The Kumasi City Council courtyard buzzes withmarket noise, taxi horns, and swinging Kente banners. Drummers stand ready, and asMonica and YawAsante stroll across the stage inmatching Kente— pretending not tomatch, smiling shyly— drums strike sharply: kpom! kpa! kpoo! Two veteran gossip queens, Akosua Nyarko andMaame Afia, spot them instantly. “Hmmm!” Akosua begins. “Good things are happening—but don’t tell anybody,” Maame Afia teases as the drum goes kpom! Akosua snaps, “My ears are itchy—TALK!” andMaame Afia finally drops the news: “You see that gentleman who pretends he’s visiting Irene? It’s not Irene—he is coming to seeMONICA.” Akosua gasps dramatically. “Ei! Didn’t her in-law, Mr. Mensa-Bonsu, ban her fromhaving a boyfriend? And isn’t YawAsante HIS friend?”Maame Afia nods knowingly, and Akosua ascertains, “Oh, but I thought Monica worked at Kumasi City Council as a clerk in the planning department. I think Mr. Mensa-Bonsu got her that job. I believe Monica and Yaw are just work colleagues, as Yaw also works in the planning department.” The drumhits. Maame Afia whispers loudly, “Secret no yɛ big ooo.” The big revelation follows: Mr. Mensa-Bonsu once sawMonica stepping out of Yaw Asante’s car. He was furious—yeiiii! Alarmblew!—but after cooling down, he admitted that YawAsante was a good man and allowed them to court. Akosua’s eyes widen: “So should I hear marriage drums?”Maame Afia smirks, “Something like that.” Both women burst into dance, chanting, “Amarriage is in sight, agyei!” Drummers pound, dancers spin in chaos, and the spotlight freezes onMonica and YawAsante—shy, glowing, caught between love and gossip. Lights dimwith classic Monicawood flair. SCENE THREE AMANFOR YAA YAA City Council Chronicles The Birthday Journal 27
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