Part 1
“DINNER WITH THE WOLVES (Season One)”
©Adeniran Ayomide

Agyei, I can’t wait for the day when we will gain admission into the training school. I will be the most happiest woman on earth. I happily exclaimed.

That day will soon be here my love. We’ve prayed enough, and what is left is to look up to God for an answer. Agyei responded. Anytime you talk like this, I fall in love with you over and over again. I love your Godliness and patience.

I complimented. Kukua, why do you always make me feel like the world revolves around me? Agyei shyly asked. Indeed the world revolves around you. Ever since I lost my father, you’ve been there to occupy that vacuum left. You simply don’t know how my mother and I cherish you. You are our lost but found treasure. I responded happily. Kukua, it’s time for supper, join me in the kitchen. Mummy called. Kukua, I will like to take my leave then, I will see you some other time. Agyei stated and stood up to leave. No Agyei, you can’t leave. We are preparing this supper because of you. My mother stated. We both hurried to the kitchen to prepare yam and garden eggs stew.

Agyei, it’s unfortunate we couldn’t prepare rice or something better for you. I wish we could, but my current financial position didn’t permit me, please forgive our poor background. Mummy explained with teary eyes. No mummy, you don’t have to do this. I ain’t from a rich background either. My mother is a food vendor, and my father is a shop keeper. We are in the same social class with you. Agyei responded. No Agyei, we are not in the same class. I only sell charcoal, and even with that, I don’t have my own capital. People give me the goods on credit. Mummy explained sadly. Before I knew it, tears started spewing from my eyes.

Mother please stop it! Why are you weeping when you are supposed to be eating? I have vowed to make you smile someday and I will make sure it comes to pass. If all hope is lost, remember you have me, your only child. I consoled in tears. After minutes of shedding tears, Agyei convinced us to eat. We did that reluctantly. Minutes afterwards, he asked permission to leave and I requested to escort him. Kukua, I am sorry for the pain and stress you and your mother are going through, but I promise you that, everything will be fine. I will forever be by your side. Agyei promised.

Agyei, anytime I talk about school, I talk with faith, honestly, I don’t know how I am going to pay the fees. I responded sadly. My love, God will provide, just have faith in him.

Agyei responded softly and hugged me so tight. Months later, mother informed me of going to the bush to get some charcoal for sale. Kukua, please do well to sell the remaining bags. I am doing everything humanly possible to gather enough money to see you through school next year. Mummy stated and walked away.

I carried two bags of charcoal on my head and headed to the market to sell. After an hour walk through the market, a gentleman called me. Kukua, where is your mother today? He asked. My mother has gone to the bush to get more goods for sale next market day. Please is there any problem? I asked. There isn’t any problem at all beautiful, my only problem is when I see you stressing like this to survive.

Kukua, what if I want to make you my wife? What if I take your burden away from you? He proposed. What did you say your name is again? I asked. Call me Edem. He responded. Edem, if you want to help me, you can go ahead without necessarily making me your wife. Marriage shouldn’t be based on reasons. I responded.

Kukua, I am not marrying you because of the help I can offer, I am marrying you because of the love I have developed for you over months now, and you know what that means. Being my wife automatically makes me your burden shareholder. He explained. Edem I am sorry, I’m not interested in you. I have to start going now, I have carried these bags of charcoal for several minutes now, and I must get a buyer for it. I responded and began walking away.

Wait Kukua, how much are the two bags? He asked. Sixty cedis. I responded tiredly. I am buying them. He stated and took the two bags of charcoal from my head. Thank you so much Edem, I have to run back home to prepare something for my mother. See you some other time. I stated hastily. Alright Kukua, please don’t forget to think through my proposal. He responded.

Later in the evening after supper, when I was eagerly waiting for my mother, someone came to call me from the house. Kukua, you are urgently needed at Agyei’s house. His parents asked me to call you. The messenger said. What is it? What has happened to my Agyei? I thought in fear as I attended to the call.

Part 2
“DINNER WITH THE WOLVES (Season One)”
©Adeniran Ayomide

What is it? What has happened to my Agyei? I thought in fear as I attended to the call. Good evening mummy and daddy, please you sent for me. I greeted when I got to the house. Have a seat Kukua. Agyei’s father offered. My husband, is that necessary? Does she have to sit down before you tell her your piece of mind? Agyei’s mother harshly stated. Listen to me young girl, you’ve been a distraction to my son’s life lately, and we are not liking it.

What is your problem? Why do you have to hover over a man like a mosquito when he is not your husband? What do you seek to achieve? The woman spoke angrily. I am sorry for any inconveniences my friendship with Agyei is causing this family mum, but we are planning to get married someday.

I humbly responded. Quickly the woman stood up on her feet. Over my dead body Kukua! From frying pan to fire! I will never allow my son to marry a poor girl like you who has nothing to offer this family. Get it straight into your thick skull. Mrs Agyei harshly spoke. Kukua, poverty is what everyone is fighting against in this life, and you don’t expect my son to run into it in the name of some supposed love.

I advise you to stay away from my son, I don’t ever want to see you anywhere around him. Please don’t compound our problems. Mr Agyei cautioned. I am sorry daddy, I wish I could stay away from your son, but…. I tried talking amidst tears. But what? Kukua, leave our presence with your poverty stinking self before I spray peeper into your eyes. You cursed witch! Mrs Agyei insulted on top of her voice.

I hurriedly walked out of the house in tears. Immediately I got to the gate, I met Agyei entering our compound. I walked pass him in tears. Kukua, Kukua! Stop right there! Why the tears? What has happened to you? He asked worriedly. Agyei, my ears have heard pain and my eyes cannot withhold the tears.

My heart bleeds and my throat is so bitter. My love, if poverty is a fault, then I am sorry for causing it. If it is a sin, I promise to repent. I lamented. Kukua where are all these words coming from? Why are you speaking with so much pain? Talk to me.

Agyei responded with teary eyes too. Agyei, your parents have registered their unhappiness towards me in your life. They say they can’t watch you fall a victim to poverty. They say I should stay away from your life. I narrated. Kukua, wipe those tears. The opinion of my parents doesn’t matter. It is my life and I will choose who to be part. Please pull yourself together. Agyei consoled.

Agyei, what are you doing over there? Come here at once! Mr Agyei instructed. Daddy, I want to ask you a simple question, did your parents choose my mother for you? Did they? Agyei* disrespectfully questioned his father. How dare you talk to me that way you useless fool! If you dare me, I swear to disown you. Mr Agyei threatened angrily. Agyei, I must get going now. I don’t want to cause more troubles. See you later. I stated and hurried back home. When I entered the house, I met my mother lying on the verandah. I quickly wiped my tears and rushed to talk to her.

Welcome back mummy, why are you lying down this way? I asked. Kukua, I am not feeling well, I’ve been bitten by a snake. She responded in pain. Mother this is serious! Please get up and let’s go to the hospital. I suggested in fear. No Kukua, the villagers have given me some herbs to help me get better. Just put it on fire and boil it for me to drink.

She responded. Mother I don’t believe in these herbs. Please get up and let’s go to the hospital. I pleaded. Kukua, we can’t use the little money we’ve saved to go to the hospital. That money is meant for your schooling. Even though it isn’t enough, I am hoping to gather more to make sure you go to the training school.

My daughter, it is my wish that the disgrace and embarrassments poverty has made us go through in this town is wiped someday. I want you to make me proud. Mummy responded sadly. Your wishes will come true mother. I will do everything possible to be whom you want me to be. I promised. Thanks my daughter. Now go and get me the medicine. She stated with smiles. I boiled the medicine for her, served her the food I had earlier prepared and gave her some of the medicine to drink. She struggled to eat a little.

The following morning, mummy was so weak but she still refused to go to the hospital. I was sitting by her, trying to convince her when I heard a knock on the door. It was Agyei. Come in Agyei. I ushered. Good morning mummy and daughter. He greeted. Kukua what is it? Why this miserable face? He asked. I narrated everything to him and how mummy has refused to go to the hospital. Agyei also did his best to convince mummy but to no avail. Alright then, let me go to the pharmacy and get her some drugs.

Agyei stated and walked out. Minutes later, he returned with some drugs. We gave the drug to her and she took it. Mummy held our hands together and began advising us.

My son, as you know, Kukua is my only child. She has no father nor siblings. I am happy that, the two of you are this close. I want you to take a very good care of her. I want you to make me a promise never to hurt her. Mummy spoke almost in tears. Mother, you can count on me for the rest of your life. Kukua is my future wife and nothing can change that. Agyei responded. Mummy blessed us with words of prayers. We conversed happily till later in the evening when Agyei asked permission to go home. Immediately he stood up to leave, we heard someone screaming my mother’s name in the compound.

Besiwaa! Besiwaa! Come out here! Kukua who is that? I hope it isn’t one of my creditors? Mother whispered in fear.

.
CLICK HERE TO READ “DINNING WITH THE WOLVES” (PART 3&4) – ADENIRAN AYOMIDE

.

Published By: Ifeoluwa ORISAKAHUNSI
Founder, gospelfilmsng