By Jacquelynn Mondragon
It was another day of sitting and driving. I was at a stop when I saw Kobina running towards the bus out of breathe and hysterical. She came to hold the bus for an old lady, Nana Amfoa. This old lady was holding up the bus. She walked like a bird with a broken foot. I didn’t have all day to wait around plus the bus was already full. However Kobina insisted and kept me there with her mindless small talk about respect and who knows what. Nana was on her way to Cape Coast the town of the young and the rich, she had no business there. But Kobina informed me that her only son’s daughter was having her baby removed from her womb.
It just goes to show that modern wives aren’t made like they use too be. There are so fragile and useless compare to one’s mothers. Kobina was upset with my comments but I was right. I see these young wives around town so thin and dry as sticks-I can blow them a away with a gust of air. Even the men on the bus nodded their heads in agreement. Nana’s granddaughter is the perfect example of what I am talking about. She is a modern woman who has to have her baby removed! I never remember hearing about that from any of my mother’s friends.
Finally the old Nana gets on the bus. I greeted her and she kept referring to me as her master. She was a kind woman but an old woman as well. I made her feel comfortable by saying that I had held the bus only because it was for her. She slowly climbed up the stairs resting her weight on the bars. She was finally in and started yelling, “push back” at those who stared at her, as if she were a block of wood. Some suit started yelling back at her which triggered Nana’s mood. But I calmed her and told her to sit by me and tell me about her trip to Cape Coast. She stared yapping about a telegram she received three days ago regarding her granddaughter.
While driving along the usually route I noticed the old lady was looking sick. She kept covering her nose maybe it was the strong smell of petrol that filled the air. Who knows she’s old and shouldn’t be traveling long distances. She just sat and didn’t say much so I just kept driving she did however look very pensive as she stared out the window.
As I was driving I heard Nana crying. And some passenger asked about Nana’s weeping. Esi got upset and started questioning her about pervious conversations. The passenger I didn’t know that baby was dead or alive and quite frankly I don’t think she cared. They were getting out of hand until I interrupted them. I told them I was going to put them out f they continued to cause commotion on my lorry. I turned to Nana and told her that God is with her and not to weep. We had just arrived to Cape Coast and Nana was anxious to get off. However I began to explain that we were still too far from the hospital.. She insisted that she would find her way by word of mouth. I explained that townspeople were impudent and had no respect towards old age. She sat and waited until I drove here there. Usually I don’t go that way but because of her old age and situation, I made an exception. I continued to drive as I overheard Nana telling Esi that she had buried all her children and now she must burry her grandchild.
We finally made it to the hospital. I decided to get off and make sure they were taken care of. It was going to be difficult to find her son’s wife considering she didn’t know her European name. Inside the hospital Nana spoke to a nurse and she was very adamant about us knowing the rules of the hospital because one could only come and visit at three o’clock. Nana pleaded the nurse to help her. She began to cry and the nurse was unsympathetic to her needs. She stated that one couldn’t make any noise in the hospital. W tried calming Nana down hoping the nurse would help her. The nurse finally began to ask Nana questions as to who she was looking for. Nana again explained that it was the only child of her son and his wife’s name was Esi Amfoa. However that was no help to the nurse. She said that there was no one by that name. I told her to tell the nurse why she was admitted. HS e told her that she was there to have a baby removed. The nurse suddenly knew who they were looking for and referred to her as the Caesarean case. The nurse told them to follow her and that they were not allowed to make noise for that was not the hour for visitors.
We followed her and I told Nana that it would be cold where they kept her. I noticed that the new born babies were being feed. We walked in and old Esi saw young Esi covered in nice white sheets. The Doctor stated that she was a tough bundle who had identical twins removed. Her European name was Mary Koomson. The sheets covered her stitches.
Nana somersaulted into her room and whimpered next to the bed. I was confused at to what was going on. The Nursing Sister grew angry at us. Young Esi spoke causing old Esi to burst out in tears. She cried loudly until all her tears poured out.
I noticed Jessy Treeson staring hard at old Esi. She stood there is her starched uniform, apron, and cap. Then she dismissed all of us. I wanted to kick her in her rear end but figured I would break my toe.
I waited for old Nana as she kneeled by young Esi’s bed trying hard to rise and she stared at the only pot which refused to break.
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