After two months in a coma, Mawufemor recovered consciousness with time. In the third month after his discharge, he moved in with the Attipoes.
The fact that both the Attipoes and Mawufemor were Ewes made blending extremely simple. Mawufemor adored his new home and was confident that all that had transpired for him was ultimately for the best.
But as fate would have it, Mawufemor would not remain with the Attipoes for long.
At age eleven, Mawufemor had not yet begun school. It was the first consideration of Constable Attipoe and his wife. The following week, they took him to Harrow International School, a thriving school in Abeka. Since it was Mawufemor’s first time attending school, they were required to meet with the school's headmistress for a special evaluation and eventual acceptance and class placement, or rejection.
Unfortunately for Mawufemor, Betty and her colleagues were attending the same school. Betty's friend identified Mawufemor and sounded the alarm. Mawufemor was hauled away when the police were notified.
Back at the Ho Police Station, Mawufemor was being processed for court on charges of rape, assault, and, shockingly, theft. After Mawufemor's arrest, the bishop realized that $2,500 of the $3,000 he had kept in his home safe had been stolen. Similarly, Osofo Maame realized that her GHC 2,400.00 was missing from the location where she put it. And everyone pointed to Mawufemor.
Mawufemor was introduced to a lawyer who patiently listened to him despite his significant stuttering. Mawufemor had learned from experience that his stuttering worsened whenever he was experiencing strong emotions.
“Your command of the English language is flawless”, the attorney stated. "Tell me, how did you become proficient in the language if your parents or guardians did not send you to school?"
This time, Mawufemor revisited his past to recall the circumstances that led to his education.
Mawufemor was 20 years old in 2008, and he had no formal education. He had attempted education once before, perhaps nine years earlier, with the Attipoes, but he was arrested on the school campus.
When he was ultimately released from a detention centre after a few months, he had little choice but to return to the Abeka Market, where he learned that Scorpion and Awutsey had been killed during an operation.
He had returned to the market, this time earning a living by carting the wares of market women and women who came to buy. Many young outcasts like himself had lured him to join them in their illicit activities when he was in his teens. However, while Mawufemor was detained at the police station, an old evangelist came to introduce him to the bible. And there was morning devotion every day when he was at the juvenile centre. Despite his inability to read or write, he had chosen two texts from the Bible. He had clung to these two passages his entire life; they had saved him on several occasions.
“My son, if sinful men entice you,
Do not give in to them.
If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
...My son, do not walk in the way with them,
Keep your foot from their path;
For their feet run to evil.
Proverbs 1:10 – 16.
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 14:23
These two scriptural passages had taught him to rethink and improve his character. He had concluded that his life had nearly ended because he had been too passive in following Scorpion and his gang.
He vowed to do the following: first, avoid bad company; and second, work hard enough to earn enough money to go to school and have his own place.
As a result of this resolve, he became more focused on earning a living rather than engaging in any vice or becoming friends with boys of questionable character.
So, in 2008, when Mawufemor was 20, he met a little 14-year-old street boy at the Market who was always reading from a small pocket bible in the morning and evening.
"Teach me how to read the Bible," Mawufemor requested.
"Oh, no problem.” Atta stated, "It's simple."
"Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you while you read the Bible. That's it!" he concluded.
"As an example, consider John 3:16. Here, read it," he said, handing Mawufemor the Bible.
Mawufemor hesitated at first, before taking the Bible, turning it upside down, and attempting to identify something unknown.
“Ah! Can’t you read?”
“No!”
“How? Why?”
“I have never been to school!”
“How possible? Every child goes to school!”
“Yeah, but I didn’t!”
“But do you know the alphabets?”
“What are they?”
“Like the ABCD?”
“No!”
“Eiii!”
The two children conversed at length and agreed to spend two hours of their evenings teaching Mawufemor to read.
The days turned into weeks, then months, and after a year, Mawufemor could read simple words and portions of the Bible. He began visiting the market newsstand, where he repeatedly tried to read the newspaper's headlines. It wasn't long until the newspaper vendor, an elderly educator in retirement, recognized his interest.
The man remarked one day, "Young man, I can see that you have a passion for current events."
"Well, not quite. I'm currently learning to read!" Mawufemor humbly said.
The newspaperman, Mr. Mensah, chose to teach Mawufemor English, Math, and Science after a lengthy conversation. Then, he would enrol him at the Talent Restoration Academy at Lapaz, an adult education facility.
Mawufemor was resolved to take advantage of this chance at whatever cost. He would work in the market from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., then rush to Mr. Mensah's residence for his lessons until 8 p.m. Then he would return home, to the kiosk where he used to sleep with three other boys and read the books that Mr. Mensah had given him till 2:00 a.m.
Mawufemor had picked one phrase from Mr. Mensah:
“Education is the key to success in life!”
He was resolved to change his fate through education at whatever cost.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Comments