Woes of Koosam 10

WOES OF KOOSAM

EPISODE 10

Samuel Cobby Grant

 

A WEEK LATER

Amankwaa Mireku stared at the report in his hand in dismay. He had always been of the view that people normally don’t change much but he also knew that everything had its own breaking point.

He couldn’t for the life of him understand how Kobina Sam could produce such a substandard report. How could he have changed like that? This is unacceptable. He had changed from the amiable, energetic and dynamic Purchasing Officer they had all come to admire and love.

For a man to change this much, there had to be a root cause serious enough to get him this low and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

He felt that in helping Kobina, he could be helping himself in the process because in his view, a back to normal Koosam, as he enjoyed being referred to, was a blessing to the Company.

“There had to be something that could be disturbing the young man. I have to talk to him. He needs to be back on track,” he said.

 

Abena Tawiah was inconsolable. She was in pain, her heart was breaking and she was withering. Her beautiful ebony black complexion had lost its bright lustre. Her lack of appetite had resulted in weight loss.

Esi, her sister was very concerned. She tried all she could to get her to calm down and to talk about what was bothering her but all the responses she got were silent tears from the only person in the world she loved more than her own self.

“I think I must pay a visit to Kobina. If he thinks he can do as he pleases me my sister and goes scot-free, then he’s got another think coming,” she said, with all the seriousness at her disposal.

Early the next day, which was a Saturday, Amankwaa Mireku, wearing an African batik pair of shorts with a matching top, drove to Airport Ridge to pick up Koosam for their weekend rendezvous at the African Beach Resort at Beach Road.

Kobina had come out wearing a new pair of jeans with an ash-coloured made-in-Takoradi emblazoned T-Shirt and blue shaded sneakers which was also a new addition to his growing wardrobe.

Mireku smiled at the sight of him and they left.

They soon got to their destination. It was tucked at a secluded corner of  Beach Road, its rock-strewn beach a glorious sight to behold. As for the resort itself, there was a long bar with tables and chairs for patrons, a gym, a children’s playground and a games hall for adults.

It had a breathtaking view of the sea and the adjoining communities. One could gaze at these wonderful wonders of nature for hours on end as the sea crashed furiously into the rocks about forty feet below.

They watched a basketball competition and had fun cheering as the matches progressed.

 

At midday, they had lunch and took a leisurely walk on the beach.

Kobina found himself relaxing considerably.

“I brought you here to get some answers from you about your recent poor show at work,” he said, going straight to the point.

“I am sorry, Amankwa,” he said to the man he revered more than anyone else. He was so ashamed of himself for betraying his mentor’s confidence in him.

“What then is the problem? Remember that a problem shared is a problem solved,” Amankwaa said, his concern quite obvious.

Kobina bowed his head in shame and whispered his thanks.

He was thankful that he hadn’t been given a tongue lashing as any other person would have done.

“It’s Abena o,” he said and narrated the whole issue to his loving boss who listened quietly without interrupting. He knew how much they loved themselves and it saddened him that they were having issues.

His only task, as far as he was concerned, was to get Kobina back on track, both at work and with his relationship with A.T, a nickname he had given to Abena Tawiah.

“Have you explained it to her?” he asked.

“Several times. She even drove me out of their house when I went there to explain,” Kobina said with sorrow.

The tirades he had gotten from her that day had pierced his heart.

“Is this how you are?” she had said, with tears. “Is it because I haven’t allowed you to sleep with me? Why didn’t you force me when I came to Tarkwa? Why do you go in for an old lady like that? What does she have that I don’t have? If it’s sex you wanted all along, why didn’t you say so instead of confusing me with love? Are you like those Tadi boys who sleep with women anyhow? Go away, I hate you?” she had said and ran into her room, locking the door behind her.

 

Kobina could still hear the hurt and anguish in her voice as he recollected what transpired between them that day.

He felt Amankwaa’s comforting arm on his shoulders and he was forced back to the present.

“Go to her again. Fight for her trust. Claim your girl back,” Amankwaa said as he squeezed his shoulder in support.

Kobina nodded, once, trying to get his choked voice back. He wanted to say his thanks to this man who loved him without reservation.

An incoming call lit up the phone.

It was Esi.

“Hello, Kobina. How are you doing?” she said as soon as he picked up.

“I am fine, you?”

“I will love to see you this afternoon. Can you make it? I guess you know why I am calling?”

“I know. I’m on my way,” he said without any hesitation and hung up.

Amankwaa had heard everything. He smiled encouragingly at him and lead the way to the car for the drive to Airport Ridge.

 

Auntie Ama had just returned from the hospital where she had spoon-fed her husband with light soup.

They kissed and she left.

She went home but immediately left for Airport Ridge when she felt the strong urge to see Koosam.

“I must have him even if it’s just once,”  she said to herself, the disappointment of  Abena’s show-spoiling act still fresh in her mind. She felt that Abena’s appearance in his office that day had prevented her from having her way with him.

“I will get him at all cost or die trying. I will try and try till I succeed otherwise, he wouldn’t like the outcome,” she said in a tone that boded no good for the young man.

When Kobina got to the house, he met Frank, Esi’s boyfriend on his way out.

 

They greeted each other and he tapped Kobina’s arm in understanding.

Esi, who was seeing her boyfriend off said goodbye to him and led Kobina in, holding him by his hand.

He was both relieved and sad that it wasn’t Abena who had welcomed him.

She made sure he was comfortable and served him scones and a cool refreshing pineapple juice.

“What is happening between you and my baby?” Esi asked without any preamble, noting that he was just as distressed as her sister was.

He stared at her, not really knowing how to proceed or from where to start, his exasperation apparent to her.

Esi waited patiently, for the man who had stolen her sister’s heart to unburden his heart.

 

Haltingly, he told her. He narrated how Auntie Ama had been trying to make him break the most sacrosanct vow he had made to himself which was to never sleep with anyone’s wife. He constantly wiped the tears that streamed down his face with the back of his hands. He was more saddened by the fact that Abena had wrongly judged him.

Esi touched the back of his hands in sympathy as he bared out his heart to her.

He didn’t know that the door behind him was slightly open and Abena, the subject of his misery was listening to everything he was saying. She heard the truth in his voice, the pain in his heart and the tears in his eyes and tears just formed in her eyes too as he spoke.

Slowly, like a zombie, she made her way to him, and Kobina, as if he had sensed her presence, turned around and saw her standing dejectedly behind him, her eyes red with tears.

He got up and before he could say anything, she was in his arms.

Esi who started the whole reconciliation process saw that it had gotten beyond her and beat a strategic retreat, with a huge smile on her face.

 As it finally turned out, it wasn’t a bad weekend after all.

 

Abena offered to make the ultimate sacrifice. To lose her virginity on the altar of her love for him, but he had declined gently and made her understand that he cherished her too much to allow her to do that. He said he was prepared to wait until they got married.

She lovingly gazed into his eyes when he said that to her and apologised for misunderstanding the situation. He also apologised for making her go through that trauma and they hugged, kissed and just held on as if there was no tomorrow.

Without consulting her sister, she asked him to move in with her but tactfully, Kobina made her know that it wasn’t advisable but he could sleep over if it rained when he was there.

Abena smiled at that and thanked him profusely for not allowing her to make him go against his principles as a man.

She understood his decision. She was content when he was content.

 

Kobina visited his dear mother again on Sunday.

Abena had wanted to tag along and it took the combined strengths of Esi and Kobina to dissuade her from going with him.

They told her that if the old lady saw her with Kobina, she was going to put undue pressure on them to get married soon.

“And you know that Kobina is not ready as he has just gained employment,” Esi said.

“Why not. Why don’t we get married soon? Even tomorrow is there,” she replied petulantly.

 

“What about your dreams? What about your Master’s programme?” Esi asked.

She relented finally, but only when Kobina assured her that he was working towards giving her the dream wedding, which entailed patience and money. A lot of it.

“Look at this small girl o. She wants to eat what her elders are eating,” Esi said teasingly.

“Eat me, Frankie, eat me,” Abena said to her, making funny moans in addition and Esi, who then had a ladle in her hand chased her around the hall with it as Kobina whooped with laughter that brought tears to his eyes.

 

His mother was very happy when he visited her. Her happiness knew no bounds when he sneaked behind and hugged her even before she saw him. She saw how well he had filled out and how well he looked and proudly walked with him through the village and showed him off to neighbours.

She clung unto his arm, a proud and satisfied grin on her lips. The proud face of a mother who had persevered, against all odds to educate her son.

He had gone with Milo, tins of milk, tomato paste, sardines, mackerel, cooking oil and a bag of rice.

She thanked him and the Almighty God.

“I should thank you, sweet Mother. What would I have done without you?” he said, his eyes moistening.

“Shut up and give me a hug,” she said, her emotions attempting to overwhelm her.

 

They exhibited the true love that bonded a mother to her son. She couldn’t stand nor sit still. Neighbours visited and she would have given all that he brought to her to them had it not been the stoic face of disapproval that she knew only too well.

That night, she prayed for him, for his safety, his happiness and his general well-being.

Kobina left early at dawn for him to make it to work early.

Though the road from Ataabadze junction to Takoradi was a first-class road, the heavy traffic jams delayed him considerably and he called Amankwa to inform him that he could be late for work.

 

After arriving, he quickly had his bath and dressed up. He was on his way out when the Captain summoned him inside.

“Kobina, it has been decided that you should leave the Boy’s Quarters. Events in the past month have been frowned upon by the authorities. This is part of the military barracks and the same rules apply. Through no fault of yours, there has been a security breach and my superiors have decided that you vacate your room in three days,” the Captain said to the shocked young man.

“But sir, I have no hand in any of that. Mr Eshun is at fault, not I,” he said in defence.

“Throwing your things out is the usual option but knowing that you are not to be blamed, I have given you three days,” Captain Omar said, leaving no room for him to say anything further.

 

Kobina thanked the man and left for work, his mind racing for a way to come out with the right solution to the problem.

He didn’t tell his girlfriend of the eviction order when he called to inform her of his safe arrival knowing that she was sure to ask him to move in with them if he told her, and he did not want that. He had no strengths for the arguments his refusal to move in would degenerate into.

He was on autopilot throughout the day. Even though outwardly, he was okay, and did everything he was supposed to do well, he was under a lot of stress.

He even joked with Abena before continuing with his busy schedule.

It was only Amankwaa who was able to read him well enough to notice his discomfiture.

“Don’t worry. If they still insist on evicting you, I will give you the keys to one of the transit quarters,” he assured him.

 

That piece of news lessened his burden a lot. A flurry of activities took his mind off his problems.

An excited Abena called later to tell him of her employment as the Crew Change Officer of a Petroleum firm.

He congratulated her with their usual light-hearted banter until something came up and he had to end the call.

She called him back thirty minutes later.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you have been evicted from the boy’s quarters? Why did you hide it from me,” she asked, fuming with anger.

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