Chapter one
Authors: jaden Nakaning
THE ENCOUNTER
Copyright at Nana Kwaku Aning
2014
Chapter One
Monday morning was always a day that reminded James Dickson of the stack realization that he had been unemployed for about a year now. The alarm bell rang, signifying time to wake up from a deep slumber. The echoes of the dream still lingered at the edge of his vision. What was the dream about? He tried to remember but as always could not recall anything. He glanced at his watch and immediately sprang from his bed and rushed to his bathroom
Breakfast was made up a thin porridge with crust of biscuits. A quick glance at the watch told him he had thirty minutes to get to the interview. He dressed and stared at his reflection in the mirror. It was the look of a well groomed young man. He found his key and locked his door. On his way out, he spied his co-tenant with whom he shared the two bedroom house. ‘Good morning Mr. Sam” James hollered out to the soldier or so he claimed as he walked out of the house. The early morning mist was still heavy in the air as he reached the main road. The community he lived in was sparsely populated with finely constructed buildings. His neighbours were very friendly.
He hailed a taxi and told the driver to alight at the sinapi junction. As the car raced along the road, he gazed across the road and saw a kaleidoscope of individuals carrying their wares to the market. Mondays was a market day for the town of Soadey. The town boasted of modern buildings and fairly good constructed roads. It was a hustle in the early mornings as traders’ jostled each other to get a few coins from their customers. His mind wondered to the many children hawking in the streets.
“Please sir we have arrived.” The driver prompted him and he instantly snapped from his reverie.
He paid the driver and thanked him. At last he had arrived at the Danmark ltd. The building was elegantly constructed with polished tinted glass. He pushed the glass door in front of him and immediately approached the receptionist. She was smartly dressed in a black suit. He greeted her and asked of where the interview was conducted and was directed. He met a throng of individuals sitting on benches in the room. Faces turned to stare at him as he silently closed the door. He mouthed a silent greeting to them and took his seat beside a lady.
The moment he sat down, his name was called out. Now that was lucky he said to himself. He entered the room and saw three smartly dressed individuals sitting behind a well polished desk. James had read every material on interviewing techniques but the atmosphere in the room was tense. He noticed a wooden chair before the panel but made no move to sit down. A middle aged woman in an impeccable grey stripped suit asked him to take a seat. James took his seat and waited with bated breath for the questions. “So James why should we pick you?” the interview had at last began in earnest.
Chapter Two
The interview was did not take long. James was told when to report for work. He thanked them and went out of the room. On his way back home he contemplated the frustration he had to go through in his job search when he was laid off from the mining company. He dimly recalled a chat with some of his friends while in the university. They had dreamt of the big cars and fat checks. A year after university and all these dreams had turned to dust in their mouths. He glanced at his watch as he sat in the car and realized it was nearly four in the evening. He paid his fare and alighted at his junction. He felt his stomach rumbling and knew he had to get something to eat. He made his way slowly towards his house. He met Mrs. Freeman and they greeted each other. She was a very amiable woman whose husband had died some years ago. He smiled kindly at her and wondered what people thought any time the said his name. Dickson was always a subject of laughter anytime it was mentioned in class. He finally reached his house, entered and saw his room mate watching a jean Claude van dame movie. His roommate claimed it reminded him of some of his stints in Liberia during their civil war. James always wondered if it was not an over exaggeration on his part. They chatted a bit about the interview and he retired to his room to heat some frozen food for his rumbling stomach.
After a hearty meal, James joined his roommate, Sam, in the living room to watch the evening news. A young woman with a dimpled face sat beside a convoluted desk and spilled out the news of the day.
“Scandal hits the jubilee house today as a minister of the state has been indicted in misappropriation of state funds into his private accounts” James inwardly sighed as he realized his roommate was about to rant again.
“You know, this country needs a wake up call. Someone who will take the blazing guns to their faces. When I was young, these people would never try to steal state funds. Our time was one of patriotism and self sacrifice. How can young men like you find good jobs when the older generations are siphoning money into their pockets.” James listens to his roommate’s ranting about the 1960’s and the coups that followed.
Around ten, James bade him goodnight and entered his bedroom to sleep. The moment his head hit the pillow, he heard the croaking of the frogs and screeching of whatever night animal out there. Sleeps gradually overtook him and he sank into wonderland.
***
Chapter Three
The crowing of a cock announced the dawn of a new day. James woke up but unsuccessfully tried to recall the dream. He could only recall being in a church building. Its being years since he went to church ever since his sister died some years ago. He vividly recalled his childhood. His parents were both staunch Christians. They were a family of four until his sister died of leukemia. It was a year he would never forget. His family broke apart immediately after his sister death. While his mother took solace in her church activities and his once strong father became a recluse. James was barely noticed in the house and right after university moved out of the family home and never returned.
A dog bark near his window brought him out of the past. He mentally shrugged of his self pity and prepared himself for the day. His co-tenant was still asleep as he made his way out of the house. The house was a two bedroom house, each tenant had his kitchen but they shared a living room and washroom. It was comfortable for James since his meager salary he had saved could afford the rent.
The early rays of the sun gave some warmth to him as he slowly trekked his way to board a car. He hailed a taxi which by it looks had seen better days. He told the driver to take him to the main market. Upon exiting the car, he was greeted by wares of different kinds. Although Tuesdays were not market days, there were a good number of traders and hawkers in the market. His nose was assailed by the various reeks of freshly chopped meat and the smells of roasted fish. He quickly sauntered towards the clothing section and noticed a woman who sat behind wares of different types of utensils. He tries to jug his memory as to where he had seen her before but could not place her. He tried to move on but when the woman loudly exclaimed.
“Oh my God, is it you James?” she asked.
He tried to recall her but she does the job for him. “I am Sandra; we were classmates in junior high.” Memories gushed out of him as he recalled the girl who used to tease him because of his name. He mentally winced at the memory but plastered a smile on his face. “Yea, I remember now. Sandra Ankobah, right. It’s being a long time. How are you?” James asked her.
They talked at length about old times and parted company. As he strolled away he wondered to himself what happened to Sandra. She came from a rich family and had truly a great future for herself. He could not help but he noticed she was embarrassed as they conversed. Life was very interesting he thought to himself. He perused various suits to wear and finally settled on a black suit, not too expensive and not to cheap either. He returned from the market very late. He prepared a scanty meal and read through the Dan Mark Ltd website. He eventually went to bed but could not help overhearing his neighbours having an argument as to which party was in a good position to lift the country from its economic mismanagement. He only hoped his neighbours were aware that government was the problem and not the solution.
***
Chapter Four
He was falling into a dark hole. He could hear screams of people. James woke up in a cold sweat. He felt his heart beating even long after the dream had faded from his mind. He felt a certain premonition but could not explain it. As a child he always felt goose bumps anytime something bad was to happen. He gazed at the rosary hanging beside his bedpost. He could not recall the last time he prayed. He got out of bed and prepared himself for the orientation at the headquarters of Dan Mark Ltd in Accra. He cooked a hearty meal for himself and left some for his roommate. Sam was a heavy sleeper and would not wake up till late in the morning. After he downed his porridge, he set out for the orientation. He arrived at the company very early. He was taken round the premises by the head of customer services. The head told him about the history of the company.
“The company was set up in the 1990s by Daniel Mark, an American national. It was established to offer the very best services to customers. We have no room for slackers here in this company. “
“I will do my best to live up to your expectation” James replies solemnly. James lingered around the company a bit talking to the employees and familiarizing himself with the company. He left to board a bus at the station around eleven o’clock.
As he got ready to board the bus, he noticed a fair lady waiting to join the bus. As he got closer to she turned her face towards him. For a moment it was if time had stopped. “Hey” they both exclaimed at the same time. They realized their mistake and laughed sheepishly. She blushed and James wondered if he still felt the same way about her after so many years.
“Wow its being a long time. How are you?” Tessa enquired. James smiled enigmatically and said to her “Well you know me, I am like a hawk. I cannot stay in one place. But I am good. Just seeing your face has put me in a very good mood”
She rolled her eyes at her words. The conductor asked them to board the bus. As James got into the bus he made sure he got a seat beside her. Tessa was her colleague in the university. He had a serious crush on her but never got the chance to tell Tessa how he felt about her. He had always been fascinated by her twinkling eyes. So deep in thought was he that he almost failed to catch her question. “You were saying?” James enquired.
“What are you dreaming about lover boy?” she playfully smacked his arm. “Well I was wondering where I slept yesterday because it seems the almighty has answered my prayers” he said. “Really and what would that be?” she responded back. He playfully winked at her. The bus had gradually picked up speed. Some passengers implored the driver to reduce his speed. James and Tessa were so beguiled with each that they failed to notice all that.
Suddenly they heard the passengers screaming as the bus tried to overtake another vehicle but the driver made a misjudgment. Faced with another oncoming vehicle the driver had no choice but to veer off the road. Unfortunately an articulated truck had broken down on the road. James felt a shiver down his spine and recalled his premonitions in the morning. He analyzed the circumstance in microseconds and knew there was no option than to pray. As the driver tried to slow down his speed to avoid inevitable collision, James could see the terror in the eyes of Tessa and did what any man any his stead would do. He whispered a silent prayer and shielded Tessa with his body as the bus collided with the truck.