In response to the cue art Faces from Creativity Carnival :
It rankles! Yes it does. Maria sits mute at the dinner table, her roiling thoughts consumed with jealousy and anger. Mama, cracks a joke that maybe a widower with a dozen children would fall hopelessly in love with her homeliness but it is a struggle to plaster a smile on her face. She knows the icy look in her eyes must be as cold as the Arctic but no one notices.
She can’t seem to help her unbidden thoughts and distorted feelings for Ella. Ella, her identical twin but there are no two people who are more different. Maria’s distorted feelings of animosity, envy and sadness have accrued over the years.
Even her name is prettier for pity’s sake – Maria thinks. They saddle me with a staid, homely, sensible name “Maria” and “Ella” gets to be called a fairytaley, princessy, frilly name.
Ella the glitzy, charming one. The one that drew the boys like mindless bees to her honeysuckle petals. The one who got all the accolades, yet didn’t exert herself much to earn them.
Mama keeps saying that Ella will go places; our ballerina tutus are the same, yet mine always managed to look crumpled and my flats had a hole in the toe. I made that hole! In rebellion too, she recalls in remembered pleasure. She hated the ballet lessons and all that pirouetting made her dizzy. “No spotlights for you, my young lady” auntie Anna would say. That sounded like doom to the young lady’s ears.
She loves to draw and paint, but no one seems to notice. They noticed easily how unruly her hair is, how her skirts are always overrun with watercolor and how her finger nails are eaten to jagged bits, from nervous energy.
Ella is always immaculate. No hair is ever out of place. Her bubbly energy takes up the entire air meant for both of them and sometimes Maria feels like the evil step-sister waiting for the Sword of Damocles to fall and swish Ella’s head off her shoulders.
Maria prays. Every moment, she tries. Trying to staunch the flow of ill-feeling by saturating them in heartfelt prayers, but those moments of peaceful thoughts did not last.
Today she feels so petty and angry as she watches Ella weave her sticky charm, yet again on a beau. Our budding romance is dead on arrival, Jeremy has just bitten the dust, she thinks.
Debating all the painful, slow ways to eliminate her sibling rival and shaking with an itchy, ugly desire to slap Ella’s face, Maria slowly rises from the dinner table and leaves for her room. No one notices.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
Very nice! love the images and how you paint this picture!
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I am glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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I did!!
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🙂
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Wow. You really have some writing chops, Jacqueline. This was really good. I really enjoyed it 🙂
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Thank you Kelly for the nice compliment, ‘writing chops’ You just put a smile on my face.
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You are so welcome! You put a smile on my face as well by reading your words! Have a lovely day 🙂
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Enjoy your weekend 🙂
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Great story, pleasure to read, very convincing characters and atmosphere 🙂
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Thanks for taking the time to read and enjoy Collete. I appreciate 🙂
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Love the contrast between the two…the ease with which you tell us about Maria’s feelings…simply by establishing the contrast – it’s fab. Thanks for participating. I always love reading your stories.
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Finally…I get to participate. Your cues are delicious you know. Thank you.
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Have you thought about doing a regular series? You write so wonderfully well…it would be a treat for those of use left wondering what happens next. No pressure, I know you have a lot going on with the book…just something to think about, if you haven’t already. It’s always nice chatting with ya! Have a fantastic day Jacqueline 🙂
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You seem to be thinking about something that I am thinking of 🙂 I think I will inculcate a series into my blog very soon. Thanks dear, I appreciate the suggestion. Have a good weekend ahead.
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Yaaaay!!! Sounds absolutely delightful. Can’t wait to see what’chu got cooking up for us! I’m sure it’s going to be a hit! *happy dance*
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🙂 🙂
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Haha! I thought about the same thing! Can’t wait to see when that series is up:) You’re a wonderful writer Jacqueline!
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Thanks Nena. You ladies make me feel good 🙂
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Poor Maria, it would be very hard to pull out of a trough like that, you’ve created a very clear character!
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Yes it would. She has to learn to be more assertive and confident in herself 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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This is so sad! If only Maria could find the person to see her for her. I’m sure she will one day!
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Sure she will 🙂
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