Emily's father called her from one of the telephone centers at Techiman. He did this at four o'clock in the morning, when the telephone centers usually open. During their conversation,he told his daughter about her mother's illness. He had walked for about half an hour before making the telephone call. "Akua, when we retired to bed last night, she was fine and there was no sign of sickness, however in the middle of the night she complained of stomach ache coupled with severe headache. She started feeling feverish and began to look pale. I got her a cup of water to drink and she couldn't even finish a whole cup.
In no time , she suddenly rushed outside and began to throw up. Even Mr. Atta and his wife who live next door had to come out of their house to help remedy the situation. Your mum was groaning in pain. They had to help me carry her back into the house, and Mrs Atta had to prepare porridge for her to take, however your mother has lost appetite and couldn't even take one spoonful of porridge. All she did was to throw up uncontrollably. You know how remote our village is. Since the only medical doctor in the community left some months ago, we have all once more resorted to the use of herbal medicine from the traditional herbalist. I therefore, went to see Chief Adu Sarpong, the herbalist, in his house,and he gave us some fresh green herbs to stop the vomiting, but he advised that we see a doctor when he later checked up on us a few hours later and realized your mother's situation had not improved," he narrated to his daughter. "So how is she now?" Emily asked anxiously.
"Not any better than she was last night. She's still throwing up and she is getting weaker and weaker as time goes on, which has got me very very worried my child," he told her with anxiety in his voice. "She has refused to eat or drink anything, and she keeps groaning in pain.
"Alright Paapa, please is it possible for you to bring her over?" Emily asked her father politely. "There is a renowned medical doctor I know who can assist her. Do your best to bring her over before six o'clock this morning If you can. The doctor will be here around that time and I will try my best to talk to him and see what assistance he can give us. I am very sure he would be of help to us.
"We'll be in Accra latest by six o'clock my daughter," her father assured her. "It is just a few minutes after four o'clock and the early vehicles will pass by in a few minutes. Where do we meet you Akua?"
Emily gave him directions to the house and since every taxi driver in the city knew Mr. Maxwell Adams' house, she told him he would have no problem. He in turn assured her that they would arrive very early enough to meet the doctor.
After her father's call, Emily could not go back to sleep. She was worried about her mother. She suddenly began to feel fearful and immediately rebuked every form of fear from her heart. "God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Therefore I rebuke you spirit of fear", she prayed and felt relief in her heart. She read her Bible afterwards, prayed again and then had her bath. When she checked the clock on the wall, it was just a few minutes to five. She began to dress up. Her parents might arrive any moment and she wanted to be ready to receive them. Although on Saturdays the Adams's stayed in bed till well after eight o'clock, if there were no programmes, she did not want to disturb them if she could help it.
At a quarter to six, her parents arrived at the Adams's residence. When Emily stepped out of her room, Stephen was already dressed and ready to go out with Warrior for their weekend morning walk. Warrior barked her greetings and Emily patted her as the dog wagged its tail with delight. She was no longer afraid of Warrior, and the dog had become used to seeing Emily around.
"Good moming Mr Stephen Adams," Emily greeted Stephen. "Good moming Miss Emily Dua," he responded. "I thought you were supposed to leave at six this morning", Stephen said to her.
"Yes we'll be leaving at six, however my parents are in. My father called last night to say that my mother had been taken ill and from how he described her condition, it could be very critical so I asked him to bring her over. Since Dr Newman is coming around today, I thought he could be of great help and he could also advise us on what to do."
"Where are your parents?" he asked.
"They are at the gate," she responded as they moved towards the massive metal gates.
Emily's mother was lying at the back of a taxi while her father sat in front beside the driver. When he saw his daughter, he alighted and she noticed his drawn features. He looked very exhausted. She was sure he hadn't eaten anything yet since it was early in the morning.
"Good morning, Akua," Fiifi Ohene Dua greeted his daughter. He then turned to Stephen. "Good morning, my son."
"Good morning, sir!" Stephen greeted him back and, then, together with Emily and Warrior,they moved to the back of the taxi.
Fiifi Dua tried to help his wife to sit up but she was so weak that the effort seemed to drain her of energy. He decided to let her be, and he wiped drops of sweat off her forehead with his brown handkerchief. Just then, Dr Newman arrived.
"Oh Dr. Newgate,is this you?!" Fiifi Dua exclaimed with surprise when he set his eyes on the elderly medical practitioner.
"Fiifi Ohene Dua, Oh my goodness Fiifi!" the doctor cried with corresponding surprise and the two men hugged excitedly. "What brings you here my good friend?" Dr Newman looked into the taxi as he posed his question and noticed the woman on the back seat. The sight of her pale, drawn face, coupled with her sunken eyes, caused the elderly doctor to immediately take charge. He called the Good News Hospital as he tried to provide first aid.
"She's very dehydrated," he said as he examined her. "We must get her to the hospital as fast as possible to prevent her from going into shock." Dr Newman gave them further instructions and then dispatched the taxi driver, who sped off to the hospital after Emily had given her father money to take care of the bills and to buy needed provisions.
"Thank you so much Sir, I'm really grateful for your assistance" she expressed her gratitude to Dr Newman after the taxi had disappeared from sight.
"My pleasure Emily," Dr Newman replied.
"I'll be with you in a minute," she said and hurriedly walked into the house.
While she was gone, Dr Newman exchanged pleasantries with Stephen before the young man left with the now impatient Warrior. A few minutes later, Emily joined Dr Newman and they set off for North Kaneshie.
The usual hustle and bustle of the city was absent in the early morning hours because most of the city's residents were either still in bed or yet to hit the road. However some hawkers could be spotted, trying to be early birds who would catch the worm. They sped out of the city and within minutes they were on the highway heading towards the Northern estate,where Dr Newman was scheduled to make a health presentation to more than two hundred professional health workers selected from the various regions of the country to attend the conference on teenage pregnancy and their impact on victims and society.
He had become famous for spearheading the 'let your girl child go to school' campaign in the country. He was also reputed to have saved thousands of young women in the rural areas who had attempted crude abortions from imminent death. He had written several books, given public lectures and spoken at various public forums on teenage pregnancy and abortion. When he began his crusade against abortion, he was a young, fiery doctor, but now he sported streaks of grey hair. In his most active days, he had assisted the police to hurl quack doctors who performed illegal abortions before the law courts and subsequently seen them incarcerated.
Dr Newman was also renowned as an orthodox medical doctor cum,traditional medical practitioner and philanthropist who often donated all his salary towards his work in the remotest villages, as reported by the press. He was also reported to have periodically fed children in impoverished communities where he worked and he had volunteers from churches who helped to cook and serve hot meals to the children.He usually did this during Christmas and Easter. He was held in high esteem, admired and well-spoken of everywhere.
Emily and Dr Newman said very little to each other during the one-and-a-half-hour drive to North Kaneshie. They arrived at the hotel where the conference was scheduled to take place, at a quarter to eight. They had just fifteen minutes before the programme started. Emily helped to carry the files and laptop which Dr Newman was going to use for the presentation. She caught him staring at her and she quickly looked away to prevent herself from getting uncomfortable. She wasn't at ease with the silence in the car while they were on their way. She had silently prayed that they would get to the venue early for the presentation. As part of the conference package, attendees were entitled to lunch. Dr Newman encouraged the shy Emily to join him at the restaurant, to have lunch after the conference ended. Emily tried hard to avoid his eyes when she realized he stole glances at her from time to time.
Back at the Adams household, Stephen was ready to set off for the hospital to visit Emily's mother. He had invited his friend, Kwadwo Sakyi, to accompany him and the two set off in Stephen's car just after eight o'clock. "I was very surprised that Emily's father knew Dr Newman." Stephen said to Kwadwo Sakyi as he drove."The old renowned doctor knew him by name and affectionately called him Fiifi," he added. "What did Emily say to that?" Kwadwo asked. "Well, there wasn't enough time for me to ask her questions because they were running behind time, as it were, but I guess Dr. Newman might have worked in their village. You know he is reported to have worked extensively in many remote villages all over the country," Stephen said.
"That should explain it, then," Kwadwo observed. "I learnt from some of my reliable sources that Dr Abednego is battling with lung cancer." "The former Vice-President?" Stephen asked with surprise. "I can't believe this. But the man looks healthier than you and I!" "I heard he has just been diagnosed but, as usual, they are keeping it top secret," Kwadwo confided. "I learnt he is even planning to travel to India for medical care. You know that India is known for having very good hospitals coupled with very good doctors," Kwadwo explained to Stephen. "If it's top secret, how did you get to know about it?" Stephen quizzed his friend.
"You and I know that I'm paid to know what you do under cover, or should I remind you?", he pointed out and they both burst into an uproar. "You know what, Bobby," Stephen began, "I sometimes envy you a lot. You get to know and talk to all the important people in the country." "Important people who all wish me dead, don't forget!" Kwadwo pointed out and they both laughed again. "Of course," Stephen admitted, "every profession has its own hazards."
"Well, what about you? Don't you get to work with all the pretty girls?" Kwadwo teased. "Ladies who are out of bounds, if that is what you mean," Ekow remarked. "By the way, what happened to Alexandra?" Kwadwo asked. "What happened to all the girls Mummy foisted on me?" Stephen countered. "I just don't understand her at all. 'Stephen Dear, I'd like you to meet Susan. You know, she's the Minister for Foreign Trade and Industry's daughter.' 'Can you do me a favour Stephen? Kindly drop Maame Ama at her house. She must be very tired. She is actually going to Aidoo residences and I have sent the driver on an errand. She is very intelligent and recently graduated with a masters in philosophy.' 'Oh, haven't you met Nana Afia? She's a very nice, polite and well mannered lady. She owns the popular perfume store at the mall.' On and on she goes all the time," Ekow said, mimicking his mother.
"To be honest with you, I don't think you should blame her for all she's doing. She's just an anxious mother trying to make sure that her only son settles down with a nice lady," Kwadwo said, trying to defend Mrs Adams. "Every caring mother longs to see her son settle down with a good woman,who wouldn't give her son problems later in life. In fact,every mother wants her son to have peace of mind," he continued.
"If what you are saying is true, then why is she dead set against my going out with Emily?" Stephen asked. "If there is any girl she likes and admires immensely, it is Emily. There's no doubt about that. She is hardworking, reticent, has a calm disposition, is full of smiles and rarely gets angry. Mummy says she is a lady and praises her all the time. She brought her to our home to work as a housekeeper. Mummy doesn't just employ anyone. She is very selective when it comes to employing people to work in our household. If she can't get along with you, she'll give you the sack. However she has been so kind to Emily and has gone to the extent of deciding to encourage her to further her education. She is also paying for Emily's tuition and has given her a car to use to and from school. All these acts prove without doubt that Mummy loves Emily so much. In Mummy's opinion, Emily is the ideal lady. If Emily is such a rare gem, as she says all the time, and, mind you, for once both mummy and dad agree that Emily is the quintessential lady, then the question is, why doesn't she want me to go out with her?" Stephen lamented bitterly to his friend.
"Judging from all that you have said, I'm very certain she has other plans for the young lady," Kwadwo observed. "I should think she is trying to match Dr Newman with Emily. I stand to be corrected though. It's a hunch I have. I've noticed a few things and I've also heard one or two things that make me think your mom is seriously planning something," Kwadwo disclosed.
Stephen frowned with worry and suddenly retorted angrily, "That's impossible! How can she think of matching a young lady with a man who is old enough to be her father? How? She must be insane!", he complained bitterly. "Calm down, my friend", Kwadwo told him.
'I've been suspicious about Mom's motivations for quite some time now. I believe that's one of the reasons she brought Emily to live with us. You know, I overheard her telling dad the other day that she was grooming her to be the perfect lady, 'the quintessential lady', to quote her. Why is she going to such lengths to make her the perfect lady?" Stephen asked.
"Simple!" Kwadwo answered. "If my hunch is spot on, she must be the perfect lady so that she can aptly fit in with the perfect gentleman of this century, His Excellency Dr Newman, the renowned medical practitioner who is admired by everyone. Have you noticed that the man never does anything wrong? The nation holds him in high esteem and he is a national hero who is celebrated from time to time. He appears in the news most of the time whenever he is helping any community with regards to unlimited access to medical care. Your mother, like many women in this country, literally worships the ground on which Dr Newman treads. I've heard many women describe him as handsome, cultured, kind, wealthy, compassionate and adorable."
"That's amazing," Stephen remarked. "How can Mummy even think of it? It doesn't make sense in anyway. The man is almost three times as old as Emily and he's been married twice. Of course, the women died and you cannot blame him if his wives chose not to live, but then, one would expect that at his age he would look for a woman who is his peer and not a young lady who may qualify as his daughter.
Besides, a younger woman may want to have a family. The man has no child, even after two marriages! Mummy can't be serious. No , she can't." "Well my dear friend, that depends on where you are coming from. If you adore the renowned doctor the way most ladies do and he asked for your heip to find a lady who will befit his impeccable public image, you would not look at things from the perspective you have just sketched.
Remember, she was the first to have spotted the beautiful lady and invited her to her home. You only saw her later and had the misfortune of falling in love with her. Before you did that unfortunate thing, your mum had already brought the two together and now the two may be dating. So, now, the onus rests on you to convince the highly sought-after lady that you will make a better husband than the older, wealthier man. So, what do you have that Dr Newman doesn't have?" Stephen remained silent as he reflected over the question.