It Could Be You

by Suzy Akrofi 

Characters

 ASSETOU (a mother of two about TWENTY- EIGHT years old

AFI (ASSETOU’S CHILD AGE SIX)

Kikopu (ASSETOU’S HUSBAND A FATHER OF SEVEN. TWO OF WHOM ARE IN THE US. HE HAS ANOTHER WIFE AND FIVE CHILDREN IN AFRICA).

Mana (SIX YEARS OF AGE AFI’S FRIEND AND CLASSMATE)

HAJA ATU (A FEMALE WHO WORKS WITH THE CITY AGE TWENTY-SEVEN)

 LAILA (ASSETOU’S FRIEND SAME AGE AS ASSETOU)

Tatumle (A FRIEND OF HAJA ATU AND ASSETOU SHE IS ABOUT FORTY YEARS)

 

Act One

Scene 1

(A conversation between a mother and daughter on their way to school)

ASSETOU:

Let’s hurry so we’re not late like we were yesterday.

AFI:

I don’t want to leave you. I want to go home with you. 

ASSETOU:

Why? I told you how important it is to go to school.

AFI:

I know, but I hate to see you hurting; your cheek is red and your arm is scratched.  You tried to hide your arm, but I saw it when you were combing my hair.

ASSETOU:

I told you what happened.  There’s no reason to worry about me.

AFI:

You screamed and cried last night.  Why would you do that if you and daddy were trying to kill a cockroach?

ASSETOU:

Here we are.  Look-- there goes Mana.  Catch up with her.

 

(The AFI runs to meet Mana and they both run towards the school.  The mother is joined by Mana’s mother.)

 

 

Scene 2

 

HAJA ATU:

Hi ASSETOU.

 

ASSETOU:

Hi HAJA ATU. How are you?

 

HAJA ATU:

What’s more important, how are you?

 

ASSETOU:

What does that mean?

 

HAJA ATU:

Mana told me something that your daughter told her in school yesterday.  I want to know if it’s true.

 

ASSETOU:

What did she say?

 

HAJA ATU:

She said that her father hits you a lot. 

 

ASSETOU:

Sometimes she hears us trying to kill a cockroach.  Or maybe we have an argument.  That’s all.

 

HAJA ATU:

You can trust me.  You know our children are friends.  That makes us friends also.  We shouldn’t keep secrets from each other.

 

ASSETOU:

Why would I keep it from you?  If my husband beats me, I’ll need help and you’re the best person to turn to.

 

HAJA ATU:

Never let any man lay his hands on you.  You’re a terrific woman.  There are laws which protect women in this country.  Just call 911 and you’ll be protected. 

 

ASSETOU:

First of all, my husband loves me so much that he would never hurt me.  The second thing is there’s no way I’d leave him so that someone like you could move in as soon as I was gone.  Children are children.  They’ll always talk.  There’s no way I’ll leave my husband.  For what reason?

 

HAJA ATU:

I didn’t mean to make you defensive.  I mean no harm.  This is only a woman-to-woman talk.  Take this card (hands her a card).  You can call these people any time you need help.  Remember, your child sees and knows more than you give her credit for.  It affects a child when her mother is hit and hurt. 

 

ASSETOU:

I can take good care of my family.  I have a man I can call my own.  Do you?

Whether he hits me or not, which he doesn’t, is none of your business.  Get a husband.   Then let’s see how easy it is for you to call the police or leave him?    

 

HAJA ATU:

I’ll always be there for you if you need me.  Bye, bye.

 

(HAJA ATU  hurries off.  Mother walks away and meets two of her peers coming out of a grocery.)

 

ASSETOU.

I caught a glimpse of you before.  I turned and you were gone.

 

LAILA:

I didn’t want to get a lecture from Julia.  She thinks she’s our teacher. I’m fed up with her interfering in my family life. You look upset.  What were you discussing?

ASSETOU.

The ‘teacher’ gave me a lecture on what to do if my husband hit me.

 

Tatumle:

My husband worked three jobs so that I could join him here in America.  If we have problems or if he beats me, so what?  If he didn’t love me, he wouldn’t have brought me here.  There’s no way I’ll report him to the authorities because he slaps me or smacks me.  All wives are beaten at some time or another. 

 

ASSETOU.

Who wants to be alone with children?  Even if I didn’t have a child, I couldn’t stand to be alone.  And I do love my husband, even if he hurts me sometimes. 

 

Tatumle:

I’ll tell you what bothers me is that my husband is so tired from working, that he pushes me away at night when I want to get close. 

 

ASSETOU.

That’s been happening more with me also. We quarrel a lot. I worry that if I make a fuss, he’ll bring his first wife from Africa.

 

LAILA:

Why not have a chat with him.  Give him his favorite dish and talk about all the issues that lead to fights.  Maybe you can make the marriage stronger.

 

ASSETOU:

 I guess it’s worth a try.

 

(They go their separate ways.)  

 

 

 

Scene 3

(ASSETOU and kikopu in their bedroom)

ASSETOU.

Can I have a quick chat with you before we go to bed?

kikopu:

If it is about the bills, I think it’s time you contribute more.  You’re only paying for the electricity and phones. We need to look at your responsibilities again.   You’re getting lazier and lazier.

ASSETOU.

What are you talking about?  I contribute as much as you do!

kikopu:

     No you don’t!  And don’t speak to me in that tone!!

ASSETOU.

I’m only speaking the truth.  If you can’t handle it, you should take a good look at yourself.

(kikopu rushes to ASSETOU and holds her throat.  As he’s about to hit her in the face, AFI appears)

Afi:

(Cries and shouts) Ple----ase daddy ple-----ase d-o-n-t.

FADE OUT