Pride ✔️

01

The large tires of Kathleen Abakwam's 2017 Toyota Vitz kicked up dirt as she sped across the road. Accompanied by her trusty sidekick, Nick, she smiled happily as the small town of Asokwa came into view. It was not too far from Kumasi, which she loved because she did not like the idea of living in the middle of nowhere, chasing a story.

Kathleen slowed her car as they neared the Odikro's palace. There was a line of guards flanking both sides of her red car, standing with impossible straightness. She giggled a bit.

"I don't know, Nicky, I feel a little bad about this. They probably think I'm some big shot detective," Kathleen confessed. Of course, this wasn't true. She didn't feel bad about anything. Nick knew that.

"Nick," he corrected, annoyed. "These people aren't some uncivilized population ma'am. They won't be fooled. I have a bad feeling about this place."

Kathleen rolled her eyes. She should've known better than to come along with this sissy. But at least, bad company was better than no company. Because even though she put on a confident front, she could be timid at times.

"I know that. I'm going to solve this mystery though, and become the big shot they think I am. The whole world is going to know the name Kathleen Abakwam by the time I'm done with this dump."

"Oh really?" Nick asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "And you think finding a runaway prince is going to be so easy?"

"It's a tiny village. Where could he have possibly run off to?"

"It's a big world."

"Quite the contrary actually. Shut up now, it's time to get off." Kathleen touched up her bright red lipstick, and with a quick glance into the car's mirror, stepped out.

She was quickly ushered into the Odikro's palace, where she was made to remove her shoes before stepping inside. She held her gifts tightly, her anxiety soaring when they were led into the throne room.

A tall imposing man sat on a throne that seemed to be made solely out of gold. Beside him was a haughty-looking middle aged woman with too much makeup for her own good. Kathleen didn't know whether or not she was supposed to bow, but she did so anyway.

The corner of his lip tilted upwards with an amused smirk. There was a man stood beside his throne who Kathleen presumed to be the Okyeame, the linguist. Basically, the person she would be talking to directly.

"Good afternoon," Kathleen said, trying to steady her shaking voice. She was fluent in Twi, but decided to speak English. The Okyeame nodded at her, urging her to continue. "I'm Kathleen Abakwam. I come from Paga, in the Northern Region. I am an investigative journalist based in Accra. I come here to seek your permission to investigate the disappearance of your son, the crown prince."

"Many have tried, Miss. Kathleen," the queen said, her voice every bit as haughty as her face. "What makes you think you'll succeed?"

Kathleen paused. She wasn't even sure if the queen was supposed to address her directly. Wasn't that what the linguist was there for? Kathleen shook off her surprise and forced on a polite smile. "I'm different from everyone else who has tried. I graduated Summa Cum—"

"Oh please, spare me," the queen rolled her eyes. "Do as you wish. If you are successful in finding what happened to our son, you will be rewarded accordingly. Otherwise, please don't waste our time. I, for one, want to return to the Manhyia palace as soon as I can and don't have time for such frivolities." She then looked to her husband who nodded, and turned back to the journalist. "This meeting is adjourned."