Free Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo Page A

hard on the nonprofessional African woman? Eh? Esi, isn’t life even harder for the poor rural and urban African woman?’
    â€˜I think life is just hard on women,’ Esi agreed, trying to calm Opokuya down.
    â€˜But remember it is always harder for some other women somewhere else,’ Opokuya insisted. Both of them sighed.
    Esi opened her mouth to say something, then she clapped it quickly shut, opened her eyes wide and exclaimed in a whisper, ‘Opokuya, look who is here!’
    â€˜Who ... who?’ Opokuya asked, looking frantically around. But of course, there was no way she could easily have spotted the object of Esi’s excited attention, since she hadn’t met him before. Esi on her part was following him with her eyes as he, just as she had earlier, went straight up to the front desk. She tried not to stare too hard. But there was no doubt that she was interested in whoever he was. Finally, Opokuya said, with something like awe in her voice, ‘You mean that one?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Do you know him?’
    â€˜Yes. That’s Ali. Kondey. Ali Kondey.’
    Ali too had seen Esi the moment he entered the lobby. And although he had gone to the reception truly to make inquiries about a business associate he was expecting, he was also conscious of the need for him to use that time to recover from the extreme agitation that had attacked him at the sight of Esi. Then he was walking towards where the two friends were sitting.
    As he got nearer their table, he extended his right arm. ‘A-llo, Esi.’
    â€˜Hello, Ali,’ said Esi, somewhat tremulously.
    â€˜How nice to see you.’
    â€˜I thought you were out of the country.’
    â€˜Actually, since we last met, I’ve been in and out more than once.’
    â€˜You are hardly a resident here.’
    â€˜I know, it’s the fault of my job.’
    Both of them suddenly remembered that Opokuya was around.
    Oh, Ali, meet my friend Mrs Opokuya Dakwa. Opoku, Mr Ali Kondey.’
    â€˜Hello, Mr Kondey.’
    â€˜Hello.’
    Esi came back to Ali, ‘Would you like to join us?’
    Much of All’s charm poured out. ‘You know I would love to,’ he said, ‘but I’ve got a guest here from across the border, and we are having a little conference in his room. In fact, I just spoke to him from the desk. He is expecting me.’
    â€˜That’s okay then,’ Esi squeaked, her voice gone even thinner.
    â€˜Still, it is a shame I can’t join you,’ Ali added. ‘But could I please phone you sometime during the coming week, Esi?’
    Esi said that that would be fine. Ali thanked her, adding that it was a pleasure meeting Opokuya. Then he was gone.
    â€˜God, he is gorgeous,’ breathed Opokuya, as soon as she was sure Ali wouldn’t hear her.
    Esi agreed that Ali was handsome. Then with enormous surprise, Opokuya noticed that Esi’s eyes were sparkling. She stayed quiet for a fraction of a second, and then asked Esi easily if she did not know Ali Kondey rather well.
    â€˜Sort of,’ Esi said, not so easily.
    â€˜So what is this rubbish lonely-hearts line you’ve been serving me? And there was idiot me trying so hard to console you. Hah! Hah! Hah!’ Opokuya had pretended to be angry and ended up laughing. Esi giggled.
    â€˜Please, Opoku.’
    â€˜Please my foot. I just caught you out. That’s all.’
    â€˜You see, it wasn’t something I thought I could talk easily about, even to you.’
    â€˜No?’
    â€˜Not really … it’s true he’s been showing a lot of interest. Bringing me all sorts of gifts from his travels. Stuff like that. But I’ve been trying not to encourage him.’
    â€˜Why not? After all, if you are leaving Oko or you have already left him, then you might as well take an insurance policy.’
    â€˜Opoku, you are not being nice. And in any case, you know I’m not at all