ALEXANDER AKOTO ADJEI

THE COFFIN MAKER

EPISODE 49-50

Episode 49

Brigadier Adu-Tettey and his beautiful wife walk majestically into the hospital followed by Captain Awude. In that same moment, the matron saw them coming and quickly turned to climb the staircase to avoid the couple but wasn’t fast enough.

 

Mrs Adu-Tettey

Hello matron good morning, I trust you are doing well?

Matron

(faking a smile)  My dear I’m not too fine ooo, please see the doctor for me to attend to some pressing matters at the surgical ward. (walks away without wasting any time)

Mrs Adu-Tettey

This woman always acts weird. If she were an animal, I would call her a chameleon because she keeps changing every now and then. She couldn’t even wait for us to ask her how the young man is doing this morning.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Hahahaha my love please it’s too early for your funny jokes. Let’s try to see the doctor for a report before we move to the young man’s private ward. Ah here comes the doctor even, doc please come over.

Doctor

Hello Mr and Mrs Adu-Tettey, how are you doing this morning? You are in very early as expected.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

We are very fine by the special grace of God but please, next time address me properly with my rank. I’m not a civilian and getting promoted to the rank Brigadier at a very young age was not based on nothing. It was through hard work, commitment and dedication to the motherland.

Doctor

I’m very sorry Brigadier Adu-Tettey for my unintentional utterances, I meant no harm and disrespect. It was just an oversight.

Mrs Adu-Tettey

My husband, you love post paa ooo.

Captain Awude

Madam what my boss said is very true and if he wasn’t a doctor, I would have let him do some frog jumps for disrespecting and disregarding the rank of my boss.

Doctor

Please son of man, I beg of you not to be angry with me. Have you gone to see the young man?

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

We just walked in and wanted to see you first before going to visit him at his ward.

Doctor

Nurse Boaduwaa, kindly call the matron for me. And why is the emergency alarm on this early morning? I hope it is not an electrical fault, because the electrical department told us at the last meeting just a few days ago that everything electronic in this hospital is in good shape.

Nurse Boaduwaa

Doc there is a serious problem in this hospital and I don’t think I’m the right person to release such information to you, so as you said, let me get the matron for you so she briefs you concerning the matter on board.

Doctor

Wait, a second young lady. I want you to tell me the problem right away and stop beating about the bush.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Doc, as you can see, she is not ready to voice out anything to you now so let her call the matron for you so she tells you what you want to know. Remember you can force the horse to the riverside but you can’t force it to drink the water from the river. Whatever the problem is, we will get to the root of it when the matron comes before you.

Nurse Boaduwaa

Thank you very much, sir for your understanding, I …….

Doctor

(interrupts the nurse without allowing her to finish her statement) Will you shut your mouth and get me the matron, all you people know here is to poke your nose into unnecessary matters. If I find out that what you are harbouring inside you is nothing too serious and not concerning the progress of this hospital, I will personally suspend you indefinitely. Now get out of my sight.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Take it easy on the young lady and Captain Awude please notify the men to be on standby and be very vigilant, they should also remember that no fraternity over here. They can open fire if need be.

Captain Awude

(salutes his boss) Yes sir, your orders will be carried out now. (walks away)

Matron

(joins the doctor and couple with an angry face) Doc there is a serious problem here in the hospital.

Doctor

If there is a serious problem, why haven’t I received any news as at now? Start talking because the more you delay the greater the problem becomes.

Matron

Doc it is about the young man the couple brought here early this morning…

Mrs Adu-Tettey

Please, don’t tell me he is dead?

Matron

I wish he was dead. Things would be simpler for us to handle here. I don’t know what to say or how to say this.

Doctor

Matron you are not helping matters here, please go straight to the point and stop beating about the bush.

Matron

Hmmmmm, doctor today my eyes have seen my ears. What my two eyes have witnessed this morning, I don’t know how my mouth can narrate it to you or anyone.

Doctor

(raising his voice) M.A.T.R.O.N!!!! Will you please hit on the nail directly and stop going round round like a boy who wants to propose to a girl for the first time.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Madam matron can you please in simple language explain to us what the problem is? Who knows? We might even have a  solution to the problem!!!

Matron

Well. since you are all eager and desperate to hear what I have to say, I will tell you people. The young man you brought here early this morning is nowhere to be found in this hospital.

Mrs Adu-Tettey

Whaaaat? Could you please repeat what you just said to us?

Matron

Madam you heard me crystal clear, the young man is missing from this hospital. We have searched every corner of this hospital but there is no trace of him. Doctor, I believe there is one person here who can help us with answers.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Madam, I swear by the pistol in my sidearm pouch that if I don’t see this young man before daybreak, some people won’t live to see sun set. Is this how careless you and your staff are? Pray very hard and well for us to see that young man and in good health or else, you will clap your hands for me.

Back at Opana’s House:

Opana

My dear, I’m going to see the estate developer at his site, I want him to know that I’m now ready to sell my portions of land and palm plantation to him and I hope he will still have interest in my lands.

Akua Yankey

He will certainly have his eyes on those lands my dear, you know that, the place is at a very vantage point where every rich man would like to build his dream house. He will have no reason to turn your proposal down and even if he doesn’t have enough money to purchase the land, I believe he will go and borrow from somewhere and come and buy your lands so don’t be discouraged for even a second.

Opana

Thanks very much for motivating me my dear, honestly my spirit was a bit down but with the words that you have spoken to me, I’m having a renewed spirit. Please hurry up and go to the hospital to see if our daughter has regained consciousness from the coma she is now, and please don’t go and cry on her for it is a very bad omen to do that kind of thing when someone is in the hospital or in police custody. I will pass by after talking with the estate developer. Has our son called you or have you also called him?

Akua Yankey

No, my dear, I haven’t heard from him. I tried his line last night but his phone was off. I will call him later when I buy airtime on my way to the hospital. Let me rush and prepare myself for the hospital, I wish you the best of luck.

Opana

Thank you very much my dear, I will call you if there is any new development. Please my dear, take good care of yourself for me because I can’t afford to lose you should anything happen to you.

Akua Yankey

You too my dear, please be careful when you step outside and please open your eyes very well when you are dealing with the man financially.

Opana steps out of his house and he sees Collins Twumasi walking into the compound with a very nice lady and he stops them immediately.

Opana

Young man stop right there! Don’t move an inch koraa.

Collins Twumasi

Hello, landlord, good morning ooo.

Opana

What is good about this morning young man, your rent has expired and instead of coming to settle your debt, you go about changing women like your dress. Hey young lady, are you the one he brought home last night?

Young Lady

No sir.

Opana

What about yesterday morning?

Young Lady

Please, no.

Opana

Mmmmm, what about two nights ago?

Young Lady

No, please.

Opana

Okay, then it must be three or four nights ago?

Young Lady

(getting furious) No sir this is my first time of coming to this house so I don’t know what you are talking about.

Opana

Hahahaha, small girls are young, did he tell you that he loves you and that he will marry you?

Young Lady

Yes please, that is why I’m coming over to see where he lives so that I start performing my woman duties in his room.

Opana

Awwww, poor child, do you know woman duties very well? Well I wish you all the best of luck but look around this compound, I am Opana “the rough boy” and I own the entire house. As you are shaking, twisting and whinging your waist like a locomotive gravel mixer should you ever come to meet a lady in his room, walk quietly out of my house without making any noise because the man you are seeing next to you is the definition of a womanizer. I didn’t say anything but learn to count your teeth with your tongue. Have a great time in his room.

Young Lady

(almost in tears) So Collins all the sweet words you were showering me with were just lies, you have a lot of women around you and you deceived me for me to break up with my guy. God will punish you Collins, I don’t want to ever see your ugly face again in my house you pig. I curse the day I set eyes on you and don’t ever call my phone again, you foolish idiot. (walks away)

Collins Twumasi

(runs after the lady) Baby wait for me so that I explain myself to you please. I am a changed man now please wait.

Opana

Hahahaha, until you pay me the rent you are owing me, any lady you bring into this house will hear negative things about you, you owe me and you want to go and throw your waist about in my room. I will deal with you people squarely in this house……

Episode 50

Opana stepped out of his house and remembered to call his son and check up on him as he didn’t get the opportunity to talk to him the previous night.

On phone:

Michael Ansah

Hello papa, good morning.

Opana

Good morning, my son, how are you doing this morning? How is the capital city of the country too?

Michael Ansah

I’m very fine, papa and everything is very okay here in Accra as most people have left their houses to their workplaces.

Opana

Honestly, because I didn’t hear from you as you got to Accra yesterday I didn’t sleep the whole of last night ooo.

Michael Ansah

Ah papa, I’m not that small boy you knew some years ago, I’m now a big boy and a rich man in the making.

Opana

Hahahaha, I love what I’m hearing, I believe you are comfortable at your friend’s end?

Michael Ansah

(lying to make his father okay) Papa to use the word comfortable is an understatement. I regret not coming over all this while. Anyway how is my little sister doing?

Opana

Well, I can’t say anything for now but I’m rushing to see an estate developer to buy my portions of land and palm plantation so I can raise enough money for her to be flown abroad for her surgery.

Michael Ansah

Flown abroad? Is her injury that bad?

Opana

Hmmmmm, my son, I’m afraid your sister might lose her brain if she is not operated upon and the surgery can’t be done here in Ghana. She has to be flown to either South Africa or America. That is the reason why I’m going to sell my portions of land and palm plantation.

Michael Ansah

It is well papa, let me leave you so that you may proceed with what you are doing. I will be calling you from time to time to check up on you and the rest of the family members. I wish you the best of luck in your exploits papa and please if anything pops up for me to return home don’t hesitate to notify me.

Opana

Don’t worry my son, please concentrate on the purpose for travelling to the city. We will talk later so take care of yourself and stay out of trouble. (call ends)

Michael Ansah

(speaks to himself) It is very good I didn’t inform papa about my injury and the crisis I got myself in, he would have been very worried and would’ve asked me to come back home.

Opana

(talking to himself) It is good I didn’t state the exact problem to Kwaku Mike about his sister’s health if not he would have been disturbed and could even offer to come back home. I will try my best to hide everything serious away from him now, I don’t want him to have a divided attention on the purpose of him going to the city.

Opana on his way to see the estate developer heard someone calling him from behind so he stoppped to see who was calling him because the voice of the person didn’t sound familiar to him.

Opana

Yes how may I help you?

Unknown Person

(panting for breath) Ah good morning sir, I have been chasing and calling your name from afar but it seems you didn’t hear me.

Opana

Yessss please be fast with your reason for stopping me.

Unknown Person

Mmmm, sir as you are already aware, you haven’t performed your needed ritual.

Opana

Did you say ritual? I don’t remember going to any shrine, fetish priest or engaging myself in anything that required sacrifice or ritual.

Unknown Person

(scratching his head) Sir as you know, when you win lotto you have to give something to the agent who you stake the lotto from, and as you are already aware you, you have done no such thing so I am here to bring it to your notice that I’m still waiting for you.

Opana

Oh Jesus Christ, the son of virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus, Joseph the carpenter like me, please grant me the spirit of patience and tolerance. Mr man look at me very well, do I look like a fool or an imbecile? When you drove away the fool, was it behind my house that you caught him erh? I’m trying very hard to control my temper so be a life saver to yourself and get out of my sight before I do something nasty over here.

Unknown Person

But sir what wrong did I do or what wrong thing did I say? Please I only came in peace to get my little share of the money you won from the lotto you staked from me some days back.

Opana

Were you expecting to get something from me after what you did to me? My friend, do you see how hard and ugly my palms are? If you don’t leave my sight this very moment I will slap you with my sandpaper palms and you will get bruises on your stupid face. Don’t try to be my enemy of progress this morning because I am in a very good mood. We are done talking.

Unknown Person

But sir you know what you are doing is not good and how you are treating me isn’t fair.

Opana

If you think and know I’m not treating you fairly, kindly go to the police station and file a complaint against me, it is because of issues like this that place was built. Have a nice day.

Opana leaves the lotto agent and stops a taxi which will convey him to the estate developers place.

 

Back at the city, Kwaku Mike had gotten to the place where his friend is to pick him up and he is overwhelmed with joy to see his friend already waiting for him at the place. He pays the driver off and gives his friend a warm embrace. He tells his friend to stop a car so they move to his end right away because the dress he was wearing was a danger to their safety and that on getting to his house he would tell him everything he needed to know.

 

At the Hospital:

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Doc I’m trying very hard not to get angry because if I do this place can’t contain both of us. Someone should tell me something that will calm me down or else…

Mrs Adu-Tettey

Honey please take it easy and be calm. Patience conquers mountains, so just be calm and let us listen to what the hospital management has to say to us.

Doctor

Brigadier, I will entreat you to be patient for us to try and get answers to the puzzle before us. Matron you made mention of someone who would be of help to us so let us know what you have under your sleeves.

Matron

Doctor please before I say anything I would like everyone to follow me to the private ward that young man was occupying. I will…

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

What is the need going to that place since the young man is no longer there? If it was a note he left behind kindly go and get it for us and stop giving that unnecessary excuse that will make me much more annoyed than I am already.

Mrs Adu-Tettey

Baby please calm down. Give the woman the opportunity to express herself better. Who knows what is over there?

Matron

Thank you very much madam, please as I was saying earlier on, kindly follow me to the young man’s private ward first.

They all move into the elevator and walk to the private ward when they got out of the elevator. Before they enter the private ward they see someone lying on the hospital bed.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Were you trying to play pranks on us madam? Isn’t he the one lying down there on the bed?

Matron

Sir, he is not the one. That is the nurse who was appointed to monitor his condition.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

So, what is he doing on his bed?

Matron

That is the reason why I brought you here, I equally don’t know why he is on that bed. I have been calling him to wake up from the bed but he bluntly refused to heed to my calls.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Oh really? We shall see very soon (brings his phone out and calls Captain Awude in together with five of his men)

Captain Awude

(walks in with his men) Sir you summoned me here with the boys, anything the problem?

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Get that fool from the bed and give him some VIP treatment.

Captain Awude

With pleasure sir, Corporal Akakpo you and your men pull that idiot from the bed and hold him in angles, I will give him some strokes so knows who he is joking with.

Doctor

No you can’t do that sir, please wait a minute.

Captain Awude

Hey, hold him well and don’t let the doctor come any closer to us. We don’t want any interference from him.

Captain Awude gave the male nurse some stroke of lashes with a rope he had in his hand but the male nurse wasn’t responding to the beatings that were being unleashed on him, the doctor screamed for them to stop immediately if they didn’t want to lose the male nurse. Captain Awude saw the sense in what the doctor said so he stopped beating him.

 

Doctor

Brigadier if you watched the nurse closely you would have realised that he is very drowsy. I suspect foul play in his condition. Matron when did you see the nurse in this state?

Matron

I saw nurse Ani-Agyei like this when I brought that police detective who came here to write down the patient’s statement.

Mrs Adu-Tettey

A police detective? Honey please did you inform the police about the young man?

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

No my dear, I never spoke to any police officer so I’m equally surprised with what I just heard from the matron. Something is not just right here.

I have a feeling that the person who came here claiming to be a police officer is part of the bad people. Doctor, I saw some CCTV cameras inside the hospital can you please take us to your computer monitoring room? One of my men is a computer genius and he can retrieve any information we want from your system.

Doctor

I’m sorry to say that our CCTV cameras are no longer functioning, they broke down some months ago. We called some technicians to work on it but it only worked for days and went off again.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

So, what is wrong with the institutions or companies in this country? Almost all of you have the same problem. What is the purpose of mounting a CCTV camera if it doesn’t work? I’m very disappointed by your poor services.

Doctor

I’m very sorry for this problem but as it stands our only source for any information will come from this young man who is in a drowsy state. Matron, please get me these medicines from the pharmacy (hands over a prescription form to the matron with some medicines written on it)

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Edited By:

Grace Klubi

THE COFFIN MAKER

THE AUTHOR