Chapter 1 A life

Hmm a life!!! My name is Ashley Jennifer Mensah, 18 years old. My life was going well until the day my parents died in a traffic accident.

Here we are all seated in the living room. The guests came to greet everyone. For me, the world was falling apart and I could see everything but I couldn't see anything, I couldn't hear anything. In my head, everything was empty. What was I going to become? Here we are in the problems. A road accident had taken the life of my parents, leaving us without support, without protection in a house where each was his own God.

I was never going to put my head on their knees again. Who was going to pull my hair screaming comb you? My mom was the nicest woman and my dad the sweetest man I know. We were all seated in the living room when my uncle Rodrigue and my uncle Joseph entered the courtyard with the coffins containing the body of my parents. The bodies are installed in their room on the conjugal bed. Everyone was going to see them for a last To God. When everyone finishes passing by, my uncle tells me to come back to the room.

Rodrigue: Ashley, go to the bedroom and stay there with them for a bit. If you have something to tell them, this is your last chance.

My uncle goes directly to his wife Éliane to take the envelopes of money that the guests had given. She had landed directly in front of the envelope table so as not to lose sight of the money under the indignant gaze of my grandmother and that of several of our neighbors.

Eliane: But where are you going with the money? Drop it here, I'll keep it.

Joseph: Do you want me to slap you in front of everyone here?

My grandmother Amandine calms my uncle who had only one desire, to end this funeral.

Amandine: Joseph calm down. She wants to put shame on us and go take care of the little one.

My uncle takes the envelopes and puts them in my hand and then walks me into the bedroom. Here I am for the first time in front of corpses. It's been one (1) month since I last saw mom and dad and here they are lying lifeless on this bed. I drop the envelopes and run to snuggle up in mum's arms like a 3 year old. My tears flow but no hugs from daddy to dry them. Her body was cold, no tender gesture as usual, no kisses. I didn't want to believe this cuddly mom and dad who only had kisses for us, won't even open their eyes to look at me. What did I not promise that day for them to wake up but nothing. They were there without saying anything, doing nothing. Now it's clear to me my mom and dad are gone. I burst into tears while my head is on my mother's chest crying hot tears, I hear my uncle screaming.

Joseph: Eliane what are you doing here?

Eliane: Look what this girl is doing. She leaves the money on the ground with the door wide open. What if someone comes in and steals it all?

Eliane was picking up the envelopes I had dropped. Joseph almost went crazy. If Lucie, my father's sister had not intervened, we would have had 3 deaths on the arm. My uncle pulls her out of the room, dragging her by the hair. This little moment of interruption didn't matter much to me because I only wanted my parents. I had been crying so much that I had lost my voice. Around 1 p.m., the door opens again and I understand that this was the last time I would see them again. The photographer takes one last photo of them and my uncle leads me out of the room. Grandmother Amandine stayed alone in the room for 25 minutes. After a while, she bursts into tears.

It is 3 pm and the coffins are ready for their last trip. We arrive at the cemetery and here I see their bodies locked in these coffins gradually disappearing in these two large holes. I do not know what took me and I wanted to stop them but my uncle Rodrigue prevents me and tells me calm down. How am I going to calm myself down if I saw and they were going to close the grave on them? I couldn't see anything anymore and little by little I lost my senses, the ground under my feet had disappeared.

I don't know how, but I had survived that bad, damned day. At night, I did not close my eyes. I just cried.

The next morning speechless, I am sitting next to my uncles and my grandmother Amandine who give me 60 of the 80 envelopes to contribute during the funeral.

Joseph: Take this money, it's for you and your little brother. I didn't open the envelopes because they are yours. This is the custom.

Ashley: Thanks uncle. But you haven't paid the fees yet!

Joseph: That's not your problem. It's up to me to take care of it. It's up to you to know where to keep them. It's your mother's money. Take good care of it.

Joseph gets up and trying to put on his sandals, he hears Eliane telling me.

Eliane: Give I will keep for you.

Joseph: I'm going to hurt you Eliane. Don't push me to the limit. You, go and deposit the money in your room then you go to your parents' room. This is now your room.

Eliane: No, I wanted this room for Monique and Sonia.

A single glance from Joseph was enough to silence Eliane. I am going to arrange my things and I am moving into my parents' room with the help of my grandmother. I start to take out my father's and mother's clothes to wash them. It had taken a little while, but I got there. Once washed and ironed well, I put them away in a big suitcase and put them next to the cupboard.

In the evening I went to fetch my little brother from mom's sister. When I returned, I went to the market to buy condiments for the cooking. When I got home, I noticed that my room had been searched. I talk to Joseph, who sets the record straight in the house.

"Ashley"

2 years later...

I left the family home very early. I was selling Attièkê and fish not far from the house. From the top of my 18 years, I expected nothing from life and life expected nothing from me.

The majority of my clients were prostitutes, people who were not social, but I didn't care. This business fed me, my grandmother and my little brother. As in the custom after the death of the eldest son, his property went to his brothers and his children. And at first glance, my father didn't have much. For my uncles, it was out of the question to send me to college with their money.

Apart from the addiction we live in with dad in my grandfather's house, we had nothing left. A year later, I found myself selling Attièkê to be able to pay for my little brother's school fees. After counting the funeral money, I decide to put them in a savings account for my little brother Idriss. I was managing.

I had had a cabin built behind the walls of the house so another neighbor had joined me as well as a young man from the neighborhood. They too sold food to survive. Sheltered from the rain, the wind and the cold, we kept company between neighbors.

I was not afraid since most of my neighbor Stéphane's clients were often police officers who came to drink coffee at his place. The police had nicknamed the two saleswomen and the queer referred to the homosexuality of our neighbor Stéphane, still nicknamed Stéphanie.

The latter did not hide it and the inhabitants of the neighborhood left him alone because despite the homophobia that reigned in their hearts, Stéphane was the only one, the one who had a small car. If someone falls ill at night, they take them to the hospital with their car and the hospital was too far away. The last time some young people from the neighborhood assaulted him, he was hospitalized for 6 days.

In the same week, a young boy fell very ill in the neighborhood. There was a man who owns a motorbike, but transporting a sick child on a motorbike was not easy because on the way to the CNHU, they had a serious accident and unfortunately the child died. There was a taxi driver in the area but unfortunately he moved after helping three (3) people. In order not to help anyone anymore, he preferred to leave slowly.

Everyone quickly understood that Stéphane's kindness had limits because he had decided to sell his small car to find a studio far from home. A few men from the neighborhood went to apologize to him, but since that day no one looks at him askance.

After a long evening of work, I come home at 1 am exhausted with my grandmother and my little brother on my back. We don't hang around too much. Besides, it's Sunday and I had to go to bed very early to go to the market. Around 1 p.m., I wake up and take a shower. I run to the market. On my return, I see Sonia who was falling in love with the neighbor's son and I pretend I don't have them. Sonia is my cousin, she was older than me. Her father, my uncle did not miss him, he surprised them and beat his daughter. While I was about to leave, Monique, Sonia's big sister, comes to me and sees her face, she had not come to play.

Monique: You knew dad was behind you but you walked by without warning Sonia. Tell me, why did you do that Ashley?

Ashley: You two forbade me to interfere in your life so I stay away from you that's all. Where is the problem ?

Monique: Go over there jealous there. You just wanted dad to surprise them to steal our place. But you are overcome in the name of Jesus.

Ashley: You steal what Monique?

Monique: Our heritage, your father is already dead and I don't know what you are still doing in this house. You are waiting for my father to die too to take the family home, but that will not happen.

Ashley: You are pitiful Monique. This house belongs to everyone. So get you and your mom out of your dreams.

Suddenly, I see this idiot pushing her foot towards the large basin filled with fish and Attiékê to spill everything on the ground. I barely caught her foot in anger and gave her a good beating.

Chapter 2 A LIFE

I'm back to square one. What am I going to do now?

And all of a sudden, I remember this card that I had received. I talk about it to Stéphane who accompanies me to one of Yayi's companies. I was nervous, panicked I did not know what awaited me. Sitting in the waiting room, Mr. Yayi Lee's secretary comes to see me and asks me to follow her to her boss's office. Stéphane is waiting for me.

Arrived in the office, I almost fainted. My God, this office was the size of our house. I was standing in the corner of the front door and there he was, the man who was going to change the course of my life. In traditional Bo'oumba costume, her perfume took over the whole room. It was a wonderful perfume. It's the kind of perfume that lasts three days on your suit just by standing next to the wearer.

He was on the phone and when he turns to me, he shows me the chair facing his desk. I will slowly sit down while waiting for him to finish his call. After a few minutes, he hangs up, sits down in his chair and looks at me.

Yayi: Hello lady, how are you?

Ashley: Hello. I'm fine Mr. Yayi. Please, you asked to see me a month ago.

Yayi: If I understand correctly, you weren't interested.

Ashley: Let's say my grandmother didn't like the approach too much.

Yayi: You received my card over a month ago. Why didn't you call when you got it?

Ashley: In truth, I did not intend to call but hey!

Yayi: Why did you call now?

Ashley: I didn't have much choice. Excuse me if I'm direct...

Yayi: No, I like it.

We have a canteen here and the food has gotten a bit monotonous.

I enjoyed your cooking, it's the best Attièkê I've eaten in a while.

Ashley: Thank you very much Mr. Yayi but I don't really understand. Where are you coming from, sir?

Yayi: I want you to cook for me every day from Monday to Friday to vary my lunch breaks.

Ashley: But sir, I don't have any cooking training or certification. I cook for the street people.

Yayi: That's not a problem for me.

Ashley: Ok okay and do you have any preference of things you don't eat? I mean do you have a totem?

Yayi Lee smiles a little and responds.

Yayi: No, I don't have an allergy. I eat everything except reptiles. As long as you don't bring me back from the snake, I'm fine.

Ashley: No problem. When do you want me to start and where should I drop this off? I mean where?

Yayi: No one's house. Never give my meal to anyone. You will bring it here yourself and give it to me personally. If I'm not there, then you wait.

Ashley: It won't be possible because I have to feed my Idriss. Can my best friend take it to you?

Yayi: No thank you. Idriss is your husband?

Ashley: No it's my...

I haven't finished my sentence, which he tells me in a clear tone.

Yayi: I can wait.

The main thing is that my food is delivered by you and no one else. Can you start tomorrow or is it too early for you?

Ashley: Not at all. I start tomorrow then.

His phone rings again and I say goodbye to him. Even before arriving home, Stéphane and I went to a fancy store to buy some new crockery.

On the way home, I jump.

Ashley: Damn I forgot to mention the salary.

Stéphane: You are too negligent. What will you do now ? You can't go back there anymore. You'll talk to him about it tomorrow if you bring the first meal.

The next day, I start cooking and as soon as I'm done, I load everything into Stéphane's car, who accompanies me to pick up Idriss and deliver the food. As soon as I arrive in the office, I set the table.

Totally disinterested, Mr. Yayi Lee works with his eyes fixed on his computer.

Ashley: Good evening Mr. Yayi. Your meal is ready.

Yayi: Thank you! You can dispose.

Ashley: Bon appetit. I'll pick up the dishes tomorrow.

I had not had the courage to ask him for the money and moreover I believe that the gentleman had not even calculated my departure. Once in the car, Stéphane properly laughs at me.

Stéphane: You who don't play with money, do you do that?

Ashley: My brother, the gentleman wasn't even listening to me.

It's the kind that does not calculate its entourage I think. How can I do ?

Stéphane: Leave it then. We'll see what comes out at the end of the month.

This is the end of the coming month and I'm going to put his meal in the living room side of his office. As I put the dish on the table, I feel his breathing behind me and act like I don't know he's behind me. He places the check on the table next to my hand, stepping back slowly.

Yayi: Your check, I hope that's enough.

Without even having looked at the amount written on the check, I left with a small yes of the head. As I leave his office, I see a small smile on his face. I didn't quite understand what he had just done. I must say that I was quite confused. Arrived at the car, Stéphane already understand that something had happened.

I then tell him everything.

Stéphane: I knew it. You see, it has already started. I'm sure the check is excessive.

I take a deep breath and glance at the check.

Ashley: Whoa! Stéphane 1,500,000 fr?

Stéphane: You see, the guy fell for you. Not for your meals.

Ashley: No, I must have misinterpreted his behavior.

I shake my head from side to side. We go to the bank, I withdraw the money and I give 200 thousand francs to Stéphane and the million in my bank account.

I was so upset that I didn't realize I had just made 1 Million. At night, lying in my bed I wake up with a start. I couldn't speak to my grandmother because she had forbidden me to set foot there. I go back to bed with a smile on my face.

In the same night I tell myself if I hold it for 1 year, I could at least do a little on one of the lands that my father had left. I go back to bed with a small lump in my stomach.

Two months will pass. Yayi Lee does not start again but one afternoon when I am in his office, he takes off his tie and sits at the table while I was doing the service and tells me.

Yayi: I have a party at my house in 4 days and you are going to cook for me and my guests. The check is on the table.

Ashley: Okay. For how many people ?

Yayi: 50 people. You will make Attièkê. It's a reception between friends, nothing professional.

The reception could end late at night. Please try not to be late.

I didn't have the courage to refuse and in my head, I was already looking for valid excuses to be able to go out. In the car Stéphane gives me a brilliant idea. On the crucial day, I prepare everything. I told my grandmother that I was cooking for a small reception that it was Stéphane who got me the contract. She was calm and I too had not lied.

It was a rich party. Women who wore socks that were worth more than an electricity bill. I was unwell. Fortunately, Stéphane was helping me with the service. At one point, I start dozing when one of the maids comes in and asks for another dish. Stéphane motions to me to let him take care of it. I get up at some point to go to the bathroom and before leaving, I hear a noise in the hallway. I open the door slowly and there Yayi and his wife are making love in the hallways. Damn I was so embarrassed and I quickly go back to the bathroom. My God what am I doing? It's 2 a.m. and I'm stuck in my boss' bathroom? After a few minutes, both return to the living room. I breathe again and quickly return to the kitchen.

It's around dawn that everyone goes up to bed. While Stéphane was putting everything away in his car and I was putting the kitchen in order, I see the other Yayi employees leaving the kitchen. I turn around and who was still behind me, Mr. Yayi Lee.

Yayi: You are doing a good job and I like it very much. The next 6, I have a dinner in my villa in Abomey Calavi. It's a pretty big dinner. Try to double up. Take that check, see you on Monday.

Ashley: okay sir. But excuse me the dinner in Abomey Calavi, how many people is it for if I can ask you?

Yayi: 10 people. It is very important European customers. Try to avoid the chilli please. White people don't eat that much.

Ashley: Understood sir. But I don't know your villa there.

Yayi: Don't worry the driver will pick you up.

Ashley: Ok do you have a concrete idea of what I should cook?

Yayi: I'll let you decide.

Ashley: Thank you sir.

When he leaves he calls me back.

Yayi: Have you forgotten anything Ashley?

Ashley: No I don't think so.

He reaches into his pocket and hands me another check saying with a smile.

Yayi: Your check. Where do you not want to be paid for work in Abomey Calavi? You tell me if it's enough.

Ashley: Ah ok I'll let you know.

Suddenly the door opens and his wife enters the kitchen. She looks at me like I'm slaughtering a sheep in her kitchen.

Isabelle: Yayi come to bed we have a score to settle.

Yayi: Come up, I'll join you right away!

When she leaves, she still gives me that same look, but hey, I don't know how I would have reacted if I were in her place. In the car arrived at a traffic light which is to turn red I show the check to Stéphane who shouts.

Stéphane: Even in a brothel I have never seen a huge sum in one evening my darling. The guy wants something from you beyond cassava flour.

Ashley: Stéphane he is married to a model.

Stephane: I know that strike man Ashley. If you can, hold it back as much as possible.

Ashley: Ehh no I'm not into that.

Stéphane: If you play well you'll make a living room on your pitch, you have no idea how fast.

Ashley: No thanks somebody else's husband I won't. Besides, these people are rich and they don't look at the poor like we do.

Stéphane: These rich don't look at us but this Yayi does. He looks at you and soon he will take action. Have your back, Ashley.

Arrival, Stéphane helps me to deposit the pans in the house. And my uncle's wife was waiting for me with firm feet. I was too tired to argue with her. I let her chat, scream as she wanted. I go back to my room after closing the doors. As soon as I lie down on my bed, taking off my shoes, my grandmother enters in turn.

Amandine: Ashley have you seen the time? I hope you're not going to bring a problem here my child.

Ashley: Granny don't worry I just went to work. Go to bed. You have eaten ?

Amandine: Yes, don't worry about me. Go wash and sleep. When it's daylight, we'll talk you and me.

Ashley: Granny don't worry there's nothing to say go to bed.

My grandmother comes and puts her hand on me and returns this bedtime. In my turn I will wash myself and come back to sleep next to Idriss who was sleeping soundly. I hide the check well and I fall asleep completely exhausted.

In the afternoon while I was doing the laundry, my uncle Joseph comes to see me

Joseph: Ashley says you have 50 miles to spend on me there I'll pay you back ASAP.

Ashley: No I only have 30 miles. I can give you 15 miles if you want. I have to buy notebooks from Idriss tomorrow.

Joseph: And yesterday's work you didn't get paid where what?

Ashley: Yes but it's Stéphane's contract so he's the one who will pay me after receiving the check.

Joseph: You haven't had any money lately, huh.

Ashley: It's because the town hall has banned us from selling under the wall so I take all the orders I get.

Joseph: But I see you cooking here every lunchtime, don't I?

Ashley: She's a lady I cook for her lunch.

Joseph: And she doesn't pay you?

Ashley: Of course it is. It's not enough to have something myself. Most of it goes back to the market.

Joseph: Oh ok I see and the funeral money, can't you give me something in it?

Ashley: Uncle the little left is for Idriss plus it's just 60 miles.

Joseph: You have to lend me that, I'll pay you back at the end of the month.

Ashley: Sorry uncle I can't it's a blocked account if I remove this the account will be closed.

Eliane: You see she doesn't want to help us when we have done everything for her. This girl is really hypocritical.

Ashley: Aunt do you pay the electric bills here? Your money goes to what in the house here? It's not in makeup without effects you put your money? And then when I talk about money, don't put your mouth in it. My uncle I'm going to look for the 15 miles I arrive.

I wash my hands and go get the 15 miles to give to my uncle. What they didn't know was that I had messaged Stephane to help me. I had the bad feeling that everyone hid their money and expected me to spend what little I had on household needs. Starting with my uncles. I understand better why my father never had a lot of money and why he hid these two fields from everyone. My uncle takes the money without shame and tells me.

Joseph: You have to do everything to have a lot more money next time.

As if it were an obligation. Without even saying thank you, he leaves the house. As I said, the house we lived in belonged to my grandfather, so my uncles never wanted to work. They had lived off grandfather's hook. Now it was my turn but they lied. I will hold what I can hold. After spreading the laundry on the dryer, I go into the kitchen to cook, Idriss keeps hovering around me to the point where I ask him what he wanted.

Ashley: Baby mama what do you want tell me.

Idriss: Crescent! I want croissants.

Ashley: Sweetie, croissant is during the day honey.

Idriss: Please mom.

Ashley: Idriss between croissant and skewer, what do you want?

Idriss: Brochette after croissant.

Ashley: No you have to pick one.

He stands there thinking for minutes. He looks at me and answers.

Idriss: Brochette but a lot.

Ashley: Look what I'm cooking my baby. Please take this and go watch TV in the bedroom with Mami.

Watching him leave with the dish of skewers, I suddenly remember my mother at that hour when she was already picking on my father's quarrel just to get him to buy her grilled chickens.

I come back to reality, I finish cooking and I go to my room. My grandmother approaches me and asks me questions.

Amandine: My child tell me the truth I know you why you started lying it's not your style.

Ashley: Mami it's a long story I'll tell you about it later.

Amandine: Ashley I hope you don't do anything that would bring shame to me in this neighborhood and in this house.

Ashley: Don't worry Mami. The meal is ready, we are waiting for the others to eat it.

Amandine: Since you don't want to tell me your secret, I'm going to find Idriss. Since I became a witch.

Ashley: Never Mami it's just that the walls have ears.

Grandmother no longer insists, she understands and gives me my space. I'm setting up a new recipe for the Monday dish. I hadn't even noticed that it was already 7 p.m. It's when my uncles and Idriss come to find me in the living room writing the recipes that I come back to myself. I run to serve my grandmother first, then the uncles. The others know the kitchen. Idriss is going to stuff himself with skewers, which pleases me.

The next morning I run to drop Idriss off at school. Stephane and I went to the market to shop for the kitchen meal. I felt like someone was following us. I talk about it to Stéphane who laughs at me.

Stéphane: You watch too many films. Who will even follow us? So someone's gonna get up and follow two moldies like us. Lets go.

We burst out laughing and we continue our shopping.

Chapter 3 Regret