Bitter Honey is a Ghana-based series, centered around the Quartey family. Kojo Quartey; a taxi driver, his wife Aba; who runs a bank’s canteen, and their three children; Kuku, Abena and Maama live through a series of fortunate and unfortunate events. The Bitter Honey series tells the story of different bittersweet experiences that build their characters and teach them life lessons. Enjoy.
Today on Bitter Honey:
Watching Ma Dee, Kuku remembered the stories his mom used to tell about his grandparents. They were well to do – or if they were still alive, they are well to do. His mom suddenly stopped talking about them when his little sisters started growing older. When she told the stories, it kept his hope alive that he could live the kind of life she had when she was a child. Once the stories stopped, he knew that it was only foolish to keep such hope alive. Looking at her now, he felt hope birth in his heart again.
Ma Dee was talking on the phone. It was wedged between her shoulder and her ear. With her hands she was typing on her laptop. Just as she finished the phone call. Another phone on the seat between them was ringing. She glanced at it and put it down. She turned to him and asked about him.
Kuku informed her that he worked at an IT firm and didn’t say much else.
“Do you live with your parents?” She asked. Kuku nodded and said, “And my little sisters,”
His response shocked him – he didn’t want her to think of him as a child. But he hadn’t expected to give off this information.
Ma Dee nodded and put her devices away. She spoke a little bit about herself she lived a good life – she was married but alone, and had children working in different parts of the world. She owned a number of shops at Makola market and enjoyed helping small businesses with her earnings. Kuku thought his mom would be really good friends with Ma Dee.
“I would like us to be friends. You can take my number and we can talk whenever you want.” Kuku agreed. He picked out his phone, waiting for the number she was about to mention.
Ma Dee burst out in laughter. It was a hearty long laugh. Kuku was confused; was he not supposed to save her number on his phone? What was funny?
“Nice phone,” Ma Dee said with a smile dancing on her lips, and passed her call card to him. Kuku took the card and murmured, “Thanks”.
The driver spoke up, “Please we’ve reached, should I pass here?”
“No, I’ll get down here.” Kuku unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to Ma Dee, “Thank you for the ride. It was nice meeting you,”
As he got out of the car, Ma Dee pressed something into his palm, “This is a little something to buy credit,”
The car sped off.
Kuku unwrapped the folded wads in his palm. It was five Ghc 50 cedi notes. He was shocked.
“Two hundred Ghana cedis for credit? Ei!”
As Kuku walked towards his home from the junction he was dropped at, he had so much going on in his mind. On one hand, he was ready to throw the lady’s card away. On the other hand, she didn’t collect his number – so if he didn’t contact her, he will probably not see her again. Well, unless she showed up at his office.
“But why do I want to see her again?” He asked aloud. He didn’t have an answer to that question. But meeting Ma Dee seemed divine to him. There was a familiar air about her and the kind of financial freedom she enjoyed. It gave her some confidence – he wanted that confidence. The vibrations of his phone brought him out of his thoughts. He picked it out of his pocket and looked at it. He liked his phone but now that Ma Dee had a good laugh at merely the sight of it, the phone didn’t fit right in his palm any more. The Caller ID read “Aunty Aba”.
“Hello,” Kuku said onto the phone.
“Kuku, when you’re coming home, can you buy some banana and oranges on your way home. Where have you reached?”
“Okay, I’m almost at home just passed the junction. I’ll go and buy some.” Kuku turned around and headed towards the junction once more.
“Do you have money?” She asked him. “Yes, Momma. I have money.”
When he ended the call. He smiled to himself. He was absolutely sure that meeting Ma Dee was divine. As he walked to the lady with the fruit table at the junction, he copied Ma Dee’s number from the card and sent a quick text.
Ma Dee, this is Kuku. Thank you for the ride once again. I appreciate it.
The response was instant:
😊
***
Kojo could tell Caroline was famished. She had taken the pack of food too eagerly and actually said thank you! When she put the first morsel of food in her mouth, she groaned with pleasure. Kojo watched her carefully through the rare view mirror as she sprinkled some gari on the beans stew and took another dig.
He had bought some for himself. It was in a rubber hidden under his seat. He would devour it when he dropped her off at her next destination. “Please, Ma. Where should I drop you?”
“Why do you call me Ma as if I am old?” Caroline asked between mouthfuls. “Do I look like an old woman?”
Kojo shook his head, “You look like a typical young woman,” and he added; “But you are a ‘biiiiiig’woman, o. The hotels you go to, some of us cannot enter,” Caroline laughed, “I know big people – that’s all.”
The car was silent.
“How does a typical young woman look like?” Caroline asked.
Kojo smiled to himself, “Like they are looking for something. They look like they are lost, or nursing dying hope.”
Caroline looked outside the window. “Take me home,” she said quietly.
Kojo sparked the car and manoeuvred his way into the road. Then Caroline started telling her story.
***To be continued***
I hope to post a new episode every Friday. (So help me, God) Don’t forget to comment, like and share!! 🤗 🤗
Next on Bitter Honey…
Aba had been home for about twenty minutes. She was craving fruits so she called Kuku to bring some home. She laid on the couch to have a short nap. She was exhausted from her thoughts – she couldn’t understand Mr. Amoah’s reaction. She thought they were friends or that he cared about her – she was only trying to help him with whatever issue he was going through with his wife.
She drifted off to sleep.