THE NEAR DEATH OF JESSICA

Ia
1. Christians
2. Muslims
3. Traditionalists
4. Others

Ib
1 and 2
…3 and 4
With their slippery palms
Hold on to the vehicle of beliefs
…falling from a high cliff
Fear of their seeds boarding the falling vehicle
…driving their strength which falls them along

JESS
Tricks can turn sticks then bricks to hurt
Just as good can better and better can best
Bad can worsen and worse can worst
You’re wondering how?

YAABA
Why won’t I wonder how?
Nana Nyankopong is not an idiot
He created a fertile pot and a tree sack
The latter planting life seeds in the former
Why else will the Bible ask us to multiply
…like sea sands?

AMOFA
Ask again Yaaba!
How can it get worse?
He claims he wants to marry a man
And wants us to be without worry
Sorry, I just can’t help but worry
As I look at you
I can see our future grandchildren
…being flushed down some unmentionables
Yaaba stop crying!
You’re making me teary!

ASAMOAH
Well, you’ll come to accept it
The shouting won’t wash
I did worse than you
But who can win against their children?
I for one worried about his rear hole
Wondering if the misdirected poundings
…won’t affect his bowel movements
Until I was told he was the top
I consoled myself with the fact that he does it to another
…and will live with his back intact
At least he won’t rot from his rear
And saddle me with the sadness of burying him

AFIBA
Wicked man!
I didn’t know wickedness was your family trait
So my son should suffer bowel troubles
Whiles yours walks around as a man of a man?
Have you no shame?
How do you bring up your children?
Anyway, Sister Zara’s girl has now turned man-girl
But it seems no one has noticed

KOKUVI
Stop talking about girls on girls
They’ll get tired playing with their many holes
…and chase husbands in churches
Serious issues abound
You guys are lucky
An Ewe man like me now lives disgraced
Where is my Kuvi?
I hear he now lives as Mandy somewhere in the Unclean Shit!
Your “Ewoo” consoles me not!
He actually did run away to cut off his manhood
…an Ewe manpower which many men dream to have!
I hear he dug a hole beneath him
And grew breasts
Just so idiots can gain access to a hole under his person! Mawu!

MAAME AMA
Ei!
How will God recognize him on judgement day?
This is like a bizaar movie!
You gave birth to a man
…only to end up with an artificial woman!
Imagine God calling Kuvi!
Then a small voice corrects him
…Mandy please!

JESS
Such silly jokes!
You all act as if the world has ended
Education is like light
…get it to see your paths in this dark
You all have it easy
There are those who build horns on their heads
Those who tattoo their eyes like demons
Those who grow their bodies into monsters
So let your children be
At least they live as they really want to live
Enjoying their lives with their other halves
They act themselves
They have the right…

KOKUVI
Maame Ama, Afiba, Amofa
Hold that Jessica!
You’re one of the people who help corrupt our children!
You’re one of the evil people
…who help turn our boys into second hand women
Rights! Rights! Rights!
Are killing our cultures
Beat her!
Teach her a lesson!

XI
That was how Jessica lost an eye
And nearly lost her life
But for the timely arrival of Papa Prosi
Who was called by Mr. Asamoah
What do we do with these hanging clouds?
Do we let the dark hold their marks
…and live the light of its hatred?
It sure is a trick which has kicked us
…with the sticks of surprise
As the practical kisses are missed in darkness
…and thoughts get pissed off with theories
The final verdict of change or otherwise
…is a suspenseful wait
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © December 9, 2019