They burst out laughing again. And yet they are sad. But laughter is always best.

Mercy complained of hunger and so they went to the kitchen to heat up some food and eat. The two sisters alone. It is no use waiting for James. And this evening, a friend of Connie’s has come to take out the baby girl, Akosua, and had threatened to keep her until her bedtime.

‘Sissie, I am going to see a film.’ This from Mercy.

‘Where?’

‘The Globe.’

‘Are you going with Joe?’

‘No.’

‘Are you going alone?’

‘No.’

Careful Connie.

‘Whom are you going with?’

Careful Connie, please. Little sister’s nostrils are widening dangerously. Look at the sudden creasing-up of her mouth and between her brows. Connie, a sister is a good thing. Even a younger sister. Especially when you have no mother or father.

‘Mercy, whom are you going out with?’

‘Well, I had food in my mouth! And I had to swallow it down before I could answer you, no?’

‘I am sorry.’ How softly said.

‘And anyway, do I have to tell you everything?’

‘Oh no. It’s just that I didn’t think it was a question I should not have asked.’

There was more silence. Then Mercy sucked her teeth with irritation and Connie cleared her throat with fear.

‘I am going out with Mensar-Arthur.’

As Connie asked the next question, she wondered if the words were leaving her lips.

‘Mensar-Arthur?’

‘Yes.’

‘Which one?’

‘How many do you know?’

Her fingers were too numb to pick up the food. She put the plate down. Something jumped in her chest and she wondered what it was. Perhaps it was the baby.

‘Do you mean that member of Parliament?’

‘Yes.’

‘But Mercy . . .’

Little sister only sits and chews her food.

‘But Mercy . . .’

Chew, chew, chew.

‘But Mercy . . .’

‘What?’

She startled Connie.

‘He is so old.’

Chew, chew, chew.

‘Perhaps, I mean, perhaps that really doesn’t matter, does it? Not very much anyway. But they say he has so many wives and girl-friends.’

Please little sister. I am not trying to interfere in your private life. You said yourself a little while ago that you wanted a man of your own. That man belongs to so many women already. . . .