Forty….

April 18, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha33 Comments

Forty! It’s Sheila’s birthday and she’s not particularly enthused. Her thoughts were adrift and disjointed. She had no desire for a big do and wanted to spend the day quietly.

Her introspection made her sad. Her thought was that every line should have fallen into place in her life by now. Babies, her own successful interior decor business, and all the works.

Rather, she’s still stuck in a job that went nowhere. A succession of miscarriages dogged her marriage that it seemed her own baby was not in the books. Ray was distracted; working harder and coming home late.

Queasy stomach emptied of its content, she sat on the toilet lid and stared at the stick. Positive. Her heart jumped in excitement. Could it really be? However, she decided to keep the news to herself in the meantime.

Ray came home later with a gorgeous haute couture gown and silver sandals. He insisted on taking her for a dinner after helping with the zipper of her dress and the buckle of her sandals.

He had organised a surprise party with their close friends in a newly outfitted interior decor store meant for his wife.

Inlinkz

In response to the photo prompt, provided by Barb. Thank you, Barb and thank you, Priceless Joy, for this enchanting story platform.

Saved….

April 17, 2016January 4, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

‘Breathe.’ The doctor urged in quiet urgency.

He gently patted the little one on a body that was turning bluish.

How he hated to lose one of these little ones.

No matter how many times he took deliveries, the wonder of childbirth never failed to grip his heart.

This had been a particularly difficult birth and he prayed that the young mother will not come to, just to be told that her baby didn’t make it.

After several minutes of palpitating and held breath, the little one let out an annoyed squall.

Dr. Han’s eyes were pricked with tears. He knew such a satisfying moment.

Breath,The Daily Post Prompt

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

Fiction · Short Stories

Racy Mistress…

April 11, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha22 Comments

Pictures slipped out of the FedEx package onto the floor as Nicole sank into the armchair to read the letter again.

Her mouth rounded in an o of surprise. She just inherited a house from auntie Suzie, according to the estate lawyer McGulligans’.

She picked up the pictures and studied the charming looking house on the grounds of a large acreage.

A lot of mystery shrouded aunt Suzie. Nicole barely knew her. All she knew was that they shared the same red hair while her parents and brother had jet-black hair.

She recalled hazy little bits of family whispers about her. She was the black sheep of her maternal side.

Nicole remembered her fascination with the exotic looking lady the only time she visited and the ensuing heated argument.

The words ‘No you can’t! Racy mistress,’ had been repeated. Mother had been in tears, gran had been upset and auntie Suze smoked her slim cigarette despite Grandma’s frown at her.

Why would she leave the house to her and not her brother? Nicole’s curiosity was piqued. Travelling to Dublin will probably provide the answers to the puzzle.

Inlinkz

In response to the FFAW photo prompt. Thank you Priceless Joy for this enchanting story platform.

Image credit: pixabay.com

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

Fiction · Short Stories

The Bag Lady…

April 4, 2016April 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha31 Comments

The two young men laughed and made fun of the strange lady in her colourful mismatched clothes. They were the town’s bullies, who preyed on those that they perceived as weak.

They called her mean names, shoved her around and they tried to frighten her into parting with any possible money that she had.

No one knew who she was. She was a drifter to these parts, but she knew people like them. She knew such boys whose idea of fun was to make others miserable and she had dealt with them in times past.

What they failed to understand was that beneath what their eyes could see, the bag ladies oddities ran far deeper than their imagination.

As she wheeled slowly towards the edge of town, Blaze and Basil grew impatient and decided to rough her up.

In a flash, she turned on them, chanting loudly as her eyes flashed vibrant neon colours. She turned them into two colourful, mellow cows with ear tags that read peace and love.

Till today, the citizens of Not-To-Be-Cowed town marvel at the strange appearance of the beautiful cows with the name tags, but they don’t miss the ruffians.

Inlinkz

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

Fiction · Personal · Poetry/Poems

Dear Husband Of Mine… personal

April 3, 2016April 3, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha49 Comments

Sometimes, I keep quiet
Searching for the words
To say that I love you.

Sometimes, my heart combusts
With the fullness
Of knowing you.

Sometimes, I doubt if word’s
Can really say
What I feel for you.

These times,
I utter words of thanks
To God who brought you to me.

Sometimes, I love you
Seems to be so small
A word for what you mean to me.

You mean the World
And so much beyond
My husband. You are a good man.

This time
I can’t keep quiet
But shout it from the rooftops.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Fiction · Love · Short Stories

To Cry In The Rain….Friday Fiction In Five Sentences.

April 1, 2016April 1, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

Girl, Sad, Crying, Raining, Rain Drops, Window, People

Anna-Gaelle’s desire for self-torture outweighed her sense of self-preservation as she sat in a quiet corner of the pews and watched the proceedings.

She braced herself and kept a stiff upper lip even as tears pooled at the back of her eyes and a lump formed in her throat.

She watched as they exchanged their vows, which sounded like a death knell to her heart.

The brush of their lips as they sealed the nuptials tugged at her in envy and sadness; sending the message that he could never be hers clearly across.

Blinded by tears that streamed unbidden down her face, she stepped out into the drizzle allowing her tears to mingle freely with the raindrops.

Fiction · Friday Fiction in Five Sentences · Short Stories

Picnic in the parlour…Friday Fiction In Five Sentences

March 25, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha21 Comments

Angela looks out of the window in delight at the fair weather, the Sun’s rays wink from beneath the clouds.

Ah! Finally, a beautiful day to frolic, riding bicycles and having a picnic in the park.

It’s a good day today, she hums to herself, rousing the boys from their computer games to assemble the items for an outdoor foray.

The rumble of Thunder, gives pause to her delight and true to type, the fickle weather has changed it’s mind.

We shall just have to have this picnic in the living room she mutters in deflation.

Image credit: Pixabay.com

Fiction · Short Stories · Uncategorized

A New Beginning…

March 21, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

A duty done for home and country, though most times Damon wondered if the toll of duty was worth the sacrifice.

He had seen too many dead bodies and his inner mind had grown jaded. Cumulative years of fighting, of living on the edge had it’s way of sucking into a man’s psych.

Though he no longer served, he wore his fatigues and felt a sense of readiness, like he could face anything.

The stark facts of life’s circumstance whirled through his mind in years, up to the moment the explosion led to his blindness.

It still surprised him that Ann had waited all these years for him. Now, as he fights to find a ‘new life‘ without his sight, she stood supportive, her loving voice encouraging his often cranky, frustrated actions. His lips curved in a smile at the thought of her blooming belly.

She has persuaded him to take a guide dog, that would help him foster more sense of independence and they were on their way to see the one she intuitively felt he would love.

He hoped so.

Inlinkz

In response to the FFAW photo prompt above from Pixabay.com. Thank you Priceless Joy for this enchanting story platform