Life…
THE WRITER
We present Daniel Baffour-Koduah, a young Ghanaian writer to you. Writing is his passion. Enjoy his first story on our Site as a Guest Writer. We present to you…LIFE.
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DANIEL BAFFOUR-KODUAH
LIFE
EPISODE 8
JAMES NORTEY is surprised! He thought no one searched for him! Oh No!
JAMES NORTEY
So..So you searched for me Uncle?
His voice is failing him. He looks dumbfounded! OBENG ATOBRAH’S head is down! His heart is broken. He looks up and his tears flow like the Nile River!
The people are surprised by the revelations of the man. Others are confused! The man they thought was a beast, had no heart is proving them wrong!
OBENG ATOBRAH
Yes! Akwasi! My son! I went to search for you. I never meant to hurt you JAMES. It was all my wife. I was manipulated. I listened to my wife than my heart. Forgive me, son! Forgive your old stupid uncle.
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He bows his head and allows his jaws and body to work! The room is filled with sorrows. You can hear people sniffing.
LAWRENCE AKUTEY
What happened, sir! What was the mood of the family when you reported the case?
OBENG ATOBRAH looks up and clears his throat. His eyes are red. His jaws shake badly!
OBENG ATOBRAH
They were mad! Who wouldn’t be mad? I took the responsibility of taking care of him and surprisingly I go to family and tells them the boy is missing. Be honest with yourself, how will you take it? They were furious. They had wanted to cast me out!
I left there because if James was there, they would have given him to me. I searched through the streets the whole night. Sleep never came into my eyes. In the morning, I reported the incident to the radio stations that my boy is missing. I involved the police. Three days I never set foot in my house!
I was angry! I was sad! My heart was broken! A week later I returned and found out my wife has packed out. You know, I used to keep monies in my drawers back then, she took almost everything! But I didn’t care! What hurts me most is the promise I didn’t honour. I made a promise but I couldn’t honour it. GIVE ME THE CHANCE TO HONOUR THEM, JAMES. I was manipulated by that evil woman. She made me greedy Akwasi. Forgive me! FORGIVE ME, CHILD!
JAMES is shocked! So, his uncle had to go through all this just for him? Oh, dear Lord.
And the promise; what is it? Whom did his uncle give the promise to? He is confused as the people. The atmosphere in the room is something else.
LAWRENCE AKUTEY looks at the old man and shakes his head.
Deep within he knows this man is telling nothing but the truth!
LAWRENCE AKUTEY
Sir! From your narration, you made mention of a promise! What promise could it be? Please share with us, Sir!
OBENG ATOBRAH hits his head with his hand and the people wonder if it’s all well up there! Definitely, he knew this question will come up! But He is already to speak it out, not to hurt the boy but to make him understand!
OBENG ATOBRAH
I knew you would ask this. I saw it coming! You know, Samuel and I were good friends. We share everything! Samuel abbreviated my name to O.A! The day Abena died, I didn’t know so he called me. And…
FLASHBACK: OBENG’S NARRATION
LOCATION: A&B COMPANIES.
OBENG ATOBRAH is in his office preparing to go home. Suddenly, his phone rings and the caller ID displays Samuel!
He picks the call and speaks with him. After some minutes he does not utter a word. His mouth is wide opened! He is shocked and the only thing he  says is “come over bro”
He puts his phone down and sits back in his chair! And he supports his jaw with his hands! He just cannot believe it.
Some minutes he sees Samuel’s car drive in. He hears a knock on his door and ushers the person in!
It’s Samuel Nortey! His eyes are red and the smell of liquor is around him! It’s obvious He has been drinking! OBENG approaches him and hugs him. He directs him to seat and closes the door.
Samuel holds a local drink bottle in his hands! OBENG takes it and puts it on his table! He looks at his friend and shakes his head. The world is cruel! Full of pains, troubles, sorrows!
SAMUEL NORTEY
It’s all over O.A. It’s over! They killed her! Oh, Abena Sika! My love! I want to end it O.A. I want to die. There’s nothing left for me again! I..I.
He is choked by his own tears! The words ain’t coming! His heart is broken! His world has ended!
OBENG gathers him in his arms and consoles him.
OBENG ATOBRAH
It’s not yet over, friend! You have James! He is your only hope now buddy! Are you going to leave the young boy alone! Think Sam! Think! The world is not yet over! You can start afresh man! You can do it. I’m here to help!
SAMUEL looks up and nods his head! He stands up and reaches for the door! But He turns and speaks something to him!
SAMUEL NORTEY
You are right O.A. but it’s over for me. As I step out of your office now, I don’t know where I’m going. I left the poor kid alone in the house. And I don’t know what will happen to him! You’re the only human I trust now friend! Go and take care of him. If I don’t return, be his guardian. Tell him Paps loves him so much!
He breaks down in tears. OBENG ATOBRAH approaches him and hugs him!
OBENG ATOBRAH
Let me take you, Sam! You can’t drive in this state. Let me take you home or anywhere you want to be!
SAMUEL NORTEY
No! No! Go to your family buddy. Go to your wife and be with your kids. They need you! But promise me, buddy, that you will care for my son if I don’t return! Promise me now friend!
OBENG ATOBRAH
You need to rest Sa…
SAMUEL NORTEY
(Angrily)
Promise me! Promise me! Go on, promise me! Promise me! Now!!
OBENG ATOBRAH
Okay! Okay! Alright! I promise! I promise!
With this, Samuel Nortey gets out and drive away! OBENG closes the door and cannot move! He is sad and he feels for his friend!
He just cannot understand the cruelty of this world! There goes a man who is loved by all! But there he goes with his pains all alone!
Few minutes after Samuel left, his phone rang and it was Samuel calling!
He clears his throat and answers the call!
OBENG ATOBRAH
Hey Sam! Where are you? Should I come over? Why is there so much noise? Hey, buddy talk to me!
There’s no voice at the caller’s end. And he wonders if it’s Samuel he is speaking with!
CALLER
HELLO! HELLO, SIR! SIR!
OBENG ATOBRAH
Who are you? And where is Samuel?
CALLER
Please, sir, the owner had an accident a few minutes ago but unfortunately, he didn’t survive. You happen to be the last person he called so I called to inform you. The body has been conveyed to the Police Hospital down ASUMAN GOKU’S LANE. Thanks!
He ends the call without waiting for any questions!
OBENG ATOBRAH is shocked and he cannot understand! He was just with him not long ago and now he receives a call that Sam is dead! Weird isn’t it?
He left his files unpacked, takes his keys and approached the door!
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EPISODE 9
PRESENT DAY
LOCATION: KYLE TV STUDIO B
OBENG ATOBRAH
Hmm! So, I went to the mortuary and truly my best friend was dead. I came to get you right from there James.
JAMES NORTEY
Oh, Father! Paps! I love you too Paps! I love you! Oh, Lord! God!
He breaks down in tears. It is evident he is shattered, heartbroken and the pains are breaking him down!
The room is silent! And it’s obvious the people are sad as well. What a story! A LIFE-changing story! Men and women are crying!
They want to be a part of this young man’s pains!
LAWRENCE AKUTEY shakes his head. He takes his hankie and wipes the tears in his eyes.
LAWRENCE AKUTEY
That’s a hell of a story Sir! Really really sad! Indeed, we live in a cruel world. God alone can save us from the cruelty, atrocities, and pains this world cause us. May God help us all!
He allows his words to sink in the minds of his audience!
LAWRENCE AKUTEY
So, Sir! How come suddenly your behaviour and attitude changed when you brought James into your home?
OBENG ATOBRAH
Like I said earlier, I was manipulated! I had wanted to pay back all the good things my friend did to me by taking good care of James. I had wanted to bring joy into the boy’s heart! And there came my evil wife. She manipulated me! She told me evil things about James and caused me to make living hell for JAMES which after he left my home I regretted! I have lived my life with remorse and pains. But here I am asking you to forgive me, son! FORGIVE your old man son! FORGIVE ME!
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He stands and kneels before JAMES but he gathers him into his arms and hugs him tightly. He whispers something into his ears and the two men laugh.
Both men take their seats and direct their gaze to LAWRENCE AKUTEY who looks at them suspiciously.
LAWRENCE AKUTEY
Oh, well! Well! Well! This is getting interesting, isn’t it? I’m back to you James. When you left home, how did you survive on the streets! How was life on the streets! Share with us, buddy!
JAMES’ smile drops and there is pain in his eyes. He blinks his eyes continuously as if he has seen a ghost!
JAMES NORTEY
I thought it wouldn’t come this far! Life on the streets is not easy friends! We all should appreciate our mates and friends on the streets for what they do for us! Living on the streets is like living in hell. The suffering, pains, robbery… name it! Sometimes you go through the whole day without food and sleep in mosquitoes. Paying to sleep in shacks and in front of stores is appalling. No roof over your head, no proper diet! Oh Lord save us!
He pauses and looks at the face of the people. He sees his wife smile through her tears and it breaks his heart! She has been his backbone on the streets. His love!
JAMES NORTEY
I regretted the night I left home. I realized my foolishness! Even though I was mistreated back then but I ate thrice in a day! I had a whole room to myself. So, what the hell was I doing on the streets? It was really challenging for me. Should I go and stay? Life, they say, is full of surprises.
He smiles and wipes the tears in his eyes. It’s evident he is in pains!
JAMES NORTEY
Haha haha! You know it’s annoying when people say rubbish and funny things about you and they have no idea what you went through to make it in life. Jeremiah 29:11, I love the verse there! All this while the Lord knew his intentions for me. I had a challenging life on the streets. Three months into my stay on the streets I had already got a job as a cleaner in a restaurant. I took home 20 cedis a day with food.
My plan was to save enough money to continue my education! You know, I love schooling! I started it all again and it felt so good. Gradually I was mingling myself with street life! At age 15 I had saved enough to take me back to school. I got myself enrolled in a local school and starting from JUNIOR HIGH.
It was there I met this madam who decided to help me after telling her my story. MADAM DZIFA, yeah yeah that’s the name. She is an Ewe! She took me home to her family and treated me like a son! Actually, she was a married woman with one boy. Unfortunately, her husband was late. His son was one hell of a child! This guy was a thief by profession! This guy can rob within seconds. AVORGA! Yeah, Avorga. He sent me back to the streets! He… That man, he…
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And he breaks down in tears! He bows his head to avoid the embarrassment!
LAWRENCE AKUTEY
How James? What happened? We won’t understand if you don’t tell us!
JAMES clears his throat and wipes his tears!
JAMES NORTEY
Madam DZIFA didn’t know her son was a thief. Avorga stole her precious gold jewels! You know, you wouldn’t accuse your own son if you didn’t know he was a thief. Besides, I was the only stranger living with them and that meant I stole the jewels. I was thrown out of the house to the street again! My hopes were again shuttered. I couldn’t go back to school because of the kind of treatment I would receive from this woman.
He pauses, shakes his head and drinks the bottled water beside him.
JAMES NORTEY
So, I worked all these years to be dropped out from school for a crime I knew nothing of? So, I worked in vain! It was the same story back on the streets! I was welcomed by the hardships of the streets! I was 19 years! What pains me was the fact I would have completed JHS that year had it not been the crime I knew nothing about! And it still hurts me!
The room is silent, just like the cemetery! Everyone is so much into the story of this young man!
JAMES NORTEY
You know, on the streets you don’t decide for yourself. Sometimes you plan to do this and it backfires. Our young men are struggling out there on the streets. They have no good places to lay their heads, no medical attention, no good foods! On the streets, it’s you against the world! Fortunately for me, my life took a turning point at age 21. And that turning point led me to where I am now! And as I always say, MADAM GRACE ADOM, you’ve been a blessing in my life! God bless you, Ma’am!
He smiles through the tears of joy in his eyes! It’s evident there is joy in his heart!
Guest Writer: Daniel Baffour-Koduah :: LIFE :: EPISODE 1
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