Mine (an African love story)

1. Beginning

"Anima, please bring me a water bottle." my mother yells from our verandah. Her Ghanaian accent echoes through the house and I easily hear her from the living room.

"Okay, ma." I say back , and I go to the kitchen to grab a water bottle. I walk out onto the verandah and hand her the bottle.

"Eii, where are you going that you've dressed up?" she asks me as she glances me up and down, taking the water from me.

I giggle and look down at my outfit. I was wearing a nice, pink v-neck and denim shorts that reached my knees. I even had on a little lip gloss so my lips don't look dry.

"Ma, this is just a casual outfit." I say, chuckling.

"Hmm, okay. But where are you going?" she asks, gulping some water down.

"Oh, Danny and I are just going out to town. We're probably just getting something to eat." I tell her.

My mother raised her eyebrows and gave me a grin.

"Everyday Danny. Is there something I should know?"

I shake my head vigorously and laugh.

"No, no. Danny has been my best friend since childhood, you know."

  "Hmmm, whatever you say." my mother was interrupted by a knock on our gate.

"That must be him. Herrh, Kwaku, please open the gate." my mother yells to our gate man. Yes, we are rich, but not arrogant about it.

"Yes, madam."

Danny walks in, shaking hands with the gate man. I smiled when I saw him.

"Ma, good afternoon." Danny says to my mother, bending down to give her a hug. Danny has always been so polite and respectful, which is one of the reasons why my parents love him.

"Ooo, good afternoon my son. Eii, you know you are very handsome right?" she said with a big smile.

Danny laughed and thanked her.

"Okay, you guys should go have fun. Be safe though." my mother said, basically kicking us out with her hands. We both laugh and Danny puts his arm over my shoulder as we leave.

"Hey beautiful, how's it going?" he asks, as we start walking on the sidewalk, his arm still draped over my shoulder.

Danny always called me that so it was normal for me. I never actually think much of it.

"It's been terrible." I say, faking a pout. I bite my lip to hide a laugh.

"Oh, what happened?" he asks, as we cross the street. Everytime we cross a street, he grips me even tighter as if I'm a child. When we safely get to the other side of the road, I sigh.

"Well, I haven't...been able to.... have any ice cream." I say, pouting.

He sucks his teeth and lightly shoves me.

"You're really something. Come on, I think there's an ice cream cart up there." he says and I smile like a little kid even though we're both 17. I tend to act really childishly.

We race each other to the cart and I push him back to get in front of him. I turn around and stick my tongue out at him. He grabs my waist and pulls me back into him.

"Hey I'm the one paying for your ice cream so I would show some  respect." he says into my ear. I groan and pull away from him.

"No, you paid last time. It's my turn."

  "Saa(Really)? I don't remember that." he lies, walking towards the cart.

"Yes, you definitely remember." I say, chasing after him but he started running. He stops the ice cream man and I see him giving him money already.

"Noo!" I yell but it was too late.

"Here you go." he says, smiling innocently. He hands me one and I snatch it from him. I was mad at him for paying but I can't say no to ice cream.

I give him the silent treatment and continue walking. I put the ice cream sachet in my mouth and walk faster.

"Anima, you can't tell me you're actually mad." he says with humor chasing after me. I suck my teeth in response. He laughs and catches up to me.

"I promise, next time you'll pay, okay?" he says, starting to eat his ice cream. I pout and sigh.

"Fine, but only because I have my ice cream. Let's go to the park and walk around." I tell him and he laughs.

"Sure. Eii, Anima and her food." he says before we both laugh.