Fosuwa’s dad was fast asleep when he got home. Her mother was simply happy.                      

‘You should have seen him when he came home, grabbing the take-away’                          

‘Take-away?’                                                                                                                                        

‘Yes, he said David asked him to bring it to me. My goodness, it was delicious. I have to apologise to you, Fosuwa. I wanted to keep some for you, but I just simply couldn’t’.         ‘

Don’t worry Mom. Next time I enjoy some nice take away, I will not remember you at all’.  

‘Don’t talk nonsense. Anyway, your dad is going again tomorrow. He better bring take-away again, otherwise there will be a problem. Listen, I’m also going to bed. See you tomorrow’.

Again, Mrs. Anderson had just entered the house, and gone straight to the main bedroom.     

‘Abeeku! You liar! Today, I will expose you, and you will leave my house. My sons are coming to face you. You will tell us all when you gave them the money, and how much. You were insisting that you gave them the money. They will be here any moment. You liar!’                   

‘Do you know what, madam? Why don’t you wait patiently for them to arrive, and spare yourself this hot air. I doubt if they will have the nerve to step in this house, but you never know’. ‘This is their house, so don’t talk nonsense. They will be here, and after they have confirmed that you are a liar, you will leave my house and never return’.                                                                

‘Madam, I will wait outside if you won’t stop shouting. I hope they have the nerve to show up’.

Mrs. Anderson kept looking at her watch. Finally, she rose and walked to the window.                   

‘Sandra’, she said, call them again. We have to finish dealing with this mistake of a so-called husband and go to work. There should not be any traffic at this time.                                             

‘I have tried, Mom. They are both not answering’. After another fifteen minutes the lady rose.     

‘Okay, Sandra, let’s go. I don’t know what’s keeping them, but Abeeku, don’t you think you are off the hook?. I will expose you, and you will leave this house immediately, you liar’.                                 

‘Please wait a minute, madam. I told you they won’t have the nerve to come here, knowing they took money from me. But please sit down and let me show you something on the screen. Knowing the kind of people your sons are, I recorded the transaction. Here you are’.                  

For the next ten minutes Sandra and her mom watched in horror as her two brothers counted the money. She heard Sam say that it was correct, $200 per month, and for the two years the $4,800 amount was correct. And after smiling and shaking hands with Abeeku, they left. ‘Now madam’, Abeeku continued, I don’t think you will have the decency to apologise, knowing you very well. But this is the end of the road for me. I have already informed my people, and they will be back to collect the drinks we offered for the hand of your daughter. I have endured a horrible relationship with your family, and I am only too glad to leave your house. I have cleared almost all my stuff. Good day’.                                                                                                                   

‘Listen Abeeku’, Sandra said, ‘we can talk over this. I know a lot of words have been said in anger, but ……’                                                                                                                           

‘Sandra, you are worse than your mother and your brothers. Haven’t you already started having lunch with another guy? You know your brothers are thieves, don’t you? Check your accounts. All the figures there are fake. One day the tax people will come, and you will all have to run away. You owe the banks. Why am I even bothering?’ he walked out, waited for them to leave, and returned.

‘Brother Abeeku’, Fosuwa started, ‘first of all I am really grateful for your kindness yesterday. My parents are so happy, not only for Dad’s treatment, but also for the lunch’.                          

‘No problem Fosuwa. You are doing a lot for your parents, and you deserve a break’.                

‘Brother Abeeku’, I’m really sorry for all that has gone on. But does it mean I won’t see you again?’                                                                                                                                            

 ‘Certainly not. Let’s have a little discussion, then we will make a plan. Now, do sit down. Okay, I want you to tell me a little about your family, and what brought you to do this job when you should be earning a good salary as a graphic designer.                                                            

‘Well, my parents are both retired, so my elder brother in the US was paying most of my school bills, and taking care of the house too. But he lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so things have been tough. I have only been getting casual jobs, and I took this one because it was the only one available’.                                                                                                                                  

 ‘That’s quite an easy problem to solve. I work with several web designers, who use the services of graphic designers. I will link you up with a few now, and I’m sure they will have things for you to do. We can do that now’.

By Ekow DeHeer, the author