"Ghosts: Scene 2"

                                                                        Scene 2

(Kevin laid wide awake staring at the ceiling. He knew what was coming. It wasn't a problem, he was actually greatful. He preferred this system to using his mobile phone as an alarm. He heard the water from the taps stop running, the toilet flushed then the door slammed.)

Dad: Kevin! Hurry up!

(Kevin scurried from his bed, luckily he had packed all his stuff from the night before, so he was ready. He grabbed his towel and jumped into the bathed. It was 7.30am, he knew had to make the 8 o'clock bus or risk being late. He washed himself quickly hopped out brushed his teeth and creamed himself at the same time. He looked at himself in the mirror and added extra cream to his hair. Today was the big day, his first time representing the football team in the Essex cup. He laughed at how much attention he was paying to his appearance as it wouldn't count for anything as he would be getting 'stuck in' within a few hours. After he got changed he ran down the stairs. His family were rushing around the house. His big Sister slammed the door behind her as she was late for college. Kevin skipped past his mother to get his boots from the back garden. They were sparkling clean as he scrubbed them the night before. He placed them in his bag.)

Dad: Be quick before you miss the bus please.

Kevin: Yes Dad.

Dad: Are you not eating breakfast? You woke up late that is why you are rushing.

Kevin: I will just take an apple I will be ok.



Mum: Patrick come and eat your Weetabix, Kojo don't forget to go to the dry cleaners for me. Please.


Dad: Yes, no problem.

Patrick: Kevin you are playing your first big game! You need to eat alot or you won't score! Haha!

Kevin: look at this kid, I beg you go and play with your power rangers!

Patrick: Good luck bro! Daddy, Kevin is going to play for England or Ghana soon.

(Kevin's dad's face was stiff as he continued to read the paper, it was as if he didn't hear what was said. Kevin shrugged off his dad's response and slid out of the house. He jogged up the street and met some of his friends at the bus stop. Within 30 minutes he was in school. He had double science then straight to ealry lunch. He struggled to focus during the lessons. His mind was focused on performing in the game. He had been playing his heart out in the last few weeks and the sports coaches noticed him.)
 
(After lunch-time the team met outside the school gate to get on the team bus. Kevin's stomach was filled with butterflies, he was sick with nerves. Nathan's dad pulled up to the gates with the team bus. He came to watch Nathan at every game. Some of the players felt Nathan wasn't good enough to start but only started becuase his dad came along. But that was irrelevant to Kevin, he was amazed that his Dad made effort to support Nathan and the rest of the lads)

Simon: Oi! I'm gasssseddd bruv! We need to win!

Nathan: Bruv, we need to beat these guys! But they are some solid white boys, they love winning headers and sliding in! But we got more skill and technique than them, we can out do them! Oi Kevin what you saying? You ready yeah!?

Kevin: Course fam! Don't be silly!

James: Haha! Kevin this ain't no B team ting you know, this is the realness make sure your on job!

(James comment added more anxiety rather than instill confidence.)

Mr Wilson: Lets go boys we have a job to do, lets get it done, simple.

Football Team: Come on lads!

(As they pulled into the school, Kevin noticed how big the school was. It was an academy school in Essex. Majority of the pupils were white, they wore a posh looking uniform. Blue blazers and green ties. Kevin thought it was quite peculiar. He heard Simon mutter the words 'nerds' and 'geeks'. The team sniggered at his comments. The P.E teacher from the other school was very well mannered and showed the team to the changing room.
As they got changed Mr. Wilson went through the tactics, Kevin already knew he wasn't going to start. He would have ben suprised if he got any game time at all.)

Mr. Wilson: 1, 2, 3 LETS GO!!!

(The team were motivated, Kevin had never felt a multitude of emotions like this in his life.
The whilstle blew and the game kicked off, it was very physical from the first minute. Tackles were flying in left right and centre. James was in the mixer as usual battling for headers and winning tackles. Mr. Wilson and the other subs jeered at every descision that the referee made. Kevin was intrigued at how competitive the game was, he observed in silence.)

Mr. Wilson: Sam! Mark your man ! What are you doing?! No!

(St. Bernard's had scored! Poor marking from the corner kick, everybody switched off. Kevin was sweating, the clock was ticking up to half time. Straight from the kick off, Jame's lost the ball and  St. Bernard's took advantage with a sweeping counter attack and another goal. Kevin wanted to faint. Mr. Wilson was raging and the other substitutes were silent.)

Mr. Wilson: How long ref?

Ref: Calm down Sir.

Mr. Wilson: What?

(Calvin made a neat run into the box and was tripped up! Penalty! Kevin cheered and watched nervously.
Calvin stepped up to take the penalty. He ran up and hit it low and hard but the keeper parried it out. The crowd gasped, but Calvin was quick to get the rebound. The referee blew the whilste for half time. The half finished 2-1 to St. Bernards.)

Mr. Wilson- Come on Somerfield we can do this!

(The second half began in the same fashion. Everything was a blur, the game was going 200mph. Simon picked out Nathan on the left but he got caught in possession and lost the ball.)

Nathan's Dad- Come on son you can do it! Keep going forward you can break them!

(Nathan had a tough game but he kept pressing on. His dad would surely lose his voice from screaming at him. The ref blew the whistle for a free kick outside the box. Nathan knocked it to Jamie who fed it back to Nathan who smashed it in! Goal! the score was 2-2! There was 5 minutes left.)

Mr. Wilson: Kevin! Get changed your coming on!

(Kevin froze in fear, he hadn't warmed up up or even stretched. His legs turned into noodles.)

Mr. Wilson: Ref last sub!

(Kevin jogged out, he looked at the centre back he was up against, big meaty white boy, he had been battling all game and didn't show signs of getting tired. Jamie fed the ball to Kevin, Kevin passed it back. Kevin thought to himself 'Easy option, don't do too much'. He recieved the ball to feet and got closed down quickly, the ref blew for a foul. He looked up and saw Nathan was in space.)

Kevin: Send it long to Nathan he's in space!

(Jamie played a ball to Nathan who controlled it and drove to the box. Even though the crowd was loud Nathan's dad's voice could be heard through the ground. 'Go on son'! Kevin left his man and drove into the box, Nathan crossed it in and Kevin blasted it into the top corner. The whole team including the keeper and subs ran to Kevin and jumped on him! The feeling of euphoria took over the whole team as the ref blew the final whistle!
 
The team had celebrated on the way back to school! Cheering on the bus all the way back. Once they got back to school everybody had already gone home. Nathan's Dad offered Kevin a lift.)

Kevin: I'm ok I'll just get the bus.

Mr. Smith: No way your getting in with us!

(Kevin hopped in the car.)

Mr. Smith: Oi! Brilliant goal Kev! Love that! Debut goal as well, what a belter!

Nathan: Dad don't gas him up! Haha!

Mr. Smith: Nathan give him a break, that was amazing for his first game, he came on with 5 minutes to go and does that! I didn't know you had that in your locker

Kevin: Neither did I! haha!

Mr. Smith: Your old man must be proud.

(Nathan smiled awkwardly and looked at his phone.  

After 10mins they reached the traffic lights at the top of his road.)

Kevin- I'll get off here !

Mr. Smith- No problem lad! See you next game!

(Kevin steps out and jogs to his front door. He opens the door and patrick runs to him laughing and cheering.)
 
Patrick: Kevin! Kevin! Whoop Whoop!

Kevin: Oi chill out! Haha!

Patrick: Max said you scored a sick goal! Everybody knows about it in the area!

Kevin: It was ok, it wasn't that sick. It was my first game so lets just see how it goes.

(Kevin walked through the living room and Patrick followed him.)

Kevin: Good evening Dad.

(His dad looked up from his newspaper and nodded his head.)

Mum: Kevin, your auntie is upstairs, say hello to her before you go and do your homework.

Kevin: Yes mum.

Dad: Kevin make sure your homework is finished before you go to sleep. You are even late, you need to be prepared for school in the morning. Remember this morning you were scrambling.

Mum: Oh, Kojo leave the boy, it's ok.

Dad: The boy isn't get paid for playing football he shouldn't get ahead of himself. I have to keep him grounded, hard work is what is need in this country. Now go upstairs, Patrick you need to go to bed soon as well.

(Kevin slowly walked up the stairs to his room as he walked up the stairs his auntie was walking down the stairs. His Auntie comfort was his mum's sister. She was a 'younger' auntie. Kevin was always happy to see her. He could relate to her more, she didn't hold typical ghanaian traditional and cultural values in such high regard. She had a fiery attitude but she was always good to him.)

Auntie Comfort: Eh! Footballer! bang bang bang! That is good you are scoring goals. In a few years make sure you give me your cut of the money!

Kevin: Hahaha! Auntie your crazy!

Auntie Comfort: You are crazy. Are you seeing how much these people are getting to kick a ball. Even I could do it! Patrick, was we not playing football in the garden?

Patrick: Yes!

Auntie Comfort: You see, your brother knows! Listen go and do your homework but make sure you don't forget this blessing! Use it, you can even be a manager if you can't play football you can do something. Just don't forget my money boy!

Kevin: Haha! O auntie!

(She hugged him and kissed his cheek. Kevin entered his room and slumped on his bed, he smiled as he looked up at the ceiling.)
 
End Scene.

"Ghosts"

                                                                                Ghosts

                                                                                Scene 1

Ghana, Accra, 1960...

Pastor: I will close with this last word, Proverbs 16:24, kind words are like honey sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Please, I urge you to love your neighbour as you love yourself! This is pleasing to the
Lord! Amen!

Congregation: Amen!

(The congregation filtered out of the church slowly. The temperature was sweltering hot, it was not a pleasurable type of heat, there was no breeze, it was sticky and humid. The walls of the church building were sweating. Mosquitos feasted on the skin of members of the congregation. Kojo ran outside ahead of Kwame, they were laughing as they peeled off the corner of the gates.)

Kojo: Haha! You can't catch me! You are too slow! You are eating fufu all day like Uncle Boogie. (Kojo stops running and begins to walk slowly and clutch his belly. He squints his eyes and throws his head up to the sky. Kojo is laughing uncontrollably.) Oh look at me, I sit on the porch all day! I think I am pregnant now. Both of the boys squeeled with laughter. They rolled on the grass laughing out loud.

(The adults all stood outside the church building laughing and talking. Kojo walked back and saw his father's  stern face staring at him. His stomach sank immediately. His dad's skin was a glorious dark shade of brown, he wore traditional kente garments with gold sandals. He wore gold chains and gold rings which glistend in the sun. He stood unmoved in silence. Kojo looked at his sandals and the bottom of his trousers. Both were stained by mud and grass. He already knew that this alone had brought shame to his father.The unmistakable feeling of disappointment filled him.)

Kojo- Father, I'm sorry, I was playing with-

Father- Kwame, yes I saw you. (He looked around and gave a forced smile.)

Kojo- Sorry Father, I didn't mean to-

Father- Get into the car.

Mr Osei- Hey! Master!

Father- Hey Cheif!

(Both men shook hands and embraced each other. Mr Osei was one of Kojo's class teachers.)

Mr Osei- Hey boy! Let me see your muscles.

(Kojo laughed and began to tense his biceps, Kwame did the same.)

Mr. Osei- Kojo is doing well! He is excelling in crafts and music!

(Kojo's father cracked a thin smile at Mr. Osei and Kojo.)

Mr. Osei- He is a good boy you should be proud!

(Kojo walked to the car where the driver and his mother were already seated. His mother was fair skinned. She wore matching kente, gold and purple embroidery which glowed lavishly in the sun. Her long slender nails tapped the seat as she waited for her husband to arrive. His mother was usually quiet. She looked at Kojo in the mirror as he stepped into the car. She smiled at him and he smiled back, her warm smile instantly eased his anxiety. He looked outside the window and looked at the people at the front of the church. Many kids ran around playing joyfully. He could see Kwame wrestling with his siblings care free. He chuckled as they rolled on the floor. He could see Mr. Osei and his father were engrossed in conversation. His father's face was completely neutral whilst Mr. Osei's face was lined with emotion and passion. Mr. Osei's arms were moving frantically as if he was trying to demonstrate something, but Kojo couldn't quite guess what he was trying to express. After a while they shook hands and his father strode back to the car. The feeling of anxiety and fear rushed back. The driver hopped out quickly to open the door and closed it quietly behind him. As the chauffeur drove Kojo admired the local community. Osu was always busy, people were at the market selling different goods. Most of the people didn't have much money but they were all joyful. Meanwhile the atmosphere in the car was completely different. The sun was beaming down . The aroma of chicken, and bush meat being grilled on the fire floated in the air. Small kids sold pure water in small packets. The sounds of dogs barking and chickens clucking could be heard through the district. After 30 minutes the chauffeur turned into a quiet road. They approached a large houyse with silver gates. The house boy was alerted by the chauffeur's flashing headlights. He rushed to the gates to open them. The driver pulled up next to another large car. The house boy opened the door for Kojo and his mother. They walked inside the house. Kojo slid past his parents quietly and crept up the stairs to his room, as he almost reached the top of the stairs his father called out his name.)

Father- Kojo come downstairs, now!

(Kojo's stomach sank and he let out a quiet sigh. He came downstairs and walked into the living room. His parents sat together, his father's face was blank, his mother's face was also nuetral. She stared straight past 

Kojo. His father sat upright, his gold chains were still shining in the room. The room was silent all that could be heard was a fly buzzing and his father's gold chains clinking.)

Father- Look at that man (He points at the painting on the wall) Who is he?
 
Kojo- General Attah.

Father: Correct, and next to him is his brother Attah Amu. This is our legacy, they are warriors, blessed with intelligence and honour.

Kojo: Yes, the finest men.

Father: What are you doing with your legacy?

Kojo- I'm not a fighter, I just-

Father- All I can see in front of me is a small boy that looks like he stole his clothes. Even the house boy can maintain his clothes!

Kojo- I'm sorry-

Father- Your a disgrace to the legacy!

(Kojo began to weep, his glanced at his mother. She remained unmoved but he caught a glimpse of what like a tear trickling down the side of her face. Yet she kept silent.)

Father: I work hard and give clothes and you soil them! Look at this! (He reached behind him and picked up some small wooden sculptures. Kojo had made these sculptures of both his parents in class.) You are weak! Look at these, useless! Instead of focusing on core studies of greatness you are making play things! Focus on your Maths, and your English! Nobody will do any business with you if all you know is nonsense! (He throws the models on the floor and crushes them under his feet.)

Kojo- No! Those are mine-

(His father removes his belt and strikes Kojo twice. He falls back and bumps his head against the wooden table. He spins and runs to his room crying.)
 
Father- Think about your honour and your tradition!

(Kojo runs into his room and shuts the door behind him. He lays on his bed and stares at the ceiling. Tears continue to flood his face...)

End Scene