In the evening, Mamle went to see Abena concerning her paintings. Amihere followed her cautiously and unnoticed. So she has a friend? I've never seen her with one before or perhaps I've not been following her for too long. It would be good to know what they discuss.
"Hi Abena!" she said, as she opened the creaking door. "You've got to fix your door one of these days. It makes too much noise."
"Hello!" she replied. "Come right in. Sure! I will fix this but tell me why you are here first of all."
"I'm ready to sell some of the artworks I left with you."
"Are you sure about this?" she asked, suspicious. "You gave them to me because you wanted me to keep them safe. What's the problem?"
"I need to make some fast money," she replied. "and yes, I did ask you to keep them safe but now, I'm pleading with you to release them to me."
"Okay, I will give them to you then. However, in case you change your mind, I'm still available." Why does she think I will change my mind? Am I really making a rash decision? Mamle's best friend would be the best judge, yet, her instincts were telling her to go ahead with her plans. As she chose the best of her artworks, the ones which were sure to sell fast, though it would be almost impossible to sell all, Abena watched her keenly.
"Great! Hope to see you late in the evening," said Abena. "I just hope they're enough for you." As Mamle was leaving, she stopped her in her tracks.
"I'm so sorry about what happened to Dome," she said.
"Don't worry," she replied. "I just hope he'll be fine soon so we can talk again."
"Certainly so," she replied. "I'll always be here for you, Mamle. Is that the reason why you suddenly want to sell these?" Mamle nodded.
"Don't you think you're being too rash?" These were the every words she feared to hear, yet her instincts would guide her this time around.
Mamle sold more than she expected and even needed more, regretting her decision to leave some behind and recalling to mind Abena's comments. Several passers-by were interested in her works of art. The patronage was so overwhelming she lost count of the number of people who had taken interest in her wares.
"Would you be able to drop by later in the day or tomorrow, if possible?" she asked one of her customers.
"No, we are visitors and we do not hope to stay longer," they replied. "We chanced on your items as we went on our favourite stroll."
"Can you give me a few moments please?" she asked.
"For your sake, we will," they said.
"Hi Abena!" she called. "Can you send me ten paintings as soon as possible?"
"Count on my loyalty, friend," she replied. In thirty minutes time, a dispatch rider brought the rest of Mamle's paintings. In no time, the ones available had been sold out with more than enough profit and surplus to save. To speed up her progress, it would be a good idea to put some of her nice sketches on mugs and distribute them, this time, door to door. It turned out to be a great idea. Her neighbours bought a lot of them and even requested for more, which she supplied without hesitation.
"Can you supply me with a thousand mugs?" Amihere asked, after having stalked her for the whole day and delegating a few people to buy some of her works. "A few of my colleagues seem to be more than interested.
"I can," she said, wondering what kind of a promise she had made. A thousand mugs? How am I going to do that in one day? Who is going to do that for me? I do not know anyone yet. The next morning, true to her promise, she was at his doorstep. Amihere was sure of his strategy to set Mamle thinking. This kind of work was impossible to do single-handedly if one was serious about getting into business.
"Can you bring them in?" he asked. "I would like to see them for myself."
"They are too heavy," she replied. "I might need some help." That's what I'm talking about! He thought. Amihere called a few of his houseboys to help carry the boxes into his house.
"Can you please come in?" he asked. "We might need you to make a few more estimates." Mamle was quick to discern his motive for that particular request.
"No, thank you," she said, declining his offer.
"It's all part of business strategy," he said convincingly, aware that Mamle had read between the lines.
"You want to excel in business, don't you?" he asked
"Yes I do, but cautiously."
"I understand," he replied. "Come in anyway. I'm not going to harm you." Mamle maintained her stance and refused to barge.
"I just got a call from a friend of mine. I would like to attend to urgent matters. Thank you for your offer anyway." Amihere could not believe his ears. If she was into serious business, why would she not learn the art of maintaining her clients? This unfortunate encounter was not going to discourage him anyway.
"I want to know more about this lady. Can you help?" he asked his houseboys after she had left in a hurry.
"Oh! That woman? She lives next door," he replied, curious to know the reason why his master was so interested in her.
"Can I see her?"
"She has been through a traumatic experience," they said. "You might not want to do that."
Is that the reason why she visited the psychiatric hospital? He thought, holding the lower part of his chin, stroking his beard. "No wonder she was so reluctant to enter my house."
"We were trying to alert you, sir, but you were so engrossed in persuading her that we couldn't get your full attention."
"It's such a pity. You should know me by now that nothing will deter me from following after my dreams."
"I'm sorry sir, and we wish you all the best. We'll give you all the help we can, but she's a hard bone to crack."
"No problem Armah."
The next day, Mamle displayed her wares on a table in front of her house As she busily selected choice ones for her clients, whom did she see but Amihere standing right before her.
"I'd like to buy everything," he said. Mamle did not hesitate to give him all he requested although she had so many questions running through her mind and was about to return indoors when he caught her attention.
"Could you please give me a moment?" he asked. Mamle was vexed sore, but only in her spirit. "Just hear me out, please. Not all men are evil." Just in case he received a lashing for being nice.
"How may I help you?" she asked, ignoring his latter comment.
"I must rather be asking you that question," he replied. Mamle was a bit startled, yet kept her composure.
"I was about to leave anyway," she said, irritated.
"Can I have a word with you?" he asked.
"We are already talking, aren't we? What else would you want to say apart from what you have already said?" The warning his house helps gave him was certainly true yet he believed there was a chance things could turn around.
"Don't be obstinate, Madam," he said "Your life might turn out better if you allowed yourself to have some fun." Mamle leered strangely at him. "I'm sorry if you don't seem to like what I said but it's true."
"I can't do so just because you said so," she said adamantly.
"I'm sorry about this." he said. "I hope to see you in a livelier mood next time around."
Mamle leered at him as he walked away, wishing she had given him a better chance to see her better side. So he had noticed her mood? If he really meant to help, he would come back. She thought.
The next day, Amihere made sure he came to see her early so she would not feel abandoned by him. He spoke from the security phone in front of the gate.
"It's me," he said. "Can I come in?"
"Who are you? You're already in. Help yourself in anyway."
"My name is Amihere and I've come to see you."
"Amihere? What a name? What does it mean?"
"I actually do not know."
"That's rather unfortunate," she replied. "Anyway, may I know the reason for your visit?"
"Do you have any more of your wares I can buy?"
"Unfortunately, those were the only ones I had, so precious. I might have to create more."
"Can I help you?"
"This is artwork. If you do not have the skill to create them, you cannot make anything."
"At least, you can send me on errands and help me to do some difficult tasks."
"I will not start right away. I will notify you if I begin." Great! This is the beginning of great things!
"How will you contact me?" expecting her to ask for his contact number. She leered at him.
"Okay, if you will not, just take my business card." Handing it over to her. Reluctantly receiving it, she hoped he would say no more.