So the etisalat flash fiction contest was opened for voting last night and sincerely to me it looked like it was a "best comedian contest" The titles of stories were just as funny. Also I have read close to a 100 entries and it seem to me that only Nigerians entered this contest. Anyway i picked my top ten entries i wish would enter the second round.

If you are a nairaland and you entered the contest, kindly let us know, put a link here so we can go vote for you.



1. A WALK TO THE GRAVE by Abah Samuel Eleojoh

I am sixty five years old, a widow and i am going to see my son's coffin. He died three days ago and no one told me. They say because he is my only child i wouldn’t be able to bear the pain, so they kept the news from me till today.

How does delaying the news of the death of a loved one stop the pain from tearing at your soul? I walk towards the coffin, wailing as the charred pieces of my broken heart flutter in my mind, my stomach feeling like a bottomless hole, an abyss brewing the putrid milk of madness.

I place my hands on my head and let the tears flow. I’m flanked by three sober looking women. I know their job, they are to cry with me, wail with me and to hold me with all their strength if the madness in me sips out. For now their job is easy.

I watch as cars speed past the busy road,

“Now would be a perfect time to go mad” i thought to myself. How quickly can they stop me from throwing myself at a fast moving vehicle? It would be a beautiful way to end this pain, I'll be with my son again, in heaven or hell, wherever he is i would go.

But not yet, not until i see his body.

I get to where the grave is, i open the coffin and stare at the body. I stare a little longer, then i began to smile. I smile as my tears hit the coffin creating a puddle of chaos. Slowly, i started to walk away, away from the coffin, away from the grave, away from the wailers, in search of my son because that body does not belong to him.
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=1630

I particularly loved this story because of the ending. Did the woman go mad or was she just really happy that the body does not belong to her son. I do not know the rules of flash fiction but i really like the writers point of view. Apart from issues with tenses this is a really good story and i would love to see it move to the next round



2. 274 DAYS AND NO MORE by Biobele Bob-manue

Mom advised me against listening to the radio, it is clear why, the callers always angry, some angrier than others.
This one who just called, called himself "Something must kill a man" it is his pseudonym, he said what he said angrily and called for cessation of the nation.
You can't blame me for listening to the radio today and the 273 days before, it has been my only source of entertainment.
The electricity is out and has been out for the past 9 months at a stretch, we have gotten used to it, it should not be so but in these parts it is a norm, it affects me more than before as I have nothing else to do.
I don't go out because of insecurity not as if staying indoors is any more secure, just the other day a mother of a set of triplet was murdered in her home at late noon, I had heard this on the radio which brings us back to the radio.
I manage to listen to the presenters even though they sound weird, some sound like they've got flu others sound like someone clamped their nostrils, I like a few of them though, four to be exact.
My radio had become my friend as the days boringly strolled by,
My radio and me burning time has become an old act I need a new past time, perhaps I shall take up writing, I will discard my radio on the morrow.
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=829

This guy managed to talk about all our problems in 300 words. His structure is not very good but i love this nonethless. I see the radio as a representation of the things we do to safe us from boredom, however that same thing, is a constant reminder that our own pains and struggles. And notice his fear in his last line, "perhaps i shall take up writing" We all live with that self doubt. Kindly vote for this



3. A PREMNITION OF LOSS by Nimide Ogbeun

Is it weird that although you know when you're starting to hate someone it’s not the same with love. You might know you love them but the falling part is tricky.

Till date, I wonder when and why I fell for you.

Did I play a game of flames with our names, did I pick up a leaf branch and pluck the leaves out one by one, asking the wind If I loved you or if I loved you not?

Perhaps, it was your skin, the way it felt like like velvet and I always thought how unfair it was that I had skin like scratchy linen and you, soft velvet.

Or maybe it was the way your smell stuck on me each time we laid together? And even now, I still conjure it up, just like I do with memories of home, to a place filled with wet sidewalks and Harmattan.

I remember trying, rather hopelessly, to find the right word to describe how I felt. One that wasn't thrown around commonly and transcended any expressive tool. I wanted to sum it all up- the importance I felt with you, the fragility that threatened to break, the emotions that assailed me in your presence.

If only I could tell you all that I couldn't then, that nothing was as real as what I felt for you and still do. That, of all the things I loved most about life, experiencing it with you, was the biggest one.

I pray one day you forgive me for saying no when you knelt down, holding the most amazing ring I had ever set eyes on, asking me to be your wife.

It was fear that held me back- of you finding out I couldn't be with child.
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=2877

This just reads like poetry to me. Even though all this Maya Anglou's style of ''its the way....'' is very common i still find my self falling in love with this story and what's good, it already has 22 votes as at the time of writing.


4. BLUE TIE by Vanessa Kanu[/i]

I watch him plunge the needle. I watch as the needle breaks through my skin, as the contents of the syringe are emptied into my veins. For the twenty third time in one week.

I study his tie. It’s blue. I knew he’d wear a blue tie today. Just like I knew he’d wear a black one the day before, and that tomorrow, he’d opt for a red one with intricate designs on it. I’m only looking at it now because...

“It’s a new experimental drug. It should work.”

Should. When he says that, I look at him and see what thoughts go through his mind; me, lying on the bed, eyes staring wide at the ceiling. He reaches out to close my eyes, and pull the sheets over my head. As I watch his thoughts, he says, “Let’s keep hoping.”

I sigh as he pulls out the needle, and holds a cotton swab over the wound. He means well. It must be quite hard, having to lie to your patients, just so they can hold on to hope, or make a remarkable recovery thanks to the placebo effect.

“Thank you doctor.”

“Come for your next series of shots, Friday, okay?”

“I will.”

I know he’s upset for telling yet another lie; that he wishes there was something he could do to stop the inevitable.

I want to reach out to him and tell him it’s okay. He’s only trying to be a good person while doing his job, and everyone lies. That in fact, I just lied to him too.

I most definitely will not be seeing him on Friday.

His blue tie fascinates me. Not because it was special; but because the car I saw that killed me in my vision, was the exact same shade of blue.
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=655

[i]This is the best on this list so far. This story is deep and kind of just soothing and i am yet to recover from the effect that last line on me.




5. COLOR OF INSANITY by Arum Ogochukwu Samuel.


I am dying again but this time I am calmer. I wonder why you are staying with me. The reason you open your eyes each day to see me in the same clothes, while listening to my failures - as the venom from my endless complaints threatens to shut you down forever.

The darkness is usually filled by the whites from the fluorescent, when I am alive - now. These days I have not been able to experience any light. This, I am constantly reminded about by the white-clothed man who screams "receive the light!" and likes to sprinkle oil on my head, when he visits.

Sometimes, I know you want to kill me. You have always wanted to try poison, but you have not been able to get any. One time, you slipped a blade under your sleeve to slit my wrists, but you chickened out. I should end you now but I don't want to be violent today. The last time, I hit your head on the floor and my eyes opened to a terrible headache. I really should be careful when trying to hurt you.

I try to turn away but I am bound, not only in this tight jacket but also in chains. A lady in white is around now and you quickly disappear. I smile at her, as she cleans me up. She is nice. I want to rise and tell her that you are hiding the key to the chains, but she quickly leaves, perhaps if I see her again.

Now, I am closer to death. It is difficult to remain silent while I am trying to find you. You don't come now, you only stay in my head and scream. I scream, as the whites quickly fade away.
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=2493

This entry is just dark, very dark. Insanity, suicidal? I really love this.


6. DADDY'S GIRL by Mfon Nta

I lay facing the ceiling, willing my body to go numb but try as I might, I still felt him; his slow strokes and his heavy breathing as he pumped his way to a release; I felt it all and I loathed myself. It wasn’t the first time, in fact, it had gone on for too long and I had to end it.
He was my lover and my hero, I worshiped the very ground he walked on. He had loved me all his life and I owed him everything. We had been there for each other after mother lost her battle against cancer. I was nine years old and he had been my pillar since then so when he wanted my body, I let him have it.
It was five years ago but I remember it like it was yesterday. He had come into my room late one night and sat beside me. ‘You look so much like your mother’, he said. I smiled, he was right; I did look like my mother; the dark skin, the thick curly hair and the pointed nose.
‘Do you think about her?’ I asked. He nodded, his eyes moistening with tears.
He held my chin and looked into my eyes as his face came towards mine. That night he took my innocence but I didn’t care. I loved him.
I felt him quiver as he neared the peak of his ecstasy and I knew it had to be now or never. I reached for a piece of a broken mirror and I shut my eyes as I stabbed his neck with it repeatedly until I felt him go limp. I pushed his body off and sat on the bed, covered in blood as I stared blankly at the body of my father.
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=2637

One thing sexual abuse does to you is first it makes you feel like you deserve it, then you start to feel worthless and then you want to hurt someone, anyone. This story encapsulated everything. and you could almost feel pity for the father with the way the writer painted it. Great piece of work.



7. ENSTRANGED by Okechuku Kanu

The enticing aroma of freshly-baked bread wafted through the aisles and tickled our nostrils; it however couldn’t soften our rigid features.

I looked furtively around when she opened the can and started to drink. Nobody seemed to take notice.

“Sweetheart, I’m really uncomfortable with you drinking that before paying,” I croaked.

She said nothing, pushed the loaded cart to the Produce Section, before speaking in that dismissive way of hers.

“It’s just a drink. Nobody’s gonna get upset when I pay for it at the till.”

I smiled awkwardly; my new way of keeping my fury in check.

She picked some apples, peered at them, wringed her nose and dropped them back…in the wrong basket.

I reacted swiftly, returning them to their rightful place. She took another swig, looking bemused that I'd bother doing that.

“Why are you like this?” she asked.

The question bothered me, but I shrugged, because of my burgeoning plan.

At the Jewelry Section I gazed intently at a glitzy diamond necklace.

I left her on the home stretch with the excuse of “urgent bowel movement.”

She didn’t give me a second look. She’d meet me in the car, she said.

I waited in the car and inhaled smoke.

Sad clouds hovered overhead, patiently holding back their betrayal of dodgy emotions. Predicting rainfall would be as difficult as correctly forecasting this outcome. As I watched her approach the alarm-rigged double doors at the supermarket exit, can in hand, the miserable clouds released an avalanche of tiny raindrops, spattering around, bubbling off the parked cars like hot oil frying meat cutlets and blurring away the unraveling images. Somewhere in her bag lay unaccounted for, a precious jewelry surreptitiously placed there by an unhappy man. I closed my eyes and prayed that the shoplifting alarm would be.
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=2227




Its not really easy to scroll through all the entries but from the few i could read, these are my favourites.

Oga and you didnt add mine abi?


kindly vote for this story titled 'The Burden of Proof ' for the ETISALAT Prize for Flash Fiction( 2016)

Click the link below and like the story. thanks

https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=2663

The Burden of Proof by IMOKHAI


The gavel of the Judge hit the table with a bang and almost immediately Law Enforcement agents surrounded Kunle forming a protective ring around him. His mother like some others in the court room was crying. The case of the Drug Pusher who volunteered to expose the Drug Barons had been very tasking for the Drug Law Agency to crack. The Judge had sentenced the three drug barons to life imprisonment. The prosecution relied so much on Kunle’s testimony to build their case. Relief was an understatement for them.

The voice of Mrs. Belema Gregson, the Attorney-General of the Federation still echoed in Kunle’s head. “Kunle, I will make you an offer. You are a bright young man and the fact that the Malaysian Government agreed to release you to us as a test case is a divine call for you to help us end this problem once and for all.” Kunle nodded. “Help me prove that you are innocent”. Who could have thought that Malaysia would agree to release Kunle to the Nigerian Government? He could still picture the face of the Immigration official at Kuala Lumpur Airport when the colour of the body scanner turned red. “Step aside Sir” That was the beginning of the torture.

The Newspaper headlines were practically screaming ‘Nigerian First Class Graduate caught with drugs at Malaysia Airport’. Mrs. Belema Gregson knew that this was one Nigerian Citizen that should not be allowed to be executed in Malaysia. What would make a First Class graduate carry drugs to Malaysia? Her motherly instincts propelled her more that her being a lawyer and with her power as the Attorney –General of the Federation, she was going to save this young Man, Kunle Ola from the hangman in Malaysia. And she did.

MrsExplorer:
So the etisalat flash fiction contest was opened for voting last night and sincerely to me it looked like it was a "best comedian contest" The titles of stories were just as funny. Also I have read close to a 100 entries and it seem to me that only Nigerians entered this contest. Anyway i picked my top ten entries i wish would enter the second round.

thats true
i checked the website now sef and the titles of the story got me laffng

e,g
3rd mainland bridge
village super hero
if, perhaps,maybes
when the bulldozer came
doc
20mm nail
biko what can someone write about this topic

I'm not trying to downgrade them cuz I'm no way better but at least use titles that will turn head, titles that will make it hard for readers to bypass ur stories

anyways, good luck to them all

lemme goan vote

THE SHEPHERD WHO GOT AWAY

Surging through the air with Abhoni beside me, I wondered why the urge to mate was so strong in humans. As if he heard my thoughts, he said, "The Creator put it within them, to make them obey the instructions given to the First Two in the Garden. But we now use it to weaken them, because there are spiritual implications."

Spiritual implications- yes, I knew about that. If two humans mated without the midora- or ‘marriage’ as they called it- there were consequences. This Shepherd we were following had broken the rules…

The Khrona with us suddenly began to shriek and flap their wings loudly. An extremely bright glow, pulsating with a level of energy I had never seen before, had appeared above the vehicle. "What is that?" I wondered, mesmerized by the enthralling power of this Force. Abhoni did not open his mouth, but I still heard him. "The Control Centre of the Elect is trying to communicate. If this Shepherd listens and his strength is restored, all our efforts here would have been for nothing."

The dark cloud of Khrona suddenly surged forward, as they tried to disrupt the communication between the Control Centre and the Shepherd. Amidst the cacophony, I began to hear a voice. It was whispery, yet very distinct. The Shepherd was being persuaded to return under the protection of the Final Sacrifice. As I waited to see what would be the outcome, Abhoni said sharply, ‘Prepare yourself, this is the decisive moment.’

Barely had he finished speaking when a powerful blast of spiritual energy surged from within the car. The spiritual strength of the Shepherd had been restored! Suddenly, all the Khrona were blown away like a black mist and I found myself spinning downwards, back into Hades with Abhoni.

Did you like this fiction story? This is my entry into the Etisalat Prize for Flash Fiction 2016, for stories not more than 300 words. Because many people send in stories, online voting is used to reduce the number to 50 for the judges to start making selections. I know you are rooting for me, so I need you to do ONE thing for me. Click the link below to VOTE for me. Press the thumbs-up icon beside my name and we are good to go. You will be asked to use your Facebook profile to vote- that's to prevent multiple voting. It all takes less than 2 minutes. Thank you very much!

https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=276

P.S. Opera may not be the best browser to use for voting.

-Anthony Igbinosun

I was going to meet his mama, I was indeed going to meet his mama. I was beyond ectastic and I was grateful I had a week to prepare. The thoughts of what I would do to mentally assault her into loving me kept me up all night. I couldn't focus on my job, so I took a week leave. I had never met any man's mother, so I needed a plan to convince her that I was the real deal. I decided to ask Arinze.

https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=120

'Nne, you don't need to do anything, just be yourself. Any woman would be lucky to have you as a daughter in-law', Arinze assured me.

I decided to do as he suggested. On Friday, I went to my boo's house. He was at work but he had dropped his key with me after our semi steamy session. I was one step away from being a permanent resident. I quickly changed into my work clothes and earnestly began to clean. I scrubbed and cleaned all corners of the house. This was me being myself. Mama won't know what hit her. I was in the process of cobwebbing when I heard the doorbell ring.

I wondered who was at the door as I opened it. Standing with a mini travelling bag, leaning on the frame of the titanium door was a lady. Immediately she saw me, she reached across to hug me.
'You must be Nnenna , Nonso has told me so much about you', she exclaimed.
This must be another sister I thought to myself, smiling, as I returned the hug. Then I heard it.
'Nne, thanks alot, God bless you for taking care of my fiance' she uttered as she strolled into the apartment I had just cleaned, wearing her shoes.

https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=120

The Wages of Wrath

I heaved a sigh of relief as the door opened silently. He hadn't changed the locks yet. The smell of rotten food, dirty dishes, marijuana, sex and a full dustbin, overwhelmed my now sensitive nose as I closed the door behind me. Dirty clothes, condom wrappers, beer cans lay strewn all over the sitting room floor. Icy cold air hit my face as I opened the bedroom door. The air conditioner droned on, as i stared at the lump on the bed and the naked female beside him. I knew he was home. He never went anywhere without his precious car.

I left the door wide open and made my way to the kitchen. The cooker was caked with leftover food. I turned on the gas, and listened as it hissed and sputtered, slowly filling the kitchen with its noxious fumes. A wave of dizziness hit me then, as the new life in me rebelled, and I stumbled to the sitting room, our wedding portrait leering at me from the wall. Flashes of memory raced through my mind, me pounding on the door, begging him to open, as menstrual blood pooled between my legs and trickled down my thighs, me on my knees, the belt coming down again and again as I gripped the bed and swallowed my screams, me chanting through the pain as he shoved himself into me,how lucky I was, a single mother of twin boys, to be married.

My hands shook as I held the matchbox. The tears gushed now, as I saw clearly my boys boxers, stained with blood and semen, the horror in the doctor's face at the tears, bruises and cuts in their eight years old rectum. "Father forgive me", I said aloud. I struck the match.

@Mrs explorer. Please check my story out and like it as well. Ur comments are also apreciated.

https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=850

I put my entry too.

Please vote for me.

Thank you.

https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=658



STORY BELOW

Amazing things have happened to me in the past but the events that took place last night cap them all. I was jolted awake from sleep by a loud bang. Startled, I switched on the lights and listened. There was nothing. It was two in the morning and I had hoped it was not a visit from the men of the night. Five minutes passed, yet there was still no sound. My mind could not have been playing tricks on me. I shrugged, covered myself with the duvet and hugged a pillow. I had barely closed my eyes when I heard the sound again. My heart threatened to burst out of its enclosure as it beat faster than usual. I was really scared and could not stay in bed. Armed with a machete and torchlight, I descended the stairs in a bid to trace the sound.

“Today na today” I told myself.

It was more of spineless curiosity than bravado. I turned off the living room lights and made for the window, ‘commando’ style. As I carefully moved the curtain sideways to take a peep through the window, I heard the sound again, this time even louder than before. I ducked immediately, putting off the torchlight. I gave up my heroic adventure that instant, dropped the machete and prepared to dash up the stairs. Just then, the knob turned and the door opened inwards, with light from the compound trickling in. I had forgotten to lock the door!

There was a kick to the door, opening it wider. I felt warm liquid on my thighs. I closed my eyes and wished the earth to swallow me. Pressing myself against the wall, I braced myself for the worst.

Three men came in, switched on the light and screamed,

“Happy Birthday!”

Please; I can't access the link.
Was any email sent to anyone confirming; that they've been selected?..

If anyone can; help me search for BEDFORD DREAM; PLEASE

MrsExplorer, do you have email to the Samuel guy who wrote about a Widow?

https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=1935

Please click the link above to read and vote for my story "MY DREAM MAN" by clicking the thumbs up button. Thank you so much and GOD bless.

Funnicator:
MrsExplorer, do you have email to the Samuel guy who wrote about a Widow?

I could help you find out, what happened?

Jaisgr8:
Please; I can't access the link.
Was any email sent to anyone confirming; that they've been selected?..

If anyone can; help me search for BEDFORD DREAM; PLEASE

Go to the site, use a laptop and search for your story with the title you used in submitting it.

MrsExplorer:


I could help you find out, what happened?

He writes very beautifully.

I am on a Book and need a proofreader. I'll eventually send it to a Professional Editor when I'm finished but want a proofreader who will critique each Scene I write.

I could add little pay for this.

Funnicator:


He writes very beautifully.

I am on a Book and need a proofreader. I'll eventually send it to a Professional Editor when I'm finished but want a proofreader who will critique each Scene I write.

I could add little pay for this.

He is on facebook as Rapwize Sigmund Sucre

MrsExplorer:


He is on facebook as Rapwize Sigmund Sucre

Please reach me on ebukalargas@gmail.com I've lost the gmail account for this nairaland username.
Thanks

***** MY FIRST LOVE (My etisalat flash fiction entry)


He had the most beautiful eyes.The pair, blue to a fault, almost unreal; my heart would skip a million beats when ever our eyes met.I would get butterflies whenever his cheeks dimpled, and the corners of his eyes wrinkled. Our friends teased him about his oddly shaped head:like an acorn his head was cone-shaped,one look at it would remind me of the dinosaurs in Jurassic park. However I was indifferent,I accepted his flaws and idolized him. His name was Mevi and he was the newest boy in my class.

"Mevi smiled at me" said Tanya, the daughter of our english teacher one day during break time. I felt betrayed. How could Mevi do that to me?. Tanya was the prettiest girl in our class,her gap tooth and dimples singled her out and she was obviously prettier than I was but then, Mevi belonged to me;he was my precious.

"Mevi touched my face" Mapo blurted during our walk home. I shuddered. Mapo was a girl with a petite figure and I was round and fat like a mortar. Almost instantly,I coveted her body,maybe Mevi liked petite girls.
I was wrapped in a cloak of uncertainty:when will Mevi talk to me?

Then one day,he came to my seat and asked if he could borrow my pencil, tears of happiness flooded my heart as I handed him my neatly sharpened pencil. Our hands accidentally touched and I felt as though I was touched by an angel. He was back to borrow my book;then my eraser and then my ruler but Mevi never smiled at me like he did to Tanya; he never touched my face.
The next week at school Mevi was absent,he never returned. I was inconsolable,he was my first love and he left with my heart.


Here is the link to vote for me
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=696

It won't take your time
NOTE - to vote without stress use any other browser aside from opera
God bless you.

LeMubs:


***** MY FIRST LOVE (My etisalat flash fiction entry)


He had the most beautiful eyes.The pair, blue to a fault, almost unreal; my heart would skip a million beats when ever our eyes met.I would get butterflies whenever his cheeks dimpled, and the corners of his eyes wrinkled. Our friends teased him about his oddly shaped head:like an acorn his head was cone-shaped,one look at it would remind me of the dinosaurs in Jurassic park. However I was indifferent,I accepted his flaws and idolized him. His name was Mevi and he was the newest boy in my class.

"Mevi smiled at me" said Tanya, the daughter of our english teacher one day during break time. I felt betrayed. How could Mevi do that to me?. Tanya was the prettiest girl in our class,her gap tooth and dimples singled her out and she was obviously prettier than I was but then, Mevi belonged to me;he was my precious.

"Mevi touched my face" Mapo blurted during our walk home. I shuddered. Mapo was a girl with a petite figure and I was round and fat like a mortar. Almost instantly,I coveted her body,maybe Mevi liked petite girls.
I was wrapped in a cloak of uncertainty:when will Mevi talk to me?

Then one day,he came to my seat and asked if he could borrow my pencil, tears of happiness flooded my heart as I handed him my neatly sharpened pencil. Our hands accidentally touched and I felt as though I was touched by an angel. He was back to borrow my book;then my eraser and then my ruler but Mevi never smiled at me like he did to Tanya; he never touched my face.
The next week at school Mevi was absent,he never returned. I was inconsolable,he was my first love and he left with my heart.


Here is the link to vote for me
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=696

It won't take your time
NOTE - to vote without stress use any other browser aside from opera
God bless you.

I saw this story, would go vote now but is this not more than 300 words

MrsExplorer:


I saw this story, would go vote now but is this not more than 300 words

Mine nkor?

TITLE: Thunder without Clouds

Gombe, 14th February 2015

Thunder rumbled in the distance as I started my morning jog but there were no clouds in sight. I noticed more people passing the narrow road beside the field than there usually were at such an hour. Soon after, cars sped past too and the thunder got louder but there were still no clouds in sight. On the opposite end of the field, there was smoke in the sky from afar off. Soon enough some trucks were visibly approaching with what appeared to be armed men marching alongside. I was agitated, panic struck and perplexed. Many overfilled cars were now moving past the field with some people running on foot and I resolved to join them. Somebody clutched my wrist; it was my friend, James. Amidst the tumult, the invaders seemed to be just a few metres away so we hid in an uncompleted building. The invaders passed by. Hours passed and when all seemed to be back to normal we came out of hiding. We passed some people along a gully but an approaching figure stood out. It was a young man, dirty looking and no older than I was, crossing the gully with a rifle in hand. That familiar feeling of trepidation crept over me. Some say their charms wear off after crossing a water body. He was trying to reload his rifle but it seemed to be faulty. The people noticed this and pounced on him. He was down in seconds, his rifle seized as blows and stones and sticks descended on him. His agonizing fate was meted out to him in as gruesome a manner as can be. Slowly his screams subsided as the mob took the roles of Judge and executioner over his life. The deed was done.

https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=620exception

MrsExplorer:


I saw this story, would go vote now but is this not more than 300 words

Please do vote
And nope it's 299 words
God Bless you.

MrsExplorer:

I saw this story, would go vote now but is this not more than 300 words

Please do vote And nope it's 299 words God Bless you.

Wow. So many writing talents in naija. I might contest next year, God willing. I love that dark, murderous tale the most.

@MrsExplorers,

Please I know you stopped but I need a huge favor. Can you help with a book cover please?

Pretty please?

fikfaknuel:
Wow. So many writing talents in naija. I might contest next year, God willing. I love that dark, murderous tale the most.

Me too

Nice list. But how about this entry. A mother's joy.
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=396. please try and vote for it. na zero the story dey na

I could tell you of the exact moment, and the exact hour, and the
exact time of day, of the exact month and year, I'd
probed round my belly and knew for certain that an illegitimate child was growing inside me.


I could tell you how immediately my heart sunk
far deep into my stomach that I wouldn’t
have been altogether surprised to have seen it
ejected out along with the unwanted fetus, and bits
of hot, brownish fecal matter already
bearing down my anus.


My exact thoughts were: Chidi you're finished
finished. And if you'd been there to see
how me, initially standing, started to
slowly shrink into a sobbing, miniature ball
rolled up the toilet floor I think you'd
have completely agreed.


But finished did not even begin to describe things. Firstly, in unambiguous terms, this meant bye-bye
till whenever ‘September- university- matriculation.'( if-
ever, we meet again old friend.) Next, it meant a resounding slap delivered at the centre of my left ear
that I can still hear the taaaaaa! ringing occasionally.


I could tell you more things: My botched abortion
attempts, Tunde’s predictable denial, the follow up depression; or even of my being kept in hiding, completely shut out from friends and prying
neighbours; while my parents and siblings did me -----or themselves, the favor of telling everyone I’d gained a ruse university admission.


But what would any of these change?

Nothing.


So I'll tell you nothing of them instead, tell you of the
exact moment I’d first held my child in my
arms-----the newborn kicking and screaming,
infant hope and promise hanging on his
head --my joy indescribable like a rush of
wind so powerful and dignified that it did not
matter in that moment what'd come before, or
what might even come
after.

have 3 stories, 2 approved but the third one is showing in the site. Anyways... The first one- The Beauty Of Nature
The cool morning breeze saturates the atmosphere as the
morning dews were already settled on the outdoor surfaces.
The birds of the sky flap their wings so gracefully that they
seem to effortlessly soar through the damp moist air above.
Meanwhile the clear blue sky brings forth few white clouds
which are now beginning to develop an orange hue, thanks to the radiance of the golden rising sun.
The apparently unending horizon
at the distance now appears more beautiful as the rays of the sunlight dissipate into the crystal clear blue waters of the vast
ocean, creating glitters and sparkles which form the illusions of diamonds filling up in the sky.
I barely make out the black and white Humpback whale far in the sea, displaying its majestic size; just as a pod of grey bottlenose dolphins playfully leaps up high
above the sea level.
#Hoonnkk!!!# the faint horn from a distant ocean liner just scarcely catches my hearing whereas the nearby smaller
boats, canoes and yachts which adorn the shores of the white-sanded beaches are clearly visible
to me. The dry land seems to be
separated from the ocean by the small oysters, clams and shells that the tidal waves had washed
up the shores.
The rhythmic movement of the
branches of palm trees and pines in sync with the gentle moving air makes me picture the trees to
be dancing. What a sight so far!
And finally, the rustling of leaves
as well as the melodious songs,
tweets and trills of the birds close by fill my ears as I, putting
on a blue and white coconut-patterned Bermuda shorts,
recline on the deck chair in the balcony of my well-furnished
room at the east end of an exotic Caribbean resort in Barbados,
while admiring the beauty of nature.
The Beauty Of
Nature
 Ebube Iwuchukwu
 Nigeria

the second- The Encounter
As I stared into the night sky three days ago, oblivious of
mankind’s fate; the deafening thunder strike, GrrrrGrrrrr!!!
Preceded the violent but ephemeral earthquake. For a
second, I thought I was gone. Hardly had I moved when I
noticed a bright reddish glow several metres away. The glow seemed to be emanating from a
crater that I could recall, wasn’t there earlier. At its centre laid a massive glowing metallic-like
rock—"a meteorite," I had presumed. The region around it
was dry despite the rain. I studied the crater further before
gathering some of the scattered glittering pieces.
Subsequently, I arrived here, the
region where no rain fell, the untouched land. Unfortunately, it
was bordered by lightning bolts.
I cursed as I set up camp with the intention of finding an opening. Eureka! After 24hours, I
discovered that the lightning stopped for 5minutes every 8hours. This, however, wasn’t so favourable considering my
distance. I sprinted so earnestly during the
next break, leaping at the last minute to narrowly escape the
electricity surging from the thunderclouds. Though, my shoes got fried, I felt exhilarated.
I began recording when I reached an elevation with a
cryptic inscription at its base: Ardentes lapides caelo sit amet.
Nonetheless, I continued up the
hill to find a dark, small-sized hole. I was about getting my
torchlight when the now blinding mysterious pieces tore through my backpack and were
pulled into the hole by an invincible force. And immediately,
a beam of yellowish-blue light shot up to the clouds and the
invincible blanket protecting the
untouched land was suddenly stripped off.
Now, here I am, under the rain again, pondering what this all means when the weirdest of
them all occurs.
Booooommnnn!!! The sky above resonates and the earth begins
shaking from the resulting shockwaves.

ebubeval:
have 3 stories, 2 approved but the third one is showing in the site. Anyways... The first one- The Beauty Of Nature
The cool morning breeze saturates the atmosphere as the
morning dews were already settled on the outdoor surfaces.
The birds of the sky flap their wings so gracefully that they
seem to effortlessly soar through the damp moist air above.
Meanwhile the clear blue sky brings forth few white clouds
which are now beginning to develop an orange hue, thanks to the radiance of the golden rising sun.
The apparently unending horizon
at the distance now appears more beautiful as the rays of the sunlight dissipate into the crystal clear blue waters of the vast
ocean, creating glitters and sparkles which form the illusions of diamonds filling up in the sky.
I barely make out the black and white Humpback whale far in the sea, displaying its majestic size; just as a pod of grey bottlenose dolphins playfully leaps up high
above the sea level.
#Hoonnkk!!!# the faint horn from a distant ocean liner just scarcely catches my hearing whereas the nearby smaller
boats, canoes and yachts which adorn the shores of the white-sanded beaches are clearly visible
to me. The dry land seems to be
separated from the ocean by the small oysters, clams and shells that the tidal waves had washed
up the shores.
The rhythmic movement of the
branches of palm trees and pines in sync with the gentle moving air makes me picture the trees to
be dancing. What a sight so far!
And finally, the rustling of leaves
as well as the melodious songs,
tweets and trills of the birds close by fill my ears as I, putting
on a blue and white coconut-patterned Bermuda shorts,
recline on the deck chair in the balcony of my well-furnished
room at the east end of an exotic Caribbean resort in Barbados,
while admiring the beauty of nature.
The Beauty Of
Nature
 Ebube Iwuchukwu
 Nigeria

the second- The Encounter
As I stared into the night sky three days ago, oblivious of
mankind’s fate; the deafening thunder strike, GrrrrGrrrrr!!!
Preceded the violent but ephemeral earthquake. For a
second, I thought I was gone. Hardly had I moved when I
noticed a bright reddish glow several metres away. The glow seemed to be emanating from a
crater that I could recall, wasn’t there earlier. At its centre laid a massive glowing metallic-like
rock—"a meteorite," I had presumed. The region around it
was dry despite the rain. I studied the crater further before
gathering some of the scattered glittering pieces.
Subsequently, I arrived here, the
region where no rain fell, the untouched land. Unfortunately, it
was bordered by lightning bolts.
I cursed as I set up camp with the intention of finding an opening. Eureka! After 24hours, I
discovered that the lightning stopped for 5minutes every 8hours. This, however, wasn’t so favourable considering my
distance. I sprinted so earnestly during the
next break, leaping at the last minute to narrowly escape the
electricity surging from the thunderclouds. Though, my shoes got fried, I felt exhilarated.
I began recording when I reached an elevation with a
cryptic inscription at its base: Ardentes lapides caelo sit amet.
Nonetheless, I continued up the
hill to find a dark, small-sized hole. I was about getting my
torchlight when the now blinding mysterious pieces tore through my backpack and were
pulled into the hole by an invincible force. And immediately,
a beam of yellowish-blue light shot up to the clouds and the
invincible blanket protecting the
untouched land was suddenly stripped off.
Now, here I am, under the rain again, pondering what this all means when the weirdest of
them all occurs.
Booooommnnn!!! The sky above resonates and the earth begins
shaking from the resulting shockwaves.

the third. Though, I wasn't emailed on the approval of this one, it displayed in the site- The Blood Brother I Never Had.
I strolled tranquilly along the cobbled pathway of the park as the flower-scented zephyr flowed over my skin. The wind’s
whistling through the trees and rustling of leaves were enchanting. The western part of
the sky dazzled in rich orange hue, compared to the blue eastern part, as the mildly
glowing sun headed to the horizon. The birds chirped as
they soared through shades of orange, blue, white and grey
clouds; however, some pigeons decided to rest their wings,
picking up seeds and granules on the earth. Only a few distant
chatters revealed the presence of humans.
Finally, I arrived at the
rendezvous that my friend and I had agreed upon. He was
running late; so I watched as the
lake shimmered in the sunset with about a dozen water lilies
floating on it. The silence was suddenly broken; bang! Bang!
Bang! Nooo! And then a loud thud. Someone had pushed me to the ground. What just
happened? I wasn't sure. There was blood on me... But I couldn't
feel any pain. "What did you do?" I asked frighteningly upon
realising that it was Ben. Immediately, I dialled 112, while
applying pressure to the injured part as he gasped in pain. "Stay
with me, buddy. Help will be here soon," I said.
It was later revealed that the shooters were amateur robbers and had already been rounded
up. Unfortunately, the deed had already been done.
Ben was kept in a medically induced coma as the bullets had hit a critical vessel. Sitting by his
side, the feeling of distraught gripped me as I recollected how
he had risked his life for mine. Through the window, the clear
blue sky was now getting darker. And just as the glittering stars began to come alive, I hoped and
prayed that Ben would, too.
The Blood Brother I
never had
 Ebube Iwuchukwu
 Nigeria

This story is a hotcake in the Etisalat Flash Fiction. To like it, open the link at the end of the story and like the story:

Some years ago when I was very young, I thought the greatest mistake in life was penury. Wrong.
Mr Francis, my rich neighbour, had a very beautiful wife and two pretty daughters. The family used to be people's envy as they never lacked: from the Chevrolet Spark to the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Six years ago, their second daughter graduated from Harvard University having studied Economics.
"My love, I can't imagine my life without you" Mrs Francis said to him in their mansion bedroom. In a bedroom voice, Mr Francis replied "you really don't know how much I love you over and over again". The love between the two seemed strong as the one Romeo and Juliet had for each other: the kind only death could separate.
There was a day, however, when an occurrence in their lives confirmed my fear about the worst just deserts of familiarity: come over here, useless slapper", Mr Francis addressed his wife and asked her to "pack all your baggage and get out of my beautiful life". She cried and in between her tears said "I'm sorry."
The following day, she sat in the sitting room of her best friend, Mama Ezinne, looking a bit unkempt and dejected. "At least, you would tell me why, despite living a life of luxury, you cheated on your adorable husband with the dirty family mechanic", Mama Ezinne said. To my greatest confirmation in life, she replied "love making with Francis , after the first few years of our marriage, became too boring! I loved him but it was all vapid because even when he tried other methods, it was still with him! The touch of someone new and forbidden was orgasmic!

To like the story, open this link and like it: https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=1821

Sorry for posting this late. Phone battery's gone down.
Here are the links-
The Beauty Of Nature- https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=2669
The Encounter- https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=2697
The Blood Brother I Never Had- https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=2718
Thanks in advance.

Wait wait wait. Check this one out as well. It needs more love

"Her" http://prize.etisalat.com.ng//flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=1446