Dial - Season 2 - Episode 57

Episode 4 years ago

Dial - Season 2 - Episode 57

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Early the next dawn they put me on a stretcher and carried me to the Regera. The whole village was gathered, even at that ungodly hour.

My voice was now closed over, and I couldn’t even speak. I had just about three teeth in my mouth, and I was so wrinkled up with age that my eyes were rheumy and glued up, needing Abena Adobea’s constant wipes to keep them open.

Maame Ntiriwaa was inconsolable.

She was weeping so hard that Tawiah had to hold her firmly from falling down. They were all weeping, oh dear! It was just like witnessing my own funeral, and the distress I felt at that particular moment in time was gargantuan.

Abena Adobea sat in the spacious back with me, cradling my head in her laps, and I shut my eyes tightly to stem my tears as the show of love and grief from the faces surrounded the car.

Even when Brian drove they followed the car till he gathered speed and drove out of the main gates, and I wondered if I would ever see them again. The journey through the villages was a bit slow and arduous because of the bad nature of the roads, and the low-slung nature of the car.

But, when we gained the main road almost two hours later, Brian made good time. I slept most of the way, waking up occasionally to take a leak, and once to eat sweet honey-laced porridge which Abena had prepared for me.

We hit the Eastern Region in the late afternoon. I drifted off to sleep again, and when Abena gently shook me awake, I realized we had come to a stop.
“Where are we?” I asked weakly.
“Deep inside the Eastern Region,” she said gently. “Seems this is where we part, my love. There’s a lake, and across the lake is Wowo. Brian has already spoken to one of the canoe operators and given them money. It’s time, my love.”
And that was that.

I just began to weep pathetically.

She held me gently and lovingly and rocked me, making no sounds, but her tears washed my face. Brian soon opened the car door and looked down at me with tears in his eyes.
“Time to go, buddy,” he said, and then he turned away, put his head on the roof of the car, and began to weep pathetically. Other men had come around the car, fishermen, I guessed, or canoe operators.

Abena Adobea dropped her head and kissed me fiercely, and I clawed at her with my feeble hands.

“Please, Maa Abena, wait for me, okay? Whatever happens, I beg of you, wait for me before you take any decisions, I beg of you!”
“Yes, yes, my love,” she whispered.

And from there it was a hazy recollection as I was lifted out of the car gently, and carried to a canoe. I was put across some blankets, and then an outboard motor started, and slowly the canoe moved away from the banks of the lake. I could see Abena Adobea’s weeping face, and a moment later Brian came to stand by her side, his hand across his lips, as the canoe gathered speed.

And then I could not see them any longer.
I was weeping too hard.

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