The Transition

Encounter

Esi p.o.v

After their little encounter at the riverside, Abena and Esi Fetched their water and left with their water on their head and all the hostility coming from those village gossipers.

Abena was walking gracefully with less struggling and much experience of carrying water on her head while Esi on the other hand had great difficulties holding the water bucket firmly. Before they reach home, half of Esi's water was gone.

She looked as if she took a bath at the river. Since her bucket of water was half it began to shake on her head while walking home.

She was soo frustrated that she decided to carry off the bucket from her head.

Holding it in her hand by its metallic handle was the best choice for her.

They both reach their home and found her father sitting in the hall with an elderly man. Abena politely greeted the older man

"Good morning Nana"

"Good morning my daughter. how are you doing?" he asked

"I'm good Nana" she answered

Esi who was so frustrated didn't pay attention to them.

She just ignores them and went her way. While in the kitchen Esi heard the older man ask

"Kofi, who is that young lady who just passed without greeting her elders?"

She rolled her eyes at his question and help Abena carry off her load.

"Aunty Abena, who's that old man?" She asked

"Oh, it's the chief of this village that is why we call him Nana." She said

Esi knew already that nana means Chief or king. She saw Abena prepared two glasses and a plate. She put some cola nuts on the plate and then brought out a small gallon of creamy liquid in it.

Esi immediately recognised the liquid. It's a natural local liquor extracted from palm trees. It is called palm wine.

The drink is naturally sweet and anybody will like it. But it can also be dangerous if taking it more than necessary or when it's kept for days to allow it to ferment to turn into a strong intoxicant.

She has only tasted it once in the city and that too was mixed with water to give the sellers more money.

Since she is in the village now she is sure that its taste will be divine.

"Aunty Abena can I please have some of the palm wine"

"No dear this one is too strong for you. It's already fermented." She replied and Esi grimaced.

"Where are you sending them?" she asked The older woman

" That's is how we receive guests in the village most especially men."

She answered

The teenager wanted to ask more questions but she was feeling cold already.

She decided to go take a bath with her water and change to a warmer dress.

Once in her room, she quickly took a bath, got dressed and when out after looking at herself in the mirror.

She walked back into the room and saw her father was still talking with the man.

She was about to go join her stepmother in the kitchen where knew she will be there, however, she was stopped by her father calling her. "Esi, dear."

"Yes, dad?" She asked

" Please come over" he implored

The teenager walk towards her father and stood by him when she reached where he sat.

"Esi greet our guest Nana the chief of this village." It looked like an introduction to Esi nevertheless she said

"Hello, Nana it's a pleasure to have you in our hum..." Esi was cut off by her father pulling her dress she looked at her father and got confused for a moment.

She saw her father shaking his head and that caused the young girl to ask herself what she said wrong.

Not paying attention to her father she continued

"To our humble home and hope, you are enjoying yourself?"

She concludes and her father cleared his throat the chief was looking at her with murderous eyes.

Her father saw it and quickly said " forgive my daughter Nana she was born and raised in the city she has no idea of how to talk to Elder." What is her father talking about? and what is he sorry for? she asked herself.

"It's okay Kofi I perfectly understand. She is beautiful and looks just like you" he said.

You didn't understand went you were giving me those eyes Esi thought.

"Indeed she is beautiful and I'm blessed to have her as my daughter." Her father said and Esi smile but the smile was quickly wiped off of Esi's face when she heard the nest words of the older man

"I agree with you Kofi and I know she will be a good wife for my son Kwesi."

"What?" both Father and daughter shouted at the same time.