SHORT STORIES: AKOSUA 3

THE THIRD DAY

Prince Badu had been tossing from left to right on his bamboo bed. The bed had been assembled in such a way any movement caused the bed to creak. The bed creaked under his weight as he sat down. He increased the brightness of the lantern beside his bamboo bed. He was sweating profusely. He looked around and glared at the sky. It looked as confused as he felt with the sun creeping slowly as a snail.  He grinned as he thought of how his father had died. His mind was like a tumultuous sea. He inhaled and exhaled while still staring at the sky. He wondered to himself why his life had to be so complicated. He recalled how his father had died.  The king had been loved by all. He was kind, generous and wise. As much as he was loved, he was also feared by all. The king had loved his son, PrinceBadu. Prince Badu had always blamed himself for the death of his father. He realized that if he had listened to his father he might not have died the way he died.

On that fateful day, the king had been agile and full of happiness. He decided to go hunting accompanied by his guards. King Alooma was one of a kind. He believed that a king should live amidst his people and work with them. The king loved hunting and treasured the forest. PrinceBadu had followed his father even though the king had blatantly refused before he gave in. They went hunting with the guards. Father and son were having a great time until prince Badu saw a deer and started chasing after the deer. He got lost in the forest. He tried to trace his way back but he couldn’t. The king had sent his guards to go and search for the prince. They followed them in the search for his son but he realized he was slowing them down and for fear he might lose his son he told all his guards to go ahead to search for his son thinking he would be safe with his manservant. The king was left with his manservant while the guards left to search forprinceBadu. The king walked with his manservant in the bid to  cover more ground in the search for his son. The manservant had advised the king to stay put but the old man couldn’t sit down and bear the thought that his only son could die if he refused to do something.  The king kept on walking with his manservant until they entered into the enemy’s territory. The king was beheaded by the ruler of the kingdom without second thoughts. The manservant had been spared to convey the news to king alooma’s people. By the time prince Badu had been found by the guards, the king was already dead. The whole village moaned the demise of their beloved king. The prince and the queen mother were consoled but the prince maintained to all in a frenzy that he caused the king’s death.

Prince Badu used the edge of his wrapper to wipe his tears before he began to sob heavily. The regret weighed heavily in his heart just likethe first time he heard of his father’s death. He knew that his father would not have died but for his foolishness. He made the wrong choice by choosing to follow his father to hunt and now he couldn’t help but wonder whether he would make the wrong choice in marrying akosua for his heart yearns for her to be his. He saw the drummer boy that had Akosua’s heart. He knew that despite that he could marry Akosua. He was the prince. What bothered him the most was whether he was jeopardising the future of his kingdom by marrying the daughter of a witch. He saw the faces of the villagers and knew that the question on their lips was whether he will marry from an accursed family. He sighed as he stood, his eyes scanning his chambers.  He wasn’t as eager as he was on second day. He had to choose a bride; it was the third day of the maiden’s dance. He stood up from his bed and began pacing back and forth in his bed chamber.  He began wondering who else he could pick if not Akosua. He noticed Abenaa; ‘who wouldn’t’ he muttered. The lady had a way of attracting the crowd too but he detected jealousy in her. Besides she wouldn’t make a fine queen.  He decided to cross the bridge when he got to the bridge

Akosua had been happy and excited. The past two days had made her happy. The pride in Ma essien’s face, her mother had made her heart flutter like birds. To top it all Koficouldn’t stop praising her for how she danced. She smiled to herself until she remembered the words of Kofi. Would you leave me for the prince? She had smiled and said a joke afterwards to change the subject of discussion. Like an obstinate child, Kofi was adamant and demanded a reply. She waived him off until he tottered back to her hut in the morning. She had been afraid when he jumped in as he used to do when they were kids.  He asked her the same question but she couldn’t bring herself to give him a befitting reply. She had not thought of it. She had joined in the maiden’s dance because her mother had compelled her to but when she thought of it. She feltguilt.  The marriage to the prince would hold so much benefits for herself and her family especially their rotten reputation. She convinced Kofi that she loved him and nothing was going to separate them. Kofi had leftwith a smile on his face.

Akosua sought her mother’s advice on the issue but her mother had told her it was her decision to make. She stared into the open space thinking of what she would do if the prince chose her to be his queen. Would she leave Kofi?  A maiden has never rejected the offer of a prince during the maiden’s dance. She decided to visit Abenaa. She decided to seek the advice of her friend. Although she had heard rumours about Abenaa cheating withKofi behind her back,She chose not to believe it. She got to Abenaa’s compound and greeted her Ma who answered with a grunt followed by a hiss. She walked in and saw Abenaa on Kofi’s laps. She felt the spasm of shock run down her spine. She stared with her mouth agape until she heard muffled sounds. She turned around to see who was sobbing.  She discovered that she had been crying. She wiped her tears and walked back home. Abenaa had assisted her in making her decision. She got to her home only to see the royal guards bearing gifts.