Bandit or not Bandit?…Every day beautiful people # 39

May 11, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha13 Comments

“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but without it, we go nowhere.” Carl Sagan

The sensible part of me knows that the bicycle rider had the scarf on his face to keep out the fine desert sand, but the nosy, imaginative busy mind of me, created another scenario, to which he’s now an accomplice in a story.

It just couldn’t get any better, with the band on his face, the cap, the knapsack and a bicycle for a quick getaway 😉

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Never leave me lonely

With words left unsaid

You walk away into the dark

Like a mist, that melts away.

Creative Writing · Fiction

A ticket to Athens…

May 9, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

Bertha could hardly stop herself from preening in pride as the Mayor cut the tape for the new boating dock and the marble, torch statue that would be seen for miles and miles. It would blaze at night, welcoming all seafarers back to the safe harbour of their small fishing town of Little-Uptown.

Who would have thought that out of all the submitted landmark sculpture entries, that her O’Deon would be chosen? She was the cynosure of all eyes.

In a small town such as this, female artistry was hardly encouraged much less acknowledged but the new Mayor seemed more progressive.

Even when she was teased by mates for taking up sculpting classes that were male dominated, she hadn’t relented in her pursuit but learnt to ignore the snide comments like ‘Luv shouldn’t you be in the weaving class, you are in over your head,’ and the male guffaws that followed such wise-cracks.

Now the prize money is more than enough to buy her a ticket and tutelage in Athens, which had always been part of her dream.

InLinkz

Thank you, momtheobscure, for the photo and Priceless Joy for hosting this charming platform where we unleash our stories

Creative Writing · Writer's Quote Wednesday · Writing

I like nonsense…Writers Quote Wednesday Challenge

May 4, 2016May 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha9 Comments

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.” Dr. Seuss

If I could build a fantasy world

It would unfurl

out of the pages of my dream world

of fairies and Peter Pan

of gold dust and timeless plan

where Dragons can become house pets

with beautiful things all without debts

human existence not riddled with regrets

as we make merry and dance to melodious duets

a life of living without threats

would be a fantasy, I bet.

Fantasy, Writer’s quote Wednesday challenge prompt

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha’s poems portray images that stare us right in the face. Images of love, joy, death, pain, challenges, violation, and freedom. She writes in a language that’s rich in imagery, earthy, honest, vulnerable, yet full of the promise of hope, of loving and of Grace. A collection of light and dark soulful prose.

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories

Al Fonzi’s…

May 2, 2016May 2, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

Sal’s damp hands, pounding heart, and throbbing temple announced an impending migraine. She struggled to maintain elegant poise before polite company whose smiling faces got on her nerves.

Now and again she felt eyes rest on her in sympathy or surreptitious glances that feigned disinterest.

The champagne tasted like chilled piss and the food held no interest for her.

Here. Where it had all happened, her mind whirred back in painful rewind.

Here was their favourite place to celebrate. First date, proposal, engagement party and every milestone worth celebrating.

She wondered fleetingly how insensitive her sister could be. Of all the places to choose for an engagement party, it has to be Al Fonzi’s. She had contemplated not turning up, but felt it would cause more wagging tongues as she became fodder for dinner discussion, not as if she already wasn’t.

Here, held all the good memories until the ugly incident brought her life to a screeching nightmare.

Here, where Stanford chose to blow his brains across the dinner table in a horrific way.

The room got too claustrophobic, the laughter and music rushed at her as she stood to go to the ladies. Sal succumbed to the encroaching blackness in a dead faint.

InLinkz

Thank you, Graham, for the photo and Priceless Joy for hosting this charming platform where we unleash our stories

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories

Fresh breath of desire…Friday fiction in five sentences.

April 22, 2016February 19, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

Liam had forgotten this. The way your senses exploded with desire and the pulse raced. A sudden awakening feeling as if he had been in a long deep sleep.

All the exciting tingle coursed through his veins from the soft and warm hand that he clasped in greeting. A deep urge to pull her closer and kiss her full, glossy inviting lips nudged him even as his thumb gently brushed her knuckles almost subconsciously.

Now he understood his son’s fascination with his music and art’s teacher, Miss Felicity. It was easy to get besotted with this exquisite being that stood before him, judging the way he felt. She looked like a fairy with her big baby blue and long-lashed eyes; even her upturned nose had a dusting of freckles.

For weeks, Kevin had gone on and on with one recount or the other on Miss Felicity. Since his mother passed four years ago, this would be the first female he had seen his son warm up to enough for the young boy to try matchmaking his lonely dad with his favourite teacher.

Liam’s heart softened and he muttered silent thanks to God while allowing himself to absorb the sweet energy of the face that smiled up at his in open invitation.

Image credit: Pixabay

Creative Writing · Haiku · Rononvan's Weekly Haiku Challenge

Tales By Moonlight…

April 19, 2016February 1, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

I like this week’s Haiku prompt ‘ Sun & Moon,’ from Ronovan. What do you think?

Hair like silk spun gold

She had him enthralled with her looks

Singing under the glowing moonlight.

*****

Limpid pools of her eyes

Beckoned to him like the mysterious moon

Twinkling like glints of sun rays.

*****

He bought her precious jewels

That shone bright like the golden Sun

And proposed beneath the moonbeams.

*****

Image credit: Pixabay

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories

The Marriage…Friday’s fiction in five sentences.

April 15, 2016February 1, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha33 Comments

It was the perfect wedding. The sun had shone just at the right proportion. The storybook garden where they shared their vows was dreamy. Everything was as it should be. Sublime.

Yet Cecilia felt some restlessness in her spirit. Helmut is a perfect match. Mother loved him very much and approved of him. Even her picky friends liked him well enough. They considered him the dashing, wealthy European.

Their marital vows felt like a constriction to her vocal chords. She shook off the inner voice and focused on the sizzle. She loves Helmut, he’s a passionate lover and even as every cell in her body screamed ‘don’t‘ she said I do.

It didn’t take a long time for her to realize that the marriage was a huge mistake.

Helmut’s perceived candour turned to blunt cruelty. His passion became an obsession. He smothered her to death.

Image credit..pixabay

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories

Lost In Thought…Friday Fiction In Five Sentences.

April 8, 2016February 1, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha21 Comments

Ted was bored, angry and tired. He hated his job, the drudgery and his boss.

Every morning, he would get all dressed up, knotted in stitches by the strictures of his tie, suit and briefcase, yet he trudged along, a pack of analgesic and pepto-bismol tucked away in his bag. He would have gone through a bit of them before the day was over.

He knew that he couldn’t continue like this in such a dull job. He had told himself this for the past ten years, yet he was too lethargic and scared to sit up and do something.

Lost in thoughts over his quandary, his movements were spare and automated as he walked down his usual route to catch the bus.

He stepped into the pedestrian crossing, just a few seconds too early. He had failed to see the flashing change of the lights and the truck that trundled down at high speed.

Image credit: Pixabay

Creative Writing · Short Stories

The Visa Photo…

March 28, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

‘You have to look relaxed and smile Nkeonyelu. Abi, you don’t want them to give you the visa?’

‘I hear that they look at people’s picture to decide who they will allow to go abroad o.’

‘Aha! That’s a better pose.’

‘Oya, Patrick snap it like that,’ Nkeonyelu’s mother’s insisted.

‘Make sure she looks beautiful o!’

‘Can you believe it? You, my daughter, will be going to Germany.’ Her ceaseless excited chatter attracted the eyes of other customers.

Nkeonyelu was not as enthused as her mother. Patrick’s busy photo studio was the best that the little town had and not far from it, was another shop where her heart lay.

Secretly in her mind, she wished the visa officer would look at her picture and dislike it.

She silently prayed that they would deny her the visa to join her unknown husband.

It was marriage by proxy and the past few month’s following the ties, she has nursed an unhappy heart.

Her secret love for Ekendili only seemed to burgeon more with each passing day, but she knew that her family would never welcome the suit of the poor cobbler when a golden opportunity has been handed to them right on a platter of arranged marriage.

Inlinkz

In response to the FFAW photo prompt above. Thank you, Uday for the picture and Priceless Joy for this enchanting story platform.

Quick glossary:

Abi – Don’t you?

Oya – Quickly