Soon everyone was shouting at everyone else. The people who had come started going home, and only the most curious ones stood by to listen. Maami Ama was murmuring something under her breath which I could not hear. I persuaded her to come with me. All that time no word had passed between her and her ex-husband. As we turned to go, Kodjo Fi’s mother shouted at her, ‘You are hurt. But that is what you deserve. We will get the child. We will! What did you want to do with him?’

Maami Ama turned round to look at her. ‘What are you putting yourself to so much trouble for? When Nana Kum said the boy ought to go and stay with his father, did I make any objection? He is at the school. Go and fetch him. Tomorrow, you can send your carriers to come and fetch his belongings from my hut.’ These words were said quietly.

Then I remembered suddenly that I had to hurry to school to dismiss the children. I told Maami Ama to go home but that I would try to see her before night.

This time I did not go by the main street. I took the back door through back streets and lanes. It was past four already. As I hurried along, I heard a loud roaring sound which I took to be echoes of the quarrel, so I went my way. When I reached the school, I did not like what I saw. There was not a single childish soul anywhere. But everyone’s books were there. The shed was as untidy as ever. Little Grace had left my books too. Of course I was more than puzzled. ‘How naughty these children are. How did they dare to disobey me when I had told them to wait here until I came to dismiss them?’ It was no use looking around the place. They were not there. ‘They need discipline,’ I threatened to the empty shed. I picked up my books and clock. Then I noticed that Kwesi’s desk was clean of all his books. Nothing need be queer about this; he had probably taken his home. As I was descending the hill the second time that afternoon, I saw that the whole school was at the other end of the main street. What were the children doing so near Maami Ama’s place? I ran towards them.