Sakyi gripped the steering wheel of his Toyota Corolla, navigating the city’s early evening traffic. The setting Saturday sun cast a warm glow over the streets, and his heart raced with anticipation for the meet-and-greet. The venue was Leslie’s house, located in one luxurious conclave in Labone, and it promised to be a grand time.

Can’t wait to meet the squad, he thought to himself as he drove on. Especially the lady who’s gonna play the role of Rose. I wonder who she is…

His phone buzzed in the holder, and he glanced at the screen.

It was his father.

He hit the button to answer, putting the call on speaker. “Hello, Dad.”

“Hello, my son,” his father’s deep, steady voice came through. “How are you doing?”

“I’m good ooo, Dad. Everything is good. All is well. How are you and Ma?”

“We’re good oo. Your mother is outside with Sekyeraa and her boyfriend; they came around for a visit.”

“Oh, nice. Sweet. Well, I’m on my way to the meet-and-greet for the play. You know, the one I auditioned for.”

There was a pause on the other end, the kind of pause that always preceded one of his father’s thoughtful responses. “I see. That’s good, very good. I know this is important to you.”

“Oh yeah. It is,” Sakyi agreed. “It means a lot.”

His father exhaled audibly. Sakyi knew what that meant; the thoughtful response was coming.

“Well, Sakyi, you already know this. When you first told me you wanted to pursue this acting thing, I wasn’t pleased. You know that. I wanted something stable for you, something of note and repute within the society. But with time, I’ve learned that my wishes are not your destiny, and I can’t force them on you. God has His own plans for you; I’m just here to guide you towards them.”

Sakyi smiled, his chest warming. “Thanks, Dad. I know you only wanted the best for me.”

“That I do,” his father continued. “And once this is God’s will for you, then I want it for you. But listen, whatever path you choose, you must remain diligent. Work very hard, and more importantly, stay upright. Be honest, be respectful, and let your integrity speak louder than your talents. In this world, it’s not just about how far you go, but how you get there.”

Sakyi nodded, even though his father couldn’t see him. “I hear you, Dad. And I promise you, I’ll do my best to stay true to myself and to what’s right.”

“Good. I’m always gonna be proud of you, son. Keep walking the path, and remember, you always have a home here.”

“Thanks, Dad. I really appreciate that.”

“All right, then. Drive safely, and keep me updated on how it all goes.”

“I will. Bye, Dad.”

“Goodbye, my boy.”

Sakyi ended the call, a gentle smile on his face.

Indeed, the old man had not been very enthusiastic about him becoming an actor. He wanted the typical line of jobs every African parent wanted for their child: lawyer, doctor or engineer. That, of course, was not what Sakyi wanted, desiring the life of entertainment. It took a while for Mr. Ampor-Jones to accept his son’s direction, but eventually he did, realizing that forcing a job on his head would amount to resentment from him.

He drove on, replaying his father’s words in his mind: God has His own plans for you; I’m just here to guide you towards them.

He nodded to himself, his grip on the wheel tightening. “That’s so on point, chale,” he muttered, a chuckle escaping him. “Thank God for understanding parents.”

***

The meet-and-greet was in full swing by the time Sakyi arrived at Leslie’s home. The house was everything one would expect from a successful YouTuber turned entertainment entrepreneur—spacious, modern, with sleek furniture and framed posters of viral moments from Leslie’s career hanging on the walls.

A massive sectional couch wrapped around the living room, and an open-plan kitchen sat to the side, where a few drinks and snacks were laid out.

The cast members and crew were scattered around the room, chatting, laughing, and getting to know one another. Leslie stood in the center, his trademark charm and mischievous looks on full display as he moved between groups, making sure everyone felt at ease.

Walking over to the kitchen, Sakyi grabbed a bottle of water and found a seat near the window. He smiled as he looked around, still soaking in the reality of being here, surrounded by other talented people, all of them chosen for this project.

As he scanned the room, Leslie clapped his hands to grab everyone’s attention.

“Hello, everyone!” Leslie called out with a grin. “If I can have a minute or two of your time, please… yes, so, chale, I’m so glad you could all make it. First off, thank you for being here tonight. I know it’s the busy season, we know how crazy Accra gets during the Christmas period, but this is the beginning of something special. You’re all here because you’re the best, and I have no doubt this play is going to be amazing.”

There were murmurs of agreement and a few claps.

“One quick thing,” Leslie continued, “our Rose is running a bit late. She lives at Community 25, and, well…” He paused, his face twisting into a grimace.

The entire room groaned in unison, and Sakyi couldn’t help but chuckle. Of course, everyone knew how mentally and psychologically exhausting the traffic at Community 25 could get.

“Exactly,” Leslie laughed. “And we’re in the middle of December too, so chale, wild kraaa. But she’s on her way. Once she arrives, we get down to business. In the meantime, use this chance to mingle. Get to know each other. You’ll be working hard once Christmas is over because we’ve got to be ready for Valentine’s Day. So, when she comes, I’ll let y’all know. Thanks for giving me your time!”

A ripple of conversation spread through the room as people turned to their neighbors to chat. Sakyi glanced to his right and noticed a guy sitting nearby, sipping on a drink and scrolling through his phone. Deciding to make the most of the opportunity, he leaned over.

“Boss man,” he started with a friendly smile. “I’m Sakyi.”

The guy looked up, his face lighting up. “Oh, bigman, what’s up? I’m Etornam.” He extended a hand, and Sakyi shook it firmly.

“So, what role are you playing?” Sakyi asked.

“Samuel, Kwame’s best friend,” Etornam replied. “You’re Kwame, right?”

Sakyi nodded. “Yeah, that’s me.”

“Nice. I guess we’ll be spending a lot of time together, then.”

“Looks like it,” Sakyi chuckled. “So, what’s your background? Have you done some acting before?”

“Chale, some small small acting bi like that,” Etornam admitted, leaning back in his chair. “Mostly stage plays at church. I’m more into writing, though. Scripts, short stories, that kind of thing. But as I see this audition, I thought, why not? Make I try out and see.”

“Vim, vim. And here you dey.”

“Yeah, chale. Wild stuff. What about you? Been at this long?”

“I’ve just had a passion for it for years now,” Sakyi answered. “This be my first major opportunity, though. So, chale, I’m really hoping to make the most of it.”

“I hear that,” Etornam nodded, raising his glass slightly. “Here’s to making the most of it.”

Sakyi laughed and tapped his water bottle against Etornam’s glass. “To making the most of it.”

***

Ten minutes on, and Sakyi and Etornam were deep in conversation, now exchanging opinions about movies and TV shows.

“All right, best acting performances I’ve ever seen?” Etornam began, looking thoughtful. “Let’s start with the obvious one—Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight. The man was untouchable.”

Sakyi sat up straighter, his eyes lighting up. “Chaleeeeee! Don’t even get me started. The guy was evil ankasa. It wasn’t just acting—it was… something else entirely. He became the Joker. Now if you mention the Joker, it’s that performance that comes to mind. Straight up.”

“Exactly!” Etornam said, pointing at him. “You watch that, and you’re like, how can anyone even come close? That’s a career-defining role. It’s sad that the guy died before the film came out, but chale, one of the greatest of all time.”

“Oh, sharp kraa. Definitely one of the greatest of all time,” Sakyi agreed firmly. “Who’s next on your list?”

“Denzel Washington in Training Day. Alonzo Harris. Tell me you’ve seen it.”

Sakyi gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. “Seen it? My guy, the way I’ve watched that movie eh! Denzel be my guy! The man owned the role ankasa. The swagger, the menace… chale, it was so good, I almost wanted to root for him, even though chale, na be he evil guy.”

“I tell you! That’s what makes it so brilliant,” Etornam grinned. “Denzel didn’t just play a bad guy—he made you feel him. The way he go talk ‘my nigga’ and tins, then of course, his major one… ‘King Kong ain’t got s**t on me!’ My guy, Alonzo Harris no be just a character; he be legend, straight up.”

Sakyi nodded vigorously, a wide smile on his face. “You know the thing, chale, you know the thing! Okay, hit me with your third.”

Etornam opened his mouth to respond, but Leslie’s voice rang out from the center of the room. “All right, everyone, our Rose has finally arrived!”

The room collectively turned toward the entrance as Leslie strode quickly to the door.

“Eish, your main partner dey come!” Etornam commented, a teasing grin on his face.

Sakyi snickered as he leaned forward instinctively, curious to see who would be playing opposite him.

Who’s my Rose?

Leslie opened the door, and in walked a stunning, light-skinned young woman, her hair flowing down her shoulder, her outfit casual yet effortlessly stylish.

As she stepped inside with an air of quiet confidence, many cast and crew members were wowed by her appearance.

Sakyi, however, froze.

And for a moment, all he could hear was the rush of blood in his ears.

What the bloody hell?? She’s my Rose? Her???

Of all the women in Ghana at that moment, he never would have expected her to be the one he would be acting with.

Who was she?

Miss Dufie Parker-Benin.

His ex-girlfriend.

Oh wow! That’s a surprise. He’s gonna be working with his ex? Dearie me…