Stories of our life

The Matter of Life and Death

It is said that the tongue holds the power of life and death. I don't really know about other religions but I do know Christians also share the same belief. The tongue holding the power of life and death, means, we have the authority within ourselves to shape our life and that of others. And so to speak, is to prophesy. A child, with the dream of becoming a doctor, is most likely to succeed with hard work and the proper encouragement from those that form his community. It is very imperative that we don't utter discouraging and disheartening words, especially to children.

I was returning from visiting a family friend with my older brother when I decided to make a stop along the way and pick up something from a colleague. On my way home, I boarded this car with a mother, grandmother and two kids; presumably ten and five years old. Even though I was blasting my ears with good music, I heard bits of argument and shouting. You can't blame me, can you? Don't we all love a nice argument?

Apparently, then ten-year-old, who I later learned to be known as Adwoa, was been accused of 'stealing' her mother's seventy (70) pesewas. The mother wasn't pleased that Adwoa had picked up her seventy pesewas which fell to the floor of the car. Adwoa claimed she hadn't picked anything up from the car, thereby rubbing salt in her mother's wound. "Kwabee, tell your sister to give me back the money else I'll curse her", the mother said, addressing the five-year-old. The little boy squeaked and held the hem of her sister's dress begging her to give the money back. The grandmother added to the little boy's message telling Adwoa to give back her mother's money. "But I don't have the money Grandma", Adwoa replied.

"You don't have the money! You don't have the money! Did I not see you pick up the money? Adwoa, why all the lies? This is the same thing you've been doing at home, taking my money and lying about it. You'll see when we alight. Why do I have to raise a thief? If I don't curse when we alight, then it's not me Abena Gyawaa. You already know I was going to buy groundnuts with the money", the mother ranted endlessly. Adwoa retorted that she didn't have the money and that the mother can curse from when they alight till the end of time for all she cared.

You disrespectful girl! How dare you speak to me this way! I'll definitely curse you to your ugly face. This is why you're dumb! You can never amount to anything! You're not even among the first ten of your class, hmph! Stupid girl! Foolish girl....

With this they alighted. The rest of the passengers discussed what happened, of course. Everybody had something to say about what transpired including even the driver and his conductor. But I had very little to say and when I did that, I plugged my earphones back in. I didn't listen to good music this time but contemplated on whether the mother continued with the threat of cursing his daughter or not. Will Adwoa give back her mother's money or continue to deny her having the money? Will the grandmother intervene or Kwabee calm her mother down?

With these thoughts, I alighted thinking about the aftermath of the mother's words on her two kids.