6. Mama B’s Betrayal

“Sometimes you don’t know who you can and cannot trust. I still learn that over and over again.”

Demi Lovato

Everything seemed to be going well in Ama’s life. As promised, Mama B helped her enroll in a training course to become a home health aide. She paid for the course fee with the understanding that Ama would reimburse her once she found employment. The training was brief, but Ama passed with satisfactory grades. A home care agency hired her as a live-in caregiver for Jerry Rhodes, a 90-year-old man residing in upstate New York, after she completed her second interview.

Mama B insisted on driving Ama to the bus terminal, where she would embark on an eight-hour journey to Buffalo. Mama B not only purchased a bus ticket for Ama but also gave her two hundred dollars for any unexpected expenses. She reassured Ama that she need not worry, as the family would take care of all her needs during her stay, including food and shelter. Without a social security number, Ama was unable to open a bank account in her name. Fortunately, Mama B offered to let Ama use her account for direct deposits of her weekly paychecks.

As Ama boarded the bus and said goodbye to Mama B, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for the kind and caring woman who had become like a guardian angel to her. She quickly dozed off on the bus and slept deeply for almost seven and a half hours—something she hadn’t been able to do since arriving in America two years ago. She only woke up when the bus arrived at the Buffalo bus terminal. Feeling refreshed, she got off the bus to retrieve her suitcase before holding up a piece of paper with her name written boldly on it.

A handsome young man, Gerald Rhodes, approached her and introduced himself as the grandson of Jerry Rhodes. He kindly offered to carry her suitcase and held the car door open for her, which surprised Ama. As they drove, Gerald engaged in small talk with Ama about her trip. She felt like she was in a completely new world, with everything looking different from her previous environment. During the drive, she couldn’t help but notice the lack of diversity, as there were only a few dark-skinned individuals that she saw on the way to her new workplace and home.

Ama quickly adjusted to her role as a live-in caregiver for Jerry Rhodes. The family was initially warm and friendly, and Mr. Rhodes was a gentle, elderly man who needed only minor assistance. Ama’s duties included aiding him with tasks like bathing, dressing, and cooking his meals. She also maintained the household and ran errands when needed.

Mr. Rhodes had two daughters who lived just a short walk down the road from his house. The eldest was Gerald’s mother, and she was known for her quiet demeanour. The younger daughter assumed the responsibility of overseeing Ama’s care for their father, ensuring his well-being. Over time, Ama settled into her role as a caregiver and grew to love the Rhodes family as if they were her own. Gerald, who was currently out of work, visited every day to assist with taking care of his grandfather. He also offered to drive Ama into town for grocery shopping and other errands for his grandfather.

After taking care of the elderly man, Gerald and Ama spent a lot of time together. Her Ghanaian heritage piqued his interest, and they had in-depth conversations about Ghana and Africa as a whole. However, Ama kept her past struggles hidden from Gerald while she worked for his grandfather. This closeness between Ama and Gerald angered Gerald’s aunt, who frequently interrupted their conversations with new tasks for Ama to do. Even when Ama had already completed the task, the aunt would make her do it again or go over it. Realising this dynamic, Ama tried to keep her distance from Gerald whenever his aunt was around.

Every month or so, Ama would make a phone call to check in with Mama B and express her gratitude for all that she had done. One night, a strange dream abruptly awakened Ama, revealing Mama B’s misappropriation of the funds deposited into her account. The thought weighed heavily on her mind as she stayed awake until it was time to assist Mr. Rhodes with his care routine. She didn’t know how to bring up the topic of her earnings with Mama B, especially since she had no need for the money where she was currently living. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful for everything Mama B had done for her.

Noticing that Ama seemed off, Gerald approached her to find out what was wrong. In that moment, an idea struck her. She could now check with Mama B about her money’s status. She quickly grabbed the phone and dialled Mama B’s number. Ama’s call surprised Mama B because they had spoken in a few days and didn’t typically talk more than once a month. Ama explained that there was a family emergency in Ghana, and she needed to access half of her money to send back home. There was a long pause at Mama B’s end, prompting Ama to repeat herself. Mama B asked which money she was referring to, causing Ama to panic. Instantly, Ama knew that she was in trouble again. Mama B warned her not to call again about the money and threatened to report her to the authorities for falsifying information to get the job before hanging up abruptly.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, a constant flow of frustration and sorrow. It felt like she was cursed. Why did everything have to be so difficult for her? She had agreed to pay back twelve hundred dollars, even though it was more than what Mama B had spent on her. Ama knew that Mama B’s account had to have at least fifteen thousand dollars under her name. Gerald, who had left the room when Ama initiated the phone call, returned to find Ama huddled in the corner, crying uncontrollably. He sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her, offering comfort as she clung to him tightly. But Ama knew she had to pull herself together quickly when they heard the sound of the front door opening. Thankfully, it was just Gerald’s mother coming in to drop off some items.

With his mother gone, Gerald pulled Ama close to him, determined to get her to open up about her life. Ama asked for patience as she finished her afternoon tasks. Once she completed her tasks, they settled in the sunroom, where Ama shared her story of everything she had experienced since arriving in America. After listening attentively, Gerald promised to do whatever he could to help. He remembered a friend whose father was a lawyer, and he immediately called him. After explaining Ama’s situation, his friend suggested a three-way call with his father, the lawyer. The lawyer asked Ama if she was a legal resident, and she confirmed that she was. He then requested that she come to his office the next day with her passport.

Gerald drove Ama to the lawyer’s office the following day to pick up a letter she needed to mail to the social security department. Within two weeks, Ama received a duplicate of her social security card in the mail. It was Gerald who checked the mailbox and found the card. He asked her to close her eyes and revealed that he had a surprise for her. When she opened them, she saw him holding her new card. She hugged him tightly, expressing her gratitude, and ended with an impromptu kiss on his lips. Realising what she did, she apologised for kissing him, but Gerald reassured her that it was okay.

The following day, Gerald drove her to the bank and guided her through the steps of opening her own personal account. Afterwards, they stopped by the phone store so she could sign up for a mobile phone plan. Once they returned home, Gerald helped her contact her agency to update her bank account and contact information on file.

After living in America for two long years, Ama finally saw a glimmer of hope in her life. But could she truly trust Gerald? The faith and confidence she had placed in Mama B quickly turned to dust when Mama B refused to return the money she had entrusted to her. Ama couldn’t help but think of Yaa Brefo, who had deceived her, and Kofi Kyintoh, who had abused her.