up by grandmother, grandfather and auntie, Nana Afua Onyaneh, who were so protective and loving of me. They, together with my elder siblings, probably viewed me as a link between them and my parents, who they hadn't seen in such a long time; like I was a piece of mummy and daddy. They really treated me special. My grandma took me everywhere; she pioneered the local Presbyterian Church in Asawase, therefore that was a big part of my life. I followed her to church every morning, was involved in the Girls Brigade, in the children's church, and particularly, during children's day celebrations. Grandma was more of a mother to me, so much so, that I never even felt my parents’ absence. I was often reminded, though, that I was born in London and would return sometime. Our parents kept in touch by calling us often and by writing letters and sending cards. Then again, they would send us lovely stuff whenever someone was coming home to Ghana. “Siesta time! Everyone, lie on your mats and sleep!” My nursery school teacher shouted, trying to get us to take a nap; we were a rowdy lot. However, I could Grandma was more of a mother to me, so much so, that I never even felt my parent’s absence. I was often reminded, though, that I was born in London and would return sometime. not sleep. I didn’t dare sleep for fear of my face being wiped with the communal face towel, when we woke up. Instead, I would toddle off to my aunt’s class; it was this aunt who had registered me at the nursery section of the K.O. Methodist School, Ashanti New Town, because she taught there. She and the headmistress were suchgood friends and sometimes, I would even visit the headmistress’ class. I got a lot of special attention at school, courtesy of those two. There were always people around me in Ghana, so there was no time to feel lonely. At the age of seven, I was bundled off to boarding school in Kumasi, together with my brother. I think my grandmother feared she would over-pamper me, and therefore wanted a place that had structure, and was more conducive for learning. There we were, our trunks and other items being offloaded from our car, which was parked in front of a big storey building. The signboard in front of the gate had Peter’s Educational Centre, in bold, prominent letters. I really loved school, I was quite the academic type. The year before that, my brother and I, had lived with my uncle, Lawyer Obubah, and his family in Labone, Accra, where we had been treated like royalty. His house was a plush mansion, with servants and chauffeurs and workers. There were lots of books in that house, and it was very different from the Government Estate house where I lived with my grandma in Kumasi. We lived there with him and my cousins, his wife was away in London. My uncle was very particular about our studies, he arranged for extra studies for us, even at that young age. It’s no wonder then that upon returning to Kumasi, I was far ahead of my peers, to the extent “ 7 The Birthday Journal
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