4. Grand Deception

“Deception is the puppeteer that pulls the strings of manipulation. “

Unknown

Ama Agyepong’s hands trembled as she entered the African store. They were shaking, not out of fear but from the sheer weight of the moment. For the first time in her life, she was truly alone. She dragged her suitcase behind her, the wheels creating a steady hum on the store’s tiled floor. Her head swivelled back and forth, taking in the sights and smells of the African store. The scent of spices and farm produce filled the air, while colourful fabrics and hand-carved wooden masks adorned the walls.

Ama approached the counter and cleared her throat, trying to steady her voice. “Excuse me,” she said to the woman behind the counter, her thick Ghanaian accent betraying her nervousness. “I’m looking for how to get to this address.” The woman behind the counter raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. Ama’s heart sank, wondering if she had made a mistake in coming here. But then the woman’s face softened into a warm smile. “Take a seat,” she said. “I will call a taxi for you.” Ama let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through her, and thanked her profusely.

Ama sat in the back of the taxi as it drove through the busy streets of the Bronx. She couldn’t believe her luck—Yaa Brefo lived in the same neighbourhood. The ride felt like it lasted forever, but finally, they pulled up in front of a small house.

Yaa was waiting for her outside, a warm smile on her face. “Welcome to your new home,” she said as she helped Ama out of the taxi. Yaa’s friendliness and welcome struck Ama. It gave her hope that this move would be a good decision after all. As they walked through the door, Ama noticed three young children playing in the living room. They all looked up at her curiously before returning to their game. “These are my little ones,” Yaa said with pride. “This is Naomi,” she said, gesturing towards a curly-haired girl who couldn’t have been more than five years old. “And this is Kwame and Nana,” she said, pointing to two boys who were both engrossed in a game on their tablet.

Ama smiled and greeted them warmly before following Yaa down into the basement, where she would be staying. It was a small space but cosy and welcoming, with its own separate entrance from outside. “I’m just so grateful that you’re letting me stay here,” Ama said gratefully as she looked around at her new temporary home. “It’s no problem at all,” Yaa reassured her with a wave of her hand. She showed Ama around and made sure she had everything she needed before heading back up to attend to her children.

That evening, Yaa invited Ama to join them for dinner. Ama was hesitant at first, feeling like she was intruding on their family time. However, Yaa insisted and told her that her husband, Benjy, was waiting to meet her. Ama followed Yaa up the stairs and into the dining room, where a delicious aroma filled the air. Benjy was already seated at the table, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw Ama. Yaa introduced them, and Ama felt a rush of nerves as they shook hands. As they sat down to eat, Ama couldn’t help but feel self-conscious under Benjy’s curious gaze. He seemed to be studying her every move, and it made her uncomfortable. She tried to focus on the food, which was an eclectic mix of traditional Ghanaian dishes.

After they finished their meal and tidied up the dining table together, Ama was surprised at how quickly she had become at ease with this family. As bedtime approached and it was time to retire for the night, Ama expressed her gratitude to Yaa once more before descending to her basement bedroom. Lying in bed, she couldn’t shake thoughts of Kofi from her mind, wondering if he was concerned for her well-being and if he regretted his decision to kick her out.

Yaa Brefo had given Ama her word that she would help her find a job, but as the days turned into weeks, it became clear that Yaa’s promise was nothing more than a cruel trick. Ama ended up working as a housekeeper and nanny, her schedule consumed by the never-ending tasks of caring for three children and managing household duties. Yaa offered various excuses for not following through on her pledge. Ama’s hope for liberation, once within reach, now felt impossibly far away.

While Ama was running errands for Yaa at a local store in the neighbourhood, she couldn’t help but overhear a woman speaking Twi on the phone, which is her native language. Ama decided to wait outside the store and talk to her. She was at wit’s end. Twice now, Benjy had barged into the bathroom while she was showering. Yaa wasn’t home on either occasion, but Ama didn’t want to cause any tension between them, so she kept quiet. Deep down, Ama knew Benjy had sinister intentions, and she feared he would act on them soon. After finishing her shopping at the store, Ama made the decision to wait for this woman outside.

After the woman left the store, Ama approached her without hesitation. She introduced herself as being from Ghana and mentioned that she overheard the woman speaking Twi earlier. Ama expressed her desire to seek the woman’s advice. The woman, Akua Boateng, also known as Mama B, welcomed Ama warmly. For privacy, she suggested they go talk in her car. In the car, Ama opened up about her situation. Mama B reassured her that she had helped many others facing similar struggles. She offered to help Ama find a job as a home health aide. Excited at the opportunity, Ama gratefully accepted it and was willing to do whatever it took to support herself.

Ama patiently awaited the ideal moment when Yaa and Benjy had left for work and the children were in school. She carefully packed all her belongings, leaving behind a note for Yaa expressing gratitude for her kindness and apologising for leaving in such a sudden manner. Ama decided not to mention the inappropriate advances made by Benjy, which had become increasingly frequent and aggressive. The day before, he had even followed her into her room after she had finished bathing, trying to see her naked body. Ama stood up to him and warned that if he didn’t stop his behaviour, she would tell his wife. She knew it was time to move on from this toxic situation. Ama left, ready to start a new chapter of her life in Mount Vernon, New York.