Bigger and Better…

April 24, 2017April 24, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha7 Comments

The fire raged with menace, its bright hot orange flames licked the timber with such nimble speed that in no time the house was razed to the ground.

The Darlington’s barely managed to escape the inferno with their lives and only their pyjamas on.

Thankfully, through their weeks of shock and coming to terms with their misfortune their wonderful neighbours rallied around them.

‘We are going to rebuild a bigger and better home Jo,’ Ziggy assured his wife and hugged her to his side as they stared while the workers cleared the charred remains of their former home.

Thank you, Yinglan for the photo prompt and Priceless Joy for providing this platform.

InLinkz

Short Stories

Labour Night…

April 10, 2017April 10, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha2 Comments

Ulumma put down her basket of cassava for the umpteenth time and gasped in pain, her steps slow down as the contractions grow more painful and closer with each passing second.

The sound of critters amplifies and in the stillness of the air, the buzzing crickets, croaking frogs, mosquitoes and staccato beat of a talking drum that floated in the night air from the village increase her anxiety, reminding her how far she is from home.

She tries to dampen her ripe imagination from straying to folklores and ghoulish tales of the dead who come to do their farming after hours, but the tree limbs look ominous, gnarly and ghostly in appearance as dusk quickly falls in ‘Ubi.’

‘It wouldn’t do to have this child in this Godforsaken place’ she mutters as she trudges along, her thoughts diverting in anger toward her husband who was probably enjoying a drink of palm wine while waiting for his pregnant wife to return from the farm and make him a fresh pot of soup and fufu.

Hissing and cursing in pain, she vows not to allow him to touch her for the longest time ever.

InLinkz

Thank you Yarnspinner for the interesting photo prompt and my lady PJ, I appreciate this platform that you host.

Quick Glossary

Ubi – An Igbo word for farm.

Short Stories

The Time…Friday Fiction in Five Sentences

April 7, 2017April 7, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha7 Comments

Image result for images of time

He could recreate her routine to the last second, sometimes he watched and silently willed her to break it, but like clockwork, she kept to her schedule of little things.

At precisely 4.15, she would come in, a creature of habit, she loved to sit in the same chair and the quieter corner behind the shelf with Art on a bold plaque pinned to its side.

She would plug in her laptop, put on her headphones, hum and move to the soundless music as she happily chomped on Twizzlers and tapped away rhythmically on her Toshiba laptop.

At 6.30 she would rise, stretch her taut limbs that bordered on thin, go for a restroom break and return with her lips glistening pink from gloss, a powdered face and a cup of decaf from the vending machine.

Now it’s 5 minutes to 8, he watched her pack up her things, in less than two minutes she would take the stairs two at a time, sadly, she seemed happy today, it was time, so he followed behind.

Short Stories

The Chilling Interlude…

April 3, 2017April 3, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha8 Comments

The hungry look they had in their eyes for each other didn’t go unnoticed. The passion between Sir Edgar and Lucy Rushmore sizzled.
Everyone knew that they were sweet on each other and it was no surprise how Lucy stole unchaperoned opportunities to stay as close to Edgar as possible. As a matter of fact, there were whispers that an announcement of their engagement would be made that evening.

It was a perfect evening. The drawing room was filled with high society. The ladies looked divine in their evening gowns and the gentlemen, dapper in their bespoke tailored suits.

Fine wine, rich food, good music and lots of laughter floated around the room. Kara Synod’s acclaimed renditions in her rich Soprano had lots of eye’s wistful and received prolonged applauses.

The shocking news left everyone chilled to their bones. In the interlude of songs, dance, and laughter, Lucy was found in a dark powder room cold from death and two long pointed hairpins with the etchings of a black rose stuck in the base of her throat.

In response to the FFAW photo prompt above. Thank Louise for the photo and lady PJ for this writing challenge platform.

InLinkz

Friday Fiction in Five Sentences

The Kissed Note – Friday Fiction in Five Sentences.

March 31, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha9 Comments

Image result for images of lipstick stains

‘I had a wonderful evening. See you on Friday. I love you. Kisses.’

Tamara’s heart sank in dread as she stared at the short lipstick kissed note.

She had no idea how to react; should she confront Robert over the note in the pigeon hole or pretend that she hadn’t seen it?

She was afraid of what the questions might unravel; that her twenty-year solid marriage wasn’t that solid after all.

A number of things started to make more sense to her and her excuses appeared hollow in the sight of her suspicions.

Short Stories

Taking A Chance…

March 27, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha8 Comments

Literally, he now sings for his Supper, but the hurrying feet of passersby barely brought in enough coins to buy him that supper. The few commuters who stopped by only paused long enough to take photos or make a video that they would probably post on their Social Media platforms to entertain their friends.

Johann’s mind drifted as he strummed away on his guitar. Momentary worries clouded his mind and all the heart melting country songs that he sang in his husky tone failed to ease the burden on his shoulders in that peculiar way that playing his guitar and singing did for him.

Life has been hard in recent times and the downpour of tough times kept increasing. He hated the thought that he has to resort to selling his personal belongings especially the guitars inherited from his grandfather, however, life hasn’t left him with many choices.

A sudden thought struck him as he pondered on what to do next and how to turn his situation around. He would enter the local talent competition and take a chance. After all, what did he have to lose?

InLinkz

In response to the FFAW photo prompt above. Thank you, Sunayana MoiPensieve for the photo and Priceless Joy for this enchanting platform

Short Stories

Resignation…

March 6, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments

Evangeline trudged to her beat up truck with a sigh of defeat and resignation. Tears pooled into her eye’s as she turned back to take one last look.

Everything was practically gone except the house that stood silent and forlorn in the backdrop and Buck the young cow who stood in the paddock and gazed at her through his limpid eye’s as if he was disgusted and accusing her of treachery.

This is it! She pushed the gear into reverse and backed out for the last time. She was not sure she would be returning to these parts for a long time to come.

The pain of failure and losing her home to foreclosure stung deeply.

She hoped the new owner would be kind to her cows.

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

InLinkz

Short Stories

Hellos’ and Goodbyes’

February 27, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Rhonda sighed in relief as they checked out of the airport and headed to their hotel. Another long-haul flight concluded.

Fourteen and half hours from Geneva to Los Angeles, via Zürich, would wear even the most toughened cabin crew out and she was beginning to wonder if it was time to seek for desk job opportunities.

As far as she could recall she had always being fascinated with aeroplanes and wanted to work at the airport. Going to the airport had been a treat for her from her growing up years – when they would pile into dad’s car for a drive to the next towns local airport to see the planes – till now that she works as a hostess on AirVoyage.

She never grew tired of flying to different destinations, or the busy hubs and the millions of faces hurrying along in different directions with their wheely luggage.

Some would hug and kiss, some would wave and beam in smiles, some eyes’ glistened with unshed tears of mixed emotions, some with sheer relief of touching down.

Her life was filled with a lot of hellos’ and goodbyes’ but she hoped that a welcome massage from Dirk would help answer some questions on her mind.

InLinkz

Thank you, Dawn Miller, for this week’s photo and my lady P.J. for hosting us.

Featured Blogs

Featured Posts – Share Your Post Links.

February 16, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha

Sharing, Blogs, Networking, Growing Readership, Connection, Bloggers, Blog Posts

‘PLEASE SEND IN YOUR LINKS.’

Today’s featured blogs posts are:

Do step in and show some love.

Do you want more eyes on your words?’

Experience Simple experiences bring out who we are and the true colour of those around us. I enjoyed reading this post.

Racists are stupid – spoiler alerts You’ve been warned! I didn’t think I would read this post word for word, but I read the entire thing, laughed out loud severally and shook my head in the obvious lack of common sense displayed by people who lay claims to high IQ. Enjoy reading.

There are none so blind A calm, wise post, to say the least, in face of the way we live today with political rage, paranoia, conspiracy theories and what not.

Familiar stranger This is set to be a scintillating, steamy romance. Read on.

Love Lost Kind of a sad poem, however, as an old married lady (almost 17 years) there are days we feel out of sorts and just not feeling the lovey-dovey stuff. A bar of chocolate or glass of wine, a good read, and a goodnight’s sleep helps 😉

Dealing with your fear. I hope you know that fear that dogs your life can be dealt with? Follow me through the series of getting a grip on those fears and living your life as fully as you can.

Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.

Comments are disabled here to keep the loop tidy. Any comments or link you want to send can be added through the link in the post.

Thank you for your understanding and regards.

‘We create a cohesive community when we come together.

Short Stories

The Trucker’s Love…

February 13, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments

Kate sighed in pleasure, sipping her cup of tea and listening to her mother tell the hallmark love story of her grandparents.

No matter how many times she heard the same story, it never failed to satisfy and she hoped that someday she would find the kind of love that they had shared.

Grandpa Robert, a handsome sweet talker had fallen in love with Daisy May, the Sheriff’s daughter on his regular trucking trip through town.

Young Robert had convinced Daisy to elope with him, leaving behind an arranged marriage and an irate father.

He kept his promise to take Daisy places that she had never been before and for many years to come, they covered long miles together; even their first child, Maisie was born on the road.

Though its original owners had long passed on – mere week’s of each other’s death – the old truck’s head still sat in its’ prized position. As integral to the land as the homestead that they had built.