Back home after the tour, Odartey and Koshie went like buckets in a well, hand in hand, chatting as they went, greeting everyone they knew. They appeared so great together that everyone thought they were siblings. They were such an epitome of good neighbourliness. It was great to know that people had noticed them. They exuded so much fun as they walked along, Odartey remembered Koshie's comment: 'brother'. It sent shivers down his spine. What if his parents adopted Koshie? It would send her father's spirit fleeing forever! He also weighed his thoughts in a balance, wondering how his contract with her would stand if he became her adopted brother. Marrying her would be tantamount to incest, a taboo in Africa, which also means an act that is prohibited. Koshie overreacted most of the time to all the attention they received whilst Odartey squeezed her hand to keep her in check.
She laughed whenever he did so and he would do same, rolling his eyes in disbelief at how loquacious she was. After school hours, Odartey waited patiently for Koshie and vice versa if the other was long in coming out of the school gate, and they ran and rolled on the hills, knocking their feet against some stones as they did that, singing their favourite song:
Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water… When it came to 'Jack fell down and bumped his head, Odartey would lie on the floor and Koshie would follow suit and they would laugh heartily, knocking their heads against each other.
"Jack," she would ask. "Does your head hurt?" and Odartey would reply: "Very much"
"How was school today?" Odartey would ask.
"I enjoyed school today, Odartey. Nobody bullied me." She smiled at him.
"Why would they bully you? You are too sweet to deserve that."
"You scare them," she said.
"Me?"
"Yes, you!"
"I'm not a caricature?"
"But you do have an effect on them," she said. Odartey was aware of that fact but refused to comment. He was not supposed to brag about his abilities. "Aren't you going to comment?" Odartey shook his head. "Can I ask you a question then?"
"Do so, my lady."
"Why did you come and live here when the house was not ready? Why were you in so much of a hurry?"
"You will get to know soon," he said, trying to be evasive.
"I really want to know, Odartey," she said, pestering him.
"I promise you. There are several reasons for doing so.You will get to know when the time is right."
Koshie hurt herself as she knocked her foot against some of the sharp-edged stones on the way. Odartey stopped, placed his hands over it and the wounds were instantly healed.
"How did you do that?" she asked in awe.
"You don't have to know," he replied. "All that matters is that the wound has been healed."
"And you expect me to be silent about it? I want to understand. Who are you? Really?" Odartey refused to respond to her question. Koshie's feet began to swell again. Odartey picked a few leaves and got himself some plantain leaves to tie around her feet. She sat down for a while as the swelling disappeared. This proved beyond all her doubts that Odartey had an ability to heal. This was something else she had noticed about him apart from the fact that he had an effect on people. Perhaps that had attracted her to him.