The Late Bud story

This is a retelling of Ama Ata Aidoo’s short story The Late Bud told from the perspective of the character Yaaba. Aidoo's story is featured in her book No Sweetness Here and Other Stories.

I hate running errands and fetching water. Who wants to do chores when you can play by the Big Trunk? That’s much more fun. Besides, my sister Adwoa always does all the chores. She loves being the “good” girl. Let her do it. That’s what I always say.

But then one day, the Saturday before Christmas, I overhear Maami talking to herself. She goes on and on about how she needs some Red Earth to varnish the floor. I think maybe I’ll get it for her as a surprise. The idea of it makes me happy.

I know my friends Kakra and Panyin are going to the Pit the next day to get some Red Earth for their mothers, so I tell them to wake me so I can go with them. I can’t wait to see the look on Maami’s face.

But then when I get home that night, Maami’s face looks angry. She starts yelling at me and lecturing me about how I play too much and never do my chores like a proper girl. I don’t even look at her. I just eat my dinner as fast as I can and go to bed.

But, Maami doesn’t let up. Later that night, she comes in and starts beating me! She calls me “good for nothing” and a “witch.” I can’t believe she’s saying these things to me! I’m hurt, but I don’t cry. I’m too angry. I don’t want to give her the satisfaction. Let her beat me. See if I care.

Finally, she stops and lays down next to my brothers and sister. That’s when I start to cry, when I see my “good-girl” sister Adwoa lying there asleep. Maami loves her, but she hates me. Maami always calls Adwoa “My child,” but she never calls me that. Maybe I’m not even her child or maybe she just doesn’t want to be reminded that I am. It’s like I don’t even belong to her. The more I think about it, the more I cry.

I have to do something. I decide to go get the Red Earth for Maami right away even though it’s late. I’ll show Maami I’m a good girl. I go looking for Adwoa’s hoe so I can dig up the earth. But it’s the middle of the night and the hoe is on the bamboo shelf. I feel around for it, but then I trip over a water bowl, hit my chest on the edge of the tray and fall – hard, so hard I nearly knock myself out.

Maami comes in and starts yelling “Thief! Thief” I’m so dazed I don’t know what’s going on. When she sees me lying there on the floor, she starts yelling at me again about waking her up! If I’d have been more coherant, I would have started crying right there on the floor.

But, the other mothers hear my mother screaming and they come running. They fuss over me, and Maami calls the medicine man. The medicine man wraps my chest in all kinds of herbs and I fall asleep.

When I wake up, I think I hear Maami calling me “My child” like she does to Adwoa. I think I must be dreaming or delirious, but she says it again. I can’t believe it! Can I really be her child? I think she must have seen the hoe or talked to Kakra and Panyin. “My Child! My child!” she says it again and again. I’m wrapped in herbs, my chest hurts and I’m dazed. But, I feel wonderful. I am Maami’s child, too, finally. At last, I am her own, just like Adwoa.