THE EXETA

CHAPETR THIRTEEN

It was almost afternoon, and Clarence was still in his office. A young man with an official apparel then entered after a minute knock. Clarence then looked up to see his younger brother.

            “Albert!... was not expecting you.” Clarence bellowed. Albert Frimpong Manso was the younger half - brother of Clarence. He was an engineer was currently pursuing his Masters in Architecture from the KNUST. As he had always done, he came to see his senior brother who had been of immense help and an inspiration to him. Albert and Clarence had the same father but had different mothers. But that still did not bother their brotherhood. They were very close, and Clarence had supported him with his education after both their parents had passed away when Albert was in his third year in the University. Unlike Clarence, Albert have loved the science of building houses and mansions so was so excited when he got admission into KNUST to read the one course he was so passionate about. At the moment, he was in the first year of his master’s program and was doing well as the intelligent kid he had grown up to be. School had taken an ephemeral hiatus and he had taken pay a visit his senior brother. And Clarence had been very glad to see him. A least he was not expecting him at all. Albert moved on and shook the hand of Clarence.

            “Brother…good to see you again” Albert replied and sat down. Albert then eyed the office of the Physicist. It was arcane as usual. He relaxed himself a bit from a long journey.

            “So how have school been. Any particular reason why you are here?” Clarence inquired.

            “No…yes, we were actually given a small break and I decided to pass by. Am going back tomorrow.” Albert replied.

            “Oh! Okay, I see, but I hope school is good?”

            “Yes, it is. It has never been better.” Albert replied still eyeing the place he had visited thrice. “Your office has changed a bit from the last time I was here.” Albert added.

            “Yes just some physics re-invention. By the way, Simon and Lily are on vacation. They will really love to see one of these days.” Clarence said elated. Albert was also elated to hear that. He loved his nephew and niece.

            “Wow! That will be a great family reunion. Let me see, I will try and make time. maybe one weekend will be great. Simon and Lily, I miss them a lot.” Albert replied still elated.

            “Yes you should. Theresa will also be glad to see you. It has been a long time and she does ask about you a lot.” Clarence replied.

            “I see, then I guess I have been a way for too long, it time to come back home.” Albert replied.

            “Yes you should, we will all be glad to have you. So what next. Any place you are heading to after here?” Clarence inquired. Albert looked on a bit tensed with that. He knew where he was going.

“Any news from Awo Darkoa our only sister. It’s a long time I heard from her. I do miss her a lot.” Clarence inquired sadden by the current subject of discussion.

Comfort Awo Darkoa Frimpong Manso was the youngest sister of the two brothers.  She had been very lucky to also travel to the United Sated to pursue here career as a law student. Something their father never wanted her to do. But as time went on Comfort did not maintain communication with his family like Clarence did when he was in Michigan. The father believed her little daughter had been swallowed up with the culture and lifestyle of the white men. He did never seeing her face after age 14. Clarence and Albert had done their best to reach out to her but she only replied diminutively. Comfort had been found od Albert when she was in Ghana. So, Clarence thought she has have reached out to his brother from all the time that that had tried to hear from her.

“Surprisingly last two months I received little message from her. She is now married to a fellow Lawyer. They reside in Baltimore; Maryland and she has a new name -- Connie Wheeler. I guess she has taken her husbands name. And she seems to be doing quite well.” Albert narrated.

“Did she ask about father or mother or me?” Clarence inquired.

“No, she did not. All what I know was on her i********: page. She had become fully America Clarence.” Albert lamented.

“I see…just let me know when she reaches out to you again.” Clarence retorted

            “Sure I will…I have to see someone too, here before I leave.” Albert replied courteously. With that he quickly took his cell phone and started typing the keys on them. Clarence still looked on nodding his head to.

            “I see, and who is this person if I may ask?” Clarence inquired with a stern face. Albert quickly lifted his head up from tying keys on his phone a little bit distracted.

            “Oh!, someone special, very special.” Albert replied. Clarence the replied then with a laugh. Albert was surprised while he was laughing.    

The Kwame Nkrumah Complex or more popular -- The Institute of African Studies was established in 1961, as an arm of the University of Ghana that was responsible for the teaching and the dissemination of knowledge in African studies and African Identity.  As a semi-autonomous Institute within the University of Ghana, and it was formally opened in October 1963 by the first President of Ghana The Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The mandate of the Institute was to conduct research and teaching on the peoples and cultural heritage of Africa and to disseminate the findings.

 The office of Professor Denis Ato Aikens was in the east down wing of the central perimeters. Currently in his office, four students were receiving instructions on what to do on an assignment they were being given by the Professor. The four friends included, Shinell Yeboah, Adelyn Mills, Yaw Addison and finally Peter Amuzu all in their second year in the History class of Professor Aikens.

 Prof Aikens had just given them what they needed and where just emerging from the Professors office. The four friends got to the exterior of the Institute and took the left turn. Adelyn, Yaw and Peter were laughing about a thing, while Shinell was busy on her cell phone. Shinell looked excited reading the message she had just received. She then bellowed her friends as they were still walking toward the main exit of the University.

“Guys…I have to meet someone. So, I kind of have to leave you all here.” The friends all halted with Shinell’s statement. They then looked at each other’s faces.

“Okay…I thought we were all moving to the library to find the book Prof. just talked about.” Peter replied. He was the smart dude in spectacles.

“Yes, that is what we have agreed on.” Adelyn added.

“So what’s going to happen Shinell?” Yaw inquired. Shinell looked on certain. She was not missing the chance to meet the person she wanted to meet.

“Yes…but you three can go on I will join you, after am done.” Shinell replied.

“That’s sound good to me.” Peter replied unperturbed. Adelyn was still trying to figger out what her friend was trying to hide from her. They were best friends and she knew when Shinell was lying.

“Anything I should know Shinell?” Adelyn inquired curious.

“Not really… you just go on I will catch up later.” Shinell replied as she was already darting to her right, still typing keys on her cell phone.

“Okay…so back to square one, shall we” Yaw proposed. With that the three friends moved on to the African Studies Library.

-------

Some few minutes later, Shinell had move with swiftness and she was almost at the place to meet the person she was so eager to meet.  The University of Ghana Law School was just situated around the perimeters of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. It was opposite to the International House of the University. Shinell had managed to move on the other lane of the road as she stood and watch the car pass by looking for the opportunity to cross. Finally, she crossed the road, and moved to the nicely arranged garden chairs that were at the left arcade of the Law School. The person she was going to meet sat there. The person had seen her from afar and had waved at her. Shinell saw the hand and was filled with much elation as she moved faster now. Shinell then voluntarily bumped into the person with a bug hug. Albert had missed her girlfriend and she had also missed him. They hugged each other for some time after they then retreated. Both beaming with elation.

            “When do you get to Accra?” Shinell inquired so excited. Albert was now relieved. This was the special person he wanted to see.

            “About three hours ago. Am going back tonight actually.” Albert replied. Shinell face dropped on hearing that.

            “Really!...I thought you would stay a bit longer.” Shinell theorized.

            “Don’t worry we will be taking break very soon and I will be back again.” Albert assured her smiling. The smile of Albert quickly erased the and anxiety from the Shinell face. He was going to be back. To her that was all that mattered.

            “Okay, I believe you.” Shinell replied in a sarcastic fashion. Albert had met this beautiful and sweet young lady in his final year in the university when was on vacation doing an internship with an architectural company. Shinell was the receptionist of the company who was affable and so charming. Albert had been mesmerized by her beauty and docile demeanour from the first day they had met. Actually, that was the day Albert had to reported and officially and signed in as an intern at the company. And the first-person Albert had met at the company was Shinell. She gave him a profound tour of the place and after the few minutes he had met her. Albert could confess he had liked her already. Albert at the time was living alone in the family house in Tema, where her mom used to stay, but had passed away at that time. Albert was so excited to go to works as the thought of seeing Shinell again provided the impetus. So, from small talk and conversations, Albert and Shinell and taken their friendship to another level. They had the great opportunity of knowing each other and that was not enough for them. They liked each other so they remained good friends who talked to each other a lot.

            Shinell miraculously had gotten admission into the University of Ghana that was the same tine Albert was graduating from. Albert was excited for her as Shinell was also excited for him. Albert fearing, they she may be taken as she was now entering a big environment, proposed a date for both. Something that amazed Shinell as she had never had any one in her life ask her out. And on the date, Albert made known to Shinell her candid feelings about her. Surprisingly, Shinell was also waiting for that and that incepted the great relationship they had had till today. They had been together for about 18 months and they have been doing well. But due the fact that, Albert was currently studying in Kumasi and Shinell was in Accra they usually made good use of social media -- What app and snap chat a lot. An in severe cases, they skyped just to keep track of the face of each other’s physique and also to reaffirm their love for each other. So Shinell had been so excited when she received a w******p message that Albert was on campus. She had quickly moved to the Law school to see his beloved boyfriend. As it was overt she had missed him a lot.

            “I miss you a lot though” Shinell replied. Albert looked on at her face and also replied. “I will miss you more. So, tell me, how have studies been?” Albert inquired.

Shinell then straighten and at sat well facing Albert.

            “Studies is good, we just managing.”

            “I see…I came to see my elder brother I told you about the last time.”

            “Yeaa…you talked about that. You said he teaches physics” Shinell guessed.

            “Yes…he does.” Albert was both surprised and impressed.

            “Then I also decided to see you too. You know I am privileged to com here all the time. And If I could come here ever day to see you, trust me I will do.” Albert assured. Shinell was taken aback with that. She started smiling as the joy in her heart was forming a nuclear blast in her stomach.

            “Am happy to hear that. But you also have to study. Master’s program is not all that easy that is what I have heard.” Shinell muttered.

            “Yes, it not, but with you in mine life, it’s always easy.” Albert said and looked at her beloved longingly. She also replied the love gaze.

            “So, I was thinking, this coming vacation or break I like you to accompany to my brother’s house. I want you to meet my family. Like his wife and children. It’s a very long time they saw me and they will be really glad if they saw me again.” Albert proposed. Shinell looked up weighing gravity of what Albert had said.

            “Oh okay…that sounds like fun. I think we should. After all we are family.” Shinell laughed.

            “Yes…we are one big family.” Albert replied satiated.