Struggles of the Heart

ircle. It was totally unlike their victorious march on Egypt. Here, the people were frightened, cautious, slow to come out of their houses and hiding pl

h his comrades. The thought of how far they had come and how much they had accomplished, and that they had freed the Circle of his dreams left him breathless. And the shouts from the people who lined the Streets only made him cry more, as the troops marched from the S

a plate of tiny biscuits by the owner's wife as she kissed them on both cheeks. When it was time to leave she wouldn't let them pay, no matter how much they insisted. Samuel spoke a little Ewe language, and James could only gesture his thanks and kiss the woman again. They knew only too well how short of food everyone was, and the gift of biscuits was like bars of gold, offered to a stranger. James was speechless with awe again as they left the café. Mayb

g a navy blue crepe dress that was so old it was shiny, but it showed all the rich curves of her figure. There was a proud tilt to her head, as though she had nothing to thank anyone for, she had survived the Americans, and she owed nothing to anyone now, not even the Americans

and the slim shoulders, and the proud way she moved. She stopped at the corner, and then cross

are you

lue eyes serious, as though if he lost her from si

are yo

icate features, and huge green eyes that bore right into them, one by one, and her gaze seemed to stop on James, as though warning him to keep his distance. He was paralyzed by his lack of Ewe language and the quelling look she gave him, but when she began to walk again, he followed her with even greater determination. “Have you ever seen

survived the war, and was r

James's dogged pursuit of her every step. “I don't think she's too pleased at having us follow her, though.” That was cle

ew us a minute ago.” And they both watched her disappear into

this woman on a Circle street. Liberation or no, it see

rch through Old Ghana Empire on his knees. Hell, what was that in comparison to surviving occupation by the Americans, particularly as a woman. Suddenly, he wanted to save her from everything that had ever happened to her, and anything that could happen now with thousands of Allied troops running crazed all o

a faint blush on Samuel's cheeks as he glanced at James in annoyance. This was most unlike him. He had behaved himself on the whole in Egypt and ever

going to go to our commanding officer and have us arr

ur senses and leave the girl alone.” She stopped in another shop just then, and it was obvious that James had no intention of leaving. “Come on . . .” Samuel tried to induce him to leave, but to no avail, she came out of the shop as they were still arguing about it, and this time s

thing about James. “Ese gomea?” “No. . . .” James immediately launched into frantic conversation with her. “No se gome ... I don't speak Ewe . . . I'm not an Ewe. . . My name is James Chamberlain, and this is Samuel Goldfield. We just w

“N

ms at them. “Dzo!

Dzo

turned to Samuel for t

mean

a cup of coffee . . . cafe?” He was still smiling at her as he spoke to Samuel, “Christ, Goldfield

ooking Ewe woman. James was right. She was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, “ekpo be . . . Nye velia be (ekpo be. . . Etsi L

a woe midzo Le gbonye loo . . .

yes, she suddenly shook her he

ud as ever, walking faster in shoes they could see were well worn and too big for h

ying after her, and had to scurry through a crowd of

s to go to hell, I didn't quite ca

the press of people on the street. “It's Circle slang.” She had darted into a short street, the road of the big masters, and then stopped suddenly in a doorway, and

he lives now.” The

by the intensity of his passion. He had never felt anything like it hi

ut sooner or lat

s time in Circle loitering outside some girl's doorway ... a girl who obviously didn't want to speak to him, when there were a thousand others who wou

go. I'll meet you later. Back a

nst the wall of what he assumed was her building. He was thinking of going inside, but that could

an hour before. She saw them immediately as she stepped out of her house, started to back inside for a moment, and then decided against it. With her head held high, she walked past them, and James ever so gently touched her arm to catch her attention. At first she looked as though she were going to brush past, and then she stopped, the green eyes blazing, and looked at him. The look she gave him spoke volumes, but she also looked as though she understood there was no point in trying to say anything

No,

the exchange, unable to speak up in his limited Ewe. Something about the girl left him speec

r hand in panic. Maybe she was married. Maybe her husband was going to kill him.

ta eny

ould understand, but almost certain

ke up then i

she doesn'

e hand. “Okay?” He held out both hands, palms up, in a gesture of helplessness and peace, and she looked suddenly weary as she shook her head. She looked as though she had had years o

g there, listening to him. He pointed to himself and then to Samuel. “The eastern part of India. . . Afrikiko . . . now Old Ghana Empire...

. Don't want...” And then she walked away quickly as they stared after her. Even James didn't foll

's gone, and she doe

isappointed schoolboy. “Maybe she'll

eth out. She told us no, and she meant it, now let's not waste all day standing here. There are a million other women in Circl

angry. “She told us to take a hike. And personally, I intend to follo

e her one more time, even if only from a distance. It wasn't just her looks, there was something more about her. Something he couldn't define or understand, but he wanted to know her ... or at least see her. . . . He had to. He stopped at a little cafe across the street, and ordered a cup of the bitter coffee that everyone drank black and without sugar, and sat staring at her doorway, and then watched in amazement as he saw her walking down the street with her string bag still full of books, and walk slowly up the steps to her house a

pish now than he had before, and she shook

He had no idea what she

ish than he had originally thought. She repeated her que

sing the graceful arms that shivered slightly in the cool n

instead. “Many girls in Circle . . . happy talking Americans.” Her eyes grew ha

only speak

d to tell him how Old Ghana Empire had betrayed itself, how ugly it had been, but there wa

our name? Mi

g to herself. “Pearl Kekeli.” But she did not hold out her hand in introduction. “You go?” She looked at

ngry again, and then, her shoulders drooping

te nunye

she couldn't be going to school at

go to scho

boy at home . . . very

t seem to understand and he made the eating gesture again, and this time she l

e. .

d, fingers displayed. “mi

that she was there with an American soldier. She called him Dennis and they chatted for a moment before she ordered a cup of tea, but she refused to order anything to eat until James ordered for her. He ordered some cheese and bread, and in spite of herse

she had sipped the tea. She shook her

felt so compelled to speak to her, but the mom

s hands to show her he didn't know himself. And then he tried to explain it, touching

diers, but he was quick to shake his head. “No, no ... not like that. . . more . . .” He

re, it no

not e

at do

eart and indicated

her head, and then not knowing why, she told him. “My father . . . my brother . . . the Amer

nd y

well ... I ... take

e of your mothe

mevo

her was sixteen . . .” Her eyes filled with tears then, and without thinking he reached out and touched Pearl's hand, and miraculously she let him,

She looked blank. “More brothe

ad, her eyes ser

died for glory, he had died betrayed by one of their Ewe neighbors. Everyone seemed to be collaborating, and a traitor. Except for a handful of loyal Ewe men, and they were being hunted down and slaughtered. Everything had changed. And Pea

d are you

asieke

the right numbers in English. “Ninety.” She said qu

ad said, and she laughed too, for the first time, looking suddenly yo

nd y

ke boy-and-girl. exchanges anywhere, except that they had both seen so

ou schoo

ude

roud of it, even now, oddly enough with her it still seemed to matter,

la

Burk

ve hear

e la

course

, but she didn't seem so anxious to leave now. “Could I see you tomorrow, Pearl? To go for a walk maybe? Or lunch? . .

er head and indicated th

ing on to Saudi, and he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her. Not now . . . not yet . . . and maybe not ever. It was his first tast

he had not made friends with a single American, and certainly no soldier, and she didn't see why the libera

id relu

and she looked confused as he smiled,

a resolute sound, the heavy door closed behind her. As James made his way slowly through the streets of Circle, he felt as though his whole life had changed i