Maadwoa is an unassuming girl, who lost her mother during birth, and never met her father. She lives with her aunt, where she constantly suffers through the wrath of her aunt's treatment, only getting comfort from her uncle and her best friends. Wha...
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Danny and Maadwoa had arranged the night before to meet at the riverbank today. He said he just wanted to see her and she happily agreed. When she left the house in the morning, her aunt scoffed, saying that Maadwoa is only bringing trouble onto herself. Nana would stop at nothing to make sure that her niece is aware of how worthless she is, and it pained her to see Maadwoa so carefree and happy with the Prince. She wanted Maadwoa to hurt and suffer the way she did when her older sister died.
As Maadwoa skips in the direction of the forest with a small basket of kelewele and groundnuts for her and Danny to share, she walks past a small, run-down filling station. There were only a few workers there but no cars present. The filling station is shabby and many cars don't pass through, but it's still in business. Maadwoa squints at the boys standing there and talking, one of the faces looking familiar. She slows down when she realizes that it is Tyler, who looks like he is in a serious conversation with one of the men. She remembers that she meant to talk to him about Gifty, so she slowly crosses the street to make her way over to him.
Tyler follows the man around, who was uninterested in what Tyler had to say. Tyler continues to try and explain himself to the man, who was sitting on the ledge of the ground, stuffing a sandwich in his mouth.
"Please, I can do anything you want me to. Even if it's just cleaning the petrol pumps." Tyler pleads, standing over the man who was busy eating. The man shakes his head.
"You are a young boy. This is not a place for you to work."
"I am eighteen, I'm not a little kid. Please, sir." Tyler begs. He is determined to get this job. For himself, not for anyone else. He needs the money and frankly, this is what he needs to start preparing for a future. He needs to learn how to be independent and useful; maybe then he'd be appreciated.
The man sighs, glancing up at Tyler. "How do I know you are reliable? You may think this job is easy and useless, but it's like any other job and it requires time and work."
"Sir, I am ready to work. Please, I need a job." he pleads.
The man bites into his sandwich again, still narrowing his eyes at Tyler, who gives him a hopeful smile. "Fine. Not today. You can start tomorrow."
Tyler smiles, clasping his hands together thankfully. "Thank you sir."
"Do not disappoint me."
"I won't." Tyler assures with a nod.
With a smile, he turns around ready to walk back home. Before he can take another step, Maadwoa stops in his path. He steps back, puzzled about what she was doing there. Tyler was smart enough to know that by now, his best friend knows about him and Gifty's breakup, and he was not ready to be given a lecture.
"Maadwoa, what are you doing here? And why are you holding a basket?"
"Danny asked me to meet him somewhere and I'm bringing him food. What are you doing here?" she counters, gesturing towards the broken sign of the petrol station.
