The Alpha's Ghanaian Mat

The street is crowded and very noisy as everyone goes about their daily activities. The heat of the sun is at it's peak but they all seemed unbothered. "Yess pure water," a teenager who had a little basin filled with sachets of water on her head screamed in an attempt to call buyers. Many other vendors along the road were trying to attract the attention of passers by and drivers on the road by yelling the name of goods they were carrying.

Loud car horns could be heard from different local commercial buses, popularly known as trotro whiles their various assistants known as the mate were yelling the various destinations of the buses. "Madina, Circle, Mallam junction, Lapaz," were the places being called the most. A mother of two was having a hard time putting her kids under control. Both were crying and pointing to different things, indicating that they wanted their mother to buy it but she ignored them and kept pulling them along. "Hey hey hey!," a truck pusher yelled at a group of students who were coming his way. Sweat dripped down his forehead to his mouth making him pause to clean his face with his dirty shirt. "Abena," Abena felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned her attention to her mother. "Do you need something?" Her mother asked and Abena shook her head in response. "Ok let's pray," the mom said taking her daughter's hands in hers, she began to pray. Abena knew what prayers meant to her family as she was raised in a strong Christian home.Growing up, she had noticed how strong her parents faith in God was and she took after them as well. Every Sunday, they would wear their best dresses and go to church. Both mother and daughter were in the choir, whiles the father was one of the elders of the church board. "Nothing is beyond God's power, all you have to do is kneel and bow before him and pray your hearts out," her mother would tell her. "If it gets too hard just go on ur knees and pray," her father would often say. "Amen," Abena heard her mother say and she also whispered an "Amen." She didn't hear a word of her mother's prayer but she knew it was for traveling mercies. The drive returned to its normal silence after their prayers because their little blabber mouth had fallen asleep. Abena looked at her little sister with a smile, she knew she was going to miss her so bad. Just then, the little girl let out a loud yawn whiles rubbing her eyes. "Sister Abena, I thought you'd be gone by the time I woke up. "Hmmmm, I can see you want me to leave," Abena replied, faking a sad face. "No that not what I meant," the little girl replied. "I was just scared I wasn't going to see you one last time," she added making Abena laugh. The two sister kept chitchatting to pass time because Abena knew the drive to Kotoka international airport was a bit long, considering where they were coming from. Taking advantage of the heavy traffic, Abena bought two bottles of "burkina",a local drink made from fresh cow milk and millet. "You should have bought the one without millet," Serwaa complained when her sister handed her a bottle. "Thanks is what you're supposed to say not complain," her mother scolded her making her frown. "It's ok ma," Abena smiled, pulling her little sister. "Hey watch where you're going!" Mr. Boakye yelled following startling his family. Abena looked ahead and saw that it was on of the trotro drivers who had tried to overtake them. "These drivers will cause a serious accident with their careless driving. How can you drive in such a way knowing fully that you're carrying over fifteen passengers," he lamented before returning to his usually silence. "Daa," Abena called and he hummed in response. "I'm going to miss you so much," she said trying to create some kind of conversation. "I will too, but just focus on your studies and avoid bad friends ok," he replied with his eyes still on the road. "Yes daa," Abena replied before the place went to its usual silence. Soon they pulled at at the airport and Abena's family had to leave after a little chat between them because only the travelers were allowed inside the airport. Once inside, the first thing Abena did was to check in. At this stage, she was asked some important security questions about what she was carrying in her bag. After answering all those questions, she was asked to pass her luggage through an X-ray machine where it will checked for any dangerous good. After everything was done, she was handed a boarding pass and was directions to pass through the security gates to the departure hall. Once there, she found her boarding gate with the help of a security man. Minutes later she was on the flight ready for takeoff. On the plane she was welcomed warmly by an air hostess who showed her seat and made sure her luggage was. After everyone had settled down, a different person made an announcement where she explained all the safety rules to them and wished them a safe flight as well. Each passenger was handed a blanket, a pair of headphones and sleep mask. After ensuring everyone is comfort, a middle aged air hostess announced that everyone should put on their seat belt before takeoff. Abena felt a bit nervous since it was her first time flying and began to sweat slightly despite the air condition being on. "First time?" A white man sitting beside her ask and she nodded with a smile. "Been there, just take a in a deep breath, count to five and release it," he smiled and Abena did as she was told. "Thanks," she told him when she felt a bit calm and the man nodded with a smile. Throughout the flight, the two talked a lot and got to know each other. The man told her he was in Ghana for a vacation and she in turn told him she was going outside to study. After talking for a while, slumber took over their senses.