The confrontation of my life

Since I began to live on my own and champion this course of life independently, I never gotten myself into any trouble somewhat. I try to live my life void of delinquent and irreverent inclinations. Governing my life with moral certainty and probity.

But as I woke up this morning, I felt a sense of pride. as if I had won an award. I felt so fulfilled. Apparently, last night I had the confrontation of my life. If it were not for God's mercy, I wouldn't be strong enough to write this.

I was coming back from work late in the night. I arrived around the accra mall, at 11:10pm. I stop by a guy selling books, to purchase a small bible. Which later turned not to be of the quality I was looking for. As I was tossing thoughts of how I had bought an inferior bible...then I chanced on a guy, holding a Nescafé drink and urinating just beside the new construction site at spanner junction. As I have always reacted to such obscenity, I voiced out...and this led to the confrontation of my life. Here's the dialogue that ensued...

me: (walking past) stop urinating on the streets, it's not good.

Man: hey, hey (still urinating), wait, wait let me ask you where I should go and urinate. (quickly stuck his urinal organ back into his pants and comes after me)...Tell me where I should urinate

Me: but you should know...it doesn't make sense to urinate on the streets

As he drew closer, I could smell a pungent stink of strong alcohol from his breath.

Man: streets ?....(.pointing to the road)...that's the streets...I didn't urinate on the streets...

Taxi driver: (intruding),that place is a walk way...

Me: (speaking directly to the man, and pointing to the road), that is not a street, that is a road for cars, you urinated on the street and that is not good.

Just then, another man joined the argument, he is a friend of the first man, also intoxicated.

Man 2: (hitting me on the chest), show him where he should urinate.

Me; go and ask the government, not me. You should learn to control yourself..

Man2: (talks to his friend), leave this guy, he is v-e-r-y stupid.

Me: if I'm to compare what you did with what I said, which do you think is stupid.

Man2: I see you are very very stupid

Man1: you see, you started this whole thing.

Me: what did I start ?, you called me stupid, and I was comparing what you did with the reason why you think I'm stupid, to see who is actually stupid.

Both men goes to stand beside a taxi...

Me: if you don't have anyone to tell you the truth, I'll will.

Man1: ( comes to hit me on the chest and pushes me) you are acting all religious.

Me: (holding a small bible) religious?...this has got nothing to do with religion...this has got to do with being patriotic...aren't you a Ghanaian? You think I'm acting religious because of this bible?, i could put this bible away.

Man1: I dare you to put this bible away and see, if I don't beat the hell out of you...who are you at all ?...who are you?

Me: (responding abruptly) I'm a Ghanaian, I'm a Ghanaian. ..and I care about my country...about how my tax is being used. Don't you pay tax,!!..(at this time my pitch had reach it's limit)

Man2: this guy is very stupid..,leave him...if he jokes I'll beat him up...(walks up to me and holds my shirt...pulling me)...drop the bible and I'll beat the daylight out of you...(he leaves me)

Me: as if I'm scared...look if I'm counting those I'm scared of in this life...you don't even show up...me scared of you...if you beat me...will that make you big or small?, mtcheew

(They both walk towards the taxi)

Me: (continues to rent aloud) if you've got some to drink and you don't know what to do...only unintelligent people will urinate just anywhere...

Man2: what are you saying...who is unintelligent...(hitting me on the chest again)...you a big fool...I said you are fool..

Man1: leave him alone...he's really a fool...i say he should drop the bible...and I will teach him a lesson of his life.

Me: you expect me to be shivering huh...not me...

(Negotiates with a taxi driver, and gets into the taxi)

Man 2: (approaches the taxi) what are you even saying...I say drop the bible...and I will...

Me: (cuts in) the bible is mine...so what's your prob'em, what's your prob'em....if you beat me, it will neither make you big or small or add to your weight...what's your prob'em...

Man2: look at the way you are speaking...as if you are British...I'll beat you..

Me: (beckons taxi driver to move on...stick out my head...and screams)...only unintelligent people will urinate anywhere...(taxi zooms off)

I got home feeling so courageous..,checked the time, 1am..huh...couldn't even say a prayer...I slept off.

In my courageous mood...when I arrived at work today ...I couldn't hesitate to tell my colleagues of my story...but I had the the worst answer of all. As I was narrating the incident...they abruptly cut me...with Ghanaian exclamations and comments

."...arrhhhh...eeeerrrh....massa, don't try that again...if someone is urinating ah...leave him and walk away....even after telling him to stop, the moment you realize he's angry...just run away...what if they injured you or killed you..."

As I sat in the room listening to them take turns in sharing experiences of night confrontations...my heart bleed...I don't want to start another argument here...they'll all conclude I have a problem.

What are they telling me?....this is a typical way a Ghanaian will react? Was I wrong to have stood up for my country?...hmm