Matilda Wilson

Page 4 of 6

'Mum, can I ask you a question?' asked Freddy. It was one sun-drenched afternoon and his mum was on the patio enjoying the rich scenery. 'What do you know about Esi? I want to know all about her, she seems like a nice person and somehow I think I like her.'

'You know what Freddy, are you going cuckoo? She is an ordinary interior decorator. I don't think I wasted all those years on you, for you to waste your time on a commoner like Esi. I accept that she is pretty in her own way, and very hard working, but our society frowns on such an association. We always go with our kind and nothing less.'

'That sounds so much like the philosophy of the famous Mrs. Irene Ephson, the most glamorous of all women. That is so much like you mum. What has status got to do with anything? Why is love not the most important thing in deciding who to marry? Why should it always be what you want mum? I am a grown man now and can decide for myself, thank you. If you won't help me with Esimaaba, I will find a way to pursue her, whether you like it or not. And I am warning you mum, don't try anything silly. Or you will regret you ever had me as a son.' He fumed.

'Hey Freddy, you don't talk to me like that, and don't you dare walk out on me. I am not finished with you yet. She is not worth the trouble. Don't try to create an image that you think will make her suitable for our kind. You better stop in your tracks and listen good. Freddy! Freddy! OK go on and never set foot in this house again. If you decide to pursue that girl, forget you have a mother!'

Freddy shrugged and said, 'That makes sense, at least disowning me is better than having to kowtow to your constant demands. Goodbye mum and see who I bring home one of these days.' He chuckled softly and walked off.

'Freddy!' His mum roared.

*

The next day, Mrs. Ephson telephoned Esi. Esi wasn't in, so she tried Esi's cell phone. After the second ring, Esi answered.

'Oh hello Mrs. Ephson, I was just on my way to your house, I wanted to ask your opinion about a little detail I came across in our contract. I think it's better I speak to you personally and to show you why I needed to see you at your house.' she said.

'Sorry woman, I hired another company to do my décor, and please stop acting like you are the most competent in this business. I had better interior décor companies before I was introduced to yours. So you see the best thing for all of us, is to forget this contract as I have another company handling it. Nice doing business with you.' She shouted, her fist clenched and her tone accusatory as if she was near enough to beat the life out of Esi.

Mrs Ephson fumed; To hell with Esi, if she thinks she can create confusion between my son and myself, then she has something else coming. Nobody mocks Irene Efua Ephson. Nobody and absolutely not someone as diminutive as Esi the decorator.

Esi was perplexed because just yesterday good old Mrs. Ephson had been nice to her and treated her with respect. But this was outrageous, what is she going to do with all those materials she had ordered and what about the energy she had put in so far.

This isn't happening, this definitely isn't happening, there has to be an explanation for this. She tried calling the woman back and she wouldn't pick up. She tried for several times, but finally the woman turned off her cell phone.

Well goodbye to a good customer, and the biggest contract for this Xmas, she thought. Oh, how unlucky could one be.

*

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon. Esi and Elsie decided to go to the beach.

Elsie loved to play pranks on Esi. She had done some investigations and found out that Freddy always went to the beach every Sunday with friends. This was a good opportunity to put her plan to work and to make Esi see the man for who he really was.

They arrived at the beach with a packed lunch of banku with gravy and fried red fish, which was Esi's preference being a Fanti. She also had a little spaghetti bolognaise to complement their feast.

At the beach, they settled at one of the bars and ordered soft drinks and khebabs. They talked about their days in school and Esi laughed out so loud that everybody around looked at her. Embarrassed, she covered her face with her towel. She mouthed her laugh and turned around to look at the people around her, whom she had been oblivious of in her moment of glee.

'Gosh, God please it's not him. Elsie, turn around slowly to the left, no no wait, I said slowly and tell me who you see. If it's not the devil himself! Such a twist of fate, how come he's here at this time? How can he be here of all places, do you think he has been following me or something?'

'Oh Esi, don't be silly. Why will he go through all that trouble because of you. He can have any woman he wants you know, and look there's one clinging to his side right now. Oh what a pretty woman she is.'

'Elsie don't try to rub it in, don't say such things. He can have all the pretty women in this beach for all I care. I am not staying, and don't try to force me to stay.' She fumed. To hell with him, she thought.

'Esi don't create a spectacle and stop making a nuisance of yourself. He is not here because of you and look he is very occupied at the moment. So why don't you try and stay calm? Take a bite of the khebab, there you go. Now relax, you told me you don't want the 'damn' man so why the fuss? Let's just pretend he is not around and enjoy this day as if it's our last, OK. Now if you will change into your bikini we can have a dive OK?'

'Alright big sister, can we go?' She asked.

All eyes were on her again. What a shape she has, Freddy thought. All those curves, he hadn't seen a woman so curvaceous in his life, and he had seen naked women. Women he thought he could have married, some who wanted his name and money, some his fame and others who just wanted to be seen with him. There was one who nearly got him running to the altar, but he learnt earlier than later, that she was a married woman with three kids. Well enough already, this lady sure knows how to drive a man crazy, such nice long legs. Though she looks a bit subtle in her own way, she still is pleasing to the eyes.

Freddy moved from his seat amidst ranting from the women he and his friends were with. He moved swiftly towards the two women heading towards the sea.

'Hello remember me? I am Freddy, Esi's future husband.' He said, in a jocose manner.

'Oh yeah? and she never said anything to me? I am Elsie Esi's pain in the neck. Nice to meet you. I have heard so much about you though. We are just here to take a dip and to mingle. I work with Esi in her office. I am her right-hand woman. Or more like her stick for direction. So Esi this is the famous handsome Freddy, the man that gives you a blush anytime I bring him up.'

'Elsie, stop being silly. I only spoke to you about him once and that was weeks ago before his mum decided she wouldn't give the contract to us. So if you are so enchanted by him, be my guest. And please don't call me when things get sour. I am off to take that dip and you are welcome after luring Mr. Freddy here. Excuse me, Mr. Ephson.'

'Please call me Freddy... and what did you say about my mum taking the contract from you?' He asked.

'Elsie can you let him in on it, tell him how his mum just called to cancel everything after going through all that trouble to acquire materials for the job. And please we don't need your pity. Esi can survive without the likes of you. I am off, take care.'

She walked on without looking back and dived into the sea.

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