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Hey Brother. We’re out of sugar.
No sugar. Are you sure?
Yes.
Wait. Ebrima will bring new sugar.
Ebrima, go to my room; there is sugar on the table.
Ebrima. I told you to bring sugar. Hurry up!
Stop hassling the boy!
Why? You always come to his defence. What’s wrong?
I don’t want this child to suffer.
But the way there is not long.
No. Go and get yourself the sugar.
You spoil the child! You always say no when we give him something to do.
Never in my life, I want to see this child to be sad.
Then please, let us finally know the problem.
Take a seat; and I will tell you everything.
Okay, I’ll sit down and listen.
I don’t know. This child is treated like a king. That is a problem!
Brother, sit down. The woman is going to explain everything.
Okay, we’re listening.
This story is very sad. It happened five years ago.
Fatou, the labour law in The Gambia was changed. We have new working time now.
Yes, I know.
Ah, did you hear the news?
Yes, I did.
Now, I have to work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
That is why, from now on, I will be home later.
It will be difficult for me to get a taxi.
6 o’clock is not a good time. Very difficult.
I promise my daughter, if she gets good grades,
then I will let her go abroad and study in America.
Oh! America?
Mariama, now it’s up to you.
America!
I don’t know what the future brings;
but Mariama is very talented and is working hard.
She has a very good teacher.
Careful with the teacher.
Don’t worry, he is married and is not attracted to Mariama.
The teacher is a good man; you can see that.
Beware of those teachers.
There are no problems about this one.
Listen to what I tell you.
Tell me.
I am a man. And the teacher is also a man.
Yes, that’s right.
Men know each other.
However, I thought the teacher was married.
He is a man; you may not forget that.
That’s right.
But right now, Mariama is a decent girl and the teacher a good soul.
Oh dad, you will send me to America?
Yes.
I will do everything I can.
II’ll keep my promise if you get good grades.
Your father keeps his promises.
I wish for you what I didn’t have.
These pants need to be real clean.
Look, it’s not completely clean here.
Later, I will cut onions. Then you will have to wash the bowls.
Hello, how are you?
How are the kids?
I am very busy here but content with the city and the people.
During the Easter holidays, I will come visit you.
Good afternoon.
How are you?
Good. And you?
Mariama, don’t forget to ask the teacher for his laundry.
Mariama, do you remember the girl who became pregnant last year?
How can someone be so silly? I was surprised about the girl’s young age.
It shocked me. She was so young when she became pregnant.
She is so silly. Her own fault.
She never answers when I call her. But she is the girl of my dreams. I want to marry her.
Who?
This one!
My friend, stay away from her. I want her!
Wait.
Stay cool.
Are you sure?
I love this woman. She has a beautiful body; and she is so talented. I love women like her.
My friend, you don’t know her really.
That’s no problem; she is the best in school. I love women like her.
Stop bothering me. I won’t relinquish her to you.
Everywhere, I will talk to her.
But you are my friend.
No friends in this regard.
Her father is my best friend.
Even if you had the same parents. I don’t care.
I do not understand.
What do you not understand? You are ruining my plans.
Let’s make up again, so that one can win.
No, I don’t care. I win or everything breaks.
Good morning.
Today, our topic is human growth.
Is there anybody who can tell anything about it?
It is a science which shows the human development.
Very good.
It is the science of the process of growing up.
Okay, we’re finishing for today. See you tomorrow.
Don’t forget your homework.
Mariama, wait a second. I need to tell you something.
Mariama, tell your mother that my clothes are dirty. Bring the clean laundy.
You’re a good girl.
Hello, Mr Konteh.
Who is it?
It’s me, Mariama.
Come in!
Why are you waiting at the door? Come in.
There you go with the laundry. Mama says the rest isn’t done yet.
You can bring it anytime.
Sit down. I want to explain something to you.
But I have to work.
I want to explain something for your test tomorrow.
Okay, then I’ll be at school a little earlier.
It’s not possible tomorrow. You don’t have to worry.
It will be easier for you then. You are the best one yet, aren’t you?
I have always said, when a woman grows, her *** become bigger
and you get underarm hair.
Also the other women’s *** and their underarm hair grow.
Once you see it, it means
that you can do something with men.
Then you can also become pregnant.
You are such a beautiful girl. You are the prettiest in the school.
No, no. I don’t want that.
It will only be like this today. You can’t get pregnant from one time.
Mariama, nothing happens from the first time.
Now you can go home. See you again at school tomorrow.
Tell your mother I said hi.
Mariama is still sleeping
The sun is already high in the sky; and Mariama is not at school yet?
What’s going on? Look at the sun! And you are still sleeping!?
You must go to school!
Why are you not at school?
You must go to school! See the sun!
No, my whole body aches.
What?
My whole body aches.
What? Everything aches?
You haven’t prayed yet. Get up and pray. Don’t stay in bed.
Later, you need to give it back to me.
Good morning.
Say, where is your friend Mariama?
She is not at school today?
Is she sick?
I don’t know.
Mariama, you are ill. You may not be in bed the whole time. Come with me and get some fresh air.
Careful. Walk slowly.
Mariama, I am your mother.
Tell me the truth. What happened?
Whenever I ask you, you say you have stomach ache.
Tell me, what happened?
You always speak about stomach ache.
We need to go to the hospital now. Then we’ll find out.
Name?
Mariama Fatty.
Where from?
Kulukoty
Age?
She is 15.
What happened?
For one week now, she has been sick. She has thrown up and stomach ache.
Anything else?
That’s it.
Okay, nausea and stomach ache.
Headaches?
No.
I give you this piece of paper. Take it to the laboratory and come back with it afterwards.
Listen.
We’ve carried out several tests; and here is the result.
We detected a pregnancy.
Pregnant?
That must be a mistake! My daughter is not pregnant!
Mariama, say, how did you become pregnant?
What’s done is done.
There is nothing we can do.
Now it is important to take good care of the pregnant woman.
Anything but that! What do I tell my husband?
Your father is a strict man.
Mariama, you’re killing me.
I least expected that from you.
Mariama, who made you pregnant?`
You’re killing me. I will be ashamed of everybody.
You’re killing me!
You’re killing me!
Mariama, you are a disgrace to our family.
You are the first who does that.
You know your father is strict.
What do I tell him?
Who was that? Tell me his name.
Here, your pregnancy test.
Say the name!
I am your mother. Who made you pregnant?
Who was it?
Stop! Don’t run away. Who was this?
Mariama! I’m talking to you.
This generation makes me crazy.
What a shame. What do I tell my husband? He is so strict.
Mariama, you’re killing me.
The child is killing me.
Mariama is killing me.
She disgraces our family.
She is the first person who does that.
I can’t tell nobody.
This girl, who just passed with her mother, is my sister’s classmate.
She is very intelligent. What did her mom say to her? Did you understand that?
I heard the girl was pregnant.
Are you serious?
Yes. She is pregnant?
That’s a pity. But she is still so young.
It is not her fault. Her mother is responsible.
I cannot believe it. This girl is so intelligent; and now she is pregnant.
It is not her fault. Her parents took care of her.
Not the parents but a man.
The parents are to blame.
She is too young for a pregnancy.
Mariama, what’s wrong?
You know it.
What do I know?
Who made you pregnant?
It was you who did that.
I do not want to hear that. You must know who it was. I did not do it.
It is not possible if it happens only once.
It was you.
You must know who it was. If you want I’ll give you money for an abortion.
No, I cannot do this.
It was not me.
It was.
I will give you money; and then you’ll go to hospital for an abortion.
Here your test. It wasn’t me. You must know who it was.
Go or sleep here in front of the house.
Aunt! Aunt!
What happened?
Don’t cry,
What happened?
Don’t cry.
Now let me know what’s wrong.
The doctors from the hospital said I was pregnant.
Pregnant?
My teacher made me pregnant and denies everything.
He wants to give me money for an abortion.
That is a problem. Does your father know already?
No.
And your mother?
Yes.
This cannot continue. I need to talk to your parents.
We get together and deliberate.
Was it the teacher whom you always bring lunch?
Yes.
Get out!
Are you Mr Konteh?
Yes.
What have you done to my brother’s family?
Which brother?
My brother Danfa, whose daughter always brings you food and whom you teach.
What’s wrong?
You don’t know it?
You ruined my niece. She is pregnant.
No, not by me.
You were teaching the girl and she brings you food, everyday. It can only be you.
Go ask your niece. It wasn’t me.
I will send for the police! I cannot allow that.
Go for it, call the police. I am not afraid.
My wife, you are so beautiful.
What’s wrong?
You are very beautiful.
Just like that?
Yes, this is the way it has to be.
Much better than always those T-shirts.
When I come back from work you usually wear a shirt already.
I love you. You are so beautiful.
I have always looked like this. I bought the clothes from my money.
Not from your money. This beauty I have paid out of my own pocket.
Everything you have I pay out of my own pocket.
Before our marriage you had nothing, but now you have everything.
If you remain like that, I won’t have no second wife.
I don’t want to hear that.
This is the way it has to be.
We would kill each other.
Instead of Mariama, it should be you who brings me food when I come back from work.
Okay, I understand.
Hello, how are you?
I’m fine.
Mariama, did you visit your aunt?
Yes, she visited me. We have a problem.
I am here because of Mariama.
Ah Mariama.
Because of Mariama.
We can plan something, but God will always decide.
That is true. Only God can decide.
Has your wife already told you anything?
No.
I thought so; she knows you. Mariama is pregnant.
What? My Mariama is pregnant? How is that possible?
But Mariama is pregnant.
Mariama came to me with a test result, cried and told me she was pregnant.
How is that possible?
The teacher Mariama always brings food for made her pregnant.
Who prepares the food for the teacher? My wife?
Mariama is pregnant by the teacher.
By the teacher?
Mariama, Fatou or the teacher? One of you is to blame.
No, it cannot be possible.
Calm down.
Usually, I can stay calm, but that is just too much.
I warned you.
Mariama, why did you do that? You have everything.
What does the teacher have that you do not have here?
Please. I’m sorry!
I take off my headscarf for you.
I couldn’t tell you.
Let us go to the police.
Leave my house! Everybody!
Go! Otherwise you’ll have a problem.
You cannot trust women.
My friend, stay away from that girl.
My friend, let’s just forget about this and let us do our things.
Stop it! Don’t you have any respect?
Let’s do our things here.
Look, follow her; you can have her.
Mariama, why do you not answer?
Joko, I said I come visit you during the Easter holidays. But I will come now.
Don’t ask me why.
Just leave me alone.
I cannot stay here. I need to go away; otherwise I’d die of shame.
People would not accept me anymore. I have to go away.
It was an accident. I gotta blow town, before this woman and the police are onto me.
Always, my shoes are broken.
It this compound over there.
Does he live here?
Yes, it is Mr Konteh’s compound.
Officer, there here is.
Mr Konteh?
Yes.
He is the suspect. He was about to escape.
This woman told us you had impregnated your student.
You know the laws.
I did not do it.
You stay calm and go to the police station.
My friend, look.
Mr Konteh was arrested by the police.
What has he done?
Now, because of this thing with the girl.
He made her pregnant?
That’s what I’m saying.
So it is true.
When the village teachers come to town, they always think they are the greatest.
This teacher is a bad reputation for every other teacher.
Yes, right. He damages everyone’s reputation.
This is why I do not want to become a teacher.
Let him go.
Better he would go to prison.
Yes, have him arrested.
Hey you! Do you want to kill yourself?
Listen.
Your daughter was brought to us here.
She is pregnant, and we all know it.
When a woman is pregnant, she needs help.
Particularly, when this woman is very young.
When a woman is very young, she may have problems during pregnancy.
Firstly, she will have difficulties at birth.
Secondly, she must be here in hospital, regularly, for checking purposes.
Here we can test her for Malaria and everything else; and we can also give her treatment.
These medical checks are very important for the unborn child.
If there are no checks, it may be possible that either the mother or the baby will die in childbirth.
Thank you very much, doctor. I will look after the girl and care for her.
Take her with you. You know I cannot take her back home with me because of her father.
Hello Senabou.
How are you?
Long time no see, but you still have a perfect body.
By the way, where is your friend actually?
She is pregnant, my friend.
Who was it?
Mr Konteh.
This teacher has it all wrong and made her pregnant.
That is no surprise. I no longer trust teachers.
They do bad things.
Aunt! My stomach.
Father. I hardly dare to say it.
Nowadays, people are in hospital in order to recover.
But your daughter, who was hospitalised today, died at childbirth.
What’s done is done. We must accept it.
I will bring the baby.
Fatoumata, please stop crying.
I cannot stop.
It happened. Stop crying.
You must stop crying. What God determines no man can change.
It is important now that you pray for her to go to paradise.
It is enough. Don’t cry.
Please calm down.
How can I feed this baby? I have no breast milk.
I can take it.
Would you take it?
Yes, I will.
I have no milk to feed it.
That is why I don’t want this child to suffer.
Whenever you give him a task I cry.
This child does not know its mother.
It is a miracle that he survived at all.
His mother had suffered too much.
I have raised the child.
I do not want you to give him tasks and make him suffer.
Whenever I think of his story I cry.
Thank you very much! But why haven’t you told us anything before for so long?
If I had known this, a lot would not have happened.
You knew it and did not say a word?
From now on, I won’t do no harm to the child anymore and protect it.
I did no good to him.
In the name of Allah, this story will make many people take care of their child.
Thus, tomorrow people will look after their children.
Thank you very much for this story. I will never do any harm to the child again.