As per usual life in Cheribaa was full of unexpected surprises. I certainly didn’t anticipate mercilessly heavy rain. With almost gale force winds sweeping over the area where I lived. Insomuch that the nearby trees swayed to and fro as their limbs and branches creaked from being twisted in the powerful storm. All of this display of nature’s power were accompanied by dark over hanging clouds, visible visitations of lightening and almost deafening thunder. While all of this drama was progressing outside. A huge black bat leaped from the roofing bed in my room and started flying around the ceiling. I had never encountered such a strange phenomenon before. Predictably I was terror struck. Ms. Edith was there at the time and went next door to summon one of my neighbors, Mr. Samuel. He quickly entered my room with a brambled broom and drove the ghastly and eerie invader from my quarters. That creature like myself, was probably startled by the natural commotion, being enacted beneath the heavens.
My heroic neighbor had just gotten married a couple of weeks before. He had requested me to sing at his wedding. I rehearsed with a female neighbor of mine, in preparation for this upcoming event. The wedding occurred however and we were never invited to sing. Mr. Samuel’s mother met me and while we were conversing she complained that she never saw me at the wedding. It was at that time that I narrated to her exactly what had transpired. Not only was she embarrassed. She also apologised profusely. The following day Mr. Samuel mustered enough courage to proffer an explanation. He stated, “I wanted you to sing. But the members of my church were not supportive of my request. Because they are members of a different faith.” I understood perfectly. Not only did I willingly forgive him but I gave him some money on the spot as my wedding gift. He accepted the cash with demonstrable gratitude.
During that period of time Ms. Edith’s ‘friend,’ that’s how she referred to him. Started visiting the compound more frequently and spent a great deal of time in my room. I was concerned about this change and even mentioned it a few times to Mr. Samuel. His response was, “I wonder how long the two of them will continue this pretense. Why don’t they get married?” I had no idea. Although she vociferously claimed that they were only friends, I suspected that they were really lovers. Apparently, her ‘friend,’ felt threatened by my presence on that compound. Consequently, he was spending far more time than was appropriate in my room. I never uttered one word of complaint to Ms. Edith or to her so called ‘friend.’ Then one morning I heard someone say, “You need to move from here.” I wasn’t sure where that voice was coming from. Nor was I certain that this was not merely my own thoughts or imagination. But the following day the same still small voice spoke to me again in more forceful tones, “You will have to move from here.” My immediate response was, “But where will I go?” The answer was, “You will have to move to wherever you can go.” This was the voice of the Spirit speaking to me audibly. As Jesus promised His disciples, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17. (NKJV). I started searching for alternative accommodations immediately.
I heard about a house that was available for rent and I invited Ms. Edith and her so called ‘friend,’ to accompany me while I went to survey the premises. We walked over to The Kato Taxi Station. I sat at the front next to the driver’s seat. My favorite travelling location. Both of them sat together, behind me, while the car waited for one more passenger. After about ten minutes I looked behind me and saw Ms. Edith’s right thigh raised, her right foot on the seat, and her friend’s hand clutching at her genitals. I didn’t stare. But as the saying goes, “One picture is worth a thousand words.” From that moment on that scene was indelibly emblazoned upon my memory and I will never be able to forget it. “Some friend,” I thought to myself. What I had suspected all along had just been confirmed. They were lovers. From her posture and by his action, they were both signifying that he enjoyed eminent domain over her body. I still continued receiving marriage proposals from Ms. Edith but I earnestly wondered why? Her lover was a well trained and accomplished Electrician. But he had no employment and no steady source of income. Maybe this bright idea belonged to her alone. But by Ghanaian standards it was probably a conspiracy between the two of them. The only rational explanation at which I could arrive. Was that she wanted me to marry her. So that I would support both she and her lover. Polygamy in one form or another is widespread in Ghana and so is informal polyandry.
We finally got to the house and looked at it carefully. The property had many liabilities. Since I had worked as a building contractor, all the negatives hit me squarely in the face. First, the ceiling was far too low. Second the floors were sloping. Third, the kitchen was inadequately furnished, unattractive, and far too small. Fourth, there was only one bathroom and no dining room. I had seen enough. We all left shortly after arriving. While retracing our steps we realized that this house was too far from the main road for comfort. I promptly called the landlord and advised him that I wasn’t interested. I had put out many feelers for appropriate rental property. I had a friend who worked in a small store within the Berekum market. He took me to an acquaintance who accompanied both of us to Brenyekwa, a small village approximately three miles from The Town of Berekum. To show me a charming semi furnished apartment. It had two spacious furnished bedrooms, a large furnished hall, a large dining room and also a large kitchen. There was only one bathroom, but since it was beautiful and had hot and cold running water, I agreed to accept it. The person guiding us on the tour of the apartment was the landlord’s nephew. The cost of renting the property for one year was 3,000.00 GHS. I paid him 1,500.00 GHS and contracted to pay him the balance as soon as the minor but outstanding repairs were effected. Compared to my previous living conditions this apartment was private and luxurious. My friend and I returned to Cheribaa together. He helped me to pack my personal effects. I called a taxi and within 20 minutes I was at my new address.
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