Opana – Episode 13

Opana – Episode 13

© Akoto Alexander

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 witness 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 run 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 probably news of me been 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 am 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 too 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 some day to call me a very bad, selfish or self centered 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.

Next Morning:

Akua Yankey: (worshiping 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 4:35am 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 life style 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 been 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 quite 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 8:35am 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 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 ones 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 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……..

What could be that unexpected thing that happened?

___

Shortly after Akua Yankey left to the house, a boy between the ages of 16 to 18 riding a bicycle mistaken splash muddy water on Opana. Michael and Bernice saw the move early but Opana who was pressing his phone by then didn’t see it so he was badly soaked in the muddy water, the boy wanted to run at first but with his little calculation he realised that he couldn’t escape freely so he came before Opana to apologise.

Young Boy: (going on his knees) Sir please forgive me because I didn’t intentionally splash the water on you. I lost balance due to the speed I was riding so please forgive me.

Opana: You foolish boy, idiot, imbecile, baboon, dimwit, social miscreant, son of a harlot, wizard, devil’s incarnate, this big road you couldn’t get anywhere to pass except where I stood and you perfectly executed your plan by splashing muddy water on me. See what you have done to my body and expensive white kente. Do you know how much money it cost me to get this kente? There are only two people apart from me who have some of this limited edition of this very kente and they are Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the president of the republic Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo. I don’t even know if this laundry people can even wash it clean for me to have it the way it was previously. I have seized your bicycle for good and you will never get it.

Young Boy: Sir please forgive me because the bicycle is not mine and if the owner even gets to know that I took his bicycle he will ki*ll me because he just bought it yesterday and I didn’t deliberately splash the muddy water on you. Please I beg of you as today is a Sunday morning.

Opana: Do I look like God who forgives people for their sins? We were three people standing here so why am I the only person who got soaked with the muddy water if what you did was not on purpose. You better leave my sight before I even seize the dress that you are wearing on top of the bicycle.

Young Boy: Sir please I beg you, if you take this bicycle away I don’t know what will happen to me when I get home. I am on my knees begging you.

Opana: Well if the owner decides to ki*ll you, I sell coffin so your people will come and buy from me and I will get more money.

Michael Ansah: Papa please forgive him and take it that it is me or any of your children that mistakenly splashed muddy water on you. He looks helpless and I believe he didn’t splash the water on you on purpose, papa God will bless you more if you forgive him for his wrong against you.

Opana: Morning Chancellor of the Exchequer, father know all, Pope Michael of Ghana, renowned Psychologist, perfect Mediator, was I not standing here with you before this fool splashed muddy water on me. Did you even get a small stain in your dress? Don’t bring yourself for my to channel some of my anger on you, do you how I suffered before I got this kente? Osei Kwame Despite was the one who wanted to buy this particular kente but I outsmarted him and this fool has managed to stain it. (pushes the bicycle home whiles the others followed him closely pleading with him)

Akua Yankey: Ah what happened to you my dear? Where from this muddy stains in your kente and face?

Young Boy: Madam I mistakenly splashed water on him when I lost balance as I was riding. Please help me beg him because it wasn’t deliberate, he has seized the bicycle which does not belong to me. The owner will ki*ll me if I don’t return home with the bicycle.

Akua Yankey: My love please forgive him, you know he is a young boy just like our daughter, please take it like it’s one of our children who mistakenly splashed water on you and forgive him.

Michael Ansah: That is exactly what I said to papa earlier on but he rather insulted me.

Opana: Will shut that stupid gutter you call a mouth up before I tie it with my bare hands. Didn’t you see what went on Kwaku Mike and for you woman, I blame you for everything that has happened.

Akua Yankey: You blame me for what reason my dear?

Opana: You decided to ruin my day right from the dawn you started making noise to interrupt my sleep. As if that was not enough you forced me to put this expensive kente on even though we are attending a common thanksgiving service and leaving the house too you stopped me to wait for you at the spot this fool came to spoil everything and you are there pleading for mercy on his behalf. Let me tell you this, even if Mary decides not to go to Bethlehem with Joseph and she comes here heavily pregnant even I won’t listen to her plea, if she likes she can decide not to give birth to Jesus Christ on the 25th of December.

Akua Yankey: My love please when we talk sometimes kindly listen to us also.

Bernice Ansah: Papa please forgive him for it wasn’t deliberate for him to splash the water on you.

From nowhere Eno Bruwaa surfaced and she also joined the pleading party.

Eno Bruwaa: I know this matter doesn’t concern me but I am only stepping in because am also a mother who feels for children please my landlord kindly forgive the boy, I saw all that happened and I know the boy didn’t deliberately splash the water on you, it was a mere accident so please temper justice with mercy.

Opana: Woman hold your peace, as you rightly said, this matter doesn’t concern you so please go find something to do with yourself before I give you a piece of my anger cake.

Akua Yankey: (raging with anger seeing Eno Bruwaa) And who invited you into this madam? All you know is to go about poking your nose into things that doesn’t concern you and gossip around. You think I have forgiven you for the ugly things you said about my son when he had a brawl with Agnes, I haven’t gotten your time yet and at the right time I will deal with you.

Opana: My dear what did she say about my son?

Akua Yankey: My love can you imagine this heartless woman was gossiping to Hajia Kubra that she wishes that Agnes was her blood relation like she will personally lead the case to the high court and that she would have done anything in her power to jail my son.

Eno Bruwaa: Aunty Akua please you heard me wrongly with what I was telling Hajia Kubra. I was only explaining something to her but you got to hear only the negative things I was saying please don’t misjudge me because I know the good things your family has been doing for mine.

Michael Ansah: So all this while you wanted my dowfall Eno? What wrong did I ever do to you in this compound, don’t I help your grandchildren with their homework and even teach them sometimes when am free in the house at night? Indeed some people act like lovers but behind you they are you real enemies.

Eno Bruwaa: It seems you all have gotten the wrong signal so I will take leave now to let sleeping dogs lie.

Opana: Mmmm madam you see your life? By their fruits they shall be known, I won’t say much but you will hear from me soon and you will love my statement due to the nature and power of it. No one invited you here so take you embarrassed self and leave this place you gossip. Now you young boy just leave this place before I do something drastic to you and let me sound an aggressive warning to everyone here that anyone who touches this bicycle or gives it out to anyone that, I will personally skin the person alive. Go to church because am not joining you any longer.

Akua Yankey: My love please don’t bring that now because you promised going to church with us some days ago and just reflect on the things that has happened to this family and how good the Lord has been to us. Please don’t let the devil walk into spoil our plans for the day.

Opana: You take the lead for me to join you later. I have to wash down again and find a new dress since you have to meet the session clerk early so you give him your message for announcement.

Bernice Ansah: Papa please are you sure you will come to church truly?

Opana: Certainly my daughter, you know your father here doesn’t go against his words and any promise he makes, he fulfils it.

Akua Yankey: If you say so we will meet at church but please don’t be late. Mike stop a taxi so we rush to the church because we are behind time already.

Opana goes inside the house with the bicycle and locks it in one of the store rooms so that no one will get access to seized bicycle. All this while Agnes Kyerewaa was standing at a reasonable distance watching the action that took place previously.

Agnes Kyerewaa: So this boy has been released erh? No wonder my uncle refused me the opportunity to see him when I came back from the hospital yesterday. He can’t be walking about freely after what he did to me. I will deal with him squarely but first let me call my uncle so he tells me the reason why that bas***d is still walking about freely on the street.

On Phone:

Commander: Hello my beautiful niece how are you doing this morning?

Agnes Kyerewaa: Uncle you don’t expect me to be happy when that monster is still walking about freely on the street like nothing happened.

Commander: My dear I would advice you to forget about him and what happened because that guy has got connections that anywhere you take him, with a single call he will be set free so I urge you to just forget about what happened between the two of you. A call that came from above was enough to let me lose my job if I kept him in my custody for even a minute further. My dear anything that you spend at the hospital am ready to incure the expenditure, so bring to my office tomorrow all the receipts of the monies you have spent so far.

Agnes Kyerewaa: Am not happy with your explanations ooo uncle because am sensing something fishy in here ooo.

Commander: My dear shut up and listen to me, how much can those people pay me so I betray my own niece. Just come to the office tomorrow, take good care of yourself and take your drugs judiciously. (call ends)

Opana also on the other hand is contemplating if he should go to church or not but at the end he came to the conclusion that he will join his family at the church. He got himself a new dress and left the house but on his way he met a long time friend where they diverted to a drinking spot to break some bottles. After consuming three bottles of beer he decided to go to the church and in the church something funny but serious happened in the church.

Do you want to guess what funny thing that happened at the church?

To be continued

 

ALL EPISODES