A Collection of Short Stories
Tales-from-the-Other-Side-2015 Tales-from-the-Other-Side-2015
Jumoke Omisore We only die once “Some people do not deserve children.” “Not all children are lucky,” I respond dejectedly “If you were my child or sister, I would never maltreat you.” I drift away from his words into a dreamland that mimics a fairytale, where my mother is the Queen of the Olubadan of Ibadan and I, his princess. I roam the palace carefree bedecked in ringed beads that reach my waist from my neck. I dreamed of flowing white rivers that taste sweeter as honey and a land with ripe fruits that pluck and serve themselves to me. In my sleep, I feel a crushing weight on my neck, squeezing the air out of me. I want to shout for AJ to help me, but something has stolen my voice. Just like the way it deserted me when my stepmother’s brother cornered me in the bathroom that cursed morning last month and I wordlessly tried to claw my way out. I wake up to find Aunty Labake tapping me. It is morning. She says I was having a nightmare. Aunty Labake is the only other person that listens to me. She has rescued me from my stepmother many a time. Had she been around yesterday, she would have come to my aid. She does so every time my voice rises over the compound walls in pleas for succour. When she gives me a loose-fitting dress to wear, I thank her. She tells me to be quiet, because AJ is still sleeping. Early that morning while I slept, he’d gone round to my father’s house. My mouth begins to salivate as I watch Aunty Labake cook aroso rice and fish stew. AJ comes into the kitchen and tiredly informs me that my home is now with them. Aunty Labake informs me later–as I tiptoe in an effort to eavesdrop on my stepmother over the 109
We only die once Jumoke Omisore fence, that my father does not want me to reside with them anymore. A prophet told my stepmother she will never bear a child if I remain under their roof. I wonder why my new guardians have welcomed me into their home. I wonder if it is as Aunty Labake says, that I have no one else and no place else to go. Or if it is as I once overheard my stepmother gossiping to her friend over the phone? The prophet had counselled Aunty Labake to take in and fend for a destitute child the age of the length of years she has been barren if she must have any children of her own. I replay the couples’ youthful faces in my mind and doubt they had truly been married all of twelve years. My father never comes to get me. AJ and his wife went over to fetch my few belongings. I sat in the front seat in AJ’s car. I wait with little air in my lungs and wet eyes, hoping my father will come out and wave me goodbye. But he never comes. Gradually I acquiesced to my new reality. If AJ would be my father now, and Aunty Labake my mother, so be it. What does it matter that we are not flesh and blood. My stepmother had also said that according to the prophet, if the destitute were kindhearted, he/she would live a long and fruitful life and will always be loved of his/her new family. But that if the destitute were a mean spirited child, he/she would die as soon as Aunty Labake delivers a child. I will love children for AJ and Aunty Labake. They are compassionate people. Although I have my reservations about their wanting to bring children into a barely comfortable existence. So for them, I wish children. And all good things. It’s only fair. Does this make me kind-hearted? 110 Tales from the Other Side
- Page 68 and 69: Open Your Eyes Su’eddie Agema
- Page 70 and 71: Su’eddie Agema Open Your Eyes see
- Page 72 and 73: Su’eddie Agema Open Your Eyes shi
- Page 75 and 76: Passenger 13E Aideyan Daniel
- Page 77 and 78: Passenger 13E Aideyan Daniel ‘Bab
- Page 79 and 80: Passenger 13E Aideyan Daniel make s
- Page 81: Passenger 13E Aideyan Daniel bounde
- Page 84 and 85: TJ Benson Pretty Bird The war had j
- Page 86 and 87: TJ Benson Pretty Bird rang out in t
- Page 88 and 89: TJ Benson Pretty Bird She pushed as
- Page 91 and 92: Sour Kisses Jennifer Emelife
- Page 93 and 94: Sour Kisses Jennifer Chinenye Emeli
- Page 95 and 96: Sour Kisses Jennifer Chinenye Emeli
- Page 98 and 99: The Indomie Man Michael Ogah
- Page 100 and 101: Michael Ogah The Indomie Man with m
- Page 102 and 103: Michael Ogah The Indomie Man “I
- Page 104: Michael Ogah The Indomie Man will t
- Page 107 and 108: Wanted: For fear Study Raymond Elen
- Page 109 and 110: Wanted: For fear Study Raymond Elen
- Page 111 and 112: Wanted: For fear Study Raymond Elen
- Page 114 and 115: We only die once Jumoke Omisore
- Page 116 and 117: Jumoke Omisore We only die once “
- Page 120: Jumoke Omisore We only die once I w
- Page 123 and 124: Whispering Waters Soogun Omoniyi
- Page 125 and 126: Whispering Waters Soogun Omoniyi si
- Page 127: Whispering Waters Soogun Omoniyi
- Page 130 and 131: to the ‘writer’s block’ myth.
- Page 133 and 134: This anthology is a product of a th
We only die once<br />
Jumoke Omisore<br />
fence, that my father does not want me to reside with them anymore. A prophet told my<br />
stepmother she will never bear a child if I remain under their ro<strong>of</strong>.<br />
I wonder why my new guardians have welcomed me into their home. I wonder if it is as<br />
Aunty Labake says, that I have no one else and no place else to go. Or if it is as I once<br />
overheard my stepmother gossiping to her friend over the phone? The prophet had<br />
counselled Aunty Labake to take in and fend for a destitute child the age <strong>of</strong> the length <strong>of</strong><br />
years she has been barren if she must have any children <strong>of</strong> her own. I replay the couples’<br />
youthful faces in my mind and doubt they had truly been married all <strong>of</strong> twelve years.<br />
My father never comes to get me. AJ and his wife went over to fetch my few belongings.<br />
I sat in the front seat in AJ’s car. I wait with little air in my lungs and wet eyes, hoping my<br />
father will come out and wave me goodbye. But he never comes.<br />
Gradually I acquiesced to my new reality. If AJ would be my father now, and Aunty Labake<br />
my mother, so be it. What does it matter that we are not flesh and blood.<br />
My stepmother had also said that according to the prophet, if the destitute were kindhearted,<br />
he/she would live a long and fruitful life and will always be loved <strong>of</strong> his/her new<br />
family. But that if the destitute were a mean spirited child, he/she would die as soon as<br />
Aunty Labake delivers a child.<br />
I will love children for AJ and Aunty Labake. They are compassionate people. Although<br />
I have my reservations about their wanting to bring children into a barely comfortable<br />
existence. So for them, I wish children. And all good things. It’s only fair. Does this make me<br />
kind-hearted?<br />
110<br />
Tales from the Other Side
Change language