MY LESSONS FROM THREE WEEKS IN JAMES FORT PRISON CELL

LIFE BEHIND BARS-MY FIRST IMPRISONMENT 

I am sure for some time now those of who are close buddies have tried my phone line several times. Either I don’t pick up or it’s switched off was the answer you kept hearing. Well let me tell you why. On the eve of Christmas, a friend’s fathers had just arrived from the United States. I received a phone call from my best youthful collaborator Kojo "son of Socrates". Kojo he was given that accolade because he also refers to Socrates almost in everything he does. With exuberance that I have never heard of and an excited voice he said “captain, where is your geographical location on the compass of the sailor?” I hesitated to answer instead I was interested in his new found excitement. So I asked “son of Socrates", what could have caused so much happiness which seems to know no bounds. Or have you been visited by Socrates at his lyceum in ancient Athens?”  He brushed it off and proceeded as if I didn’t make any comment. “ charley old boi drop and he will be home in about twenty minutes. He told to call over because he has a surprise for you” old boi the secret name he called his father because he says his Dad is old an “old boy” and should stop behaving as though he was young! Kojo’s father is relatively old but like Jay –Z’s song he wants to be forever young and he still wear t shirts and act such that he is qualified to 2year old even though he is 53.

Before the call I was wondering what to do and where to go. Many places came to mine but when I migrate back in the realm of reality the rusty ceiling fan that last worked on the last Christmas stare at me while the broken louver blades reminded me of how broke I was. Not wanting to waste an opportunity I quickly polished my shoes and iron trousers. My old fugu that my father gave me old five years ago was still in good shape. After a brief prayer I left for Kojo “son of Socrates home by the beach in Teshie.

My house is not far from the bus stop. Upon getting to the bus stop, the all popular driver’s mate in my neighborhood , Kwame Atingah was shouting his usual “Teshie –Nungua Teshie Nungua”  I desperate in to get to Kojo’s home as soon as possible. But the bus wouldn’t leave until it is fully occupied. I sat by slim seductively-looking daughter of eve on the second row in a 207 trotro. I need for a while I thought I had travel back in time to ancient Egypt. She radiates beauty like the Egyptian god of the sun! It was then that I appreciated Albert Einstein’s saying that if sit on a beautiful girl for one hour you feel its one minute. After two minutes I gathered courage to approach her but I quickly withdrew because I remembered that I hadn’t brushed my teeth the whole day thanks to a broken brush!  Talking to her with such fumes can deplete the ozone layer. The bus was just about to move and I wished it could a bit so that I can get a chewing gum to buy. But no one in the bus understood that tsunami of emotions I was going through. Opening my mouth became a forbidden taboo that must much even be thought. Like two silly friends we sat there stealing looks at each other.

Kwame Atingah the mate became the most important man of the moment when I saw him removing a PK from his pocket. “Huh… God of my ancestors has done it” I exclaimed within myself. Even though I now know I can a mouth cleansing gum in the bus, taking it from Atingah was like asking the pope to admit that there is no God!  I couldn’t stand begging for PK from the drivers mate in front of her…you know male ego. To cut a long story short I managed to get the PK in time without her knowing. With the way cleared and my breadth as fresh as the air at the Akosombo dam, I launched my assault. “Hello may talk to you?” she nodded as though she didn’t want to talk. I expected that after most girls do that anytime a boy approaches.  I wasted no time. We had a long and refreshing chat. Just as I was about to give answer to the ultimate question ,Atingah shouted at me “charley you go get down the car wan move. ” not  knowing the bus had stopped me to alight for sometime no while I was engaged in my amorous   ventures with Mabel as her name was! She quickly wrote her phone number on a piece of paper and passed it through the window. Armed with her number, looked at the blue skies of Teshie and thank god for a wonderful gift just before the year ended.

Thoughts of her run my mine like the river Nile unceasing.  I could even lose the party at Kojo “son of Socrates” house. It was getting dark and Kojo’s house on the hill was lit like the Kremlin overlooking the township. Memories of Mabel’s smiles were cut short. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. A young lady was stubbed with a knife after she refused to give up her bag to two armed robbers who absconded on a motorbike upon seeing me. I rushed to her to help after giving her mouth to mouth respiration; I attempted to remove the knife. In the process a young man who later I got to know as brother of the lady appeared. That was the beginning of my journey to jail! He accused me of stubbing her sister. Before I could explain myself, slaps flew B2 bombers hitting their target with eagle precision. It opened the flood gate to beatings from all manner of objects.  My body became a dead cow in the butchery at Aboabo. They decimated me with dexterity. Police arrived at scene few minutes later to rescue me almost unconscious from the mob beating from the area boys. Indeed if beating was food then I was satisfied! Mabel’s phone number was lost and I couldn’t remember clearly. My left eye was completely closed because of the heavy punches that I received while other eye was almost closed. Even with that one I couldn’t open because opening was running a blade over my veins-very painful!

This was the beginning of my journey to prison.

Watch out for part two where experiences in court and how I was thrown to prison.