Adoley and Dromo shook their heads in amazement once the video was done. “Bukky, you are something else,” the older sister declared, handing the phone over to her. “I love Sia, and I know for sure that if she sees this rendition of yours, she’s going to absolutely love it!”

“I swear to God, boo! It’s giving ‘powerful songstress that cannot be contained’,” Dromo marveled, making funny signs with her fingers. “You are a gem, honey. Absolutely no doubt about that.”

Bukky’s face shined with delight. The Tu Nyom Dede organizers had just shot a video of her performing ‘Unstoppable’ using a 360 booth, and they had put some serious editing work to it. The end result was an epic video which everyone loved. “Thank you, babes!” she gushed. “I think it’s pretty epic, too.”

“Oh, it is. A goosebump-inducing performance. Magnificence all round!” Jonny declared.

The older couple had watched the video and had also commented on how awesome it was. At that moment, though, Drusilla’s attention was on what her younger daughter had said.

“Hmph! Dromo and this ‘it’s giving, it’s giving’. Where did that one too come from?” she enquired, rolling her eyes.

“It’s a Gen Z thing, Mamaa! The latest phrase to describe something in a positive light,” she responded. “You know, the equivalent of ‘it feels like’, that sort of thing.”

Drusilla shook her head and looked at Remaliah. “Hmm, these new generations and their lingo. I can’t keep up oo.”

“Not you alone, my dear. We the baby boomers, we can’t keep up,” Remaliah shrugged. “All this ‘giving’ and ‘cap’ and things. My head kraa hurts thinking about it.”

“Ebei, Paapa! Is it that deep?” Adoley laughed.

A couple of days had passed since the glorious event that was the pearl anniversary. That celebration was one that would be impossible to forget; it had left magical memories for all involved, and would be remembered for a very long time to come.

Now the entire family was in the living room of the Mills-Odoi apartment, just spending time together and chit-chatting. From remembering Jonny’s magnificent musical set to gushing over the couples’ beautiful dance, they were talking about them all. Making more memories together.

Memories that Akushika was more than proud to be a part of.

“Oh yes, it’s that deep. And then there’s ‘opp’ or something like that. Please, my brain has dealt with enough over the past few years. Let it rest,” Remaliah joked.

“That’s all. We’ll leave all that new language for you youngsters… ei, Adoley, I just remembered! So that guy who took your number at the anniversary, has he called back?” Drusilla asked.

Adoley shrugged while the other young people smirked. “He’s texted me. He did that yesterday. Responded to him, but I haven’t heard from him again.”

“Oh, don’t worry. He’s probably busy or something. He’ll get back to you soon,” Raymond assured her. “Na the way he kept eyeing you diɛɛ, he’s not going to slack, trust me.”

“Oh yeah, he’ll get back to you. Most definitely,” Jonny agreed.

Adoley shook her head. “The way you guys are talking, are you sure you’ve not gone to do agreement with him?” she questioned them, an eyebrow lifted.

Raymond and Jonny snickered. “Please, we beg ooo, no,” Raymond denied. “We just saw how he was watching you, and chale, when I saw the look in his eyes, man is ready to fulfill all righteousness.”

Everybody laughed at that while Adoley shook her head.

“Please ooo, while we’re on that, please don’t ask about that guy who approached me,” Dromo announced. “Because me, I’m off limits. John is my man, and that’s that.”

The younger folks laughed and awwwed in fake sympathy. “Oh, Dromo, you dey make the boy dey chop breakfast too early, now,” Bukky laughed.

“Say it again!” Akushika giggled. “Because he too, he was watching you paaaa. I’m sure in his mind, he was like ‘if I don’t get this girl in my life, what’s the point?'”

That got everyone laughing. “Ei, Shika!” Drusilla chortled. “You’re not good.”

“Oh, Maa Dru, you should have seen it for yourself,” Akushika laughed. “It was serious, eh.”

Dromo shrugged. “Well, sorry for him. I’m already taken, and I couldn’t be happier.”

“But Dromo, I hope you know this your boyfriend John, he needs to come and see us,” Remaliah declared, turning to his younger daughter. “He can’t just be sitting in San Francisco and be saying he’s in love with you. He should come down and meet us.”

“Ohhh, Paapa, don’t worry,” Dromo assured her father, rubbing his arm. “I’ve told him he has to do that, and he’s preparing himself. Don’t worry kraaa, he’ll come. The next time we come back to Ghana, he’ll join us.”

Remaliah nodded, a satisfied look on his face. “Good. And I hope he knows that he dare not maltreat you or break your heart.”

“Eiii, he knows papa! He knows very well. As for that one, trust me, Paapa, he won’t slack.”

“Mmm, we thank God,” Raymond commented. “Na if he slacks, he should just prepare himself for one steaming hot double cheeseburger!”

“Flaming hot!” Jonny laughed. “And if he thinks he can hide, he’s joking! Coz wherever he go go hide, Sir Remmy diɛɛ, he go find am then give to am wotowoto!”

As everyone laughed once again, Akushika felt a sense of warmth and satisfaction deep in her bosom.

This was home. This was where she belonged.

In the midst of people who loved her unconditionally and made her feel like deserved to be with them. It was one of those times where she was actually glad her real parents had kicked her out, because Lord knows she wouldn’t have been spending an evening this enjoyable with them.

Life had thrown her a curveball, but it looked more and more like it was for her good, and she was thankful for that.

“Ei, by the way, have you seen the pictures? Girl, I look fiiiinneeeee!”

“Oh yeah, I have. And D, it is not a joking matter. Especially our hair! Bukky, God bless you, wai! Your hair plug really did us show!”

“Shebi I tell you, now. Melissa eh, I no dey take am play ooo!”

***

“Okay, so… Stranger Things, Breaking Bad, Game Of Thrones. Well noted,” Akushika read out loud the list of shows Adoley had recommended she check out.

“Good, good. You’ll definitely enjoy them. And don’t mind Dromo, Breaking Bad isn’t boring. It’s just a slow burn type of series. You’ll grow to love it as you go along.”

Dromo rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Puh-leez. Trust me, Shika, it won’t take long for you to get tired and throw that series somewhere. It’s so boring!”

“You, I won’t mind you. You’ve done yourself headstrong on that series.”

“Please, please, please, it’s not headstrong matter. That show is boring. End of story.”

Akushika shook her head and stifled a giggle. It might have been a short stay, but she already knew as far as TV shows were concerned, these sisters’ interests were as different as salt and sugar.

It was Saturday morning, and the sisters were packing up. Their fourteen-day stay had come to an end, and it was time to go back to the United States to continue school. It had been a great fourteen days as far as Akushika was concerned. Adoley and Dromo were two distinct personalities, but they undoubtedly possessed the same level of sweetness their mother carried in abundance.

As they zipped up the last of their bags, they turned to her as she sat on the bed. She was experiencing a bout of fatigue, so they would have to say their goodbyes in the room.

“So, it’s been great meeting you, Shika,” Adoley started, sitting on the bed. “You’re the cutest cutie we’ve met in a while, and it’s been good hearing your story and all. I’m glad we were able to talk as much as we did here. Now, just remember, you are stronger than you think. Being a single mother doesn’t define you. It’s just a part of your incredible journey. Society might have its opinions about your situation, but that doesn’t mean it gets to write your story. You’re not alone in this, and you won’t have to face it alone.”

“Absolutely. You’re not the first girl to find yourself in this position, and you won’t be the last. What matters is how you handle it. You have dreams, goals, and aspirations. Don’t let anyone tell you that being a single mom means you can’t achieve them, or that they’ll be invalid,” Dromo added. “You’ve got much to achieve, and the time to start is now. You said you wanna delve into the fashion industry, right?”

Akushika nodded. She had never really been interested in the corporate industry her parents were training her for, and while she appreciated all she had learned, after those talks with the girls, she had decided it was time to pursue what she really found interest in. “Yep, the fashion industry it is,” she confirmed. “I’ve always been drawn to that, and I think it’s time to really go after that.”

“Wonderful. So yeah, the time is now. And believe me, you’re good. You’re gonna bring forth your beautiful daughter, and you’ll make it. You’re good,” Dromo assured her. “Forget what others say. You are good. You’ll soon look back on these days and wonder why you cried and fretted so much. You are good.”

Just then, Remaliah’s voice echoed into the room. “Adoley! Dromo! Time to move!”

“Yes Paapa! We’re coming!” they called back. They turned back to Akushika and hugged her together.

“All the best, baby girl! Wish you a safe delivery when the time comes!” Adoley declared.

“Amen! May your daughter be healthy and bouncy and as cute as you!” Dromo added. “We’ll check up on you as often as we can, alright?”

Akushika nodded gratefully. “Thank you so much, sissies!” she mouthed tearfully. “It’s been just two weeks, but you’ve done so much for me. You’re like the big sisters I never had. Thank you so much. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, booboo,” Dromo replied. “Just know we got’chu. All the way through.”

“Absolutely,” Adoley agreed. “Alright, sweetie. Time for us to move. See you!”

“Alright! Have a safe journey! And Dromo, greetings to your darling John!”

Dromo’s face lit up. “Oh, absolutely! I’ll let him know!” she answered with the cheeriest look on her face. “I can’t wait to see that man’s face again-“

“Awula, stop the daydreaming and let’s move!”

Akushika laughed as they moved out of the room. Leaning back and relaxing on the bed, she inhaled and exhaled, a smile on her face.

Awesome girls, without a doubt. God, I’m so glad they came around. Took me long enough to figure out what I needed to do with myself, but they helped me with that. Now I can really get serious with my life once Ellen comes out. Thank God for them, Adoley and Dromo. They really are the big sisters I never had…

That was some sweet encouragement from the Mills-Odoi girls. Their time was short, but it was certainly memorable and impacting on our heroine…