The Toyota minibus turned off the main road and stopped at the car park behind the Novotel Hotel. Casper was the first passenger to climb down. He helped Mallory down and brushed some dirt off her dress as they waited for Charles, who was pushing his way through the crowded bus.
As he reached the door, Charles tripped and almost fell out.
"Be careful," Casper said, catching him.
"Thanks," Charles replied.
"You've reminded me of a dream I had last night," Casper said.
"What was it about?" Mallory asked.
"I dreamt I was getting on a plane, and I tripped on the steps. Isn't it bad luck to dream about tripping or falling?" Casper asked, looking worried.
Charles and Mallory burst out laughing.
"Come off it," Charles teased. "What could be bad about such a dream?"
"Well, anytime I trip in a dream, something bad happens."
"Forget it, my friend," Charles laughed. "Once you start dreaming about getting on a plane, you're almost in the USA."
Casper smiled, though he still looked uneasy. He felt a little embarrassed showing his fears in front of Mallory, his girlfriend.
"Maybe I've just been thinking too much about the journey," he said. "Come on, let's not waste time. Where am I going to buy my suitcase? Charles, you know the best shops—where shall we go?"
"Let's try the big shops on Avin Street," Charles suggested.
The three friends set off together, all dressed casually in shirts and jeans.
Casper was the tallest of the three. Slim and athletic, he had a friendly face and had just begun to grow a beard. He had celebrated his twenty-first birthday only a few days earlier.
Charles was shorter but strongly built, a regular at the gym who enjoyed weightlifting. He and Casper had been friends since middle school, though Charles was a year younger.
Mallory, at nineteen, was the youngest. She was very attractive, with a beautiful face and a pear-shaped figure. Her thick hair fell forward neatly, and she always looked cheerful—especially when she was with Casper. Behind her beauty was a sharp and intelligent mind.
As they walked along, the friends chatted.
"I hope you've got everything ready—your passport, clothes, health papers, and university documents?" Charles asked.
Casper nodded. "Mallory checked everything before we left."
He held Mallory's hand as they waited at a zebra crossing. When a car stopped, they crossed quickly.
"Which way shall we go now, Charles?" Casper asked when they got near Mahoka Street.
"Follow me," Charles said.
Very soon, they were on Mahoka Street. It was busy with vehicles, cart pushers, hawkers, and shoppers. Big shops lined both sides of the street.
Charles took them into several shops, but Casper couldn't find what he wanted. At last, they entered a large shop with a wide selection of suitcases and other goods.
Casper felt a strange sense of familiarity. It reminded him of his dream again, but he said nothing to the others. They were already busy examining the suitcases.
"Those ones are too expensive," Mallory said, pointing at some large suitcases with wheels.
"Let's buy one of those," she added, pointing at another set. "They're cheaper but still nice, aren't they?" she asked Charles.
"Yes, go for the cheaper one," Charles said to Casper. "You can buy a better, more expensive one when you're rich."
Casper hesitated. He looked from cardboard suitcases to plastic ones, unable to decide.
The woman in charge of the shop sat behind a table, watching them carefully. After a few minutes, she stood up and walked over.
"Can I help you?" she asked with a smile.
She was slim, with very fair skin and brown eyes. Dressed in a blouse and skirt, she looked very attractive, Charles thought.
Casper pointed. "I'd love one of those cases, but I don't have enough money," he said.
"You're students, I guess?" she said, still smiling.
"Yes," Charles answered. "As you can see, our pockets aren't very heavy."
"I can see that. You remind me of my student days. Are you traveling overseas?"
"He's going to the US, to the University of Michigan," Mallory said proudly.
The woman smiled with delight. "Ah, then you need a strong suitcase. Are you going for a course or just a visit?"
She brought down a blue suitcase from a high shelf and placed it on the counter.
"He's going to study medicine," Mallory added.
"Is that right? Ghana will be proud of you." The woman dusted the suitcase. "And when are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow evening, by KLM," Casper replied.
"A direct flight?"
"No, I have to change planes in Amsterdam."
The woman nodded, clearly pleased. "This suitcase is just right for you. Do you like blue?"
"Blue is my color," Casper said, "but what's the price, ma'am?"
"The price is sixteen thousand cedis, but I'll reduce it for you. Take it for thirteen thousand."
"I still don't have enough money." Casper looked disappointed. "Can't you lower it a little more?"
After some bargaining, the woman finally agreed to sell it to him for eleven thousand cedis. ' It's strong and will last longer,' she told him. It's just what you need. Look at the inside. Beautiful, isn't it? You can use these belts to tie up your things so they don't get thrown about and creased. And you have two coats-hangers too. Then there's this leather-bound name and address label. You won't lose your suitcase easily.'
Casper took the money from his pocket and gave it to Mallory to count it out. Now that the bargaining was over, Charles walked off to look at the other goods in the shop. Mallory handed the money to the lady. ' Thank you. Em, it can be a little difficult setting your name and address into the label. Let me do it for you.'
' That would be nice,' Casper said. Wait a minute.' The lady walked to her table and soon came back with a scribbling pad, a pen and a pair of scissors. 'Please write your name and address here.' She handed Casper the pen. Casper wrote his full name in capital letters. Below that he wrote his address.
Standing behind the counter, the lady tore off the top of the sheet of paper and hid the pad under the counter. She cut out the writing with the scissor. Then using the scissors and the pen, she carefully slipped it into the label. ' There you are.' she smiled. 'Thanks a lot,' Casper said. 'Do you need a receipt? Shall I prepare one for you? 'There's no need.' Casper took the suitcase from the counter and called Charles.
'Have a nice stay in the US and work hard.' The lady smiled at Casper and Mallory. As soon as three had left the shop, Emma's smile disappeared. She took the scribbling pad from under the counter and removed the carbon paper. The name Casper Benson Kwaku was clearly printed on the page. Emma asked one of the shop assistants to take a suitcase into her office at the back of the shop. A minute later, she walked into the office. Alone there, she dialed a number and talked quietly into the phone.
' Very good,' the speaker at the other end said. 'Send one of the boys to bring it here. He can leave it here if I'm not in.' 'Right,' Emma answered. She took a good look at the suitcase beside her. It was blue in color, exactly like the one she had just sold.
Catherine_writes