The Vicar’s Secret…

April 29, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

Wedding, People, Church, Nuptials, Event, Heart, Grooms

The Vicar looked ill. He looked more like a man facing the guillotine than one who was performing the rites of matrimony. His heart hurt as he faced the couple. She looked as beautiful as ever, and he wondered how he would keep up with serving the parish and listen to her sweet singing voice in the choir.

He would have preferred to avoid being here, he could have asked for a replacement with a preposterous excuse – in fact, it wouldn’t have been an excuse that he had the runs – yet his sense of preservation deserted him.

His lips were dry, his stomach churned and his voice croaked and squeaked at the same time as he asked the question “If anyone has a reason for these two not to wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

The air in the chapel shrunk in silence. No one expected an answer to a question that was simply a formality and all the heads swung in the direction of the back pew from where a voice had said an emphatic yes.

The old groundskeeper stood. Nodding to the Vicar, he said in his booming and gentle voice ”my boy, don’t you think you’ve got something to say to the congregation?”

P.S...I leave it to you to find a fitting end to this story. What do you think transpired?

Fiction · Short Stories

Embittered…

April 25, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Xavier stood in the shadowy background of the trees and waited for her.

He stared longingly at the house with the windmill. Embittered thoughts raced through his mind. He was surprised that he still seethed in silent rage.

No one would cheat him of his birthright and get away with it, not if he had anything to do about it.

Now it’s time to make good on his promise.

That cattle and land grabbing thief Alistair swindled his father when Pa was inebriated and took over their homestead. Pa killed himself. He died a broken drunk man and his Ma sent them all into servitude.

It took decades to get to this point. Years of working his fingers to the nub from an all errand’s boy on the ship to owning his own boat.

It took strategic planning to get into favour with Alistair’s only daughter Gwen.

He hadn’t planned on liking her but he won’t allow such feelings get in the way of his plans.

Tonight, he’ll coerce her to join him on the boat set sail with her. By the time they get back on dry land, she would be his wife.

InLinkz

Thank you TJ 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

Fiction · Short Stories

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.

Fiction · Short Stories · The Daily Post

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 · 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.