Bernice Ansah
Jesus Christ!!!! Papa, what happened to you?
Akua Yankey
Give me way, Adjoa Bernice so I see what is wrong with my husband. My lord, what happened to you? Were you involved in a fatal accident or who attacked you?
Opana
Please heat hot water for me because today I saw things I haven’t personally witnessed before. The car I was travelling back in was involved in an accident with an approaching vehicle which left its lane to our lane.
Akua Yankey
Ah, was the driver drunk? If drivers are warned not to drink and drive they take that caution for granted and instead of the police on the road to check them on that, they rather go in for one Ghana cedis on the road. That driver’s silly mistake I presume nearly took lives of innocent people, hope know one died?
Opana
Actually, the driver driving the other car wasn’t drunk or even a man, it was a lady who was heavily pregnant. I think she had a force labour whiles driving and that was what probably made her lose control of her steering as it was also heavily raining. Fortunately for her, she was stripped in her seatbelt so her chest or head didn’t hit the steering as she eventually runs into a tree close to the street.
Our car somersaulted three times but no one died, our driver and some people at the front seat incurred serious injuries and are in a critical condition now at the hospital, luckily for the lady driving the other car she was operated upon the moment we arrived at the hospital, I sustained some minor injuries when I hit my head on the glass window I was sitting next to but I was attended to when we got to the hospital and the doctor says am going to be alright after I rest a bit a take some painkillers so don’t worry because am okay.
Akua Yankey
Oh God, how do I thank you enough, you continue to surprise me every second and I don’t even know what to do or the words to use in praising you. If not for your mercies like probable news of me being a widow might be in the air coming to me but you have saved my husband and the other people. Tomorrow my entire household will come to your feet at the church to thank you in a grand thanksgiving service but why is your white shirt drenched in blood like that?
Opana
Oh, the blood in my dress was from one of the passengers who is in a critical state now. His head got broken and the way his blood was pumping out from his head I pray he doesn’t pass away through this accident. Please get me something to eat so I take my medicines and don’t forget the hot water.
Akua Yankey
Bernice, don’t just stand there, go to the kitchen and put water on the stove and bring his supper when coming back from the kitchen.
Bernice Ansah
Okay, mummy, I will be right back and papa I’m happy God brought you back to us in a good shape.
Opana
Thank you, my daughter, but where is your brother?
Bernice Ansah
Papa, he is in his room by now, am guessing he is reflecting on what happened to him by now.
Opana
It serves him right, tell him to come and see me after my supper. We have a very long man to man talk.
Minutes later Opana is done with his food, he goes in to have a hot shower and after that, he summons Kwaku Mike to the living room for his anticipated man to man talk.
Opana
Kwaku Mike my son, I have never and will never hate or dislike you in this world. My reason is that you are my only son and the real descendant of my generation, if my name will ever remain on this earth then it will come from the bold step you take in the future and when I say the future, it’s not five or ten years ahead from now but rather the next second or minute ahead of us, the truth for me is, I don’t see your three other siblings (sisters) as my children or heir to anything I own on this earth because in some few years ahead they will get married to some men you and I don’t know yet and eventually drop the family name “Ansah” for the men they will be marrying. Their children who will be my grandchildren will bear different surnames which is far different from ours, their names could be Ga, Ewe, Akyem, Ashanti, Fanti, Dagomba, Brong, Krobo, Loso or even our own Akuapem background but at the end of the day, we are still blood-related.
Nobody points to his father’s house with his left hand and no one will throw his intestines away and cover his stomach with leaves, yes I was and am still angry with the action you and your mother took behind me when you were back in school. But as at now, the egg has been broken and no matter what I or anyone do I can’t change anything but it pains me that as a man that you are, you couldn’t confide in me your father and you rather went to your mother for counsel.
Let me tell you today that, a man raises up a male child and a woman does for a female, our elders say the child that learns how to wash his hands well dines with the elders. I know you are of age and if you were playing your duties well like by now I should have drawn you near and be showing you some family properties or plans but as it looks now you are very weak to be exposed to certain things like that. Honestly, it pains me when I see how bad things have gone but I know it’s bent but not broken, my son as I always say, when I was your age I was already a dad and was taking care of your mother and you standing in front of me with your hands behind you, I didn’t even own an “O” level certificate but for you, you are a degree holder which means you have even a bigger advantage more than me when you step out of this house to search for greener pastures.
I believe you changed your course because there was a dream job or career you wanted to pursue that is why you and your mother stabbed me in the back. I had plans for you and by now you would have been gainfully employed where you would be working on building your own house by now. This is the time you should use the youthful strength you have to do something useful and meaningful to your life and that of your family.
My son I will also stress on one thing that you learn how to say “mine and not ours”, what I have right now, I inherited most of them from my uncle even though he had male children, as Akans and Akuapem’s we fully inherit from our maternal side which means your mother brother’s properties and you know all your uncles are more broke than the church rats.
For the first time ever in your life, I have sat you down to talk to you like a man because I don’t want you or anyone someday to call me a very bad, selfish or self-centred person for neglecting my fatherly responsibilities. It’s high time you hold the bull by its horn and time will never wait for man or even get a leg problem to say am resting a bit, it always moves or walks even when all of us sleep.
A word should be enough for the wise, ponder over the things I said to you and you will never regret taking a clue from my advice, am already having a headache so let me retire to bed and rest. I will see you tomorrow God willing, good night my son.
Michael Ansah
Good night Papa, and thank you for this manly advice, I needed it badly and I promise not to disappoint you or this family.
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Next Morning:
Akua Yankey
(worshipping God in her bedroom) Ah thank God for another wonderful Sunday morning, the Lord has been so good and merciful to my family, we can’t exchange your praises to any other thing on this earth. Receive your adoration and praises because you deserve it, my God, there is no other God apart from you and my household and I will continue to serve you without looking back or ceasing. My Lord my God, I bless your holy name, I…
Opana
(opens his eyes slightly on his bed and checks the clock on the wall and interrupts the praises and worship of his wife) Woman, do you realise it’s still not fully morning? The daylight hasn’t shown itself and neither has the cock crowed so why don’t you allow me to sleep a bit, it is now 4:35 am and are you aware that doing the right thing at the wrong time makes it a sin before God himself? Please let me feel that am in the comfort of my house because I need to rest badly.
Akua Yankey
So praising God is now a crime erh? Please don’t walk into the new year with this your old lifestyle ooo, you need to do a rebranding of yourself and how you do your things in this house please, I beg of you!!!
Opana
It will be prudent if you shut your mouth, my dear. Doesn’t your Bible talk about being submissive towards your husband’s and that we are the heads of the family and house. This matter has been closed so don’t utter a single word any longer.
Akua Yankey
Hmmmm, for the sake of peace and harmony I will keep quiet and not involve you in any argument but at the right time, we will tackle this issue.
Later on in the day:
Akua Yankey
My husband, please wake up, it’s already 8:35 am and you have to prepare so we all go to church together. You know we have a thanksgiving service to attend, breakfast is almost ready and the children are done with their preparation towards the Church.
Opana
You can take lead for me to come later when am done sleeping because I feel I still need adequate sleep.
Akua Yankey
Please, wake up, your warm water is already in the bathroom and any further delay will make the water go cold because of the early morning harmattan which is serious this early morning.
Opana
So, for you, you don’t take no for an answer erh, for the sake of peace, I will also do as you say.
Later Opana came back from the bathroom feeling refreshed.
Opana
Where is Mike this morning? I need him to iron my black shirt and trouser for me.
Akua Yankey
Black shirt? You shock fans paaa sometimes, we are going for a thanksgiving service and you are thinking of wearing a black shirt. Please go in for some of your kente cloths, I think your white kente will be perfect for you this morning. Since you bought it two years ago you have only used it once so am voting for you to put it on for you to look more handsome for me.
Opana
Have you forgotten it rained last night and that the ground might still be wet with mud and muddy water?
Akua Yankey
I know but you will also have to know how to wrap the cloth on you, let me serve your breakfast to you. Service has already started at the church and we need to get there early to get the session clerk to record our thanksgiving news or information.
Akua Yankey serves her husband and after he finished eating he dressed up and the family left the house for the church, as they stepped out of the house and were on the street, Akua Yankey remembered she had left something behind and pleaded with her family members to wait for her to get it and in her absence, something unexpected happened……..
To be continue on Monday
