Giving in to his wild plans, Baafour found himself in the company of people who would surround him with all he needed to be fully equipped for a successful climb. Most of them suggested he came along with his family although it was not part of his original plan. Howbeit, his choice would stand in the end.
"If you're going to climb as a team, it would also be important to bring them along," said Mr. Afrifa, the serious gentleman he met at the little hut at the foot of the mountain, which welcomed visitors and prepared guests for a climb.
"But I do not have enough funds to cater for the whole family?" he replied.
"Don't worry. For your sake, we'll consider a waiver, if possible."
"Give me some time to think about this," he replied. Strolling back to the house dejected like a ship with the wind out of its sails, the thought of his father finding out about his dubious plans haunted him.
"Dad," he called as he came back home in a hurry to confer with his father.
"Right here, Baafour," he replied, responding to his desperate call. Baafour peered at his father who was reclining with his legs suspending in the air with a little support from the sofa, watching a football match.
"What do you think about getting ourselves a coach?" asked Baafour expectantly.
"That would be a good idea. However, it would be important for us to learn as a team, " his father replied, buttressing the guide's point. "Can you hold on for a while whilst we deliberate on a few more pressing issues?" The look on Baafour's face told him his son was not happy with his suggestion, yet there was a more pressing issue at hand and it would be prudent to handle that one first. After a while, when his father had sorted out those issues he was talking about and was ready to give his son an ear, he was nowhere to be found.
"Have you seen Baafour anywhere?" asked Mr. Agyei.
"No," replied Adobea.
"And why do you look so sad?" he said, noticing the morose expression on his daughter's face.
"I miss Aboagye, Dad," she said, without mincing words. "You seem to hate him so much."
"I just can't place my finger on a reason, but I assure you, it's for your own good." His daughter's demeanour changed from bad to worse. Perhaps his explanation did not make sense after all.
"Dad, will you be intruding in my affairs like this when I grow up like Adobea?" asked Frema.
"That's a good question," he replied, holding her shoulder so tight. It seemed his thoughts had gotten the best of him.
"Oh Dad! You're hurting me!" she screamed.
"I will always look out for you. It's a father's duty," he said. "Sorry I squeezed your shoulders too tight."
"Deede, have you perchance seen your brother?" Mr. Agyei asked the little baby reclining on her mother's laps.
"Oh Dad!" exclaimed Adobea. "How can you ask a little baby like Deede?"
"She could have some clues? You never know."
"Come off it, Dad!" said Adobea. "Talking about clues, don't you think it would be good to follow Baafour closely? He might be up to something."
"You don't trust your brother that much, do you?" asked her father. Adobea felt a little embarrassed that she had been put on point.
"I'm not the only one who sneaks out to do things behind your back, Dad," she replied. "I have a feeling he's up to something and those feelings I have are always right."
"I also have a few reservations," said Mrs. Agyei to her husband as they reclined in bed. "It may be tough leaving Deede for three months."
"I haven't thought of that," said her husband.
"You always are thoughtful," she replied. "How come you didn't think about this? It's so important."
"It must have been an oversight," he said, apologizing profusely and kissing her on the lips. "Forgive me. So what do you suggest?"
"If I have to go with you, then we might have to have my mother come over or let her stay with her whilst we go hiking."
"Would you like to stay behind then?"
"And miss all the fun? No way!" Mr. Agyei laughed, waking Deede up.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"That's alright."
"We're going to keep an eye on Baafour from now on," he said, as Mrs. Agyei put the baby to sleep.
"Why would you do that?"
"Adobea said she has a feeling he may be up to something," he replied.
"Baafour is always up to something," said Mrs. Agyei. "Do you think it will be worth following him? Why not just ask him what he's up to? That may show how much faith you have in him." The following day, just as they had discussed, Mr. Agyei, Adobea and Frema woke up very early but stayed in their rooms waiting for a move from Baafour. When Baafour woke up, he got his backpack ready, wore his sneakers and everything he needed for the day's lessons. It seemed he was on his way to jog as usual. However, his backpack gave him away. A taxi hired to send him to his destination parked a little bit away from the road leading to their street so it would not be visible just as Baafour wanted it. It was too early to let anyone in on his secret agenda. However, it would be in his own good interest for his father to keep an eye on him.
"Daddy!" whispered Adobea. "Baafour has left the house."
"Okay, now, everyone, get ready. We're going to follow him closely." They got into the car and drove slowly, leaving a little space ahead so they would not be noticed. As they drove, Mr. Agyei thought it wise to explain to them that their brother's actions were not entirely illegal.
"I must let you know that Baafour came to see me concerning a particular issue. By the time I was ready to give him an ear, he had left. It's just a case of him trying to help himself."
"We understand, Daddy," Adobea replied. "Howbeit, I still have an eerie feeling about this."
"We'll find out soon. Don't worry."
Why would Baafour be so impatient? He thought. Why couldn't he wait to tell me what was on his mind?
Baafour entered a chalet for the mountain guides living below the mountains and was soon speaking with a man, tall and dark in complexion and seemed to know what he was about. He was making gestures with his hands.
"Can you see anyone?" asked Mr. Agyei.
"I can only see a man making gestures, but I can't see Baafour," said Adobea.
"Perhaps you'll see better with these." Mr. Agyei handed over his binoculars to her.
"You're right." Soon, Baafour and the man finished their discussion. With Baafour's knapsack on his back, the two walked towards the mountain and talked for a while, pointing at the mountain as if they were studying it. Noticing that Baafour was a little terrified, he said:
"You've got to relax, take a deep breath and begin from the spot I will show you. That will make it a little easier for you,"
"Okay, let's begin," said Baafour, taking a few steps, guided by the tall man.
"Remember to communicate if you find any difficulty on the way. I'll be right here. I'll begin a few meters after you have reached at least halfway to see how you're doing," said the instructor. Baafour didn't like the sound of it. From the look on his face, it seemed he wanted him to go with him all the way to the summit.
"Is he not cheating?" asked Frema.
"That's a strong word for what he's doing," said Mr. Agyei, not willing to allow his daughters to have a bad impression about their brother. "He just wants a head start, perhaps."
"What about us?" asked Frema. "We need that too?"
"I'll confront him about this," said Mr. Agyei.
"I agree," replied Adobea, content that her brother was not going to get away with his actions.
"I hope you're not trying to defend him? You said he was doing this because you didn't give his ideas audience early enough?"
"I wouldn't defend him if I didn't have a hand in this presumptuous act," he replied "I desire greatly to make it up to him."
"Daddy!" yelled Adobea at the top of her voice.
"Shhhh….you'll call attention to yourself and to us. Can you please speak undertone?" said her father.
"I don't agree with you that you are to blame for his actions. He's just impatient and hot headed and proud. This is not a competition!"
"I understand the way you feel but let's not argue because of this. It should be fun and nothing else."
"We'll begin our lessons tomorrow," said her father. "Breathe no word to your brother about this please. It's very important."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes, tomorrow."
"Have you made any arrangements?"
"Trust your dad on that. It was the very reason why I couldn't give your brother much attention but he took it another way."
"Can you give us some more time to put ourselves together?" asked Adobea.
"This is too short a notice for us to get ready."
"If you say so, my daughter."
As father and daughter watched Baafour and the trainer, the two were seen arguing over something.
"Daddy, can you fine tune our gadget so we can hear what they're saying?" asked Adobea.
"Sure, I turned it down when we started discussing whether he was cheating or not."
"I am new to this but I read that the guide should be above the climber. That is not what you're doing," said Baafour to the tall man.
"If you knew so much, why did you ask me to help you?" asked the guide.
"Because it's the right thing to do. I just can't believe you!" Baafour was shaking.
"Come down then so I can lead you," said the guide
"Are you serious?"
"Yes," he replied. "It's all part of the training; learning how to descend in times of uncertainty."
"But I still need you to help me with the belaying?"
"You haven't gone far enough. I 'll instruct you so you can come down by yourself."
"That was frightening, Dad." Said Adobea to her father. "What if he didn't know what he was doing? Is it not risky?"
"Where's everyone?" asked the last born, Frema. "I'm hungry. I've been waiting all day long for Adobea to prepare some food."
"She's off on some errands. Why not get some food for yourself?" asked her mother.
"Adobea always does the meals. Why should I be the one cooking today?"
"She's on a mission and won't be back till nightfall."
"What mission?" she asked. "You don't mean it, Mummy! Why wasn't I a part of it?"
"This is between Daddy and herself. Let's wait till they come back and give us feedback."
"I don't agree with you, Mummy. Anyway, can you please make some food for me, please?"
"You might have to learn how to do that soon. Come watch me. Soon, you'll be cooking for the whole family."
"Really?" Frema seemed to be excited at the prospect. Her sister's sudden absence had brought her this rare opportunity and she was so grateful for it.