Jessie! You won't believe this! Mom says as she excitedly grabs my shirt and pulls me towards the representative in the sofa chair.
Mister Duah! she calls out to the man in the sofa ."Please talk she's all ears".
Mom was right. I was curious.

Ok. Hello again. I'm a representative of Bay Group of Companies he introduces .This time he has my full attention.

It is my full pleasure to tell you that you have been awarded a scholarship to study literature and writing in Lincoln Community School effective immediately.

You will be fully supported in whichever field you wish to advance your education. He handed me the
brown package he had been holding. This contains all the uniforms you will be using, along with your school equipment.

Lin?..Lincoln? H...how? I can't bring myself to believe this is free. I mean this is Ghana how can this be? Besides there is nothing like free lunch. So I do what I think is best for everyone.

"Uhh sir? I don't think I want to go.
I'm sorry but if you can go back and tell your people I don't need this I will be very grateful".

Jessica! Mom interrupts me before I can say anything.
What do you mean by you don't need this?
Are you on drugs or something?my brother asks shocked.

Or are you sniffing glue? my dad interjects. "Come let me wash your ears for you". He finishes.

No! mom says.I think she needs a de wormer its been long since she was dewormed she says decidedly.

The representative puts in one last word. Please miss please reconsider he says with a pleading look in his eyes. Making me wonder if his job is on the line or some thing as he leaves.

Please think of all the opportunities you are letting slip through your fingers he says before leaving.

Mom pushes me aside. Of course she will come! She calls after him. If she doesn't come who will? Let me escort you out" she says.

She walks him out. She locks the door when she gets back in and gives my dad the look. Then, they start singing in loud voices. HE HAS DONE FOR ME! HE HAS DONE FOR ME! HE HAS DONE FOR ME !HE HAS DONE FOR ME WHAT MY FATHER CANNOT DO HE HAS DONE FOR ME WHAT MY SISTER COULD NOT DO HE HAS DONE FOR ME!!

Mom, listen to me! I say. I don't want to go.The celebrations stop in midair. WHAT?

Ah!Are you still saying that? Look as long as I'm alive you will go! I will make you! There is nothing in my power I will not do to see you in that uniform oh you will look soo pretty!!

I scoff at her.There is nothing you will not do? Well hit me with with your best shot because I'm not going!
I say determinedly. Mom looks at me and then all of a sudden slumps into the sofa.

Maa!!! Yaw my brother and I scream simultaneously then she opens one eye in an almost comic way and says to him.

"Yaw! "my son who will do anything for his mother" ( I roll my eyes at this point). Mom is a total drama queen.Please tell master John to prepare me a coffin because I'm going to die! she says with extra drama. I'm shocked.

All this for me to go to that school? Well she did say she was going to do everything in her power but this, this is rich.

Dad the ever loyal soon joins in.
Aaooo! He screams emphatically. Putting in some "tears" for effect.
"My enemies have finally gotten me ohh!!".

At this point I'm Im totally shook. What's going on?? The only chance I have got is slipping through my fingers ohhh!!he adds.Yaw soon joins in.

Now that i can finally be proud of my sister she's messing this up!! He screams in that annoying mouse voice of his.
My family should totally audition for Cantata or something.

Mama's Pov
Is she really not going to accept this? This will be soo good for her! I'll never be able to provide her with what these Bay people are offering her why cant she see this?And besides she does like to read and write doesn't she? What can I say that will make her see this?

Mama's eyes land on one of Jessie 's books and script she'd been writing.

Ahaa! Jessie! Do you know many books they have there in that school? Mom calls out after me. there you would be able to read your heart out. And they have all Elizabeth Irene books too. ( Elizabeth Irene is one Ghanaian writer I love to bits) .
I stop in my tracks.Whatever! I don't care even if they have her future books. i 'm still not going. I say in finality.

Take the phone Dad says. Your grandma wants to talk to you. At the mention of my grandma I snap to attention. I gingerly take the phone from Dad.

Hello Sisi ( that's my grandma's pet name). Grandma starts to talk crying and begging me to reconsider my decision.

Its the best you can get she pleads with me.
"I turn to Dad this is real blackmail". I say to him covering the speaker so Sisi doesn't hear me.

Its my trump card.he says in reply. Grandma's still talking. "You can stop after a while if you really hate it there". Please my child she implores again.

.My heart breaks to hear her talk like that "will you do this for grandma? Please?

I say the one word I know will change my life forever.
Okay.
Yess!!!! They all shout. But! I'll stop the very moment I hate it there.
Fine whatever you are still going!!.they laugh.

This is going to change everything I just know it.