Two Weeks
1200 Words
HMMMTOHEALING — CHAPTER 16: TWO WEEKS
Saturday morning was quiet.
Healing woke up early. His dad’s door was still closed. No sound. Probably sleeping off last night’s bottle.
Healing didn’t wait. He ate bread and water, took the form from his bag, and left the house.
Two weeks. That’s all Ms. Aisha gave him.
He had three names in his head.
1. Uncle Kofi. His dad’s younger brother. Lived in Tema. Healing hadn’t seen him in 3 years.
2. Madam Grace. His neighbor. Sold kenkey at the junction. She knew him since he was small.
3. Ms. Aisha herself. But the form said `Guardian`. Not teacher.
He chose Madam Grace first. She was close.
The kenkey stand was already busy at 7am. Steam, pepper smell, women shouting orders.
“Madam Grace,” Healing said.
She looked up. Sweat on her forehead. “Healing? You’re early. You want food?”
He shook his head. “I need help.”
He pulled out the form. “It’s for school. A program. I need a guardian to sign. My dad said no.”
Madam Grace wiped her hands on her cloth and took the paper. She read slowly. Her lips moved.
“Sunrise Youth Program,” she read. “Fees. Books.
She stopped. Her eyes softened. She looked at Healing.
Sweat on his shirt. Dust on his shoes. Hope in his eyes.
She knew his father. Everyone in Accra knew him. Hard man.
No second chances. No school money. No dreams.
But Healing was different. He wanted more.
He wanted school. He wanted a future.
Madam Grace held the pen. Her hand shook.
She remembered her own son. He was gone now.
But this boy was here. This boy was trying.
She signed the paper. Slow. Careful. Final.
"Madam Grace," she wrote.
She pushed it back to him. "Go to school, Healing."
Her voice was quiet. "Don’t waste this."
Healing held the paper. His hands shook too.
Paper was thin. But it was heavy.
It was permission. It was a door opening.
"Thank you, Madam," he said.
She nodded. "Sell more kenkey tomorrow. Celebrate small."
He smiled. First real smile in weeks.
He folded the paper. Put it in his pocket.
Close to his heart. Safe.
The kenkey stand was still busy. Steam still rose.
But something changed.
Chapter 36 started.
He had a signature. He had a chance.
Two weeks would change everything.
He walked home slow. The sun was hot. Accra was loud.
Tro-tros, horns, traders shouting. But his mind was quiet.
The paper in his pocket felt like fire.
Madam Grace believed in him. One person did.
That was enough.
He passed the school gate. It was closed. Holiday time.
But in two weeks, it would open again.
He would be inside. With a form. With a signature.
He thought of his father. Angry face. Hard words.
"You no go school. Sell more water."
But this time, he had proof. He had help.
He walked into his room. Small. Hot. Quiet.
He placed the paper on his bed.
He sat on the floor. Stared at it.
Madam Grace’s signature. Ink still dark.
His father would be angry. But Healing didn’t care now.
He had a plan. Two weeks.
Day 1: Sell kenkey. Save money for transport.
Day 2: Go to school office. Submit form.
Day 3: Buy a notebook. One was enough.
Day 4: Borrow a uniform from cousin Kofi.
Day 5: Practice reading. The program had tests.
He counted the days on his fingers.
Fourteen days felt long. But also short.
Outside, Accra was noisy. But inside, he was calm.
For the first time in months, he had hope.
Real hope. Not just talk.
He stood up. Folded the paper again. Put it in his shirt.
Close to his chest. Safe from rain. Safe from his father.
He went to the kenkey stand. Steam was already rising.
Madam Grace was there. She looked at him. Nodded.
No words. Just a look. It said: "I see you."
He worked hard that day. Faster than before.
Customers noticed. "Boy, you happy today?"
He smiled. "Small small."
Evening came. He counted his money.
Not much. But enough for tro-tro to school tomorrow.
He put it in a plastic bag. Hid it under his mattress.
Night fell. Accra got loud. Music. Cars. Shouting.
But in his room, it was quiet.
He took out the paper again. Read the name.
"Madam Grace."
He whispered it. Like a prayer.
Day 1 of two weeks was done.
Thirteen more to go.
Day 2 came fast. Sun was up early.
He wore his best shirt. Not uniform yet.
He took the tro-tro. 50 pesewas. Gone.
School gate was open. Guards nodded.
Office was small. Fan was slow.
The man at the desk looked up. "Yes?"
Healing brought out the paper. Hands shook.
"Madam Grace signed," he said.
The man read it. Frowned. Then smiled.
"Program for needy boys," he said.
"Report in two weeks. Bring this form."
He stamped it. Red
ink. Loud sound.
Healing held the paper. Now it had two marks.
Madam Grace. School stamp.
It was real now.
He walked out. Heart was fast.
Two weeks became real.
Day 3: He borrowed Kofi’s old uniform. Too big.
Day 4: He bought one exercise book.
Day 5: He read under streetlight. Until 10pm.
Each day passed. Each day counted.
Two weeks was running out.
Day 12 came. He was ready.
Uniform clean. Book new. Pen borrowed.
Day 13: He didn’t sleep. Too excited.
Day 14: School opened.
He stood at the gate. Paper in hand.
The two weeks were over.
School started now.
The bell rang. Loud. Clear.
Students ran inside. Uniforms everywhere.
Healing took a deep breath. Stepped in.
A teacher saw him. "Name?"
"Healing."
"Form?"
He brought it out. Two marks. Madam Grace. School stamp.
Teacher nodded. "Class 1B. Go."
He walked into the room. Chalk. Desks.
He sat down. Wood was hard. But it felt good.
Books opened. Pen wrote.
Two weeks of fear was over.
School had started.
And Healing was finally inside.
The lesson started. Math. English. History.
He wrote everything. Hand was fast.
Other boys looked at him. New face.
But he didn’t look up. He was focused.
Break time came. Noise. Laughter. Food.
He sat alone. Ate kenkey from home.
A boy came. "You new?"
"Yes."
"I’m Kofi."
They laughed. Sat together.
School bell rang again.
Day 1 ended fast.
He walked home slow.
Paper in pocket. Smile on face.
Two weeks of struggle ended.
School life started now.
Night came. He was tired. But proud.
He told Madam Grace tomorrow.
She would smile. She would be happy.
His father? He would see later.
For now, Healing had school.
He had hope. He had a future.
He slept deep that night.
No fear. No worry.
Tomorrow was school again.
And he would go.
He woke up early.
Sun was bright.
Uniform was ready.
He ran to class.
Books open. Pen ready.
Healing was here to stay.
The future started.
He was ready.
School won.
He smiled wide.
Hope lived on.
He kept going.
Never stopped.
He won.
He was free.
He rose.
Go!
Rise up.Yes!Thank you.Bye Amen.
period.
- Writer
