Nmeri17:
oga Ralph, go buy that book titled "10 easy steps on how to build your own coffin in 30 minutes"

Bia, don't get Ralph scared na

@ Enoquin,
Thanks a lot. You may never know how much that meant to me. Once has He spoken and, twice have I heard!
You are blessed

teamplayey:
@ Enoquin,
Thanks a lot. You may never know how much that meant to me. Once has He spoken and, twice have I heard!
You are blessed

I am glad it meant something to you. You are blessed too. Thanks and Amen

The Spirit of the Unborn
‘Sweet mother, I no go forget you for the suffer wey you suffer for me,’ as the song dey play from pesin room; the woman use style dey dance as she dey sweep the compound. She stop as one of the tenant comot from her domot.
“Good morning mama shinyere, na your turn to sweep?” The tenant ask as she dey try lock her door.
“Good morning Iya Bose; na so we see am oh.” Mama Chinyere answer.
“But where shinyere now, no be her voice I hear now now? Na she suppose dey sweep for you. E no kukuma good make pesin dey spoil all this pickin dem. Small time now, she go go her husband house and if she no good, dem go send am back come give you.”
“Which kain talk be that? My pickin wey neva go school finish na im wan go husband house? Abi you tink say my pickin dey waka anyhow?”
“No be fight now, pesin no fit follow you play for early mon-mon? Make I comot, I no kukuma get your time again, I don get work no be to dey sit down for house like some people.”
“Na God go punish you and your family, abeg if you wan pass, pass make I see road.”
“Epe laro kutukutu…joor oh, make I pass!”

As the tenant waka comot, the woman troway one big hiss, come spit join, “na pesin pickin wey una go spoil na im una dey look for. Baba God go cover my pickin, wey she dey self? Chi-Chi! Nkechinyere!”
“Ma!”
As the pickin comot from room, the woman open one place wey she tie money put for her wrapper, come comot the money give the girl.
“Take dat money, go mama Oluchi shop, she go give you okporoko, oha and achi. No go stand for road play oh, no answer any man wey call you oh, no go dey sit down look for bus come forget bustop oh. Before, I sweep finish, you suppose don come back; you don hear wetin I talk?”
“Mama I don hear.”
***********************************************************************

My mama self too like wahala. As I no go school today na im she wan send me all the message for this world, message wey pesin go dey jump bus, na wa oh. If we chop Indomie nko na bad ting because soup self don tire pesin? My name na Chinyere, una fit call me Chi-Chi.
My papa no dey ever stay town and my mama too like fight. I no go school today because as dem don pay Chinedu school fees, money no come reach for my own. I dey JSS 2.
Yesterday ehn, the kain flogging wey dem flog me for school no get part-two na im my mama talk say make I stay house but if anybody ask me make I tell dem say I no well.


Mama Oluchi shop dey Baale near Bariga. Omo, dis sun hot no be small. The ting fit turn pesin mad. I go happy if I just see Bariga bus before I reach bustop.
“Bariga…New Garage! Hold ya change oh.”
“Wait now make I enter.” Na wa for this danfo people self.
“Duro…wait, na small pickin oh,” one passenger shout for on top the driver head.
As I enter na only four people dey inside the bus. I sit down beside one woman wey dey carry small pickin, one yuppy man dey my front, one sisi aunty and another man wey fat dey my back. Make I yarn una wetin this people make me do so tey I miss where I dey go.

The woman with small pickin: This pickin don bin dey look me since I enter the bus. I no like to dey sit for where pickin dey because dem fit dey use style beat you and you no fit do anything. This one own even worse self, the pickin dey try use im hand touch my bobby. I try to use my shoulder block im hand and the mama notice come beat am.
“Kai Olumide ashewo! You wan touch small aunty b.reast.” As the boy come dey cry she come pet am and the boy come kukuma shook hand inside her blouse, come dey press the mama bobby dey suck mouth.
Why some women dey allow that kain ting? I feel say that kain ting dey spoil pickin and na im dey cause make all this small boys dey look for our bobby to press for school. Anybody wey one press my own, I go knack am kondo!

The fat man wey dey my back: Im phone ring. You go know say na chinko phone because as the ‘Chineke idi mma oh’ take sound, everybody for bus jus turn look am but the man no even send us.
“Hello? How far na?”
Why some people like to dey shout inside bus? No be say competishun dey oh. Dem go just open dia mouth like generator wey need servicing, e be like say na wen pipu wan show say dem too dey important na im dem go dey shout...make una follow check am na, una don ever see tief shout say “I just go tief finish, omo de robbery na die!” or runs girl dey shout “dat bobo wey carry me last night, you believe say na only 1k I fit collect?” Dem no fit!
“No, dem nefa...dem, wait now, make I talk...dem nefa release those goods! You know how customs dey behave na, de oga want settlement and you know say I get too many projects on ground, I dey try complete my house for village and the landlord don increase rent for my yard...so, I no know how we go take do am. Ehn, you fit call Chikodi...hmmm, no problem, ngwa later now.”
Una see? I no even tink am finish oh.

Yuppy Man: I know say dis kain pesin go dey form say im too get money, meanwhile im fit dey owe plenty pipu as im dey so. Im cloth sef fit be borrow borrow but im go form pass pesin wey get car.
“Eheys...eheys, pure water! Na wa oh, you no get bottled water?”
“Oga, you no see say na pure water I dey sell?”
“Sorry, I bin tink say una dey carry bottled water too. How much?”
“Na five naira.”
“You get change for one thousand naira?”
“Mtcheww for how much water? I no get change.”
“Why you come dey vex na?”
Na so, na from wia you fly enter wey you no know say pure water pipu no dey sell bottled water? You wan do style style make sisi aunty like you, shioor!

Sisi Aunty: Dis kain pesin go dey do as if na im sabi book pass especially wen im sit close to young guys make e be like say she too go school. Shey na just Bariga here wia we dey go na im she dey open novel read? Na one page she don dey since sef. I sure say na romance novel she dey read, mtchewww, shioor!
The yuppy man sef come dey use style look the babe. Small time im come shift to the girl side.
“Hello, wetin you dey read?”
The girl turn look de man with bad eyes, “I doesn’t speak pidgin.”
Chineke!

“Ehsss smallie, wey ya money?” The conductor ask me.
I comot money na as I wan give am na im I see say I don pass my bustop, “Conductor, we don pass baale bustop na.”
“Ehen, wey ya mind dey before? Driver e duro make smallie come down.”
Yeye conductor, if no be say I don pass where I dey go; e for be for you.
...............................................................................................
As de knock dey go on, na im de woman wake come clean mouth. She carry belle and sleep bin don catch am for where she dey sit.
“Kai! E be like say na girl na im I go born and her name go be Chinyere.”
The knock still dey go on.
“Who be dat?”
“Na Iya Bose, na ya turn to sweep today oh.”
“God go punish you, na dis belle I wan carry sweep?”
“Epe laro kutukutu…make I kukuma go work, I no be some pipu wey dey sit down morin tu night for house…shioor!”

My Love,

Yesterday, I renounced God. I cannot tell you that I felt any different. Knowing you, you would probably shake your head and call it one of my stupid dramatic acts or better still, you would probably laugh out loud. Whatever you do, know that I will be glad I got a reaction out of you.
‘Why,’ I can hear you ask ‘after all this time?’
Why not? How else can I get your attention? I’d like you to think that I am no more that terrified girl worried about the afterlife, worried where I’d end up.

Two days ago, I laid the bed just the way you liked it. I expected to hear your voice saying how perfect I had become and no I am not becoming melancholic, I know how you hate that. The edges were tucked in just the way you taught me. And after smoothing the sheets, I couldn’t lay on the bed. I just couldn’t, afraid that if I did, the creases might just wipe your memory away, wiping our memory out - leaving no traces of us.

Three days back, I yelled and kicked Dreamy, he was quite surprised and looked at me as if I had lost my mind, he yelped and ran far away from me and didn’t come back even when I coaxed and coaxed till when he felt hungry and even at that he took his food with such suspicion that I just sat there and cried. He came to bed with me later though; I think he understood what a rough place I was in.

You know what? I am going to tear this letter right after writing. I can imagine the look on your face, when you realize that you’d won and were right that I’d come begging. Well, there’s no shame in begging, but you probably don’t know that. ‘No one should have to beg anything or anyone’, you’d say with so much contempt. It’s why you hated the idea of God; it’s why you left me.

Today, I tried to pack all your clothes into that old box you hated and then haul it off into the bush, burning them all but I was too weak. I told myself I’d do it later but here I am it’s getting dark and I am nowhere close to burning them, I couldn’t; not after sniffing it, sniffing you, remembering us.

Tomorrow, I will scrub everywhere; scrub you out of this room, the other rooms and my heart.

I can hear singing from that church down the street. Oh, what a beautiful sound; pure and melodious. I should get up and make preparations for service just to clearly hear the voices. Of course, that doesn’t mean anything…it doesn’t….oh, I don’t know, I just feel you are putting me under pressure even from afar, trying to make me feel guilty for enjoying that song, shaking your head and probably saying I am a lost cause…

Someone is coming. Someone has broken in. Dreamy is pretending to be asleep, he should be up and barking. I have nothing of value that can be taken save this letter, I wouldn’t want my weakness out for anyone to see and even you won’t get to see this letter. I just….oh, they are here.

The footsteps walked towards the room where the woman was in. The woman seeing nowhere to hide her letter sat on it. The door opened and two men walked in.

“What do you want? I have no money, nothing of value.”
The two men did not answer. One goes to Dreamy and picks him up. Dreamy, the lazy dog snuggled further into the arms of the one who had picked him.
“How are you today Sandra?”
One of the men finally spoke while sitting down on the other chair in the room. No answer from Sandra, she stared straight ahead as if unaware of the men in her room. The man with the dog went out but left the door open.
“Sandra?” The man moved to touch her hand.
“Don’t you dare touch me! My neighbours might be out but I’ll still scream for those down at the church to hear. I have nothing of value, what do you want with Dreamy?”
“The teddy needs a wash, he’ll be back once he is dry.”
Sandra did not reply.
“Are you still having hallucinations?”
“None of your business…what happens to me or not, what I see and don’t.”
“But it is…how else will you get well? Besides Daniel is coming tomorrow.”
At this news, her eyes lighted up and her look was transformed to that of a child, trusting and open.
“He is?”
“Yes and I know you would like to see him but you know he wants to see you…well, he loves to see you improved…”
“But I am! Look, I even wrote him a letter…” standing up slightly, she brought out the paper.
The man looked at the paper a long while but said nothing.
“You think I showed too much weakness?”
“No, I think it’s beautiful what you have written…”
“Really? Read it to me, I like to hear how I sound; perhaps I might be able to edit it.”
“I don’t think I can, this looks too personal for a third party.”
Sandra’s smile brightened. “Well, it’s obvious you’ve never been in love before.” Stretching out her hand, she snatched the paper back and smoothened an imaginary crease, leaving it lying on the table between them. “You didn’t say anything about my well-made bed.”
The man looked towards the bed, the blanket was on the floor, the bed sheet had been taken off the matrass and dumped in one corner of the bed.
“Now don’t mind the mess by the bed, wanted to burn Dan’s clothes but it was in a moment of anger that has passed. What’s the use of carrying around so much anger, when we can as well carry love?”
“Sandra, who am I?”
She shrugged, “A thief, a rapist, a murderer….you could be anyone of those”
“I really had hoped you were getting better but it seems you might have to be transferred out of here. I am sorry, I failed you Sandra.”
“Lie, lie, lie!!! You want to take me away from Daniel. Nothing I do is ever good for him, nothing! He prefers those unclean whores to a clean and sanctified one as myself. Tell him he hasn’t won.”
As her voice rose, two men came in with a woman. The woman had a syringe in her hand. As the men held the screaming female, the woman quickly injected the liquid contents from the syringe into the unwilling female’s veins. The injection calmed the female and she sat looking listlessly at her captors.
“Sandra, Daniel is dead. You killed him after accusing him of cheating on you.”
“You lie…” spoken with resignation this time.
“To achieve what exactly?”
“To make them believe I am insane…”
“Are you?”
“No, I am not. I didn’t kill anyone, why would I write a letter to someone I killed?”
“Because that’s how your mind wants to deal with it. Can I keep the letter?”
“No, it’s personal…”
The man looked away helplessly. He stood up and with the attendants shuffled out of the room.
Sandra picked up the letter she had written and smoothened more imaginary creases. Her mind didn’t see what everyone else had, the paper had no words written on it except angry slashes drawn at random.

THE END

Enoquin. I just read "My Love" and I can say I'm hooked by your works. I'll sure go through everything on this thread between now & weekend starting tonight. Thanks for sharing this lovely piece with me.

Eggcelent:
Enoquin. I just read "My Love" and I can say I'm hooked by your works. I'll sure go through everything on this thread between now & weekend starting tonight. Thanks for sharing this lovely piece with me.

Gracias monsieur. I'll sure appreciate you checking out the others

Enoquin. Done with the first page. All the stories are beautiful; The Travails of Mfon & A Strange Funeral being my favourites therein. Thanks for been such a beautiful writer. Now to the second page.

Eggcelent:
Enoquin. Done with the first page. All the stories are beautiful; The Travails of Mfon & A Strange Funeral being my favourites therein. Thanks for been such a beautiful writer. Now to the second page.

I like enlightened readers Do try and share along as you read. I'd love to hear your thoughts on those two pieces and any other fav piece as you read along

Enoquin. Just finished with A Woman Destroyed. You are the bomb.

A Blip Of Imperfection. Hmmm. Tragic. However, I love it cos it tells story of someone who chose against threading a worn path. It is always inspiring when you see someone go against the tide. Nmeri17. How would you expect such a near-perfect blend of brain, beauty & boldness not to be "taken"? Only a fool will not desire her & I know most men ain't fools.

Thought I would still be on it by the weekend. However, the more I got into it, the more I was hooked in. You held me spellbound. And I guess that is the most compliment you can give a creative writer. Enoquin. Thanks for sharing your works with me. Hope to be part of subsequent "releases". Have you any published work?

Eggcelent:
Thought I would still be on it by the weekend. However, the more I got into it, the more I was hooked in. You held me spellbound. And I guess that is the most compliment you can give a creative writer. Enoquin. Thanks for sharing your works with me. Hope to be part of subsequent "releases". Have you any published work?

Nearly completing a manuscript but you know it's difficult to get published except you are refering to me going to a printer just to have my work on paperback
I would love to get 'really' published. Still keeping my fingers crossed.

Thank you so much for reading and loving it, that's the highest compliment you could give me.

P.S I can't help not writing this. Perhaps, when I crafted my signature; I saw in future that a certain moniker 'eggcelent' was going to comment on my work, maybe that's why the signature had glaring hints (That was meant to make you smile, hope you did) Cheers!

^^^ your signature just be like eulogy to the guy

Eggcelent:
Nmeri17. How would you expect such a near-perfect blend of brain, beauty & boldness not to be "taken"? Only a fool will not desire her & I know most men ain't fools.

hian wasn't she UN-TAKEN before her current CAPTOR captured her

After seeing a few of your intelligent contributions to some discussions/threads, I decided to check your profile as a prelude to possibly following you. I was then privileged to notice the play on the word excellent & of course, the similarity to my moniker. Meanwhile, thanks for attempting to make me smile. It is our unfortunate reality in this society that literary works are seldom promoted. However, I'm sure with your level of talent & the efforts being put in, the dream to be published is near fulfilment. Nmeri17. You are right.

Nmeri17:
^^^ your signature just be like eulogy to the guy
hian wasn't she UN-TAKEN before her current CAPTOR captured her

LMAO. Nmeri, I swear you need help , eulogy ko, tribute ni

Enoquin:


LMAO. Nmeri, I swear you need help , eulogy ko, tribute ni

The Other Side

The shivers started just as soon as he got out of the water. His teeth chattered a bit uncontrollably. He knew he shouldn’t have stayed in the water that long but she had insisted and even though he had enjoyed every bit of their time in the water; he was paying for it now.
Stumbling to where their clothes were, he picked up a towel and rubbed his head quite vigourously before quickly cleaning off the rest of himself. He picked up his shirt and quickly put it on as warmth returned. Turning, he could still see her in the water splashing around; feeling his gaze on her, she turned and waved.
They really needed to get going, it was nearly 4pm and they had been here since noon.
“Babe, come out of the water. We need to get going!” He yelled out, arms folded as if to ward off cold.
“Why? This is so fun.” The lady in the water replied, turning around to lazily stroke the water.
“Well, I am cold,” he looked round noting how deserted everywhere looked. “Everyone has gone back and it’s nearly evening.”
“You don’t know how I have longed to swim in a village river. You really were lucky as a child.”
“It’s nearly four, my mother expected us back two hours ago. This is just our first day and you have a week to swim as you like, so please come out.”
“Okay dear give me five minutes. If you are cold then you shouldn’t be standing there with your shirt and just a swimming trunk, go and put on your jeans.”
Sighing, the man turned and walked to where their clothes were. He picked his jeans and put them on; perhaps he was being too hard on her. She had been so excited when he told her his village had a clear stream for swimming.

**

John was being a spoilsport, Rita thought as she watched him put on his jeans. They had nothing to do when they got back to the village house except eat and sleep in separate rooms under the stern eyes of his parents especially the mother who watched her barely hiding her dislike. She didn’t approve of a city girl especially one who didn’t know her roots.
“How well do you know her?” She had heard John’s mother ask him the night before.
John had laughed in reply.
“I am asking because this world is a strange place; you have to know a person’s root before befriending them much less marry them”
“Maaaama! She is an orphan now”
“Exactly my point, an orphan with no relatives?”
“Rita is a nice woman, fun and friendly, intelligent and respectful”
“Most women are nice too. My point is try and know more about her roots.”
“Okay mama, can I go to bed now?”

**

She was starting to feel cold and she had swum so far out. Time to get back but not before she tried to see how long she could hold her breath under water. She hadn’t counted to thirty when she came up for air. Gasping, she swam ashore. John was nowhere in sight, where had he gone? Her clothes were not where she had left them.
“Babe, John!” She called out.
Getting no reply, she looked around confused. Had she missed the spot where they had been? She couldn’t go back to the house with just her bra and shorts.

**

After putting on his jeans, he saw a scorpion trying to get into her clothes. Killing the scorpion, he picked up her clothes plus the towel and wrapper they had brought; and checked them for any insects. Satisfied at finding none, he draped the clothes over his arm; they hadn’t even eaten the lunch his mother had packed for them. They really needed to get going, he would be stern this time. First, he needed to take a piss but he couldn’t leave her clothes on the sand. He had better take the clothes with him.

**

“John!” Was he playing with her? She was sorry for staying long in the water but this wasn’t fair either.
Hearing laughter, she turned and saw a group of six young women walking leisurely towards the shore. They were chatting and didn’t notice her at first.
“Good evening,” she called out.
The chatter stopped and the women turned, looking at her curiously. Feeling self-conscious, she tried to cover her bosoms as well as she could with her hands. John was taking this too far.
“What are you doing here?” One of the women asked.
“I am looking for John,” she replied with the hope that one of them had seen him.
“We don’t know of any John,” the woman replied again.
“Mma Obiagelli’s son, that John,” John’s mother was popular or so she had been told.
“Oh? Who are you to this John?” Another woman asked.
What kind of a question was that? What had that got to do with finding John?
“Ma, please I am his friend and my clothes are with him.”
“Your John is on the other side,” the second woman replied pointing.
“Thank you ma, I came to the wrong side then,” she made to move back to the water.
“No, you can’t get to him that way.”
Now, they were really annoying women but seeing as she was a stranger, she couldn’t as well show her annoyance. They didn’t even offer her a wrapper to ward off the cold.
“Please, what way can I use?”
The women didn’t reply and looked at themselves in confusion. Then one of them walked up to her, “You cannot use any way, nwanyi oma but you can come with us.”
“Why would I want to come with you? I thought the village was a nice place where everyone helped each other out? None of you even bothered to offer me a wrapper to cover myself and then to point out a route seeing that it is getting late is another difficult task. Since, you probably won’t help me; I would have to use the water.”
“You cannot use the water because you are dead”
“What! God forbid! That’s a lie! I cannot die, I am too young! Who dies in a stream?”
She tried to run to the stream but the women held her back. Their grips were so strong, making her struggles pointless.
Finally, out of breath and weak; she turned and saw John coming but he wasn’t alone. He was stumbling and wailing, dragging someone with him. He was dragging her lifeless body.

The End

Enoquin. It has been a while. I was even wondering if anything was amiss. Good to see you here again. Will return to read the newly uploaded story & will give a comment then, pls.

Hmmmm. How did Rita die? Strange. Not one of my favourites.

I missed ur stories, welcome back... buh how did Rita die?

Rita drowned, when she came up for air the final time...she was already dead

@eggcelent Pele, no be all my stories supposed make sense

@royalguest Aww, thanks a bunch

Away and Beyond

The trees rushed past in a blur and the wind blew across our faces as the driver sped on eager to dump us at the motor park. This was the school’s usual practice for boarding students whose parents couldn’t come for them at the end of a school term; a contracted driver would do the job of busy parents.
I usually looked in contempt at the piteous students as they lined up dejectedly to join the bus not able to look at those whose parents made the distance and time to pick their wards; I used to but not today. Today, I had been one of them, the piteous ones. I hid when my friend’s parents came to pick her. I didn’t want any of their pity by offering to drop me. That would be a dent on my image.
I didn’t talk to anyone throughout the trip, didn’t want to. What would we say to each other? My thoughts were on how I would throw a tantrum when I got home. Yes, I was the favourite and got away with everything. What could be more important than me? I was a genius. I was fantastic. I was what my parents had always wanted in a child. No, I wasn’t the only child but I was better than the other one.
My cell phone rang, it was my father. “Hello?”
“How are you dear?”
“Not fine obviously,” I was uncomfortable. The girl beside me was snoring lightly.
“I am sorry dear but it is about to get more uncomfortable. I won’t be coming to the park to pick you, I …”
“What? Why?” My voice had risen with each question causing other students to look at me. I turned slightly away lowering my voice, I didn’t want anyone eavesdropping.
“I cannot go into the details now but…”
“What about mum?”
“She is busy too and …”
“Doing what exactly? How will I make it home?”
“The taxi dear…the taxi will bring you home.”
“But…”
“Now be a big girl and stop behaving childish. I hope you have enough on you?”
The change in my father’s tone was enough to tell me something was wrong and I could only mumble what I hoped was a very sad ‘yes’ before the line went dead.

My mother was never busy; she was a housewife for heaven’s sake. Housewives always had time except…No! I couldn’t bear to think it. Could it be? What would happen to me? Who would I prefer to stay with?
The bus rumbled to a stop. We had arrived at the park. There was no need to look out, no need at all. Nobody was waiting.

“Can’t you see I am a secondary student?” I asked the taxi driver after hearing the outrageous amount he was charging me. I should have asked what his charge would be before entering.
“Students are the rich ones nowadays,” the taxi driver replied with a smile.
What a load of crap! I hated it when Nigerians engaged in stereotypical profiling. “Please, the price is too high and I don’t have much on me.”
“But you have much baggage young woman. You know that more baggage dey chop fuel.”
“Oga that is a lie, do you think I don’t know about cars? Look, let me pay you one thousand five hundred naira; I do not have two thousand five…do you think I pluck the money from a tree?”
“Two thousand is the least I can take sisi”
I nearly said something horrible but it really wasn’t the fault of the taxi man. It wasn’t his fault that I had been reduced to haggling with a taxi driver. My parents were going to see the worst tantrum ever thrown.

Nice short storys u got enoquin!!! Following u

The house was too quiet. I let the gate man struggle with my luggage from the back of the taxi. Pushing through the gate, I walked to the back of the house and entered through the kitchen. Cook was sitting and picking through brown beans.
“Is that what I’ll be having?” I asked, not bothering with a greeting.
“Welcome,” she replied, ignoring my question. “How was school?”
“Fine, where is Daddy?”
“Upstairs, where is your luggage?” She asked a bit distractedly.
“Suleiman is bringing it,” and because I didn’t want any more questions. I hurried past but not before opening the fridge and taking a piece of fried meat.
I turned back expecting cook’s scolding but she didn’t seem to be in the mood. Frowning, I stomped upstairs. My mum was just coming down and looked very tired. The woman barely lifted a hand to do anything, why would she look so tired? I don’t hate my mother but I don’t like her either. My father dotes on her way too much and it’s annoying. It’s like those silly cheesy movies; I mean who dotes on their wives or husbands more than the children. I was an offspring for heaven’s sake! They were two strangers that met and decided to live together.
“Good afternoon mum,” I greeted her sullenly.
“Grace,” she came forward with a smile. “How was the journey, hope you weren’t too stressed?”
“If daddy couldn’t come, why didn’t you come and pick me?” I waited for a silly excuse and it came.
“There is so much going on. Won’t you even give your mum a hug?”
Giving her the barest of hugs, I moved on murmuring an excuse about needing to relieve myself. I couldn’t openly declare hostility on my mum because then I would lose my dad. I know who he would pick if he had to choose. And did I mention that I had an elder sibling who everyone was always paying attention to? She was a drama queen and was the darling while I was labeled a rebel.
“Suleiman!” I yelled from my window. Why hadn’t he brought my luggage up?
“You would need to lower your voice; your sister isn’t feeling well.” My dad cautioned, I hadn’t closed my room door yet.
Going to hug my dad, I stepped back and worked up a scowl. “Is it because of Hannah, no one thought of me?”
“Your sister had another bout again and…”
“She is always having bouts, sometimes I think they are faked. If you couldn’t come, why couldn’t mum come?”
“Because it was different for her this time…”
“Is Hannah more special than myself? Why should I be abandoned far away just because Hannah has cancer and is always feeling sick which is not an irregular thing? How is that supposed to make me feel?”
“It’s supposed to make you feel grateful for not having to be hospitalized almost every time and living on drugs all the days of your life.”
“It would be great if someone thought of me every once in a while.”
“We are, have you popped in to greet your sister?”
I didn’t want to, she knew I hated all the attention she got but she always tried to cover it up by being nice. Now, I am not mean but I do know that she is only being nice because she wants to make heaven or something like that. Perhaps she thinks she will be thrown a white party on roads paved with diamonds and a golden crown for always being nice.

mariamferanmi:
Nice short storys u got enoquin!!! Following u

You are welcome mariam, hope you stay on

Now I'm definitely hooked, cos I can relate to Grace's story as to how unimportant she must be feeling and I'm anticipating a very shocking eye opener for her cos I had one tooo... can't wait to see d end of the story... P.S ur my Bestest nl writer and I'm ur biggest fan (any type if fan u want)

@The Other Side Enoquin, that was really good.

BoboYekini:
@The Other Side
Enoquin, that was really good.

That's the only reply you deserve.

royalguest:
Now I'm definitely hooked, cos I can relate to Grace's story as to how unimportant she must be feeling and I'm anticipating a very shocking eye opener for her cos I had one tooo... can't wait to see d end of the story... P.S ur my Bestest nl writer and I'm ur biggest fan (any type if fan u want)

Aha! Gracie, come and see your partner in crime oh.
Now, you make my cheeks puff with indescibable feelings. Thanks a bunch.
Any type of fan? Like the 'fans mi' in Davido's song?

Walking to her door, I knocked and entered. She was so pale lying there and her room had changed. There were machines in the room, I hadn’t seen before and so many tubes sticking out of her. There was also another woman whom I hadn’t seen before too. She was middle-aged and had a face that had seen many sorrows but was somewhat comforting.
The woman stood to shoo me out but Hannah turned just then.
“Gracie,” she called out weakly with a smile.
Fear washed over me and I stood still by the door unable to advance or retreat. Hannah looked terrible and I nearly thanked God, I didn’t have to deal with all she was dealing with but for once I didn’t. I didn’t feel a sudden surge of love but I felt something alien to me; something sorrowful and I turned away nearly retreating till mum gave me a gentle shove back in. I hadn’t heard her climb back up.
“Gracie, come.” Hannah, the ghost beckoned.
Apart from the fact that she always got all the attention, another reason I hated Hannah was because I felt inferior whenever I was around her. She was always sick but she drew everyone to her and it wasn’t because of her sickness. She had a way of showing interest in people and subjects; something I could never do. Who wants to know to tell a nursing mother how cute her child was or ask cook how her children were doing? First of all, no baby is cute, they all look like little demons or drug junkies and why should I care about cook’s children, when I know they barely know who I am?

Apparently, my mum said something to the woman who was a nurse and she left Hannah’s bedside and followed mum out of the room leaving me alone with the ghost of my sister. The last time I had seen Hannah, she hadn’t looked this terrible.
“How are you feeling?” I asked approaching her bedside with my eyes somewhat averted.
“Well, I feel worse than I look if that is to answer your question but let’s leave me and talk about you. How is school?”
“Fine,”
“Your exams? Why not lay beside me and tell me all about it?” she patted a space beside her. I shrunk and offered her a horrific stare. Was this her way of passing on something to me or what did she hope to gain? I definitely did not want to crawl up to her, attached to those tubes and smelling of horrible drugs.
“I really need to pee and change my uniform,” I replied backing towards the door.
“Come back later, okay? I need someone to talk with. I am so lonely, everyone around me is so elderly and my two friends traveled.”
“Okay, take care.” We both knew I wouldn’t be back. I opened and closed the door taking care at the last moment not to slam it.