
How much do you sell them, are they fresh, when did they come, are you going to reduce it for us, can you do something about the price?
These are the questions I hear each day of my life. Even if they are just a today made tomatoes they will still bargain with the price. I do not blame them, yes I don’t. There are a lot of marketers on the market making it hard for we the old marketers to get price. But I never wanted to be a trader, yes not this kind of trade. I had dreams of being a doctor, some banker or even a lawyer. But now I trade when they ask me what I’m doing.
I’m a trader in a foreign country. A country where I know no relatives. Yes they say is easier when there’s no relation because you can’t ask for a lower price or for free when you are not from my family. I get to raise up my market value.
Whenever I visit back home, my old lady ask “ Akosua, what do you do in Abijan”? I tell her I’m a trader. She goes on to ask “what do you trade in and why not come home to sell them here too”? I tell her the demand value over there is good, very good and I don’t get people asking for credit because I’m a stranger.
These lies have found its way to get to me now. I’m 45 years not married no child and business is so bad.
No value now. They all see me as an old cargo. I traded my body in the twenties. I was the talk of the market. I had all my values so at hand. I could go for seven to ten different men a night. I had my fun, the luxury and all the fame in Abijan.
I felt like a queen. I had friends I pimped out. But now, I’m the HIV positive old cargo no one wants. My value is off the market. I can not go home. The shame, the stigma and the disappointment will kill me.
I’m lost with no market value in a foreign land.


