I remember when I was much younger, anytime Aunt Julie came to visit and left, my mom gave us a little story of themselves when they were younger. Most of the stories my mom told us were the stories of their childhood days when they were in school together. Mom was a baker then but Aunt Julie worked with the government and had a beautiful car to show for it. Mom would tell us, “If I had a rich parent like Julie, I would have been a more prominent person than her. I was better in school. Julie didn’t know anything. She scrapped through while I had it easy because I was smarter. When our results came, I did far better than her but my parents couldn’t support me.”

She told the story with a sound of regret and pain in her voice. Sometimes, she would make fun of Julie in her presence and they’ll both laugh. When the two of them meet, you could hear all the stories of their youthful days. They’ll mention names and mock at those names. When she’s gone, we’ll turn around and laugh at our mom depending on what we heard. 

Aunt Julie got transferred out of town and we never heard from her again. I didn’t hear my mom talk about her and no one brought back the memories of when they were young. 

I completed junior high school, went to senior high and also completed. It was hard going to the university but my mom remembered her own story and told me, “I won’t allow you to end up like me. Your dad wouldn’t have allowed that if he was alive. I would do everything to make it possible for you to go to the university.” 

She pushed beyond herself, and sold at odd hours to raise money for my university education. I went to Accra with nothing but dreams from my mom and a desire to do well in school and later get a good job so I could take care of my other siblings. 

When I was in my second year, my mom called. She told me, “Guess who came around town this weekend. Julie.” The name sounded familiar but I couldn’t put a face to it because it had been that long. 

My mom: “Oh don’t you remember my friend who used to come around here some years ago? That woman with a beautiful car.” 

It was the mention of the beautiful car that brought everything back to me. My mom said, “Call her. She has something for you.” I asked, “You told her about the fees?” She responded, “Yes I did. At this point in my life, I’ll talk to anyone who can help me help you. I spoke to her about it and she accepted to help. Call her number. She’s also in Accra.” 

She gave me the number and I called. She asked me to meet her at her house and I went. A very big beautiful house that befits a woman like her. When she met me she couldn’t believe her eyes. She screamed, “You don’t mean it. What did you eat to make you grow this big? He even has beards. Someone will see you and think you are a full man ooo.” I could only laugh without words. She served me drinks and later served me food. She gave me the money and told me to call her whenever I was in need. She was happy saying it and that made me think she actually meant it. 

From there she would call and ask what I was doing. She would ask me to visit whenever I got the chance. She would ask me, “You still don’t need anything?” I’ve always needed money. I will tell her about it and she would send me something immediately. Usually, it’s a huge amount, an amount my mom would never give me. 

I watched her status one late night and she sent me a message, “Why are you not asleep this time? You’re online chasing women, right?” I sent laughing emojis and told her I just came back from class. We chatted for a while and later bade each other goodnight.

The chat became our main channel of communication and as time went on, our chat became lighter, as if we were friends or even age mates. One day she sent me a porn sticker and deleted it immediately. She said, “Sorry it wasn’t meant for your eyes. I mistakenly pressed on it.” It happened another time too. That was a full-length adult movie. She didn’t delete it but apologized for the mistake.

I began to wonder why a woman her age would be interested in such things. Then I told myself, “Maybe she’s using that to satisfy her urges since she’s divorced.” 

During our chat one day, she sent one such sticker. She said, “You’re not a child so we shouldn’t pretend. Don’t you have a girlfriend?” I answered, “No I don’t. I don’t have enough to keep a girlfriend here.” She laughed at me and said casually, “You don’t need money to keep me. I will rather keep you and give you whatever you want. You’re in the university. You’re no longer your mother’s boy so act like the man that you are.” It sounded like a joke to me until that very evening she came to campus to pick me up. The whole thing happened so fast that I didn’t have time and space to even think about anything. 

That evening when she took me home, she wanted me to start doing her right away but I told her I needed time to be comfortable with her first. She threw something at me and said, “Then let’s use this while you take your time to be comfortable. It was a vibrator. I worked with that thing until I couldn’t stand it. I threw it aside and took charge. I was impressed. She didn’t behave her age in her bed. She was very active and was on top throughout. Before sending me back, she gave me a huge amount and told me, “It’s just the start. If you do what I say without drama and with secrecy, you’ll soon be driving your own car.”

It continued until my fourth year. I never called home to ask for money. When I called, I asked what they needed and sent them money. My mom was like; “Where do you get the money from? What do you do to get such an amount?” I told her I had a side gig and she told me not to forget my books because of the side gig. “You need to pass well and become somebody. Your sisters and brother need you. Don’t disappoint them.” I started giving my siblings money for petty stuff. Life was good. Aunt Julie was the good in life. 

Just around the time I was writing my final exam, she asked me to come around and I went. I was very tired. I was learning every day because I was at the critical bend of my education. When I got to her hall, I saw another woman who looked like she was in her early fifties. She introduced her to me. “Hannah, meet my friend. He’s the one I’ve been talking about to you every day.” She shook my hand and left me wondering what they talked about when they talked. Later she said, “I’m going to tell you something crazy but I know you can handle it. You’re the man. My friend here wants to experience your magic too. She knows everything about us because I tell her everything. She’s so impressed she wants some. What do you say?” 

Before I could answer, she said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be here too. It’s going to be the two of us and you. I trust you. Knock us off.” I couldn’t say much in protest. That was where my bread was buttered and I dare not break the oven that bakes the bread. It was my first time between two women. Her friend was very aggressive. She wanted more for herself and I was left confused. I didn’t want to give her so much and get Julie angry so I tried to spread it equally. Julie left us at some point to go for a drink. She came back, sat on a stool and observed the rest of the show. She urged me on. She told me to knock her out. In her own words, she said, “Let her know I didn’t lie when I told her you’re a beast.”

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After everything, the woman dipped into her bag and threw a bunch of money at me. She was shaking and at the same time singing my praises. I found it embarrassing yet said nothing. Julie drove me back to campus and I slept like a baby. I woke up and saw my roommate counting my money. He said, “You have nine thousand in your bag and we are here hungry?” I told him I was sending it home to my parents. “It’s something for my mom. Someone gave it to me to give it to her.” He believed me but that wasn’t the first time he was seeing such an amount in my bag. I saved much of the money with the intention to stop seeing Julie once school was over. 

Once her friend came into the picture, it never stopped. They will come for me on Friday night and they’ll bring me back on Saturday morning. They did that to me until I finally completed school and left. I stopped picking up her calls. During my graduation, they were there, trying to get me to notice them. My mom and my two sisters were also there. My mom was thanking her profusely for helping me but she didn’t know that something had to give before I could access that kind of help. Julie asked why I’d blocked her. Her friend was passionately begging me to resolve any problems I had with them. Once graduation was over, I left with my family. I changed my number. I didn’t want to carry them to the next stage of my life.

A year after school, there’s no job for me. I bought some tools to start something small for myself. I started a poultry farm on my mom’s land and it became the worst move I’ve ever made. I kept investing in it while I was losing everything. By the time I brought in an expert to help, I’d wasted all my money and what was left couldn’t even pay for the services of the expert. By the time I realized, I was back to square one, but still no job. 

Currently, it’s getting harder. My mom keeps reminding me of where I got help from; “Call Julie. Why are you so stubborn? She’ll help you get a job or help with something.” She even called Julie on my behalf and gave her my new number. 

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Julie called me. She said, “You had no reason to run but you did. No problem, you can always run back to me and I’ll make things happen for you.” I know she can but something has to give, that’s the whole problem. I have a girlfriend now. She’s a helper. She’s the one currently helping me stay afloat. It gets embarrassing sometimes knowing where I’d come from and how much I once had. Especially, knowing very well that I can embark on one simple journey and everything would fall into place. I don’t want to go back so I’m trying my best to make something out of the little I have. I’m sharing this story to remind myself of the promise I’ve made never to go back.

When it gets hard and all that is left for me is to go back, I’ll come here and read this story and remember to be accountable to my own promise. I’ll get a job very soon, I’m working hard at it. I’ll turn my life around instead of turning around to come face to face with Julie again. 

–Berko

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