It is Saturday morning in the Ameve household. Dela Ameve , mother to Worla and Elorm Ameve is dressed to go for a funeral in Anloga. Her husband, Korshi is doing last minute checks on their 2008 Corolla for the long drive ahead. Her daughters were asleep, times have changed. Her time, there was no way her mother would be wide awake before her. These days, you had to be a bit gentle on your children.

She walked to Worla’s room first, to wake her up to close her zip. No, Worla was home yesterday early and did not step out. She would wake Elorm up, some sort of punishment for staying out late and then advise her. She was beginning to get worried about her daughters’ marriage status. With Worla at 32 and Elorm who just turned 30. Things were looking up for Elorm concerning Nana before they broke up. That idiot just wasted her daughter’s time, and with Worla, she was afraid. Worla was quick to date and dump them, it was hard to keep track. Her husband, Korshi did not seem care. All he did after his retirement was to visit his friend’s bar and drink. After all, he had done his part as a father to pay their fees. According to Korshi, it is a woman’s job to raise her daughters…

ELORM

‘’Elorm wake up and help me zip my dress’’ my mother said. I slugglishly got out of bed and helped her.

‘’You look nice’’ I complimented her.

‘’Thank you’’ she smiled

It was difficult seeing my mother grow old. She is so beautiful and has the potential to look younger. If only she listened to Worla and I and ditched the kaba and slit. If she does not cover her head with a scarf, she will hold her hair in a ponytail. That was her signature look I guess. She always wore boubous¹ at home or A-line shaped African wears. And for any event, kaba and slit or a maxi dress.

‘’Use this’’ I reached into my cupboard to take my Armani perfume, a gift from my boss from her last travel. I used it on rare occasions and had to hide it from my sister.

‘’I hope it is not strong’’ my mother warned.

‘’No, this is mild and it lingers, just how you like it’’ I said as I sprayed her wrists and other pressure points

‘’Look at where it is hidden, all because of Worla. Your uncle Selasi brought me perfume and some other things for you girls. He visited yesterday, when I get back, I will give them to you’’ she said with glee.

 Uncle Selasi is her younger brother, he is rich and made it a point to spoil our mother. I sometimes think Uncle Selasi does not really like my dad. But out of respect for my mother, he tolerates him and sometimes us. Our mother is his primary concern.

‘’Elorm, I need to talk to you’’ she said as she sat on my bed and gestured I sit by her.

‘’What is the problem?’’ I asked

‘’What time did you get home last night?’’ she asked

‘’Around 11pm’’ I lied, reducing my arrival time by an hour

‘’Don’t lie to me’’ she said

‘’Like 11; 30, 12’’ I acted confused.

‘’Hmmmmmm, Elorm. I know you said it was a work event, but women are not supposed to be out late like that. I am not saying do not go out, but come home early. Imagine if someone wants to marry you and the first thing they say about you, is you like staying out late. It is not good. I am your mother, I am the only one who can tell you the truth’’ she added

‘’Yes ma’’ I said in order to calm her down. I disagreed with everything she said but I was not ready to get into another argument concerning girls of these days. In addition, I was still sleepy.

‘’Anyway, I went to the market yesterday so you and Worla should prepare okro soup, fish stew and jollof for the week. Fry some chicken so we can eat it with the jollof. There is beans in the freezer, fry plantain and have it for lunch. You girls should not forget to sweep and clean the house, mop all the tiles and scrub our bathroom’’

‘’Mama, I told you to let me know ahead of time if you wanted me to cook. What if I have to go somewhere?’’ I asked

‘’That is why you wake up early, if you and Worla do it fast, by noon you will be done and go where you want. If you come home early , I would have had the chance to discuss this with you” she said. I was about to slump back into bed then she added ‘’ Get up and close the gate for us’’

I greeted my dad who was already seated in the car waiting for my mother. I prayed with them and wished them safe journey. I walked back to the house and went to Worla’s room, she was awake, watching reels on her phone.

‘’Worla, good morning’’ I greeted.

‘’Morning, have the old people left?’’ she asked

‘’Yes, mum said we should clean the house and also cook okro stew and jollof, wake up and let us start’’

‘’Yes she told me yesterday, let me snooze for an hour before we start’’

Since I was awake already, I decided to start. I wore my headset, played a podcast and started sweeping. In no time, I was done with the clean up, it was left with the bathrooms. I checked on Worla and noticed she was still asleep. I wanted to finish with these chores and enjoy the day.

‘’Worla, wake up’’ I said as I tapped her gently.

‘’What’s the time?’’ she asked in a drowsy voice

‘’It is eight’’ I answered.

She slowly got out of bed and I left her room to go and start cooking. She came to me a few minutes later

‘’What did you have for breakfast?’’ she asked

‘’I haven’t eaten yet’’

‘’I am going to buy waakye², do you want some?’’ she asked. I saw she was holding her car key. Worla owned a red Toyota vitz she got from her last job. Where she took a loan and it was deducted from the salary. After, she quit to run a perfume business with her friend, Janice. My mother and I think Janice is just using Worla, because how can you say you co-own a business but all the documents are in your friend’s name?

‘’How far are you going? Asor waakye is just down the street’’ I said

‘’No, I am craving waakye from Dansoman’’

‘’That is like a 30 minute drive, we have chores to do’’ I started whining.

‘’I will be back soon’’ she said and left

This is always the problem with Worla, always doing things according to her time. No consideration for others.

After an hour and a half, she came back and I was done with cutting and blending all the bases for the soups and stew, as well as cutting all fish and meat. The waakye was delicious, I could not complain.

‘’So I noticed Nana brought you home yesterday. Are you guys back together?’’ Worla asked between bites.

‘’No, our meet up was so random’’

‘’Interesting. Just be careful’’ she said.

‘’What about you? I haven’t heard you mention Mustapha in a while’’ I said

‘’We decided to end it, he wanted me to convert so we get married’’

‘’But you knew the relationship was not going anywhere so why did go ahead and date him?’’ I asked

‘’Chale, he is such a lovely person, I could not say no’’ Worla said. I rolled my eyes and took our empty plates to the sink.

‘’What is left to be done?’’ she asked

‘’Dad and mama’s bathroom, as well as ours which we can do tomorrow, then the cooking’’  I answered.

‘’I am going to start with their bathroom’’

After 50 minutes, when I was halfway done with the food. I saw Worla pop up dressed up in a bikini with a translucent kimono. She looked great and voluptuous. We are both grateful to our mother for giving us her hips, but Worla inherited more of our mother’s looks.

‘’Where… ah… are you done..?’’ I stuttered , not knowing what to ask first.

‘’I finished scrubbing the old people’s bathroom, it is left with ours, I have poured detergent in there. When I am come back, I will scrub it’’

‘’What time are you coming back? And you didn’t help me cook’’ I complained

‘’You can leave the chicken, I will come back and fry it, I will scrub our bathroom too’’ she said

‘’Worla, our bathroom is the smallest, it will take 20 minutes, why didn’t you do it?’’ I asked

‘’Look, Janice is having a pool party and she wants me to pick up ice from the shop so I have to go’’ Worla said

‘’When did you know about this party?’’ I asked

‘’She called me when I was on my way to buy waakye, it’s an impromptu thing’’

‘’Impromptu? Ah well, as for this your friend. Are you sure she just wanted someone to pick up ice and decided to call you? ‘’ I asked

‘’No, Janice is not like that but I need a favour’’ Worla said and I dreaded the next question.

‘’Can you lend me 200 cedis to top up my fuel, you know Kwabenya is quite far’’ she asked.

I hated saying no to Worla , she is my elder sister.

‘’You still have not paid back the 200 I lent you three weeks ago’’ I reminded her

‘’Don’t worry, I got you. It is better I ask you than any other man. It is not because of 200ghs some guy will be rude to me’’ she said.

‘’Alright but please come early’’, I said as I took out my phone to send her money via bank transfer.

‘’Thank youuuu!! You are the best!!’’ she exclaimed and hugged me before leaving. There was no way I was getting that money back, she buying the waakye for me this morning was her investment.

I ended up cooking and finishing the chores, now I was hungry but I was not in the mood to eat what I cooked. I always find it difficult to eat my own meals right after preparing them. Let me shower and rest, before that, let me check on my parents to see how their day is going.

Dela Ameve (Auntie D)

Trust Elorm to check up on her parents. We had arrived safely at Anloga and the funeral and burial service was over. We were now at Korshi’s brother’s house for a brief family meeting. He and some members decided to have a meeting and discuss legal issues over a damaged family property.

I felt it was completely unnecessary but Korshi says I will not understand them because I am from a rich home. After chatting with some of the other wives, it was time for us to go back.

On the drive back, I reminded Korshi to stop so we buy some items for the girls. They love akpakalami³ and abolo⁴, especially Worla.

‘’Dela I will need you to send me 400ghs’’ Korshi stated as I sat in the car after buying the items

‘’Why?’’

‘’ I gave the last bit of my money to Efo Nunya, he needed money for his children’’

‘’Doesn’t he know you are retired? You should have told him you do not have money, what shows I have 400?’’ I was unhappy with his request.

‘’You mentioned Selasi visited yesterday and gave you money’’

Korshi had a way of taking some or any amount of money I made. I have never successfully grown any of my business because he would find a way of taking the money. Either he borrows and never pays or uses it for maintenance of the car. It was difficult saying no, after all he never defaulted in the payment of the girls’ school fees and upkeep when he was working. He paid for the renovation of the house my father gifted us when we got married. At least, that makes him a good husband I guess. There were a few cheating rumors here and there but not a huge scandal to disgrace me. What more can a woman want…?

‘’Alright, when we get home’’ I said and we drove in silence back to Accra. Out of the 1000ghs Selasi gave me, I am down to 600. I know in the middle of the week, he will come up with another story to take the rest…

LEXICONS

1. Boubou – A flowing, wide-sleeved traditional robe worn by men and women, often for special occasions.

2. Waakye – A popular Ghanaian dish made of rice and beans, usually served with various sides like spaghetti, eggs, or fish.

3. Akpa kalami – Small fish, usually fried, eaten as a snack or part of a meal in Ghana

4. Abolo – A steamed corn dumpling which is soft and spongy. It has a distinct slightly sweet and sour taste.