Let’s Talk To Price
David Bondze-Mbir (DBM): Thank you for participating. What name would you want to go by? (It can be your real first name or any other name of your choosing)
Participant 156: Price
DBM: Hi Price. How would you describe yourself?
Price: I am where I am meant to be in life, and with the one I am meant to be with
DBM: How happy are you on a scale of 1 to 10?
Price: I would say, 8
DBM: What do you want to talk about?
Price: I want to talk about Mercy
DBM: Who is Mercy?
Price: My beautiful wife
DBM: That’s nice to know
Price: She’s been the perfect helper for me all these years
DBM: How long have you two been married?
Price: We are in our 25th year this year
DBM: Congratulations!
Price: Thank you!
DBM: What makes Mercy stand out and not blend in?
Price: My wife is very capable. She’s smart, loyal to a fault; a strong woman, merry and genuine with her actions towards me
DBM: How did you meet?
Price: She used to sell close to my former workplace and I used to buy from her
DBM: What was she selling?
Price: Kenkey and fish
DBM: Ga or Fante kenkey?
Price: Kɔmi
DBM: I see
Price: Yeah
DBM: At what point did you know you were in love with her?
Price: I knew for the first time, the day I heard some of my colleagues at work discussing her
DBM: Discussing her in what manner?
Price: One wanted to pursue and just have sex with her
DBM: And, what was going through your mind after hearing this?
Price: I thought she didn’t deserve to be played
DBM: What made you any different from the other guy?
Price: I was interested in investing in her business
DBM: Why?
Price: Because she made good kenkey, and her shito was really good
DBM: It was business for you then, no?
Price: Business with a certain level of interest
DBM: Did you ever tell her the kenkey and shito were that good?
Price: I did, and so did everyone
DBM: When was the second time you knew you were that much into her?
Price: When I would go to her house to help her prepare the aflata.
DBM: What is ‘aflata’?
Price: It’s the fermented dough cooked with water. I would help her add it to the uncooked dough, before forming it into balls and steamed.
DBM: You knew how to make kenkey prior to meeting her?
Price: No! She taught me the process and I ended up practicing with her. I was the one also putting the corn husks in the bowl of warm water to soften, until they were pliable. I learnt a lot from her.
DBM: What else did you learn from her, aside the kenkey preparation?
Price: A lot. They weren’t direct lessons though. For example, I learned how to thrive in the workforce from her work ethic. I also got to understand that, in as much as she wanted a husband who had earning power, she wasn’t looking for a man to be the sole provider. I got to appreciate her ability to accept a man for who he is. In fact, prior to dating, we had become really good friends and had mutual circle of friends. She was, and still is attracted to smart men because education is important to her. She has a masters degree. She had a bachelors in Marketing when she used to sell kenkey.
DBM: Interesting
Price: Yeah!
DBM: Why do you think she liked you?
Price: I think she knew I was the real deal
DBM: Meaning?
Price: I had her best interest at heart. She knew I cared about her and was willing to help and support her the best way I could. She knew my work wasn’t as important to me as building a home and family. Emotionally, we were both mature; she knew she could count on me. I am trustworthy and good looking. Lol!
DBM: Smh!
Price: It’s the truth, Dave. I’m fine as hell. But on a more serious note, I was attracted to her positive energy and I loved her kind heart. Mercy is hands down, the sweetest, most loving and caring, hardworking woman I know. She is a great wife, excellent mother and my best friend.
DBM: What are some of the downs you’ve had to face in the marriage?
Price: I had one or two affairs, which I am not proud of. She caught me at a point, and separated from me. That was one of the difficult moments in our marriage.
DBM: Why did you cheat on her?
Price: She fell ill, and was bedridden for almost a year. I wasn’t getting any from her and so I thought it was okay to get it elsewhere.
DBM: Did you love whoever you were getting it from?
Price: It was strictly sex. My family is incredibly important to me
DBM: Okay!
Price: Another low was when one of our kids died
DBM: That could be the ultimate tragedy
Price: There is nothing more devastating. It takes a whole lot more than dedication to live through such a loss
DBM: There are no words
Price: Hmmm!
DBM: How did Mercy get over the news of your affair?
Price: My wife, first and foremost, is a forgiving person. She’s still not healed totally from my betrayal and I doubt there is any guarantee she’d be able to. I had to put a stop to it and was willing to completely, call it quits. There hasn’t been any form of communication or friendship between me and the other women. I had to go on my knees to apologize to my wife and children.
DBM: Children?
Price: I had to take responsibility and also let her feel my remorse through my children. I wasn’t willing to lose the woman I love. I had to even forfeit my rights to privacy. I made everything (phones, passwords, location, etc.) available to her perusal.
DBM: Participant 155, Jude, left a question for you: ‘What would you have done differently, if you were in my shoes?’
Price: If I were in Jude’s shoes, I would have stood by my wife’s decision. Dave, my wife makes me. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. Mercy does complete me. Our wives are always the ones picking up the slack when we are or not around, and usually do this with all the support they know they can give to make things alright.
DBM: It’s your turn to leave a question behind for the next participant
Price: Do you have the courage to be lonely?
DBM: Thank you!
Image Credit: Austin J. Best
