Jail bird 35&36

episode 35&36
SOMEWHERE IN MADINA
As Effe leaves the residential area behind she looks into the driving-mirror at her son.
EFFE
So, my sweet boy, where are we going exactly?
JUNIOR
Didi’s.
Effe looks surprised. She glances at him again and sees he is almost crouched on the seat and clutching his blue piggy bank because he is too excited.
EFFE
Didi’s? The fast foot joint?
JUNIOR
Yes, Mommy.
Effe shakes her head with confusion.
EFFE
But they stopped selling food. There’s a FOR SALE sign on it.
JUNIOR
(exasperated)
I know! Didi’s stopped working because when they opened that new giant restaurant down the street people stopped going to Didi’s.
EFFE
(confused)
So why are we going to Didi’s? Or you want us to go to the new restaurant, TASTE BUDS?
JUNIOR
Nooooo! TASTE BUDS food is hoooooooorible! It made me pooooopoooo the whole night!
And that is when Chris’ laugh fills the car.
It is that laugh which has captivated Effe’s heart in the past so much.
It is rich, it is deep, it is from within him. It lights up his face and dimples his cheeks, and transforms that handsome face into something of ethereal origins.
It is a laugh Effe hasn’t heard in a very long while, and as short as it is, she is greatly surprised when it brings sudden tears to her eyes.
Sometimes, when Junior is very happy, he laughs like that, but his voice is yet to attain that bass quality his father has, and always that laugh from her son brings a lump of remembrance to Effe’s heart.
She turns her head and looks at Chris, but his head is on the headrest and his eyes are closed, and he does not see her looking at him.
Junior pops his head forward again, sees his father’s happily shining face, and then he sits back and grins wolfishly.
When they get to DIDI’S Effe parks in the now abandoned car park.
There had been a time when there had been cars on that car park almost constantly. DIDI’S had been one of the best food joints.
However, a little over a year ago, a super food joint called TASTE BUDS had opened just across the street from DIDI’S, and with its offer of spicy continental, Asian and Italian cuisines, it had slowly strangled DIDI’S and put them out of operation.
There is a white KIA Sportage parked in front of the abandoned food joint.
The wooden structure that forms DIDI’S is still standing intact, though.
It is huge, and has a functioning kitchen, an interior eating space, an external veranda eating space, and even a semi-circular drive-through.
There had been a huge FOR SALE/RENT placard in its front glass window, but it is gone now.
Effe turns to Junior, still looking confused.
EFFE
Well, here we are, my love. What now?
Junior cranes his neck, looking at the abandoned structure.
JUNIOR
(confused)
Well, can I please use your phone, Mommy?
EFFE
(raising her eyebrows)
Who are you calling, dear?
Junior scratches his head.
JUNIOR
Well, the other day, when we were coming from Abel’s birthday party, you remember?
EFFE
Yes, I remember very well. What happened?
JUNIOR
(with a big sigh)
You remember there were a lot of cars here, on this road?
EFFE
(patiently)
Yes, I remember. There was a terrible traffic jam. There was an accident on the road. And?
JUNIOR
Aha. See. I saw the sign in the store that they’re selling this place? So because there was traffic, I wrote the number down in my jotter. Then, on Daddy’s birthday, in the evening, I used the phone you gave me to call the number.
Chris is now fully erect and looking back at his son.
Effe is watching her son too, and she feels a coldness spreading over her.
She can understand where the conversation is going, and it chills her to the very core.
CHRIS
Champ. What happened?
Junior starts to speak again, but just then the main glass doors of DIDI’S flies open, and a smartly-dressed elderly woman of around sixty years comes out.
She is in black trousers and a blue top, and her hair is iron grey and tied back in a homely bun.
With a cry of joy Junior opens his door and bounds out, running towards the woman, holding out his piggy bank.
Effe and Chris exchange startled looks, and then they both get out of the car hurriedly.
The woman, now holding the piggy bank Junior has given her, notices them and begins to meet them with a huge smile on her face, and tears glistening in her eyes.
She stretches out her hand to Chris first.
MADAM DIDI
Hello, I’m Didi. And you must be Chris, and you Effe.
Chris shakes the woman’s hand.
CHRIS
Yes, I am, Ma’am. Glad to make your acquaintance. Quite frankly I’m a bit in the woods here.
Madam Didi laughs and wipes traces of tears from her eyes.
MADAM DIDI
Well, then let me explain. I used to run this place. I own it, I must say. Now my daughter in the UK wants me to join her permanently, and I’ll be leaving in a month’s time, and so I put this place up for sale. I must say I had a lot of offers, but the money just wasn’t right, if you know what I mean. Well, a couple of days ago I received a call from a brave young boy who told me his father just came out from prison and has no work, but his father knows how to cook now, and he saw the place is up for sale, and so he wants to buy it for his father!
Effe’s mouth falls open and she stares at Junior who is now looking down at his feet and swinging both arms in wide arcs in obvious discomfiture.
EFFE
(sighing)
Well, Madam Didi, we’re terribly sorry. We didn’t know he was bringing us here. He said he had a surprise for his father and so we came. I’m terribly sorry. Please forgive us for wasting your time.
Madam Didi laughs and then she puts an arm around Junior’s shoulder.
MADAM DIDI
Oh, you have a wonderful boy here! I’m so very impressed with him. I told him he would need a lot of money to buy this place, and he told me he will buy it because if he doesn’t his father would go and fight Goju and he might get hurt. And so he promised me he has a piggy bank filled with a lot of money which can buy the place, and so I said okay, bring the piggy bank and your father and let’s negotiate!
They all laugh, and Chris moves forward, looking at his son with wonder. He bends low and puts a loving hand on his son’s right cheek.
CHRIS
Thank you, Champ. I appreciate what you tried to do very much.
EFFE
Once again, our sincerest apologies, Madam Bibi. Now, if you don’t mind, we’ll leave now. We wouldn’t bother you any longer.
MADAM DIDI
Well, it is a deal then. I mean, I’m leaving Ghana in a month, and I’ve settled all my financial obligations to my creditors and my family. I love this place, and I want it to be filled with love and hope, and no love comes bigger than a child’s love for his father, and no hope comes bigger than a man who has lost it all and come back from prison to start life afresh! So yes, this place is sold to Mr. Chris Bawa Junior, for one piggy bank full of money!
JUNIOR
(stunned, eyes bulging)
Oh! You mean it? You’re really really really giving it to my Daddy?
There are tears in Madam Bibi’s eyes as she pulls Junior close and hugs him.
MADAM DIDI
Oh, yes, my dearest boy! Oh, you’re such a special boy!
JUNIOR
(screaming)
YAPPITY YAPPITY YIPPPEEEEE!!
He throws his arms around Madam Bibi and hugs her tightly.
Effe is touching her lips with a trembling hand as she looks at Junior and at Chris. There are tears in her eyes.
Chris is shaking his head sadly.
He drops to his right knee and looks earnestly at Junior.
CHRIS
(painfully)
Champ, listen up! When I learnt how to cook from my prison pal, I was learning to cook for you and Mommy at home alone, okay? I am so touched by this gesture, my son, and I love your golden heart, but I’m not a chef, Champ. I’m a fighter, a Goju Warrior. I’ll never cook. How can I work in a kitchen, cooking for a living? No. Not me!
Junior’s face suddenly crumbles. The happiness vanishes, and his face is an epitome of dejected despair.
Effe stands beside her son and puts an arm around his neck.
EFFE
My Prince, what you have done is really amazing! It’s the most amazing show of love I’ve ever seen a child make, but we must also think of Aunty Didi. I don’t think what’s in the piggy bank alone can pay for this place.
Madam Didi walks forward rapidly and stands by Chris’ side.
MADAM DIDI
(earnestly)
Oh, you guys, come on! I don’t really need the money. I’m going uptown to join my daughter, remember? I would’ve given it out freely, but this boy’s act has touched my heart so much. Surely, if any business has such a foundation of pure love, then it is bound to succeed. Mr. Bawa, please, listen to your son.
JUNIOR
(tearfully)
But Daddy, I really really really don’t want you to fight Goju. I’ve been having dreams sometimes, and in my dreams I see that you’re hurt very very very bad, with blood all over your face. I really really really don’t want you to fight, Daddy. I don’t want to see you that hurt, please. You can cook and your food is very sweet. You will have many customers because your food is the best. Your food is nice, even nicer than Mommy’s!
EFFE
(faking disgust)
Oh, thank you very much, young man! From now on you’ll cook your own food!
Madam Didi laughs, and Junior looks at his mother with sudden chagrin.
JUNIOR
Oh, Mommy, Junior didn’t mean to be ungrateful!
Effe puts her arms around him and hugs him hard.
EFFE
Oh, shush, my precious. I’m not angry. Just pulling your legs. You know what? I agree with you. I’ll pay whatever difference Madam Didi wants for the place. You just have to convince your father.
MADAM DIDI
(exasperated)
How many times do I need to tell you folks I’ll only take the piggy bank and whatever is in it? It’s the best blessing I’ll ever receive! Mr. Bawa, you better not make your son sad! Doesn’t the tears he’s shedding bother you?
Chris gets to his feet and turns away, throwing his arms in the air with exasperation.
CHRIS
(disturbed)
What’re you people talking about? I don’t belong to a kitchen! That’s a woman’s job!
episode 36
Junior will not stop pushing. He does not understand why his parents cannot accept his plan.
He is sure his Dad will make a good Chef and get a lot of money if things are done right.
He has done his own little research since the idea crossed his mind.
He is sure it is the way to go.
JUNIOR
(wagging a finger at him)
No-no, no-no, Daddy. If you go to Google you’ll see that the most famous chefs are men! Your food is nicer than the food at TASTE BUDS, which made me poopoo the whole night. Daddy, please please please please I don’t want you to fight, please please please promise me you won’t fight!
CHRIS
Hey, Champ! That’s what I know how to do! I’m not going to fight! I just need to set up a training school and find talented guys and train them. That’s what I’m good at.
Effe sees Chris’ exasperation.
She walks up to him and stands gazing into his tortured eyes.
EFFE
He’s right, Chris, and you know it. You need money to set up a Goju training school again, and think of all the training equipment you need in there. This eatery is available. You might not even have to cook yourself. You can hire cooks and instruct them. And, I must admit, your noodles was something else.
Chris’ eyes harden, and he looks at her bitterly.
CHRIS
What do you care, Effe? Don’t pretend you care about me! You have your Steve, stick to him and leave me alone!
Effe gasps as if he has physically slapped her.
JUNIOR
(disapprovingly)
Daddy!
Chris turns and walks away. He goes to stand in front of the eatery and looks into the glass for a long time.
He passes a hand across his face, and then repeatedly runs a hand through his hair. He sighs heavily, stands up straighter, turns and walks back.
He stands in front of his son, and then he smiles wanly.
CHRIS
Alright. For you, Champ. I’ll do it. Thank you.
Tears fall down Junior’s face.
He walks forward, puts his arms around his father’s thighs and hugs him tightly.
Madam Didi exhales deeply, and brushes tears from her eyes.
MADAM DIDI
Well! Such love! I’m so proud to be part of this moment.
Effe feels a lump in her throat looking at her son and the man who used to be her husband, the only man whose single look either made or broke her joy.
Oh, Chris! Why did you have to rape Elaine? I can forgive you every other thing but that! Oh, dear, I miss you, you don’t know just how much I miss you!
As if he has heard the words in her heart Chris looks up suddenly, and his eyes locks with Effe’s.
He gently puts Junior aside and walks slowly towards Effe.
Effe begins to shudder as tears form in her eyes. She knows that walk, that look, that moment.
In the past, sometimes it happened like that. It didn’t matter where they were…at home, at a restaurant, in town, at the office…
Whenever their eyes met like that, whenever that loud silence passed between them, and he began to look like that, to walk like that, to live the mood like that, they always ended up finding the nearest private spot and making tender love.
She can see it in his eyes now, and she is sure it is reflected in hers. She gasps, her lips part, and it takes all her effort not to run to him and feel his lips crushing hers.
He stops in front of her. His eyes are half-slits, and she feels him making the most herculean effort not to take her in his arms.
CHRIS
I’m sorry, Effe. Didn’t mean to speak to you like that.
She nods, and a couple of tears roll down her cheeks.
EFFE
(whispering)
That’s alright, Tiger.
Tiger!
The endearment she used to call him, only on very special moments when their love has been fulfilled by the most intimate of touches, or the sweetest of looks, or the most enchanted magical moment.
It startles both of them, and they stare at each other, the power of the tension so strong that she knows that if something doesn’t happen soon they would be lost in that craziness.
It is Junior who suddenly pops up between them.
JUNIOR
You two are not really really really going to do that licking face thing here, are you?
His voice breaks the web, and Effe looks down with a little sound.
Chris turns from her, and slowly forces himself to approach Madam Didi.
He is trembling, and realizes just how much he has missed her.
His soul yearns for her, craves for her, needs her! His love for her is tearing him apart. He extends his hand to Madam Didi.
CHRIS
Thank you. Thank you very much.
She does not take his hand. She rather gives him a sudden hug and sighs deeply.
MADAM DIDI
Ah! Let’s sit down and talk details then. You have a wonderful son, Mr. Bawa.
CHRIS
Please call me Chris. Yes, yes, I know. He’s an angel.
Chris feels Junior’s hand on his left middle finger, and he looks down and smiles a wolfish grin into his son’s face… and the boy has exactly the same wolfish grin on his face.
Effe, being a top-shot lawyer, agrees to work on the documentation for the change of ownership of DIDI’S.
She drops off Junior at home. She has to be in the office, and for the first time in many years she wishes she didn’t have to go.
Junior, not surprisingly, convinces his father to stay with him a while.
Chris, evidently, does not want to stay because Ivy Kedem is around, but in the end Junior has his way, as usual, and takes his father to his room.
Effe quickly walks out to the car again, and she feels elated that Chris is with Junior.
Her mother follows her to the car, and there is a look of great concern on her face.
IVY KEDEM
(placating)
Listen, Ef, my darling, I don’t want to be the overbearing mother, but I believe you’re making a great mistake. You shouldn’t entertain that man here!
EFFE
(exasperated)
Mama! I’m not entertaining him! Junior wants to be with him. He’s his father! I don’t see anything wrong with that.
IVY KEDEM
I know, my dear. But how would you explain it to Steve? You spent the whole morning out. I don’t even want you leaving him alone with Junior. The man is a drug addict, abuses alcohol, raped your friend, assaulted an old man, probably killed his senior brother, he even-
EFFE
(aghast)
MAMA! Please!
IVY KEDEM
Just warning you, dear, just warning you. You shouldn’t leave that boy alone with that man!
EFFE
He’s not a stranger! He’s my son’s father, and he loves Junior fiercely, and one thing I’m certain of is that he’s not ever going to do drugs in front of the boy!
IVY KEDEM
I’m just telling you to be careful. You’ve got something beautiful going with Steve. I saw how devastated you were when Chris broke your heart. He’s not capable of loving you as you should be loved. Just be careful, my love.
EFFE
(sighing)
Alright, thank you, Mama.
Effe gets angrily into her car and drives to her office.
She works at SLOAN, MENSAH AND KEDEM.
She spends two hours in a meeting with her senior partners.
She had started as a lawyer at the firm, handling their corporate portfolios. She had been ambitious, smart and extremely resourceful.
She had taken her cases seriously, and so far had never lost a case in court.
The Attorney-General had started pushing sensitive and vital cases to her, and she has won all. With the growth in her resourcefulness and competence, she had eventually made partner.
After the meeting she meets with some European, North American and Asian clients for an hour, and then she quickly goes to her luxurious office and calls home.
Her mother informs her that Chris and Junior are still in the boy’s room.
IVY KEDEM
They went to the kitchen and ate, then they went back to Junior’s room.
EFFE
I see. Anyway, I’ve finished what I came to do. I’m coming home so that Chris can leave.
IVY KEDEM
Hurry up then, dear. I want to send some lunch to your Dad.
JAILBIRD continues