Chapter 23: Akos and the Landlord Alliance
The morning after the church drama, I thought I'd have peace.
I was wrong. So wrong.
At exactly 7:10am, Auntie Akos barged into my room wearing a full apron, face towel over her shoulder, and confidence that only aunties over 50 possess.
"Today, I'm cooking for your landlord."
"Why? Is he hungry?"
"No. We're building a relationship. Food is the bridge to better rent."
Ladies and gentlemen…
My aunt was about to bribe the landlord with light soup diplomacy.
She dragged me to the market — and when I say dragged, I mean literally.
In Makola, she haggled so hard the kenkey seller gave up and said:
"Take it, Madam. You've broken my spirit."
By 11am, she was in the kitchen, performing culinary miracles.
The aroma of goat light soup and fufu danced through the compound. Even the neighbor's dog looked confused, as if to say, "But we're poor — how?"
At 12:45pm sharp, she plated everything on a tray and told me:
"Come. You will take this to the landlord and say it's from 'his future in-law's house'."
"Auntie, please... this man doesn't even greet me on normal days."
"That was before. Today, we are rebranding. Go!"
I knocked on the landlord's door like a political campaigner.
He opened. Suspicious eyes.
I smiled sheepishly and said:
"Good afternoon, Sir. My aunt made some food. She said... she respects your presence in our lives."
He looked at the tray.
Looked at me.
Looked back at the tray.
Then broke into a rare smile — the kind that said "rent discount loading."
"Tell her she is a woman of taste. And tell you — sweep your corridor more. Flies too much."
Progress and insults, side by side. That's Ghanaian life.
When I returned, Auntie Akos was already cleaning my ceiling fan with her scarf.
"He liked it?"
"Yes, but he said there are too many flies."
"Good. That means he noticed you. You're on his radar now. We will strike again on Wednesday — jollof and fried plantain."
She was planning weekly landlord appreciation meals like it was a corporate strategy.
And me?
I just wanted my room, my peace, and maybe one bowl of that soup she gave away.
End of Chapter 23