Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Ama led her mother out of the main gate of the Swanzy Shopping Arcade. She carried in both hands two large polythene bags stuffed with provisions and food items. Mother and daughter came to stand by the main entrance of the arcade contemplating as to whether they should stop a taxi, call Uber or walk about ten (10) metres southwards towards the nearby public transport station to pick trotro to Oyarifa, where they live. One would have thought Mrs. Anastasia Donkor would have come to town in one of the two family cars packed in the house. But, she was at loggerheads with her better half and would not like to touch anything either owed wholly by Greg or both. This would give a signal that all is well with the couple and yet it was not. Indeed, she was bent on implementing her plans. What plans? Only time would tell. She was not ready to disclose what was in her head to anybody. Earlier in the day, Ama had expressed her intention to discuss the tension in the house with her. She was therefore ready to pay heed to her daughter, but was wondering how they would discuss such sensitive family matter without anyone hearing them. If they took public transport or found a place to sit down; walls had ears; so mother and daughter preferred to take a stroll to discuss the issue and put in place their tactics and strategies out of the privy eyesight and earshot of any living creature. They both concluded.

They descended downwards along J.A. Kufuor Highway towards the Odaw River embankment. There were not many people around the place at that time of the day; apart from few speed boats sailing up and down the river. Ama and her mother found a seat opposite the sweet flowing Odaw River, far away from anybody. “Mum, seriously speaking, daddy’s action was appalling and disgusting.” Ama set the tone in motion. “Last week Thursday, I met Koryo on campus. She tried to behave as if nothing has happened. Maybe she taught l was naïve about the whole incident. I really gave it to her! I made her understood that she was a family breaker and as such had no place in our family again. I warned her not to come near me and my family again. She tried to explain herself out but I was not ready to forgive her.” Anastasia Donkor, who was all along listening with rapt attention found her voice. “Hmmmm…my daughter, indeed her behaviour was an affront to womanhood, particularly, come to think of what we have done for her over the years. If you do not have anything to give to your in-laws, do you have to steal from them as well? People! Human beings! Hmmmm…. Girls of nowadays, no matter what you do for them, at the end of the day they will stab you at the back. They behave like pigs. No matter how much you try to clean them, they will eventually go back to play in the mud.” “Mum, say it and say it again.” Ama concluded. “Now mum, what are we going to do?” Anastasia patted at Ama’s scapula to reassure her. “My daughter, relax! There are more avenues opened up to us.” Ama quickly retorted. “Avenues like what? Divorce?” “Well, that is an option, when the worst come.” Anastasia replied. She gazed into vacuum as if transfixed by the gum of the rubber tree. “Mum, mum…What is wrong with you?” Ama shouted. Anastasia was puzzled. She organised herself. “Yes, Ama! Nothing is wrong with me.” “But, Mum, ever since this incident happened you have been behaving oddly. You have to slow down before something serious happen to you.” Ama grabbed her mother’s right hand and tried to drag her. She hissed into her ears. ‘With the information under my sleeves, I am contemplating filing a case against dad.” “Herr, .say it again!” Anastasia exclaimed. “Lawyers of today! Ama, how can you think of a thing like that? Your own father? What do you think society will say or think of us? We will be ridiculed and ostracised.” “Yes, my own father, who cares? He must pay for his wrong deeds, mum.” Ama boasted. Anastasia Donkor in a calm posture tried to assure her daughter of better days ahead. “Ama, my little girl, indeed, your father has done a bad thing, but do not cloud your thinking faculties with youthful exuberance. Whatever decision we arrived at must be premised upon the assumption that we live in a male dominated society even though they are in the minority in terms of numbers.” “Yeah, mum, sorry. I am not cutting you short. Why am I studying law? Anastasia quickly stepped in. “You are studying Law to earn a living. Anyway, this is just on the lighter note. Seriously, Ama, think about it this way. Can you afford to lose your father through death or solitary confinement?” Ama stopped abruptly to look at her mum’s face directly: eyeball to eyeball. “Mum, so we should let him go scot free.” Anastasia quietly replied. “Let us leave him to posterity and allow his conscience to judge him.” Ama looked up onto the sky and wiped some water droplets from her right arm. “Mum, I feel it is going to rain.” “Yes, the weather is not fine. Hurry up!” Ama and her mother doubled up their paces further down the road to catch trotro vehicle bound for Abokobi-Oyarifa.