Chapter 6

   The end of the first semester is here. We just finished the end of semester examination and I can hit my chest hard and say "passing is in my future". Amahle and I studied together and I must say the exam went very well.

    Vacation came fast as lightening. Amahle informed me that she would be going to South Africa to spend time with her family, Becky also said she would be going home for the vacation as well. Meanwhile, I will definitely be calling my people in Ghana. I make sure to video call them to see how they are doing as well as give them an insight on how Harvard looks like. A few students also stayed in the house but I felt lonely. My only two friends had gone and because I am on a scholarship I don't have the funds to go back home.

     I sat alone at the Randolph Court eating biscuits and Coca-Cola while I had my phone in my hand so that I can call them. Ugh, I miss eating plantain chips.

    After a few seconds of ringing, they picked the call.

   'Eish Seyram, is that you?' my mother exclaimed. I giggled,'Yes mama, it's me'.

     'Èzu nyɔnu gã aɖe. Ðe menye nenemae oa?(You have become a big woman. Isn't that so?

    'Ẽ, metsi', (Yes, I have grown).

    'How is USA, Harvard? Have you made friends?' my dad dropped his questions.

    'Its good so far. USA is really nice at least the tiny portion, I have seen. Plus, I have made some friends but my closet friend is the South African girl I told you about. She is a really nice person and I have a roommate '.

   'That's good. What about studies, how's that going?' he further questioned.

    'It's good, we are on vacation. We just wrote our examination. My friends have gone home to be with their families, unfortunately I am not on my own so it's complicated but I am sure I will be back there after four years '.

    They even made my little sister say "Hi" to me. She is the exact replica of young me. She has my big eyes, slightly pointed nose but the skin colour is my dad's colour. Her name is "Enam" which is short for "Mawuena"which means 'Gift from God" however "Enam" has an incomplete meaning which is 'He gave me'. She is just sixteen but the things she has achieved I have never achieved half of that.

    Soon the call was over. In the process of putting my phone back into my purse. A guy shouted "Hey" and held my shoulder. I shrieked at first out of being scared but when I realized it was my cute boy Richard.

    'Oh hi there. You almost scared my soul out of my body', I hit him on his broad chest. He cackled so cutely I could almost jump on him and plant a big wet kiss on his cheeks. Then he sat down next to me.

   'Sorry, I saw you here making phone call'.

    'How long were you watching me?' I questioned.

    'When I got here I already saw you on the video call so it was long enough'.

     'I am so bored and lonely. My friends have all left me to go and see their families and I am here all alone'.

   He looked at me with his brown eyes. I could even smell the scent of his cologne dancing around my nostrils.

    'Whenever you feel bored you can come over or you can give me a call; you know where my house is', he said.

     'I don't want to bother you. You would also want to spend time with your family. That leads me to this question, Why are you on campus? Shouldn't you be at home?'Let me tell you a secret. I may be swimming in money but trust me. My parents don't have time for me. They have never had time for me. So I could use a companion especially now that there is no school to get me busy. Plus like you, all my friends have gone home'.

   No wonder, he could throw parties at his mansion. I don't think if his parents get to know that's what he is doing, they would be pleased or who knows how people here discipline their children. Eh, I am African, raised from an African home. Slippers,cane, hanger, palms of our mothers and occasionally sweeping brushes are the tools of punishment. How would I know how parents discipline their children here.

    He took me out and we spent the whole day chatting, going to parks, eating Mexican foods like tacos, quesadillas and tamales he wanted me to try. The tamales were wrapped in steamed corn husks like the ones used to wrap kenkey in Ghana. Our last destination was his house. As usual his parents weren't home; no one was home.

'Have I told you how nice your house is?' I said still scanning the house like it was my first time.

He cracked a short smile before he chuckled,'You have, I am glad you think that'.

We sat down on his couch, talking along with laughter in between. He even gave me some pepsi which I consumed. I even started feeling cold because the air conditioning too high. Another thing which made the mood a little uncomfortable was when a sex scene in 365 days came up. I couldn't stop picturing Richard and I engaging in those erotic scenes in reality. Yes, I feel horny and I better leave before I get some trouble for myself.

'I better head home', It's getting late'. I tore myself from his grip around my waist. He looked disappointed and I wish I could stay longer but I can't trust myself especially in this cozy position we are in and the kind of movie we are watching.

'Oh well, then do you need a drive home', he offered. 'No thank you, I can just take a taxi'.

After bidding him goodbye, I left for my hostel.

'Have you slept with her already?, she asked over the phone. 'Not yet. I could tell I was having an effect on her but I will break her before next year. Mark my words'.