Out Of The Cold Damp…

January 25, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

Sandra’s eyes glazed over in tears of joy, as she perused the documents in her hands with careful intent.

At last! At long last she has a home that she could rightfully call hers. Her heart swelled in gratitude.

A home in a decent neighbourhood and not the squalid neighbourhood that she grew up in.

Sometimes, they had no electricity, because there was no money to pay and it was always cold, damp and freezing during the Winter.

She had promised herself that she would not end up there.

She knew that life held more for her than that and she was determined to succeed.

Studying hard to break out of that mould has been worth all the trouble.

Working and saving all that she could is yielding positive dividends.

Now she could move her aged mother out of the pits to live with her in a beautiful neighbourhood, where there would be light and warmth.

In response to the FFAW photo prompt above. Thank you Louise for the photo and Priceless Joy for your enabling platform.

Inlinkz

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories

Mind Games…

January 24, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

He felt such deep shame within him.

Shame that his friends would mock him if they ever got to know that he was doing such demeaning job.

Washing toilets! Cleaning up for women.

As a man raised to believe that women are just an inch less than a chattel, it was an insult to have to wash the ladies wash room and to serve them.

His thoughts were that the ladies were equally making mockery of him. He felt that their sniggers and giggles were all aimed at unmanning him.

Even the female supervisor always complained on how poorly he did his job or how slow he was.

How he disliked those her kohl darkened eyes. He always tortured her the most in his mind.

In his mind, he beat them up several times over in a day and enjoyed the mind games that he played, taunting them until they begged for mercy.

On days he got carried away with his warped imagination, he decided to contaminate the water in their dispenser with his urine.

It was his turn to snigger as he watched them take cups of water to drink and natter as they normally do and each time, he went back to his shared quarters feeling satisfied.

Unfortunately, his small-mindedness failed to remember that the tiny pin-prick cameras picked up every little detail that went on in the office.

When he was discovered, he really got to feel the pinches, jabs and painful barbs of his so-called weaker opponents and the iron-faced Eunuch taught him a lesson by that he would not be forgetting in a hurry.

In my usual way, I found some articles that caught my attention. Have a look.

How to destroy a person’s self worth by Knotholes and Textures.

Balls grow a Vagina by Edwina Episodes.

Embrace Rejection from Kay Morris.

When did pitter patter change? From Yelobrd777

To Love from Diane of Lady who lunch reviews.

The past can’t be changed from Success Inspirer

Fiction · Friday Fiction in Five Sentences · Hope · Short Stories

The Bill…Friday Fiction In Five Sentences.

January 22, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha29 Comments

She counts the coins over and over again.

It would barely be enough to purchase meaningful grocery.

‘Dear Lord, where will the next meal for the babies come from?’ She wonders in despair.

Hearing a shuffle of feet and a rap on the door.

She rises wearily to check who it is, but there is no one at the door, just a little note wedged into the space under the door, with a 50 dollar bill nicely folded inside.

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories

Finish The Story #1… In The Saloon…

January 20, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha10 Comments

Alphabet story and I started the story chain below.

We now invite you to add to the story line 🙂

***************

Frank walks into the empty saloon.

It’s too early for the usual crowd.

Behind the bar, Brad is wiping down the counter and rearranging the bottles of the new order just received.

Tonight is the weekly lady’s night. He wants everything ready before they arrive and he gets swamped with orders.

Brad looks up at the sound of the opening door and sees the dude in the cowboy hat. He is an unfamiliar face.

‘Hello mate.’ Frank introduces himself, plunks down on a high bar stool and pulls out a picture from his pocket.

‘I am looking to meet this lady, Isobel. ‘Would you be knowing her whereabouts?’ He asked.

Brad is not sure what to make of the stranger and his question.

*****Now you can have fun and continue it. The picture could serve up some inspiration, and at the end of the trail of what we gather, we will publish the full length accrediting bits and pieces to the bloggers who contributed*******

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories

Rolls of Dice…

January 18, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha28 Comments

Mike held his breath and closed his eyes. Anxiety curled in his stomach like viper.

He knew that the roll of the dice determined his doom.

For minutes, he reviled himself for the gambling, which overtook his senses.

Going to town with the lads had turned out not to be a very good idea.

A mug of beer became several and a roll of dice turned into several rolls too many.

‘I should have stuck with the coin machines.’ He thought.

‘What will I tell Bernadette?‘

‘How do I explain that I have lost the inheritance.’ ‘That we are heading for the poor house?‘

Like a man waiting for the knell of the tomb bell, the jingle of dices sounded ominous and then it stopped.

Gasps, shifting of bar stools and music in the background sounded louder.

Bracing himself he opened his eyes.

Incredible! By some lucky God of Roulette he won.

‘You lucky son of a gun,’ Todd pounded his back.

‘Well, drinks are on you.’

He collected his winnings, left several dollar bills for drinks and decided to go home.

In response to the FFAW photo prompt above. Thank you Etol for the photo and Priceless Joy for your enabling platform.

Inlinkz

A link to my neighbours/Community · Creative Writing · Family · Fiction · Short Stories

Fortune Unfounded…

January 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha32 Comments

The call for prayers blared through the loud speakers, the pull of the voice sounds compelling, but prayers are the furthest thing on Aashish’s mind.

He feels sad. He has no money to apply for residence visa for his wife and two daughters to join him and the much that he earns is barely enough to tide him over, after he had sent some home.

It’s Sunita’s birthday today, he thought that by now they would have been with him.

His children are growing up without him and yet the fortune that he sought, leaving them behind eluded him.

He pulls out the crumpled, almost faded picture of his family. It was taken years back in one of the quick snap booths, on one of their rare visits to town. It has been five long years, since he last set eyes on them. He has failed them and his shoulders slump further.

Sometimes his spirits are buoyed with stories of people winning lotteries and he struggled to buy a ticket, but it was always someone else who won.

He felt he was better off back home on his farm in Nepal and doing odd jobs to augment their meagre income.

At least he will get to be with his family again and he will be happier again and Anu will understand, he hopes.

Being away from his wife has been the hardest part. The fees for entertaining himself with one of the willing ladies was just too much luxury for him.

With a sigh of pent up emotions, he fished out his rubber-bound telephone from his pocket and dialed his brother’s number.

Hello Aadit, tell Anu that I am coming home, he said.

From my neighbours yards, I harvested these thoughts and would like to share them with you.

Feeding The Tiger, Fighting The Lions, from Deborah Crocker.

Getting That Book Constructed For Submission, from Connie Jasperson

How to easily find time for stress free blogging , from Janice Wald

I enjoyed reading Life Lessons from voyager of freedom.

Curative list of 2016 writing competitions from Yelhispressing

A little teaser for you from A Momma’s view.

A tale of two dips, from what’s for dinner moms.

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories

Barnaby is up to his usual tricks…

January 11, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

Philomena just started her new job as the lab technician. A lab with lots of gadgets, even a full-bodied skeleton.

She gets down to work intending to leave good impressions on her new boss, but something feels off.

Looking at the skeleton, it seems to have moved a few more inches.

‘It must be the light’ she mutters.

A shuffling sound has her turning. She is sure that the skeleton winked at her.

‘No! I must be imagining things.‘

Then she felt the slight ruffle of the hair at the nape of her neck.

Yelping in alarm, she dashes out to the hallway, almost knocking her new boss over in her haste.

What’s the problem, Philomena?

She barely utters a word, flapping like a crazed woman.

‘Oh darn it!’ He exclaims.

‘Barnaby is up to his old tricks.’

‘Not to worry my dear. He is quite harmless and very friendly too.’

‘He wants to get acquainted.’

‘He was the resident scientist who blew himself up in an experiment.’

‘He just can’t stop lingering in the lab.’

In response to the FFAW photo prompt above. Compliments to Pixabay for the photo and Priceless Joy for this challenge platform.

Inlinkz

Creative Writing · Fiction · Love · Short Stories Series

At Long Last! A Husband Found…

January 10, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha36 Comments

It’s a beautiful Spring morning. Everything shines and conspires in accord with the warmth that flows around.

Staring into the mirror in the dressing room, Tess’s joy overflows. She barely slept more than two winks.

The anticipation of her new life has her lips wreathed in smiles and her brown eyes glow in the bright light.

So does her mothers; who is busy blowing her nose and dabbing away tears of joy yet again. Mother dear, is proud of herself and her baby. She always believed that she knew what is best for her girl and she is taking some part of the good wishes for playing a major role in the matchmaking from the onset.

It’s been a year and three months of intense courtship with Humphrey and today is their wedding day. It had taken several unsuccessful, blind online efforts and an accidental date to find her man.

Who knew that her Prince was the proverbial boy next door or as the case may be, the boy in the Church.

She recalls the near times that she almost blew him off. The time that she was sure she had caught him cheating on her, but it turned out that the glimpse of tenderness that she saw through the jewelry windows was actually not what it seemed.

Her plan to confront him and get to the bottom of the cheating matter went askew when she arrived his birthday party only to see her supposed rival in a close clinch with Humphrey’s mother. She knew the Vicar’s wife did not cotton up to any nonsense and wouldn’t be in support of Humphrey’s dilly-dallying ways.

It was an immense relief to sidle up in the pretext of greeting her boyfriend’s mother and she got introduced to the exquisite beautiful lady of the jewelry store, who turned out to be an out-of-state favourite niece. The necklace that Humphrey was clasping around her neck was a belated birthday gift.

Her surprise was complete when the birthday party turned out to be an engagement party of sorts.

The young man bit the bullet, went down on his knees in front of family and friends and proposed so sweetly that she was saying yes and crying all at the same time.

She admires the gorgeous gleaming single cut diamond stone on her finger for the millionth time, while her ladies -in-waiting fuss around her. It’s almost time to go to the chapel.

We are getting married.

The End.

The the entire series you can follow these links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7.

The past couple of days has found me with several new readers and follows and I would like to introduce some of them to you.

Pavanneh: Because I can.

Jerry: 80 Insights.

Mark: Fonzandcancer.

The Bikini Book Worm.

True George.

Bookyglover.

Its all buki, relationship and lifestyle.

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories

Smoking Grass…

January 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

Gabe gazed with mixed emotions at the odd shaped object that sat on top of the mounted poles.

He felt admiration, irritation and also a sense of shame. He knew that his proud attitude would have cost them so much even though he hated to admit it.

He had derided Smoking Grass when the young Indian scout came up with the idea of constructing a reservoir from the tough hides of the dead Buffalo instead of allowing it to go to waste.

He had felt that it was highfalutin nonsense.

‘What did the young blade know?’

He could trust Smoking Grasses riding, hunting and tracking skills to a large extent, but that was as far as he was willing to go.

However, from the look of things, the young lad had proven him wrong, yet again.

The thick reservoir sat there proudly collecting the falling rain.

Finally, the rain had come just as the boy predicted.

They had not seen a drop of rain for the past seven hot months and the wells had gone bone dry.

Inlinkz

In response to the FFAW photo prompt above. Thank you Sonya for the photo and Priceless Joy for this challenge platform.

A link to my neighbours/Community · Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories Series

A betrayal in the offing…Husband wanted urgently!

January 3, 2016January 3, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

What the @@@&&&? Tess stared in dumbfounded shock at the image that unfolded before her eyes.

Unbelievable! She stepped back, a burning sinking sensation hitting the pits of her stomach as the scene registered in her brain.

‘Is that not Humphrey that I see?’

She stared through the clear glass of the jewelry store. Watching as he attentively hooked a necklace around the slender neck of the pretty lady with him.

‘No! Her mind silently screamed.’

But his drop of a tender kiss on the cheek of the exquisite looking face and their intimate looking tête à tête was enough confirmation.

The anger pooled inside her as she hurried away. She didn’t just have the stomach for a confrontation.

‘No wonder he has been behaving like a cat on hot coals these past few weeks.’ Goddess’s voice muttered. ‘I have always been suspicious that he is too good to be true.’

‘He has obviously been tom-catting around town and here you are eating your heart out and driving yourself crazy trying to pick the perfect birthday gift for him.’

Tess gazed in annoyance at the gifts in her hands.

She had spent all afternoon and a little fortune picking out the lovely presents to give him for his birthday.

‘You better take back the presents advised Goddess.’ ‘He can’t make a fool out of you and still get your money as a thank you. No Sireee’ She continued.

‘Wait a minute, Cautious chipped in. ‘Don’t be in a haste Tess.’ There’s probably a reasonable excuse, Cautious rationalized.

‘You’ve been together for over nine months now and he hasn’t given you any reason to suspect him, has he?’ Cautious sagely reminded her.

‘Well, it starts one day and for all you know, he has just been smart about things’ argued Goddess.

The warring voices in her head gave her a headache and for several hours after she felt totally demoralized, mooning around her apartment.

Several hours later, the happy tune of her phone rang and she stared at it in uncertainty. Humphrey’s caller ID face stares at her through the phone screen.

She wasn’t sure she wanted to speak to him but she eventually decided to answer at the third round of ringing.

‘Hey Bae’, his warm tenor pulled at her.

Her curt reply of ‘Hello Humphrey’ wasn’t as warm as usual.

‘I missed you.’ He said. ‘How was your day?’

‘Really? *you lying cheat, go on, sell me another one, she muttered silently in her head* but her lips uttered a very curt and polite ‘Fine, thank you.’

‘Are you busy?’ ‘You sound distracted,’ he asked.

‘No am here.’

‘Good. You sound tired though. Just called to kiss you goodnight. Be seeing you tomorrow at the party.’ He hung up.

Tess barely slept well. Half of her night was spent tossing thoughts around in her head, wondering if she should bother going to the party or not.

She hated confrontations but she needed to get to the bottom things. The lying cheat.

To be continued…Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

I have been busy digging. Enjoy

Some posts like Claremary’s Auld Lang Syne, truly make you appreciate the gift of life

Follow Chape and maybe, just maybe, you can do this.

Sound advise from Success Inspirer.

This post from Diane made me chuckle. Yeah right!

Put yourself in the shoes of a Syrian refugee from Skinny and Single.

The poem New wind blowing from Joy gave me joy and much thought.

I agree with Rose about defining our goals.

Change succinctly said by Koko.

Astrid explains it all to me and I daresay to you too 🙂