Glued to the Past

By Doris Akosua Tay

A story of faith, loss, resilience and love. Carl Aikins, a detective who grew up in a disadvantaged environment, determined to turn his life around. Before embarking on that journey, he lost both his father and mother. These memories will grow with him. He also fell in love with Nancy when they were both young, at Akim-Asafo, in Ghana. This love was unprofessed and lingered on his vision and mind for a long time. He could love no other woman.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Doris Akosua Tay
• Release date: Oct 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9789988325138

Doris Akosua Tay

Doris Akosua Tay was fascinated with becoming a writer since high school. This spurred her to write poems and short stories including her book 'Glued to the Past' and 'Stories and Poems Brewed in the Shadows.' She was born and grew up in Tema, a beautiful city in Ghana. She is a midwife and pursuing a PhD degree in Population Studies.

Book preview

This book is a work of fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously.

All Rights Reserved

Copyright ©2021 by Doris Akosua Tay

Cover art copyright ©2021 Canva Book Cover Maker

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

ISBN: 978 – 9988 – 3 – 2513 – 8

All hopes may not be realized but some definitely will.

Until the last breath the unexpected happen.

The light goes dim and one wanders but soon the light brightens, and one finds his way.

DORIS AKOSUA TAY

Cast of Main Characters

Carl Aikins- Detective

Nancy Palm- Journalist

Detectives working with Carl Aikins

Evans Walker

Fenyi

Carol Asante- Murdered owner of Asantes’

Charles Asante- Son of Carol Asante

Fred Asante- Brother of Carol Asante

Frank Addo Aikins- Father of Carl Aikins

Constance- Mother of Carl Aikins

Elizabeth Sekyi- Mother of Nancy Palm

Chapter One

The church bell tolled. Birds in the sky tweeted. Golden glittering sun let down beautiful light and smothering warmth. The wind sauntered amid the trees letting off a howling grin. Most people were awake. Women were sweeping their compounds or on their way to fetch water. They built most houses with laterite with straw roofs and a few with cement. Old women stopped, greeted, and had a quick chat before moving on. The greeting was long. It involved asking about the individual and their families. To a foreigner it may seem repetitive, but they did it.

Today was one of the regular days of the week. It is unlike market days where people from other towns trooped in to buy food stuff. Akim-Asafo was a small town. The townsfolk knew each other. This is from Opayin Kwadjo to the little Ama who was out doored a week ago. Everyone knew what was happening with everyone. It was their culture and culture, was the glue that united them. You would always hear them tell a stranger, ‘Oye me nua baa or me nua bema’ and that meant she is my sister or my brother. Meanwhile they may not be relatives. Akim-Asafo was one town that believed in solidarity. They believed they were hewed from the same tree.

Carl Aikins house was in the centre of the town. He was still asleep on his straw mat although the sun was already up. Sleep was a blessing. It was not something he would part with. ‘Hmm...’ He stretched his body and squinted at the sun rays that streamed through the opened window. Carl heard a roster crow while it flapped its wings. He got up and folded the piece of cloth covering his legs. Carl Aikins carried the mat outside to dry it in the sun.

‘Haa...’ A cold refreshing breeze walked over his face. He could see young women carry big pans filled with water on their heads chatting while they walked. Others who were now going to fetch water had their pans and buckets underneath their arms and kerchiefs resting around their necks. Carl loved such sight. He had seen this for seventeen years but somehow, he felt he had never experienced such wonder before. It is because he had little expectation for early mornings. There was not much to do except glimpse beautiful ladies chatting as they walked to the river. Carl Aikins smiled at the sight and rushed to the house when he realized he had delayed in cleaning his teeth. He would not want his mother querying him as if he was a child. He picked a calabash and fetched water from one pot. Carl headed out and washed his face. He reached for his mother’s old straw bag and opened it. His fingers touched small round beads and brought them out. ‘Beads...’ He whispered to himself and put them back in the bag. He found a chewing stick and started chewing on it. Within ten minutes, he had finished cleaning his teeth. ‘Take your time to work the teeth clean,’ his mother would always say but he felt he was no tortoise to heed such advice. By the time he started sweeping most people had finished sweeping. He carried a bucket and went to the river to fetch water. He filled the barrels and got one bucket for bathing. After bathing, he walked to the small hole to collect the dirty water. He had to make sure the hole was empty before his mother returned. She is not one who will take an excuse from him for not doing so. He wore his favourite yellow shirt on black pants. He had worn that for the past four days. Once he felt his pants did not look dirty, he would wear them for days until his mother complained. Just like other days Carl sat on a bench under the cashew nut tree playing a small flute he bought about a month ago. The music did not sound good to his ears, yet he played anyway. It was one of his pastimes. He would have been invisible to passers-by if not for the music. They did not seem to bother. After a while he was tired and stopped. For a moment he got lost in some unknown thoughts. Life at Akim-Asafo could sometimes bore if Kofi and Yaw leave for school. He did not know what to do so he just sat and watched. Nothing unique was happening. Their house was close to the market so he could hear hawkers calling for customers. Some children, clad in uniforms were on their way to school. Some were holding books, but others had nothing in hand. The uniforms looked old. One of the little boys was wearing worn out almost damaged slippers. He did not care while he ran ahead of the others. Carl sat there contemplating. He has never sat in a classroom although he often joined other boys to play on the public-school park. Carl Aikins always wished he would attend school, but he was shy and felt too old. He was afraid that the children will tease him. That was not the only reason he did not go to school though. The other reason was because his parents did not have money to pay his fees. He did not want to worry them although he felt his dream of becoming a learned man in future will never come true because of them. Those thoughts were too depressing, so he shoved them off his mind. Carl was starving. He would go inside the house and get something to eat. Carl Aikins wanted his mother to come home early, but she had delayed. Carl stood on his feet and was about to move when his feet got stuck to the ground. Something strong might have held them.

He was dumbstruck. Like hailstone from the sky in harmattan he did not know how she fell on his vision. He was certain the crows noticed her presence because he saw a bevy of them caw and fly in the sky as if hailing a queen. His mouth had parted on its accord. She had tied her curly black kinky hair in a bun. Her torso was smaller but widened on the hips and narrowed on her legs. Her chest was quite heavy, and he could say that of her backside too. She walked as if afraid a tiny flesh could tear off her body if she hurried. Her skin was brown and shiny with oil. Her fingers and feet were tiny. She looked like a piece of sophisticated art. Her sight glued him to the same spot. He neither turned nor attempted to move.

Her black eyes were lovely although they looked small and innocent. Her lips were also small but pouty.

‘Oh mine, I feel I’m on a never-never land.’ His eyes followed every movement of her hips and the alluring way by which she articulated her steps. Many things rushed through his mind as his adrenaline fired up. ‘She is indeed the most beautiful thing these naked eyes of mine have ever set sight on. She is a princess from another town. She could never be a native of this place. I know every lady here. That is from the tomboy Afia to the smallish Akosua and from the thin Mavis to the fat Mina. I know all of them but not this one.’ He was still staring as she walked pass him. She was wearing a small black sleeveless blouse and had wrapped her hips in a tie and dye cloth. She looked too beautiful to be true. ‘Ebeyeyie.’ His father’s deep husky voice cut through the moment making the splendour short lived. The lady had also disappeared.

‘Where is your mother?’ His father’s voice cut through.

‘I didn’t see her when I woke up.’ He was unhappy his father had interrupted an important moment in his life.

‘She must have said something to you while you were asleep.’ His voice was slurring, and he had an unsteady gait.

‘Asleep you say, I was asleep and couldn’t have heard her speaking.’ It upset him.

‘I’m certain she’s gone to help aunty Manna with her kenkey. She will return late then.’

‘That must be it then. She is at aunty Manna’s house.’

‘That’s right. What have you been doing all this morning?’

‘Nothing.’ Carl was always unhappy at his father’s questions. He felt he asked too many which were unnecessary.

‘Nothing! Should I be surprised?’ Addo received no response. ‘Do you have any plans?’

‘Yes.’ He replied fast. ‘I will repair my slippers.’

‘That is no plan son. Wear some boots and let us go hunting.’

‘Hunting at this time of day, father!’ Carl was unprepared for such invitation.

‘Yes. You must learn to be your own man. You cannot live the name I gave you if you do not become a man. Hurry and get yourself ready. Be a man.’

Carl hated hunting. He did not know when that hatred sprouted but he believed it was because of his father Addo. His hunting spree always turned to talking and drinking spree. They always returned with nothing. Not even a tiny bird. He followed him due to pity. He was afraid that his father may miss his focus and shoot himself. Such thoughts made him sad. He studied his father’s eyes and saw pain. Growing up he has never seen Addo happy. He worked as a cobbler in a small shop which he owned until he lost everything to debt. Since then, his life came to a halt. The only thing he did apart from drinking was hunting. And this morning it was apparent that he was drunk.

‘What are you looking at son?’ Addo noticed his son was in deep thoughts.

‘Nothing father.’

‘I know what you are thinking of. I am a miserable man. Do not become like me. I know you don’t want to go hunting with me.’

‘Let us go, father.’ Carl felt a sharp pain in the heart. He did not want to hurt his father.

‘You can stay behind if you like. You know I will never coerce you to do anything.’

‘Let us go father.’ He carried the bag with two wooden guns and cutlasses on his shoulder.

‘Someday you will understand why I love hunting. This may be the last you know.’ ‘Enough, father.’ He did not want to hear more. Addo always said that, and Carl felt his father had been calling for death to come for him although it had denied him many times. He did not like his father’s way of life, but he would not want him to die. That was the last thing he would ever wish for. At least he wanted him to be alive so that he can take care of him one day. Perhaps he will stop drinking if he sees his son doing well in life. He walked by the older man.

‘When I was young, I wanted to own a shoe factory and many houses. Not this small one we squeeze ourselves in. I did not look this way then, son. I was handsome and could woo any lady I wanted.’

His last words infuriated Carl. Addo was handsome while he was not. Carl’s father always told him he looked like his grandfather. The first time he saw his grandfather’s image in a frame he thought he was looking at himself. It was as if he had reincarnated the old dead man into Carl. No wonder they named him after him.

That day his grandfather upset him. He blamed him for coming to the world with such a face. If he had not, Carl would have had a better one. He would have taken after his father. One look at Addo also infuriated Carl. Why would he allow him to look like his grandfather and not him? Aren’t children supposed to take up their parent’s features? Addo did not know what his words did to Carl, so he continued.

‘During those days, my father called me osikani. He said I will be rich. He told me that all I had to do was woo a rich girl’s heart. I did not heed to his advice.’

‘The first girl I fell in love with was Yaa. She was light skinned and pretty. When I saw her, I said to myself that this must be an angel. She was too beautiful to be human. When I approached her, I thought she would turn me down, but she did not. With wide open arms she accepted and loved me.’

‘What happened to her?’ He was enjoying the conversation.

‘I lost her. Her parents said I was no match to their daughter. I was too poor to love a rich girl. That was when I hoped to become rich come what may. But look at me now, I’m worse than I used to be.’

‘Did you hear anything about her?’

‘No. I believe she’s married to a wealthy man.’

‘That was when you met mother, I guess.’

‘No. I dated a few ladies before her. Son…’ He shook his head. ‘Your mother did not fit the lady I wanted to marry. I did not love her.’

‘Father…’ He almost screamed.

‘I know it offends you but do not be. Your mother would not tell you anything different should you ask her. We have never been happy together. You are the reason we tolerate each other.’

‘Father...’Carl was uncomfortable with the turn of conversation.

‘You deserve to know the truth. Never marry a woman you do not love. If you do, you will end up like me. Take this from me, son’ He slowed down his steps. Carl Aikins could smell the stench of stale alcohol from his father’s skin. Anytime Addo spoke a nauseating odour emanated from his breath.

‘Don’t end up like me.’ This time he spoke under a soft tone.

They could hear loud hisses and chirps as they got closer to thick vegetation. A small rat lingering on the pathway rushed into hiding when it heard their footsteps. Addo stopped walking and sat on a piece of log that was lying on the ground. He stretched his long legs out and flexed them back. He looked very exhausted.

‘I’m tired. I have lost a lot of strength.’ He pulled out a gourd from a leather bag hanging over his shoulder. ‘Will you take a sip?’ He uncorked the gourd with a hard haul.

‘No Father.’ He least expected such invitation from Addo.

‘Don’t do what I do, and you will make it.’ He poured some alcohol into his mouth and gulped it down fast. He beat his hand against his chest and winced.

‘This is not how I wanted it to be. It is shameful for me to tell you to take the house. It is yours, son. Take care of your mother.’ He gulped down the remaining drink in the bottle.

‘Ah...’ He grimaced. Carl could tell from his father’s expression that he was suffering from some pain. He seemed to struggle for breath.

‘The drink is too strong for you father. Stop drinking.’

‘The rainbow…’ He paused. ‘I used to see it when I was a little boy. It is beautiful. It is so beautiful. But I could never touch it. I never have.’ He stopped talking.

‘Open your eyes father. Open your eyes. He couldn’t be dead...’ He whispered to himself.

‘No, he couldn’t be...’ He shook his body and screamed.

‘Father, you can’t die this way.’ He trembled.

‘No, you can’t.’ Tears rolled down his cheeks. He put his hands under Addo’s neck and legs and tried to lift him up. His weight was as that of a child’s. Carl began feeling alone and abandoned. In his mind’s ear he could hear a dirge. Someone was singing for him. He walked until he reached the bank of the river. No one was there. He continued walking until he caught sight of their house. When he reached the compound, the door was ajar. His mother had returned. She came out and looked lost when he saw her son with her husband’s lifeless body.

‘What happened to him?’ She screamed. ‘No...’ She was sobbing. ‘What is it with you, Addo? Bema, is it not enough what you’ve already done?’

‘It’s okay mother.’ He was also weeping.

‘How could it be, son? Your father left you nothing.’

‘I know, but we should not mourn him this way.’

‘Why wouldn’t I? I do not know why I married him. Your life would have been different if I married a responsible man.’

‘Mother, let us talk about this later. He is dead.’ Carl did not know what to say. He was at a loss for words.

‘Bema…’ She was weeping.

‘Mother everything will be fine.’ He had to be strong for her.

‘We should tell the elders about this.’ She sighed.

‘I will go talk to Opayin Asiamoah first.’ He was still carrying Addo in his arms. After he