‘When did you conclude that she was your wife-to-be? And what have you heard? I’ve only heard a couple of whispers. Ebo and Nana Kwame called to say they had seen her in the company of Jennifer and one Ampadu guy, from the family that owns the supermarkets. In the two weeks that I will be in town, I will drop by their house a couple of times. You already know that I have quite a lot of businesses to take care of. And of course, if I get a nice lady to go out with me, I certainly will not miss the opportunity’.                                                                                                                                                                               

‘Well said Little Brother’, Sister Baaba said. ‘By the way, Nana Kwame called an hour ago to ask if you had arrived because he could not reach you. Someone had told him about how Jennifer crowed to someone that she had connected Abena to a wealthy guy who would take care of her. She said that Bernard Forson was only an Agricultural Extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her. And apart from being wealthy, the guy came from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him’.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

‘Amen to that’, I said. ‘I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena has been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts’.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

‘In that case’, Sister Beesiwa said ‘you should be glad that Abena is out of your way. She is easily swayed. Anyone who would make a relationship decision based on a friend’s instigation lacked good sense. I hope the guy is as wealthy as they say.’                                                                                                                 ‘Who gets wealthy running a supermarket chain in Ghana?’ Sister Baaba quizzed . ‘Our supermarkets sell mostly imported products. Look at the foreign exchange rate. And remember that Ghanaians buy second hand shoes and clothes. Supermarkets are not good business here. Perhaps they are showing off that they are wealthy, but in reality they are not doing so well’.                                                                                                                                                                                

‘As I’ve already said, I will stop by her place a couple of times, but I will mind my own business from now. Hey, let’s talk family. How are our parents? And my brothers-in- law? And my nephews and nieces? Why don’t we meet on Sunday? I’m going to drop my bags at my place, and go to see Mama and Dad’.

After a busy morning at the office, I met the boys at Adehye, our usual lunch spot. We started catching up on the latest gossip, but the hottest issue was Abena and I. The guys were surprised that Abena had been with me at all our recent outings, yet she showed complete indifference when she saw them, whilst in the company of another guy. Ebo’s fiancée solved the riddle for us.                                                                                                                                                          

‘Guys, let me tell you what’s happening. Jennifer is what I would call a fixer. She fixes guys with girls. Every now and then guys with money in their pockets would ask her to get them ladies, and she would make friends with the girls and get the job done. And Bernard, you know your girl Abena has all the features that men like. Big size, ample bosom and booty and thighs topped up with good looks.                                                                                                                               

 ‘And Jennifer does this for the fun of it?’ Papa Awotwe asked. ‘She just fixes guys with girls just for fun?’                                                                                                                                                      

‘Certainly not. She takes a fee, depending usually on the means of the customer. Some wealthy guys pay well, others struggle’.                                                                 

‘So does she share this money with the girls? Surely, any girl agreeing to be traded will take some inducements?’ ‘Jennifer does not share her fees with them. Awotwe, most of the girls who would allow themselves to be traded think they need money, or it is simple greed. They want money to buy dresses and shoes and other fine things, and to be taken to nice restaurants by people with flashy cars. And Bernard, let me tell you this, my sister Baaba knows Jennifer quite well, and she tells me that she met her with your Abena at a fashion designer’s place, and they were really running you down.