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Latest Stories

March 08, 2024
Flash Fiction Benoit

Some Enchanted Evening

It was a rugby tackle with tears: Chrissy burst in, sobbing and babbling, hugging James. Her face was all wet, eyes wild. What…? My parents split up, Dad has moved in with his boyfriend and I cannot join them. I am shut out. I have lost my dad. Torrent of…
March 08, 2024
Horror Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

In The Hands Of My Legs

The car pulled up in front of the large salon. The neon sign, that sexy broad thing, on the salon'sroof read "Mr. Gil's All-night Salon". The exhaust pipe of the car was pumping solid smoke, theswirls moving from the car and towards the salon.…
March 07, 2024
Mystery Stories Vanessa Leigh Giles

Casualty of Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Chapter 1 Until Death do us Part ‘Ring, ring!’. I answered the telephone and asked, “Hello, good evening. Who’s this? “Hello.” This is Dr. Smith from Red Cross hospital. “Is this Mr. Locke, John?”, he asked, hesitantly scratching his bald head. “Yes, doctor.…
March 07, 2024
Crime Stories Robert Pook

Bar Room Trigger

Another return journey on footpaths so familiar. He strides across each crack in each paving stone. Regular loose drain covers sidestepped. Mapping long ago mapped in Richard’s desolate mind. His pace hastened by the sight of the oncoming storm. Quickening…
March 04, 2024
Horror Stories Ano Chinemerem

Sanctity

Where should I begin? I could begin by telling you about this comely boy, whom every notable person around the streets agrees his smile could charm the bills off one. Between one smile, there was his goodness, his dreams and humanity—a little far ahead?— but…
March 04, 2024
Flash Fiction Emanuel Diaz

Et Mortui Partium

As Rafael stepped out into the rain, it wasn't the ordinary drops that fell from the sky. Instead, it was a storm of souls, each one taking the form of shimmering jewelry as it cascaded toward the ground. Rubies, diamonds, and sapphires twinkled amidst the…
February 29, 2024
Poetry Jing Li Ava

London

‘Am I in London?’ "I am." Where is Elizabeth? Happy living story All of your chapter Bounlance joy Please my heart Power hand Wise mind Our baby Vow vow Love all love Miss I miss Endless wonder Bring us together Love all love Miss I miss For everything My…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Rob Pook

Life Sentence of The Smith

Born nine months after his country won the World Cup.A child prodigy.Cast off at age twenty-four.Husband, father, emigree, away on the other side of the world.The blue-collar life.The dreams of success.The search for fulfillment.The long years of empty…
February 29, 2024
Mystery Stories Joshua Lowther

The Operator

Jason looked over to his right, his eyes barely able to focus themselves on the subject of his attention. His neck ached terribly from the strenuous movement. He was tired. The captain’s gaze came to rest on the rookie sonar operator sitting tense at his…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Salvatore Difalco

The Chute

At dusk, we left our unit with a soft pink bundle. I carried it through the wet streets and into the black woods. I said I’d take it all the way, the bundle, but that we had to drop it in together. My wife’s green eyes flashed. “Don’t make me do that.” I…
February 29, 2024
Fantasy Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

Tragopolis

In the heart of a vast and mysterious forest lay a city like no other – Tragopolis. It was a fablesque city hidden from the prying eyes of the outside world. It was a place where secrets bloomed as bountifully as the surrounding flora. It was a city where…
February 15, 2024
Science Fiction Stories Jasnoor

Ethan Sheldon's Death

<< Ethan Sheldon’s [Deceased] Brain Autopsy >> Damn, this one's going to be a long one—an all-nighter mopping the floors in this creepy ass place. There is no music or sound except the splashing noise of cleaning fluid. I'm in a hallway; there's nothing to…

Three

Kelechi arrived at the hospital a few minutes after leaving the police station. As he entered and heard cries from a room, his heart was in his mouth. But as soon as he saw Chibuike in the reception hall, he was relieved.

How is Nónso faring?”

He is okay. What happened to you at the station?”

Well, it’s a long story. Let’s just go see how he is doing.”

Nónso was no longer angry with Kelechi because Chibuike had told him how he had followed them but was apprehended by the police. When Kelechi came, Nónso accepted his apology and Kelechi accepted to pay the bill. But he wondered how he could pay the bill since his last cash was stolen by the police constable. Then a thought ran through his mind. He would lie to his aunt, so he could get money from her. It was already 8:45 am when he got home. Then he went straight to his aunt.

Good morning, Ma.”

Morning. Where have you been? I woke up this morning at about 6:30 am but did not know your whereabouts.”

I…..ehm…..there…..a friend of mine came in the morning at about 4:00 am and asked me to go with him to hunt for game. So I followed him and borrowed a gun from a man which I used. But while hunting, I spoilt the gun because I could not use it well. When I took it to the owner, he asked me to bring money for the repair. I went to my friends but they……”

Why did you not come to me instead? And by the way, why did you put on white clothes to hunt?”

No….. Nothing.”

Alright, no problem then, I will give you the money. Please hurry up and come back to prepare food for me because I am getting hungry.” She gave him the money he requested and he hurriedly took it to the hospital. When he saw a beautiful girl he knew in the neighbourhood, he began to sing resoundingly:

Nwanyi óma, nwanyi óma (Fine girl, fine girl)

Ichóró iga na uzó? (Do you want to go on the road?)

Nwanyi óma, nwanyi óma (Fine girl, fine girl)

Ichóró iga na uzó? (Do you want to go to road?)

Nwanyi óma, nwanyi óma (Fine girl, fine girl)

Mma gi ómara? (Does your mother know?)

Ina agbada na uzó (That you’re going down the road)

Ifu obere nwoke gi? (To see your little boyly yo?)

* * *

When he got to the hospital, he paid the money to the receptionist who issued him a receipt and Nónso was discharged. Kelechi thanked Chibuike for staying with Nónso in the hospital and they both accompanied him home. Previously, Ugochukwu had gone home at about 7:00 am. When they got to Nónso’s place, his mother immediately came out angrily since she was told what happened by some who ran away from the party.

Chineke m!” she exclaimed when she saw her son’s head. “Kelechi, you did this to my son? Ibú ajó mmadú!”

I….I am very sorry Ma, biko, it……it was not actually my fault. There was a little misunderstanding and he provoked me,” Kelechi stuttered in reply. Then Nónso told his mother to forget all that happened. He also told her that Kelechi paid the hospital bill and that was enough to pacify her. She thanked Kelechi for at least paying the bill. Then he and Chibuike left for their respective abodes.

The following day, about the breezy part of the evening, Nónso swiftly went to his girlfriend’s house and quarreled with her over what happened at the night party. Sopuruchi was very much angry with him. She abused him and even called him a moron. Nónso did not waste time, he slapped fire out of her face and she started crying but continued to insult him. In the blink of an eye, Sopuruchi’s father came in from work. He gripped Nónso’s shirt and demanded to know what happened and what he was doing in the house with his daughter. Nónso explained though out of fear, and was dismissed by Sopuruchi’s father. He immediately took to his heels thanking his God that the old man did not do anything to him, maybe he would have been in another old and rusted wheelbarrow headed for the hospital. Sopuruchi’s father pounced on her and beat her mercilessly.

I will disown you if you ever attend a night party again and if I ever see you with your unfortunate boyfriends. Are you a prostitute, answer me, are you? So you will sneak out of my house quietly and go to a night party. That was how you told me the other day that witches attacked you at night and gave you spiritual palm wine to drink, whereas you attended a night party and drank to stupor. You are warned! I repeat, you are warned! If you ever try it again, even the grave will reject you,” her father cautioned with great asperity.

GLOSSARY OF IGBO TERMS

The meanings of Igbo words and expressions as used in this story are given below.

Nna m, gini mere?  -----------------------My father, what happened?

Biko ----------------------------------Please

Egwu mmanowu -----------------------------Igbo masquerade dance

Na odika isi kwue! ---------------------------------------Amen! (so be it; surely)

Noro nwanyo!  --------------------------Keep quiet!

Nwoke m! --------------------------------------Young man!

O buru na nwata enpu isi oga ataa ahuhu --------------- If a child does not humble himself, he will                                                                      suffer adversity

Nwaanyi a!  ------------------------------This woman!

Nwanne, idi sharp! -------------------------------------Smart guy! (a hail word)

Ibu ajo mmadu! --------------------------- You are a bad person!

Chineke m! ------------------------------- God (as used- my God!)

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