wilma: (laughing) Oh yes! Is that why Sister Waa’s late husband, Mr. Mark Quartey, nicknamed him “Cause Trouble”? It fit perfectly. It wasn’t because he was bad—he just had edge. The spice in every family gathering. Chaos theory in motion. martin: Honestly, those moments shaped the disciplined, strategic man he became later. Even the mischief had purpose! gene: And don’t forget his daily bread! Michael loved to eat—bread and fried eggs—he could finish a whole loaf. He’d fry the eggs himself, garnish with vegetables, slice the bread perfectly. Beautiful, really. In those days, he also loved Banku and Okro soup. Whenever we prepared Banku, I had to give him a big ball to enjoy. On the days we fought, I made sure he got a smaller one. This always turned into an exchange of words. I laugh out loud whenever I remember that. wilma: (smiling warmly) Growing up with him has been amazing. Even though he’s ten years older than me, he always made it easy to come to him for advice. He’d teach me about the importance of reading and studying. I remember one Saturday, I was listening to Walt Baby Love on Joy FM, and he called me out of the room. gene: (curious) What did he say? wilma: He said, “There’s a time for everything. This is the time to study so I get good grades. A time will come when I’ll have all the time to listen to music and watch all the movies I like.” And he was right—I had to focus back then, but now I have time for everything! martin: That’s Michael. Brilliant, focused, always thinking ahead. gene: Absolutely. Even as a kid, he was exceptional in school. Primary, Common Entrance—you name it, he was always top five, always winning prizes. And when I struggled with geography, economics, or math? He’d teach me. The way he taught brought understanding. You couldn’t go wrong when he was teaching—it was his field of study. wilma: That’s so true. He’s always been diligent, determined, and curious. Newspapers, quizzes, detective shows—you name it. The Talking Point, What Do You Know?, The Front Page on Joy FM… he soaked it all up. His dedication and resilience show in everything he’s achieved so far. gene: Of course, Michael has always loved reading, current affairs, and quizzes. After his first degree, while looking for a job at home, he developed the habit of reading every newspaper Dad brought over and over, piling them up endlessly. He loved detective movies too—old ones, new ones, all the CSIs you can think of. Anytime he got a chance, he’d watch them— anything involving investigations, law, you name it. That’s when you, Martin, suggested he study Law. I’m pretty sure that’s how his law journey started. The Birthday Journal 15
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