Veritable Amigos

Chapter Four

Chapter
Four

They went to the ward where she was. Gayles felt sorry for the little girl as they went to her on the bed. She rubbed her hand smoothly in the girl's hair as she slept.
"She is beautiful", Gayles said to her mother.
"Not as much as she would have been if she was born in a rich home", Aunty Addowah said.
"Oh do not say that, the Lord knows what is best for us", Gayles sympathized.
Little Abena woke up from sleep, she tried to sit up but was in pain so Gayles helped her sit. She could see faces she had not seen until then but recognized one which she knew, her amma. "Mummy, who are they?", she asked her mother.
"Wotcha!", Gayles endeared.
"Hello, l am Abena and you are?", she said.
Gayles introduced, "l am Gayles Haylie and those are my friends, Stellie Odehyeaba and Rennie Acquah".
"Sweet names and beautiful faces", she said admiringly.
"Smart girl", Stellie commended.
"l like your outfit", Abena said again with delight.
Gayles asked, "Will you like a similar one?"
"Yes", she shouted.
"Then l will bring it the next time we visit", Gayles pledged.
"Thank you, Haylie", Abena appreciated.
"You are most welcome".
"You did not tell me why you are here or you are angels from heaven visiting the sick?, Abena asked with a naughty smile.
"Ha-ha", they laughed. "We are not angels, we are just like you", Stellie said to her.
"l will tell you but first give me an assurance that you will forgive us and not drive us away", Stellie made a peremptory request.
"It is a promise", Abena confidently said.
"Actually, l was the one driving when you were knocked down", Gayles said softly.
Abena made an angry face, "l thought you were my friends but you came here just to check on me and leave forever".
Gayles appealed, "you are our friend, so will you forgive me?"
"l do not feel resentful towards you", she said.
Gayles bigged her up, "you are very intelligent".
"Not ample like you", Abena told Gayles. "You came back to check on me, that makes you so special to me".
"Aww... little friend. l love you already!", Stellie exclaimed.
"That should be a lie, if you love me what then about your boyfriend?", Abena asked teasingly.
They all laughed. "Bad girl!", Gayles said, pulling her closer.
Aunty Addowah was so happy with the union between her daughter and the three friends. Rennie was also grateful, her friends had been able to patch up things within the day. She stood there admiring Gayles. "l just can not wait to get out of here", she said to herself.
The two were busily engaged with Abena, they had liked her within the shortest possible time. "l am hungry", Abena announced.
"Are you sure?", Stellie asked.
"Of course!", she admitted.
"Let me verify from your tummy and be sure", Gayles said, putting her head on Abena's belly.
"Oh yeah, l can hear her stomach say so", she confirmed.
"You are so strange, how do you hear it speak?", Abena asked.
"l speak to the body parts too and understand them perfectly", Gayles deceived.
Stellie established more firmly, "oh yes, she can".
"Girls we have to leave now", Rennie called out.
"Oh so soon?", Abena asked in disappointment.
"l am sorry but yes", Rennie replied.
"Hey, we will visit you again", Stellie convinced.
"When will that be?", Abena curiously asked.
"It's a surprise", Gayles said.
"Hmm... l will long be waiting", she said doubting.
"l will leave a card with you, call me whenever you need anything", Gayles told Abena.
With that they left the hospital.
They left to Rennie's house. They were all so happy that everything turned out good. Rennie was out of trouble and had nothing to fear anymore. "It was stressful today", Rennie exclaimed.
"It was not so with me", Stellie said.
"Me neither", Gayles added. "Little Abena was so nice a girl to be with. l like to be with her".
"l do not see anything so nice about her", Rennie avowed.
Stellie said to Rennie, "do not tell me you do not like her".
"And what if it is the fact? She is just a riff-raff", she said.
"l wonder where on earth you are from", Stellie said.
"It's my choice, let me be and listen, l won't accept your criticisms", she blared.
"Enough already!", Gayles shouted. "We just swerved trouble and instead of rejoicing you two are squabbling. What is wrong with you?"
"She need those blasting not me, she can not domineer over me. l do as l wish not follow the crowd", Rennie disputed.
"You dare not point at me with those fingers of yours", Stellie warned.
"l amn't scared of your empty threats", Rennie said back.
"You should be ashamed of yourself for this, a girl forgave you for almost killing her and you don't like her. You are cold hearted", Stellie disdainfully said.
"lf you will not stop this, then l think l should leave", Gayles said and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Rennie damned, "you are happy now l should believe".
"You are ridiculous", Stellie said and also left.
"She makes me feel sick", Rennie said to herself. "Now that they all have left, l think l will want to sleep. l did not sleep well last night with that Abena's issue". Rennie laid down in the sofa to sleep when she had a phone call. "Who is this wanting to disturb my sleep", she furiously said and slept without answering the call.
Stellie called Gayles to apologize on what happened but she did not answer her calls. Gayles got to her house, exasperated. She did not want to speak to any of the two friends, not Stellie nor Rennie. She thought of how happy they would have been if they could have agreed on issues and not superfluously argue. The differences between Rennie and Stellie was the root of the problems in their friendship. Rennie is a party animal and behaves big but Stellie was moderate.
"She is upset", Stellie said to herself. "But it is about time Rennie learnt something into her silly head and Gayles have to understand this. Rennie is selfish, she is a spoilt brat and moreover she is tyrant". As she said, she tried reaching Gayles but she had refused to answer.
Later in the evening, Stellie called her again, this time she answered. "What is it again?" Gayles said incisively.
"Alas, l am sorry for what happened", Stellie apologized.
Gayles reproved, "do not apologize to me but to Rennie, you argued with her not me. l do not get it when as friends you fight like a cat and a rat. You know she is difficult to deal with so you should know how to be with her. She will not change if you fight her".
"She needs to learn, it is time she used her fuzz brain. We will not always spoon feed her, she is old enough to distinguish between wrong and good", Stellie said.
"It is time. She will change. You have to take it easy with her, she need not pressure", Gayles advised.
She urged, "time is not on her side, before she realizes it is late. She hits a girl and run away, she feels no remorse. You would have been jailed for crying out loud. Gayles, please listen to me, she is getting out of hand. We can't tell the next contingency".
"I understand but showing her love will make her realize her flaws and correct it without feeling bad. She will learn from us if we make her feel loved, she will try her possible best to cope", Gayles said.
"But don't you think the affection is too much?" Stellie asked, sure of Gayles' reply.
"l do not think so", Gayles said.
"l knew that would be your reply, and next will be 'Please apologize to her and settle your differences", She mimicked.
"Since you know then do it right", Gayles said to her.
"l will, duck", she agreed. "What is our next move?"
"Leave that to Rennie to decide, she will know better", she said, rest assured.
Stellie remarked, "that is her aptitude after all".
"l have to get something to eat, l am starving", Gayles reported.
"Okay", Stellie said.
Gayles went to her kitchen to prepare food for herself. She went there and found out she has deficient of foodstuff. She wanted to make an order for food but wanted to eat home made so decided on going to the market to purchase food items. This made her miss her mum and remembered it has long been last she paid a visit home. She went for her keys to her car and drove to the supermarket. When she got there, there were lots of people there, all busily shopping. She picked up a basket for her shopping. She shopped for the items she will need and when she was done went to the cashier for her items to be cashed. She collided with a stranger, her things fell on the lower supporting surface of the room. "So sorry", the young man said, helping her pick up the items.
"It's alright", Gayles said.
"Would you mind if l drive you home?", he asked.
"l appreciate it so much but l am with a car", Gayles divulged.
"You look familiar?", he whispered. "Where do you school?", he asked.
"KNUST", she answered.
"Then l am right. l also school there", he said.
"l do not know you", she said.
He made known his name. "l am Ray".
She asked being skeptical, "Ray the dance artiste?"
"Yeah, the dance artiste", he answered.
"Nice meeting you", she extended a hand of friendship.
"Nice meeting you too", he said and asked. "How do l locate you?"
"You can have my card", she pulled a card out of her purse and handed it over to him.
"Be expecting my call", he predicted.
Gayles waved at him and drove off. As she was in her car, she remembered the best of Ray's dancing skills. She called Rennie to inform her. "Oh wow, you have luck", Rennie happily told Gayles. "He is a perfect guy for you, opportunity knocks but once. Gayles grab this!"
"We are not there yet'', Gayles begged.
"But you should get there as fast as a hare", she encouraged.
"Girl, l just met him. l will have to know him first", Gayles said.
"What do you want to know about him, his ancestors or what? My dear, we are in a modern world not in the eighties. l do not think my great grand mother will tell me this even", she urged. "Do not let this guy go, that is what you should focus on not on knowing him".
"l have heard you", Gayles said.
"You better heed to my advice. l only want the best for you", she warned. "Give it your possible best to keep him".
"l will try it", she assured.
Rennie imposed, "l did not say try, make him yours that is what l said".
"What if he has a girlfriend?", Gayles curiously asked.
"We care less about that, she can go for another guy", she said.
"l can not do such a harm", she refused.
"You have not tried and you are saying you can't", Rennie said. "Don't think of that now"
"Alright, I have heard you", Gayles said.
Rennie exclaimed, "Hunky - dory! We have to celebrate this".
Gayles laughed, "we are not getting married yet, girl".
"l can not wait till that", Rennie also laughed.
Gayles proposed, "make up with Stellie so that we can decide on a party".
"Oh no... do l need to do this?", she asked.
"Yes if you want to party", Gayles replied.
She told Gayles, "l can not stand her anymore. She is getting undecorous and will not tolerate her impertinence".
"That is bad, you are friends", she counselled.
"l will try", Rennie assured.
Gayles arrived home very weak due to hunger. "l need to eat before l black out", she moaned. She went into the kitchen to prepare food. She served herself and began to eat after the cooking. When she was done eating, she went into her lab to finish some projects. She received a text message from Ray.
She replied, "l am good and you?"
"Fine also. I will like to know you more. Can we meet tomorrow?" he asked.
"l do not think so", she replied.
"Why don't you?" he asked again.
"l have a schedule", she texted.
"What of the day after?" he asked.
"l can't tell" she said.
"l can see you do not want to see me", he guessed.
"That is not true", she denied.
"So what is the truth?" he asked. The conversation went on till Gayles agreed on meeting him.
Stellie went to Rennie's house. "To what do l owe this visit?", Rennie asked. Stellie made herself comfy in a sofa, ignoring her question. Rennie fetched her a malted milk which she accepted. There was an advertisement of a movie premiering the next day on the television at the silver bird cinema. Rennie desired to be there. "l won't miss this", she shouted.
"And we are going together", Stellie added.
"Are you sure?", she asked.
"Yeah, Gayles will like to go as well", Stellie informed.
Rennie announced, "it gonna be great, it has been a long time we watched movies together as friends. Before l forget, Gayles has met his groom".
"Ha, what a hilarious joke!", Stellie laughed.
"It is no joke. And guess who it is", she said.
Stellie asked without hesitating, "who?"
"It is Ray", she mentioned.
Stellie asked, "who is Ray?"
"The Ray you know of", she said vaguely.
"l am happy for her. But do they know each other well?", Stellie questioned.
"You are also saying this", Rennie frivolously said, shaking her head. She took her phone and showed Stellie some dance videos of Ray. "He is awesome, that is what she should know", she spelled out.
Stellie said, "l like the dance, anyway". She took the phone and watched more of his dance videos. She smiled in adoration as she watched it. Rennie was happy she did not object to it. "l hope, they like each other", Stellie said, sipping her glass of milk.
"No doubt", said Rennie.
"But where did they meet?", Stellie asked.
Rennie narrated, "They collided in a supermarket, the guy helped her pick her items up and exchanged contacts. That is all for now".
"She doesn't even know anything about him and you are here making a mountain out of a mole hill", Stellie brought into view.
"Don't start any argument now. Forget it and keep your lectures to yourself", said Rennie, despaired.
Ray was in the gym doing some gymnastics. All he could think of was Gayles, he remembered their first meeting and could not stop himself from the eagerness to meet her again. He had fallen for her the first time he saw her in school but did not see her again since that day. He had dreamt on seeing her again which made his friends mock at him anytime he mentioned it. The only thing he had of her was just a picture of hers.
Ray made enquiries about her but it seemed she had existed only to him. Now that Ray had had an encounter with her, he did not want her out of his sight. He was so excited that his dreams were turning true, he worked tirelessly in the gym. He caught the attention of the people in the gym, the people present were amazed. Ray left the gym very early that day, he could not afford being late to meet her. He went home to doll himself up. He selected the best of his clothes from his wardrobe and dressed alluringly.
When Gayles got to the spot, Ray was already there, she located where he was sitting and approached him. Ray looked at her with surprise, she was looking much more beautiful than before. Gayles took her seat opposite Ray. They made their order and before long they were served. Ray engaged Gayles in a long talk, he enjoyed being with her. She told him of her books and summarized one of which she loved much, "The Brain Girl". As she summarized, Ray stared at her in amazement. He stared at her like he had not seen a girl on earth ever or maybe he had seen a fairy in real life.
During their conversation, Gayles had a call from Stellie. She was going with Rennie to Gayles' house. Gayles told them to wait for her in the house because she was not at home, she promised to return early. She did not tell them where she was despite the fact that she was asked. She claimed to tell them when she got back.
Gayles told Ray about their visit and sought to leave. Ray earnestly asked her to stay with him for sometime, Gayles accepted it and stayed extra minutes with him. He asked her questions concerning her life, she gave answers free of deceit. Ray wanted to ask her out but thought it was too early since it was the beginning of their friendship. He told her all that she needed to know about him to start a friendship. He told her, he had no girlfriend and was looking for a perfect match though she didn't ask of it. Ray later insisted on dropping her after she had requested to leave the second time to attend to her friends. She accepted the offer.
Rennie and Stellie got to the house of Gayles and wondered where she was for the reason that she did not go with a car. Ray drove Gayles to her house. As they entered the house, the friends in the house were discerning on them. The peeked through the opening in the wall with glass to admit light in turns, it turned to a fight when Rennie took more time when it was her turn. Stellie wanted to see the romantic aspect and Rennie also wanted same. The contention continued, with this they were robbed of self consciousness. Gayles entered the room all of a sudden and saw them arguing at that side. With one side of the glass changed from it's position to the other side and the curtains up. She stood there filled with wonder and watched her friends argue. Within some minutes they stopped arguing and returned to their routine without realizing Gayles' presence.
They were beaten by surprise when they found out they had disappeared into thin air. They looked at each other, marveled.
"Were you looking for me?", Gayles said from her hiding place. They turned back and saw Gayles standing right in front of them.
"Never!", they chorused. The three of them were convulsed with laughter. They laughed till they could laugh no more. Rennie pulled Gayles into the sofa and demanded assertively she tell her what went on. They urged her not to crack any jokes because they attested to the romance that went on few minutes ago.
Gayles was caught in a trap, she did not know how she would concoct a story to satisfy their hunger of knowing whatsoever that happened. She couldn't attempt to tell a cock and bull story, they would kill her if she dared tried. She narrated all that happened to their itching ears leaving no incidence untold. Rennie and Stellie listened assiduously to her when she was speaking as if they were having their last lectures to examination. "That is all", she ended.
Stellie stared at Gayles noticing her cheeks had turned red. She could see she had had a good day. "Ray won't be bad for you", she commented.
"He is a nice person", Gayles said to them.
"So what are your plans?", Rennie asked her.
"l do not know", she said with a shy look on her face.
Rennie asked, "you still do not know?"
Stellie defended, "let her be, when they get there they will cross".
"Whatever!", she exclaimed.
"What is the agenda?", Gayles asked Rennie.
"Well, we plan to watch a movie at the silver bird cinema", she announced.
"Okay then", Gayles said, impressed.
"Will you join us?", Rennie asked.
Gayles answered, "not really, l have a date". She said this in other to be left alone in the house, she did not feel like going out.
"A date?", they declaimed.
Gayles asked with a furtive look, "what is wrong with that?"
"Who is the man?", Rennie asked, sitting much closer to her.
"Why do you want to know?", Gayles threw back.
Rennie turned to look at Stellie who was by then busily texting. "Did you hear what your friend just said?", she asked Stellie. Stellie was involved in what she was doing that she did not give ears to Rennie.
Rennie got upset and snatched the phone from her. "Oh ho! What was that for?", Stellie questioned.
"That was for turning deaf", she replied.
"You can't always be prying, there should be some privacy", Stellie rebuked.
"As if you will not like to know", Rennie chuckled.
Gayles seized the phone suddenly, she went through the messages. "So this is what you were hiding", Gayles declared.
Rennie tried to take back the phone but Gayles got hold of it. "l want to see", Rennie told Gayles.
Gayles handed the phone to her, she opened her mouth as she read it. "This is unbelievable", Rennie exclaimed. "l can not believe Virgin Mary is in a relationship, with all the expounding of the gospel?"
"Hey, take it easy. She has a heart too, she can fall in love and it is no crime", Gayles shielded.
Rennie chided, "Will you always be protecting others? Are you her spokeswoman? "
"Let me be", Gayles said and sighed.
"Okay so we are listening to what you have to say", demanded Rennie rather irritable.
"Say what?", asked Stellie trying to skip what was on board.
"About your boyfriend", Rennie reminded.
"He is not my boyfriend, he is just a friend", Stellie said without looking at Rennie to reprimand her.
"l amn't a two year old girl", Rennie outburst. "You rather tell us the truth and stop beating about the bush".
"The truth is what l just told you unless you want a fiction", Stellie said to Rennie.
Stellie was going out with Nicholas but kept it underhand because she would not be able to give answers to the questions her friends would ask. Nicholas was a handsome gentleman who was calm and was adored by ladies. Rennie also had a boyfriend by name, Ram. Ram was a rich gentleman and exhibited some behaviour of Rennie with nobody knowing the source of his money. Gayles had no boyfriend because she did not want to take the risk of having a heart break, she hardly spoke to guys because she was a shy type. Guys who liked her did not approach her, she had never had a me-time, as if she had the entire world's problem to solve. She was always on the move. Her friends had always admonished her to take time off and spend time having fun so she could have a guy approach her. She would discourage them by saying, "True love will locate me even if l was occupied in the ancestral world".
It was time for them to go and watch the movie, they left Gayles in the house and went. Rennie was ecstatic about the premiering of the film, she could not wait to get there. After they had left, Gayles went to sleep. The next morning she called her friends to join her visit Abena in the hospital but Rennie refused to go. Stellie and Gayles together went to visit Abena at the hospital.
Aunty Addowah was packing when they got there. She was surprised to see them. They hugged her as a form of greeting and directed them to Abena who was imbuing her friends in the hospital. Immediately she saw them, she run to embrace them, she was so happy to see them. "l thought l will never see you again", she said.
"Why not?", Stellie asked.
Gayles soothed, "we will always be there for you".
"Where is Rennie?", she asked.
"She couldn't make it", Stellie told her.
"She doesn't like me, does she?", Abena said looking sad.
"Hey do not say that, she equally likes you", Stellie said.
"l learnt you have been discharged so let us leave now", Gayles said to Abena by taking her hand and moved out of the hospital.
Gayles drove Abena and her mother to their house.
When they alighted, they all went into the small log cabin. Aunty Addowah offered her visitors water and left to the kitchen to prepare some food for them. Stellie and Gayles played with Abena whilst her mother busied herself in the kitchen. Abena answered all the question she was asked intelligently. "What animal would you like to be if you were to be an animal?", Gayles asked.
"An ant", she answered.
"Why?", Stellie asked.
She supported her answer. "The ant is the most wisest on earth the Bible states so, l also want to be wise".
"That was very smart, l have something for you", Gayles said, removing something from her bag.
Gayles exclaimed, "it's praline!"
"l love praline", she shouted and took it from her. Stellie smiled at Gayles. As she ate the praline, she requested them to tell her a story. Stellie left it to Gayles, because she had a head for it.
"My story is entitled, THE SKY IS FALLING", she said and began telling the story.
"One beautiful morning, Little Chicken woke up and was walking under an old mango tree. A big mango fell on her head "plop!".
Little Chicken: Hey! What was that? The sky is falling in! l must tell the king. A piece of the sky fell on me. As she walked quickly down the road, she me Mother Hen.
Mother Hen: Good morning, Little chicken. Where are you going in such a hurry that you did not even greet?
Little chicken: l am going to see the king. The sky is falling in. A piece of the sky fell on my head a minute ago.
Mother Hen: What! We must tell the king. As Little chicken and mother hen were hurrying to the palace, they met greedy fox.
Greedy Fox: Ah ha! See what is coming my way, it will make a scrumptious meal. l can't wait. Where are you going?
Little Chicken: We are going to let the king know the sky is
falling.
Greedy Fox: Hey you are right. Follow me. l will show you where the king is. They followed him. No one ever saw them again and king did not get the news neither".
"Tell me what you learnt from this", Gayles instructed.
"Critical thinking is needed in taking decisions. Illiteracy is a killer", Abena answered.
She exclaimed, "very good!"
Gayles asked, "one more question, if you answer it correctly then l will give you a gift. Are you ready?"
"Drop your question", she commanded.
"What is in the middle of the sea?", Gayles asked.
She answered, "An E".
"l have a question for you too, if you answer then l will gift you something also. May l proceed if my answer was correct?" Abena asked Gayles.
"You are right. You can ask your question afterwards. Let me give you my gift", said Gayles, preparing for her question.
She asked, "what has the poor man but the rich man do not have and God can not do?"
"l do not know the answer to this", said Gayles.
"Think of something", Abena exhorted. Gayles sat there pretending to be thinking "What did you think of?", she asked.
"Nothing", Gayles answered.
"Wow, you got the answer", Abena declared happily.
"Really, is nothing the answer?", she asked surprised.
"Anyways let me show you my gift first", Abena said. She placed a bar of chocolate in the palms of Gayles with her eyes closed and later asked her to open it. Gayles opened her eyes and saw the bar of chocolate in her palm. She was so happy that her little friend had shown her much love. Abena gave a bar also to Stellie. It was Gayles' turn also to present her gift. She brought out a duplicate of her outfit Abena wished to have had, it had been beautifully made.
Abena was extremely glad with her present. She called out loud for her mum, her mum rushed to the place and saw her daughter beautifully adorned in the new outfit. She felt sad for not being able to give the best to her. "Mum, how do l look?", Abena asked her mum in full happiness.
"You are like a princess", she said in admiration. "Thank you so much for this". The friends were discomfited so they sought to leave, Abena was not happy with that but had no option.
Stellie was remembering all this and fell asleep in the process.
Daybreak came soon, the friends were awoken by the crow of the cock. They got up and got ready to continue their journey.