Childless episode 10
CHILDLESS
Episode 10
AKUA
(smiling sadly)
I know I should divorce him, yes. Only problem is, I still love him.
THE STRANGER
(bleakly)
But he’s a fool!
AKUA
(nodding)
He is, yes. But I think all that is going to change now. I forgive him. We’ll go and look for Madam Bajoe. I know she lives.
THE STRANGER
(nodding)
Oh, yes, she lives. I got the story from her two days ago when God sent me to her. She waits. I see happiness ahead for you, Akua. Keep loving the Lord!
AKUA
The Lord is all I have. Where would I have been without him? I would’ve been dead by now.
THE STRANGER
(smiling briefly)
The more reason that you should divorce that fool! He doesn’t deserve you. Or, why don’t you go out and make love to some man and get pregnant, hm? Then give birth for the man, and bring him to live in your Boys Quarters with your child whilst you live in the main house with your husband. Kwabena, that fool, was planning to do that to you, so if the tables have turned, you should also do it to him. What do you think about that?
And, for the first time in many years, Akua laughs uproariously, with real mirth, so much so that tears come to her eyes.
AKUA
I’m really glad you’re not God, mister. Otherwise I’ll be scared of your revenge!
THE STRANGER
I would’ve struck your husband’s p*n*s with leprosy long, long time ago, Akua, the moment Dede died!
They both laugh this time.
He turns and begins to walk away.
Akua scrambles to her feet.
AKUA
(desperately)
Please, sir, please, wait!
The stranger turns.
THE STRANGER
Mm-hm?
AKUA
Please, I beg of you, with all humility. What’s your name? Where do you stay? Where did you come from? I want to come and thank you.
THE STRANGER
Thank the Lord, not man. And my name is of no import to you now, my dear lady. Keep your faith! God loves you!
He turns and quickly walks away.
When Akua turns Kwabena and his father have come down and are facing her.
Almost in slow motion both of them fall to their knees in front of her.
KWABENA
(weeping)
Forgive me, Akua! Oh, please forgive me! I’m so sorry!
TUTU DOMPREH
(sadly)
Forgive me, Akua! All my life I’ve been a bastard, an unfeeling ogre! I’ve learnt a great lesson today! Please, dear, forgive me and my son!
AKUA
(humbled)
Please, stand up! There’s nothing to forgive! We have a journey ahead of us. Let’s prepare and go and look for Madam Bajoe Naar!
A YEAR AND A HALF ON…
Akua Dompreh just can’t be happier!
Everything had seemed lost!
She had even been contemplating killing herself, but the God she worsh¡ps and leans on hadn’t left her in a lurch!
God had sent a stranger into her life, and following the amazing things and revelations the stranger had laid bare, she and her husband and her father-in-law had made the long journey to the heart of Kroboland to seek a gentle Christian lady called Madam Bajoe Naar!
She had turned out to be a most beautiful elegant woman, even in her matured ages.
They had arrived on a Sunday, and found her in church.
That day she had been up on the pulpit.
It had been a Women’s Week celebration, and Madam Bajoe Naar had been teaching the women in the church about the blessings of forgiveness when three people entered the church.
Akua had asked one of the congregation members where Madam Bajoe was, and the member had pointed at the gentle mature woman standing behind the pulpit.
Akua had moved forward, climbed the pulpit, and fallen to her knees in front of the woman.
Kwabena had run to her and fallen down on his knees too, bawling his head off like a baby.
Tutu Dompreh had just stared at the woman.
He had never seen a lovelier woman in his life!
He had fallen down flat on his stomach in front of her with genuine tears in his eyes.
KWABENA
(wailing uncontrollably)
Oh, Dede, Dede, Dede! Madam, please forgive me! I’m a bad man! Forgive me for making you lose your daughter! Forgive me for making your daughter go through so mucho misery! Oh, Lord! Dede forgive me! Forgive me, my love! Oh, I don’t deserve to live! I deserve to die!!
TUTU DOMPREH
(remorsefully)
It is all my fault! My stupid pride! Thinking I’m more human than everybody else! I’m a murderer! Please, please, please, forgive me and my son, madam!
The news had spread, and of course the dear, good woman had also cried, and had forgiven them immediately!
It had been a great day in the small village that day.
They had stayed for almost two weeks in the village!
Tutu Dompreh had insisted on a fitting burial for Dede!
He had ordered experts to come from the city and Dede’s grave had been redesigned with incredible marble, glass and gold.
Brochures had been printed, and a fitting burial had been performed.
Tutu had flooded the village with food and drinks.
The villagers just couldn’t stop marvelling.
A lovely bronze statue of Dede was even er-cted behind the gravestone.
Afterwards, Kwabena and Tutu had accepted Jesus Christ in the village, and Akua couldn’t stop laughing when the great Tutu, the proudest, most arrogant man she had ever known, was baptized in the village’s dirty pool of water… and he had been smiling all along!