Melancholy...

Chapter 10

Sunday had gone and come again. As usual,we had gone to church and was back. I sat on the terrace in front of our room with my head in my hands as I thought about what we were going to eat for lunch. Because of the heavy rains,sales had been bad this week and I earned a profit of less than 10 cedis the whole week. On Thursday,my mother woke up complaining of some pains in her legs. I sent her to the hospital and the doctor proscribed some drugs whose total was more than 600 cedis and so far,I had been able to buy just one. My sisters were also given a warning letter which stated that they would be made to come home if they didn't pay off the remainder of last term's fees.

Taking a deep breath,I controlled myself as tears threatened to fall. Life was really taking a toll on me. I knew that to be able to get food to eat this afternoon,evening and maybe tomorrow morning,I had to borrow some foodstuffs. I was hesitant,as I was usually insulted by the women I borrowed from each time,but I had no choice. I wanted to send Crystal to do it,but I knew that was wrong. I was the older one,and I had to be the one to be embarrassed in front of people,not my younger sibling.

Making my mind,I got up and with a quick warning to Crystal not to disturb my mother's sleep,I walked to Auntie Vera's store. Immediately she saw me coming, she went quickly into the store and told her oldest son in Ga to tell me that she wasn't around.

Understanding a language no one knows you understand is a big flex.

When I got to the shop,the boy told me that his mother was not around, just like she had informed him to do. I looked at him with a little smile and told him in English that I had seen his mother entering the store and that I was just here to return some money I owed. This might have convinced him, for he went into the store and called his mother.

"Good afternoon Auntie." I greeted. She responded with a nod and stared at me,annoyed. "Here is part of the money I owe you," I said showing her the five cedi note in my hand. As if I was mad,she stared at me for a good 43 seconds and glanced at the money in my hand. She shifted her weight to one leg and put her hand on her waist. "Selinam" she said,"Don't you owe my 47 cedis?" She asked in twi.
"Yes Auntie, but I don't have all that money right now. So you take this. I'll pay the rest later." I said,trying to sound as assuring as possible. She took the money slowly from my hand, slammed it on the wooden table and looked at me. I stood there awkwardly, as I tried to form figure out how I would ask for some foodstuffs.

"Auntie," I said, breaking the silence between us. "Can I please have some rice and a can of mackerel? I'll pay you soon,I promise." I said slowly, choosing my words carefully. She shifted her weight to the other leg and looked at me keenly.
"Am I the one who gave birth to you?"
"No please."
"That mother of yours,can't she take care of you? She is always sitting at one place. Can't she go and find a job to do to cater for you? Is happy that you go around this place begging for food?" She shouted. At this point,a few people had began to stare, but I kept my eyes on the wooden table behind her. After talking for another minute, she went into the store and took the items I had asked for. She shoved them into my hands and without even waiting for me to say thank you,walked into the store,shouting at her son in Ga.
Embarrassed, I walked home quickly, feeling bad that the boy was getting shouted at because of me.
"Dear God", I thought,"help me so that one day,I will drive here in a Range, pay off all debts I own and shock these people who said I will never make it."

_____________________
Question and answer for this chapter:
Q:How old were you when you started writing?
A: I started writing at quite a young age,around 8. But I got to realise that it was my talent when I was 11.

Thank you so much for reading this chapter. Please like and comment. Also,kindly tell your friends and family about this book. It will mean a lot to me. Most active readers will be announced in chapter eleven. Please note that they are selected at random. Thank you.

Xoxo,
       Arianna.