GHANA MAN BLUES 11

Nii is finally in on Naa’s pregnancy secret, Dede’s custody battle with her ex-husband is getting worse, and Lanre keeps postponing the commencement of his new job outside. Missed Episode 10? Here’s some catch up on ghblessed.blogspot.com/2016/10/ghana-man-blues-10.html?m=1.

The blues continue with Episode 11:

EPISODE 11

It had already been 7 months since Nii found out his wife was pregnant, and those months had been some of the happiest they had ever witnessed together as a couple. Mrs. Jones Snr. had eventually become a silent party in their marriage and Nii felt grateful that he had had the fortitude to stand by Naa. He was nervous and excited at the same time, and virtually did not allow Naa to lift a finger. His friends, Fiifi and Esiaba Danquah had been of great help, as they had two kids of their own. He chuckled to himself when he remembered how stubborn and inquisitive Esiaba could be, and how firmly Fiifi handled her. Nii’s phone vibrated, breaking his train of thought. He put his phone away when he realized who it was…

Mrs. Jones Snr. had been feeling terrible over the past few months about how she had treated her daughter-in-law, Naa Aku. She was so ashamed and had been trying to reach Nii every day, but she understood why her son never picked or returned her calls. She wondered desperately what she could do to get her son back, but could not think of anything to make up for lost time. She decided to pay them a visit, whether she was welcome or not…..

The custody battle had had a draining effect on Dede, and she had lost weight drastically, not having enough time for herself or her daughter. She had not seen Safoa for quite some time now and was missing her terribly. Nana Yaa was briefing her on the progress of the case so far, but Dede had zoned out, making a mental note to go and see her daughter at the Danquahs the next day. She knew Safoa was safer there, at least till she was sure she had her for good.

“Dede….Dede!! Have you heard a single word I’ve said?” Nana Yaa asked, irritated.

Dede snapped back into reality, not by Nana Yaa’s question, but by the constant vibration of her phone.

“What does he want?” Dede grumbled, rolling her eyes when she realized how many times S.D. had called her.

Nana Yaa grabbed the phone and was about to snap at Kojo when she noticed how feeble he sounded. Alarmed, she asked, “Kojo, what’s wrong?”

“I’m…..I need help” he responded, sounding desperate…

It had been a long night for Naa, and Nii noticed she had grown extremely quiet over the past few days. She had tossed and turned so many times during the night, getting Nii worried. He thought of calling Esiaba for help, but decided against it, wondering whether he should call his mother instead. Naa had broken out into a sweat, causing Nii to dash to the bathroom for a towel and some cold water, before he heard his wife scream in agony.

“Niiiii! Nii, please help me!......”

*Do you think Nii is being too harsh on his mother? Did Mrs. Jones Snr. have a point in treating Naa the way she did?

*Kojo seems to be in some trouble. Do you think Nana Yaa and Dede should pay any attention to him?

*Are there any lessons on forgiveness we learn from today’s episode?

Thank you for your support so far in diverse ways. Let’s join hands to Change the Status Quo and spread the word by sharing with others as well. Please like our Facebook page on https://m.facebook.com/ChangingTheStatusQuo.  

Thank you and till next week, stay blessed!

Ghana Man Blues 10

Nana Yaa confronts her brother Kojo, Kofi Wilson’s time at N.E.A.S. is finally over, John pays his friends a visit, and Naa Aku is finally pregnant. Missed out on the action in Episode 9? Here’s a trip down memory lane on ghblessed.blogspot.com/2016/10/ghana-man-blues-9.html?m=1

And now the blues go on with Episode 10:

EPISODE 10

Nii had decided to give Naa a day off, and was taking the trash out when something fell out. ‘Auntie Mary’s Pregnancy Test Kit’ was written on the box. Confused, he quickly got rid of the trash and went back in to question his wife.

“Naa is there something I need to know?” he asked curious.

“Oh why? What’s up?” she responded innocently.

“Lady, go straight to the point.” Nii said, growing impatient.

“Well….It’s nothing really. Just that I’m pregnant” Naa said, relaxed.

“You’re what?” Nii stammered in response. “And you hid this from me because?” Nii continued, walking towards her.

Naa was hesitant, wondering how Nii was going to react. Before she could respond, Nii lifted her up and whirled her around, elated.

“Oh Nii, put me down over there!” she shrieked, delighted…..

Safoa was staying with the Danquahs, and had not seen her mother Dede for some time.

“Auntie Esiaba, please tell me what is going on. Where is Mummy?” she asked for the umpteenth time.

“Oh my dear, it is nothing to worry about. Mummy is fine okay?” Esiaba assured her, trying to sound convincing.

They had not heard from Dede for close to three weeks, but had decided not to worry because they knew where she was. She had not had much of an option anyway than to go into hiding…

Dede had moved in with Nana Yaa for a few weeks, after Kojo had threatened her one more time. She had frantically sought refuge at Esiaba’s home, but had to change location when she realized Kojo knew where she was. Nana Yaa had suggested she hide out at her residence for a few weeks, but thought it better to leave Safoa behind with the Danquahs. It had been three weeks already and Dede had not had this much peace of mind in a long while. Her case against Something Different was gradually building, and she knew it would take at least a year before this custody battle was over. But she was willing to fight….

Lanre was increasingly seeing more of himself in John. It had been almost a year since he had stopped selling on the streets, but John had remained as humble as ever. He had already joined his school’s debating class and had started nursing political ambitions. Though Lanre was not too happy about it initially, he had decided to let the young man choose his own path, only deciding to interfere if he felt it was absolutely necessary.

Now that Kofi Wilson had left N.E.A.S., Lanre’s workload had increased but it at least took his mind off his disappointment in Kofi as well as his pending trip outside to start a new job. He had kept postponing it and was even thinking of rejecting the offer. He had tried to deny it, but knew the underlying reason why he did not want to leave….

*Things finally seem to be falling in place for Nii and Naa. What does this tell us about holding on just a bit longer and not giving up on our loved ones as well as our hopes?

*What are some of the things that hold us back from taking the next stepping stone in life’s journey, like in Lanre’s case?

 *John the Great seems to be making the most of the opportunities that have come his way. How can we apply this to our own attitude towards various doors that open for us?

Our effort to Change the Status Quo can only be more pronounced when we do it together. Please help me spread the word by sharing it with others, and please don’t forget to like our Facebook page on https://m.facebook.com/ChangingTheStatusQuo as well.

Thank you, stay blessed and see you next week!

GHANA MAN BLUES 9

John’s helper turns out to be Lanre, Dede has reached her limit at the hands of her ex-husband, and she finds out he is Nana Yaa’s brother. Missed out on Episode 8? Your flashback is just a click away on ghblessed.blogspot.com/2016/10/ghana-man-blues-8.html?m=1

The Blues go on with Episode 9

EPISODE 9

After much convincing, Dede had agreed to let Nana Yaa help her out with her case. Three weeks later Nana Yaa had found out why Kojo was insisting on gaining custody of Safoa. She decided to go and pay Kojo a visit.

“What do you want?” Kojo asked sullenly, trying to hide his surprise.

“What on earth is wrong with you?” Nana Yaa responded angrily. “I haven’t heard from you in years, and when I finally do, you’re at your stupid tricks again.”

“You watch your mouth Nana Yaa Afriyie.”, Kojo said, straightening up.

“You want to hit me too? Go ahead! You’re such a coward!” Nana Yaa countered, facing him squarely.

Kojo took a step towards her, before clenching his fist in restraint…

Kofi Wilson tidied up his desk, trying to stifle his disappointment. He had spent the past few hours trying to beg Lanre for forgiveness but things had not gone well. Lanre Adesodzi was a good man, but this time around, Kofi had gone too far. The same people who had framed Lanre were now demanding their monies back from Kofi, but he had put the money into a deal that had not worked out, and was completely broke.

“I’ve messed up big time”, Kofi lamented.

Lanre had given him up to an hour to pack all his stuff and leave the office. His time at N.E.A.S. was over…

Naa Aku could barely hide her excitement. She had missed her period for a few months now and had taken a pregnancy test., which had come back positive. She stared at herself in the mirror, contemplating whether to tell Nii or not.

“What if I miscarry again? It has been three whole years since...”

She was still trying to figure out what to do when she heard Nii’s car pull into the driveway. She quickly got rid of the test and went out to meet him…..

John the Great decided to pass by the street where he used to sell. Though he was enjoying his new life, he missed his friends and took the day off to go and see them. He had been schooling alongside running some errands for Lanre, who had become like a father to him. Through these errands, he had met some ‘big people’ and realized he was interested in politics. He quickly shelved his thoughts as he got to his destination.

“Eiiii Johnnie, Johnnieeee!” one of the sellers shrieked in disbelief.

“It’s me, call me John the Great!” John responded as he hugged most of the sellers who had huddled around him, momentarily forgetting their wares.

“Ei, John, how are things going, chale?” his longtime credit seller friend asked him.

“Small small o, God dey!” John responded.

“Look at his too-known!” another of the sellers teased, as they scrutinized John.

After some time with his friends, John headed back home, but not before he had given each of the sellers one little gift or the other. He had learnt so much about giving from the little time he had spent with Lanre. John vowed never to forget his roots, and decided to wear the ‘happy socks’ he used to sell every single day, to remind him of where he came from….

*From Kofi Wilson’s predicament, do you think Lanre was too harsh or Kofi deserved what he got? What does this tell us about bearing the consequences of our decisions?

*Naa is finally pregnant, but decides to hide it from her husband out of fear and disbelief. Does this remind us of any uncertainties we have faced in our own lives?

*What does John the Great’s visit to his friends tell us about remembering who we are and where we come from?

Thank you for helping me Change the Status Quo so far. You have been amazing, and for that, I say thank you and God richly bless you.

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GHANA MAN BLUES 8

Dede’s daughter is not missing after all; Lanre has been betrayed by Kofi Wilson, and John the Great finally decides to explore new opportunities. Missed out on Episode 7? Here’s some catch up on ghblessed.blogspot.com/2016/09/ghana-man-blues-7.html?m=1. With just a few more episodes to go, what happens next on the Blues?

EPISODE 8

John had tried to reach the number he had received from his mysterious visitor for some time now, but it just was not going through.

“Maybe God doesn’t want me to stop this socks thing,” he said to himself dejectedly.

“Let me try one more time,” he said, hoping this time it will go through.

The phone rang about three times before a man answered.

“Thank God O!” John quickly said before responding, “Hello Sir! Please it’s me John. You stopped me a few months ago when…”

“Hello young man! I know who you are. I thought you’d never call……”

Lanre ended the call with John the Great. He had almost forgotten about his promise to see the young man through school, as he had been occupied with what had taken place a few weeks ago. He was considering leaving N.E.A.S even sooner than he had planned. He had received a job offer outside the country, but felt he had not finished with Ghana just yet, even more so now that John had called him back.

When he was young, his education had been put on hold for a while when his father lost his job. He had had to sell spare car parts for some time till things stabilized at home. He had almost gotten into trouble once with a fellow seller, who had cheated him of some money, and had a scar on his left arm to show for it. His father had eventually gotten another job, enabling Lanre and his siblings to go back to school, but Lanre was always a few years older than his mates due to this delay. Out of his experience, he had vowed to help at least three boys and two girls to complete their education before he attained the age of 45. So far he was on course, and saw something extraordinary in the socks guy, John. They had scheduled a meeting for the next day, and Lanre was about to tidy up his desk and leave to meet Nana Yaa when Kofi entered without knocking.

“Mr. Adesodzi. Please, I need your help……”

Esiaba quickly sat up after she and Fiifi had been woken up by loud knocks on their door.

“Who could that be at 12am?” Esiaba said, a little alarmed and irritated at the same time.

“Let me go and check,” Fiifi said, barely awake.

“I think I should go.” Esiaba responded.

“Ah. How? When there’s a man in the house, you want to go where? No way.” Fiifi sat up, wondering where his wife got her stubbornness from at times.

“Oh Fiifi, I’m sure it’s nothing serious,” Esiaba said adamantly.

“At 12am? Woman, please. You can follow me if you want to, but you’re definitely not going alone. Ah.”

“You it’s okay, let’s go,” Esiaba conceded. “This person will wake the kids up if we waste any more time.”

They descended the stairs together, Fiifi in the lead with Esiaba behind him.

“Please help me…” Dede said immediately Fiifi opened the door, and collapsed before Fiifi or Esiaba could respond…..

“That’s enough Dede. You have to take this man back to court.” Nana Yaa said, obviously furious.

“Calm down Nana, let’s deal with this rationally,” Naa Aku said.

“I think the rationality ship sunk a long time ago,” Esiaba said, siding with Nana Yaa.

They were at Esiaba’s home, as they had decided to meet up after work to discuss Dede’s issue. Dede had tried to mask her bruises with makeup, but had not succeeded. Her left eye was almost swollen shut from the brutal beating Something Different had subjected her to two nights ago. She had come back from looking for Safoa before realizing she had not locked her door. S.D. had made himself comfortable, and what she thought was going to be a brief visit had turned into a horrible nightmare.

“Do we have something like a restraining order in Ghana?” Naa Aku asked, looking at Nana Yaa.

“Hmm, we do o but how effective will it be?” Nana Yaa responded. “But Kojo deserves more than that. If I had my own way, he’d be behind bars,” Nana Yaa continued, angry all over again.

“Ei, but isn’t this your brother we’re talking about Nana?” Naa asked before Esiaba could signal her to keep quiet.

“Kojo Afriyie is your brother?” Dede asked, her one eye growing wide in disbelief.

“I had planned to tell you Dede…..”

*John could have decided to give up in his attempt to reach Lanre. He however decided against it. What does this teach us about hope and determination?

*From Lanre’s decision in this Episode, what do we learn about remembering where we come from and giving back to society?

*From the women’s meeting at Esiaba’s home, what do we learn about availing ourselves to show support to our neighbors, friends and loved ones when they need it?

Ghana Man Blues cannot make the difference it is intended to make, if others do not hear about it. Thank you for sharing with others so far and please don’t forget to help spread the word and to like our Facebook page on https//:m.facebook.com/ChangingTheStatusQuo

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Thank you and stay blessed.

See you next week!