I've read works of prolific writers on dis platform. Decided 2 share mine. I'm opened 2 matured opinions, correction, compliments and patience.

Contact me via esther_ugbaja@yahoo.com


PART 1



ONE


The morning breeze caressed her face and she exhaled bitterly. How can one be in one's home and felt like a prisoner.

"prisoner," she muttered, "how can one feel happiest out of one's home?" Inibong Okoh folded her arms just beneath her bosom.


Even at 15yrs of age, she had bloomed into a beautiful young woman but her eyes held sadness on a closer look! Akwaibom and Edo blood flowed thru her veins.

'You cheated, u did jur! Let's again.' The voice brought her back to reality. It was actually a girl's voice from the next compound, they were playing the 10-10 game. A group of 4 girls about her age were playing game. There were other children in the open space at the back of the compound, in their own different age groups playing their own games.

Following... *grab pop corn and kolanut*

@ Yemi. Hahahaha. Just like u, 'm typing with my phone.

From the balcony of her home, she could see them. It was the most populated compound in the estate. She had been back home since 2 weeks and her mum won't even allow her go see her friends. She shook her head fighting back memories of battles with her mum.

'Ini... Iniobong!'

' Yes mum.' Answering with a start, she rushed towards the direction of the voice. 'What're you doing out there by this time?' Imaobong Okoh glanced at daughter and went back to going through the content of her bag.

Queen xstar: @ Yemi. Hahahaha. Just like u, 'm typing with ur phone.

phone? It gonna be hard o. But you can do it.
Pick a pen and note, write than every plot down on the note, develop it into paragraph and write on it. Before you no, you're on your third page. That's how i write my story and it work for me.

She was seated in the well furnished and tastily designed sitting room, dressed in a caftan gown and a scarf stylishly tied to match.

'I'm done with my chores mum.' she lowered her eyes.

'I've a meeting for 11, take the stew out now and boil rice enough for you and your brother. Help yourselves to dinner in case I don't arrive early. ' She was an immigration officer.

'Ok...'Ini rubbed her forehead. She zipped her bag and looked at her daughter. 'what's it?'

She was seated in the well furnished and tastily designed sitting room, dressed in a caftan gown and a scarf stylishly tied to match. 'I'm done with my chores mum.' she lowered her eyes. 'I've a meeting for 11, take the stew out now and boil rice enough for you and your brother. Help yourselves to dinner in case I don't arrive early. ' She was an immigration officer. 'Ok...'Ini rubbed her forehead. She zipped her bag and looked at her daughter. 'what's it?'

Thks dearie. The phone's not giving the story its deserved paragraphing

Queen xstar: Thks dearie. The phone's not giving the story its deserved paragraphing

you can stil make it look presentable, just pen down all you want to on a note and develop it into paragraph. Doing it this way might look this double work, but it gives you more idea when you start re-typing it on phone.

[left][/left]'The day after tomorrow's Nnenna's birthday and I'll like to attend the celebration.


'No party dearest.' Her voice was calm.




'She's my best friend, I need to be there. All of my class mate'll be there.'


'That's how you children go to parties, rubbish yourselves and give parents untold heartache!'

'But mum, her dad's a Deacon. It will be a girls party save for her siblings and some of her counsin. Pls mum... Her parents'll be there too.'

'Madam I said NO!' She stood and picked her bag.

'Mum, she is old enough to take care of herself. A party won't hurt her. Besides it'll be a closed party not a club party.' Indifreke, her elder brother of 4 yrs had walked in without them noticing.

Ima looked from son to daughter and gave her a penetrating look. 'At your age, I didn't know the meaning of party. My greatest luxury was watching TV only on weekends. But now...' She gave a short laughter.



'That was then mum, this is now.' His voice was firm.

'This conspiracy between you and your sister won't work.'

'This is not conspiracy, I've been asking to go see my friends, you won't allow. You won't even allow them visit. I can't even socialise with my mates in this environment.' Tears formed in eyes but her voice was clear and strong.

'You have WAEC to face next year, better start preparing.'

'That's all I do in school study and I topped my class. I just want to enjoy my holiday, pls mum...'

'Her social life's vital to her mental health.' He quipped.

'Tell me more,' she applauded grinning. ' You're learning how to challenge the wrong person. Just try me and see, get out from my way before I sound you silly!'

Ini stepped aside without knowing it.

As soon as the door closed, she slumped on the rug and wept.

Indi sighed and went to console her.

[b][/b] ***

Ijeoma Ugorji walked into their bedroom in her night gown. 'Nkem he is asleep.'

Her husband, Ugonna nodded and patted the space beside him on bed.

He was in his late fifties and his wife, her late forties. She obeyed.

'You'll be going for this educational retreat for one week, we need to prepare Nnam for your absence and staying back at home till I get back from work.'

'Staying at home?' Her alarm was obvious.

'You want him to toss all the gadgets in this house apart with curiosity.'

'Oh Nne,' He chuckled,'he knows better than that. We would warm him not to.'

She laughed heartily. ' I won't take chances of an electric shock with my only son.'

'Then me about your plan then.'

' I want to take permission from Mama Bisi, our neighbour upstairs. Hopefully she agrees and Chidubem stays with her until you are back from work each day. Before we all know it, One week will be over.'

It a nice story but d titiles of d story dotted lines make me thinking

april wise: It a nice story but d titiles of d story dotted lines make me thinking

Don't you think it's too early to conclude dear?

'Hmmm...'


Her brows creased knowing her husband was thoughtful. 'Nkem is that not an okay plan?'

' I don't want to intrude in another privacy. Besides, we don't really know this woman.'

' She has brought up grown kids and she's a grandmother too. Dubemu'll be just fine with her, it's not like he will be running around or something.' '

All right, see her then.'

She planted a kiss on his cheek. 'I love you.'
'Love you too dear.' He smiled. 'Let me check the doors.' He glanced at the wall clock and stood.

He was a director in a telecommunication company while his wife was a vice principal.

***[b][/b]

'Go to hell and burn to ashes, did you hear me?' Morenikeji thundered.

The recipient of her insult wave a hand dismissively and relaxed into the sofa. 'I didn't wake up on the wrong side of the bed and I 'm not ready to exercise my fist on you.'

'Come and beat me, beat me o! She clapped her hands, 'you should be ashamed of yourself, your type can't stand a man.' she hissed.

' I'm not destined to end your miserable and send you to an early grave.' He put on the TV.

' It's you and your extended family that're miserable, Oloshi!' She shook boiling with anger.

Temilade Johnson closed the door gently and prayed her mum this time don't get beaten . She slumped on the bed and groaned, her head hurt again. She stood to look for a sachet of Paracetamol on her dressing table.

He stood and looked for his car keys. 'I don't blame you, I blame myself for putting up with a second hand!'

'Do I blame you Olajide Adekanbi? I blame myself for putting up with your excesses and abandoning a man that loved me dearly.'


'Weré, onibaje oshi!' He stormed out of the house.

She slumped on the sofa, she had found a pack of condom in his trouser pocket with 2 from the row missing, the fragrance of his shirt was altered.

He had not bothered to defend himself.

***[b][/b]

Am ur number one fan. Carry on

april wise: Am ur number one fan. Carry on

Thks a lot dear.

'That's her mummy!' Prince Akubor pointed.

Shadia quickened her steps and marched towards the young lady.

'Good morning ma.' The bespectacled young lady greeted smiling but her smile vanished as Shadia's hand gripped the collar of her top.

'Not only morning but your days will be full of tales if you dare lay your filthy fingers on my child ever again.

She pulled back the woman's hand. 'Ma, this is improper... Did Prince tell you what he did?'

Her grip tightened. 'I don't care!'

Prince beamed triumphantly. At that moment, a teacher peered out of the classroom and rushed to the staffroom.

The teacher coughed, 'pl... please.'

'Stupid girl, at your age you're not married, you don't even know if you will have children and you dare touch my only child!'

[Three male techers rushed towards them and freed their colleague who gasped for air and who have slumped if not that she was held.

'Mrs Akubor come to my office right away.' The principal had been alerted. 'Take her to the school clinic.'

TWO

'How I wish Dad was home more often...' Ini wiped the plates with a napkin and arranged them on the rack.

'We can't always have what we wish for.'
Indi was seated on a dining seat surfing the net with his phone.

'I love daddy so much,' she stared into space momentarily and smiled,' he is so understanding and different from mum.'

'Yeah yeah.'

'How I wish he'll be home often.' She placed the last plate on the pack and sat opposite her brother.

'Daddy's with us too Ini, he's serving the country. It's a privilege.'

She heaved. 'Sometimes, I wonder what our fate would have been if mum was in the military.'

Indi burst into bouts of laughter forcing the imagination out of his mind. He paused the game and looked at the girl he had known all his life. He pitied her more than he did to himself. They were malnourished of their mother's love and approval.' Hey babe, we'll be fine. It's your friend's birthday today.'

She nodded sadly.

'We can go and come back before mummy gets home.'

Her face light up but was quick to be filled with horror.'No o big bro.'

'Why?'

'You know mum and her ways, she might just walk up to Nnenna's mum on sunday just to find out if I attended. I don't want wahala, she might kill me this time.'


'Yeah right!' He stood, rested his hands on her shoulder and squeezed it lightly.' I love you dearly and I'll do all I can to protect you.'


She hugged him. 'Thank you. I don't know what we'll have done without you being around.'

'Come on, let's take a stroll before you get all mushy and soak my shirt with tears.'

Knowing she would throw a fist, he fled and she pursued!

***

'Chei yah ma, you shouldn't have bothered.' Ijeoma said as Mama Bisi set the can malt on the side table.

'Bother ke,'She sat across her. 'It's not everyday I get visitors or have neighbours come around.' The older woman smiled.


Looking beyond the slack and top she wore, make and artificial lashes, one could tell she was no more a lady. Been in her late fifties, the grey hairs began to table its root but using hair products and expert, she chased them away. A proud mother of 5 children, eldest 2 were still in the country why the rest in neighbouring country and across the atlantic ocean .

Her youngest daughter had sent for her father to help out with a project. Hence, her husband absence for 2 months and counting. The children had been closer to their father.

'Thank you ma.'

'So welcome dear. Chidubem can come to stay. I'm happiest when my grand children visit.'

'Thank you.' Ijeoma knelt.

'I'm a bored woman, I sometimes have to rearrange the whole house.' Mama Bisi chuckled and Ijeoma laughed.

'My husband'll make him toasted bread or get him snacks for lunch.'

'Iya Chiamaka èma worry, I am a mother who fed her children well. I will take good care of him. Pls don't make Papa Chiamaka to start doing kitchen work o.'

Ijeoma laughed. 'He used to be a better cook than I was when we were courting.'

'I beg leave Tetete matter.' She gestured snapping her fingers.

Both women burst out laughing.



***

'My husband'll make him toasted bread or get him snacks for lunch.' 'Iya Chiamaka èma worry, I am a mother who fed her children well. I will take good care of him. Pls don't make Papa Chiamaka to start doing kitchen work o.' Ijeoma laughed. 'He used to be a better cook than I was when we were courting.' 'I beg leave Tetete matter.' Both women burst out laughing. ***

She beamed, turned, her hands descended on her waist and loved the reflection she got.