little while as if she didn’t want to let it go. They were both staring at Adoley who didn’t care about what they thought. Adjeley was not surprised but didn’t want to watch her being dramatic with the smoke so snatched it away from her. Forcing her to exhale.
‘Why the hell did you do that...I just need to relax’ she exclaimed
Aku began to think why her friend needed to relax. She knew she had to give them time to settle in before she could probe them on what’s new else Adoley would make it impossible for them to have a normal conversation.
They had a lot to catch up on. She had not seen her girls for close to eight years as they had kept in touch but that was on and off. She had not even offered them water to drink and when she asked if they wanted anything, Adjeley insisted that she wanted to eat as she didn’t get the chance because they had left the house a bit early thinking that they would get lost.
Her house was easy to locate as it seemed she was very popular in the area. Aku knew they were pulling her legs. She laughed at that thought but they didn’t and appeared serious. Then Adjeley asked what could be funny, she told them how alone she was in the area. Adoley amidst laughter told pointed at Adjeley who didn’t get the humor in it said to Aku
‘I only described you to a gentleman walking by the street and he pointed your house to us’
Adoley who was now laughing uncontrollably beckoned her to continue. And she did
‘I asked him if he knew a very beautiful but rude, rigid and annoying woman in the area and he pointed this house…what did I say wrong’ she asked looking at both women.
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