Soul In Tears episode 5 – 6

Soul In Tears

Episode 5
‘My son, please listen with rapt attention’ Maame Adwoa paused and looked around as if expecting someone. Kwadjo Boateng sat in his seat with all his attention on his mother. ‘I was seventeen and in senior high School. My parents were not financially stable enough to pay my fees. There was this rich man in our vicinity. This man and his wife were busy bodies. Their two sons were abroad and the last born was with them but because of their busy schedules, had little time for the six year old girl. I took advantage of the situation and got myself a job in the house as the care taker of the girl. Her name was Matilda. She was such an adorable girl. Very intelligent and interesting. I was very fond of her. My monthly salary was able to cater for my fees, buying of books as well as given some to my dad. Life was rosy for me. My employers appreciated my efforts and aside my fat salary, gave me new clothes, shoes and what have you. My boss came home one evening and announced that their sons were returning home for Christmas. It was good news for the Boateng family. A lot of renovation was done in the house. A lot of gadgets which they deemed old were removed from the house. Those things were new things in my house…

She paused and took a sip of the drink she had infront of her. She smiled and continued. … ‘The two young handsome men finally reunited with their family. That Christmas was fun for them and for my family as well. The two men were Kwabena Boateng and Akwasi Boateng. Kwabena Boateng was very friendly and helpful. He told me wild stories about life in abroad anytime he was less busy. One fateful day, Mr. Boateng took his family out because it was their sons last week in Ghana. Kwabena Boateng feigned sickness and was left alone in the house. We had inter houses in school that day and since I was not interested in any of the activities, went home early. I went to pick Matilda from school and took her home. Whiles I was busy helping Matilda with her school assignment, Kwabena Boateng emerged from his room. He ordered for a glass of fruit juice and went back to his room. I quickly attended to his needs. He locked the door when I entered the room. I was very confused at that moment. I didn’t know what he was up to. He told me I was very pretty. I realised he wanted to have his way with me. He moved towards me. I pleaded with him but he heard non of it. He forced and had his way with me. He raped me and warned that if I dare tell anyone, I will lose my job. The pain I felt within me that day was so much to bear but because working in that house was the source of lively hood for me and my family, I kept the pain within me. A month after the two Boateng’s left for abroad, my period refused to show up. I became frightened…

…I gathered courage and informed my mother about the incident. The option she gave was abortion. She gave that option because she knew there was no way the Boateng’s would accept the pregnancy. More also she knew it would cost me my job which would drastically affect my family financially. My father too would be another hell of a problem. I refused my mother’s option firmly but politely. She angrily told my father the wh0le incident and the old boy went wild on me. I told him about the rape and he lead me to the house of the Boateng. My dad barked at the house. The Boateng’s were shocked to hear the information. They called their son on phone. Kwabena Boateng denied having anything to do with me. ‘Mom, dad, I am very disappointed in you for even calling me to ask me about this. Why would I go so low to sleep with that filthy young girl. Please get her out of the house before she disgraces the name we have toiled hærd to maintain.. Those were his words on the phone. I was stunned. I couldn’t believe those words came from the young man who took my V-rginity and pride… Hmmmm.

Episode 6
Maame Adwoa bowed down her head for a minute before raising it. There was no tears in her eyes. That made her son a little bit relieved. ‘I don’t get it. Why did he rejected the pregnancy if they were that dosted. Taken care of you wouldn’t have been a problem?’ Kwadjo Boateng asked with confusion written all over his face. ‘my son, money wasn’t a problem for them but he said I was filthy and from a filthy family’…. ‘and yet he slept with you. Oh gosh, that man is disgusting’ Kwadjo cut in.

‘hmmmmm, it was quite a pity on my behalf. After the Boateng’s spoke to their son on phone. Mr Boateng told us to leave his house since his son had denied the pregnancy. That moment, I felt lost in the world. My father warned me not step foot in his house if I wasn’t ready to disclosed to him the bastard that got me pregnant. In tears, I told him it was Kwabena Boateng. A slap landed on my cheeks. I turned to see who it was. Another one landed on my face. That was Mrs Boateng. She warned me not to drag their name to the gutters with my stupid pregnancy. Yeah! She called the pregnancy stupid. There is a proverb in Akan that says ‘one person went to see, who will be his or her witness’ God was my witness. My father stormed out of the house and the mother that I thought would defend me followed him without having pity on me. Mr Boateng went into his wallet and handed me my salary for that month and warned me not to step foot in the house again… ‘

I threw the money back at him and said to him “your son will bear the consequences of whatever I will go through from today”. I left the house in tears not knowing where to heard towards. I didn’t know what was lying in wait for me at home but I gave it a try. My father was sitting on a stool in the veranda with a very sharpened cutlass when I opened the main gate. He chased me out of the house with the cutlass when he saw me enter the compound.

I stood under an oak tree and cried my heart out. For a moment I couldn’t think straight. I was so devastated and dejected. I went to one last place I knew I would be welcomed. My Mother’s sisters’ house. My father was already there when I got to that house. I heard him warning her not to take me into her home. I was shocked and confused at the same time. My father overreacted. Was it not a human being I was going to give birth to? I went to meet my aunt. The face she gave me told me I wasn’t welcomed into her home. She told me to leave because she didn’t want to have problems with my family. My V-rginity was gone, my proud was gone. My happiness was gone and my family to was gone. I was left alone with just the red and white gown I wore that day to suffer the consequences of someone’s lust. I took to the streets because that was the only place that could welcome me. Before going to the streets, I tried my head Master’s house but he refused to accommodate me. I wasn’t surprised because I knew my father went to warn them too. The streets became my home. Feeding myself wasn’t easy. I had to sell sachet water the wh0le day before getting money to eat…

My reasons for objecting to my mother’s abortion option was that, some missionaries came to our school and spoke to us about the love of God. One thing they said that I would never forget was “no one was born by accident, God has a purpose for every human being that has been born. Whether you mother planned your coming or not, whether you were born out of rape or not, God knows best and has a purpose for your life” That was why I stood my ground and avoided an abortion which caused me everything that had to do with happiness.

At night, mosquitoes were our friends. They feed on us like nobody’s business but we had no options. I saved enough money which was able to cover my hospital bills when you were born. From the hospital, I took you to the streets where I lived. With the help of some teenagers who were on the streets like me and had had experience in child birth, assisted me in bathing you. Six months after your delivery, I ran out of cash and started the water business again. I wasn’t okay with raising you on the streets. I worked h-rder than usual and raised an amount which I used to rent a kiosk. Our nights got a little better in the kiosk. When you were one year old, I took you to school. You being in school gave me more time to work h-rder and save for your up bringing. There is a lot to be said but God being good, you are in the university today and that brings joy to my life… She concluded with a smile. Kwadjo Boateng was in tears when his mother ended her tale. Maame Adwoa wiped her son’s tears with the back of her right hand. He was in tears because he realised his mother had sacrificed her life for him. ‘don’t cry my son, you will make me cry too… Getting hotter.

To be continued………..