Flash Fiction: A New Page by Yetunde Oyelude

You are only allowed to study eminent science courses as a child of Professor Adebanjo, and as fate would have it, I am an ‘Adebanjo’; and I dare not trash the tradition.

It is evening and my family members are in the living room spending quality time with one another, but I chose to confine myself to my room, so I could dwell on what I wanted to do with my life. And so I started thinking; Abigael, you are the most intelligent senior student in the science class of the prestigious Great Learners High School with several accolades backing this fact, and most importantly, you have made your doting father the proudest man on earth. And here you are, about to graduate high school with the saddest heart. Why is that?

“Daddy, I want to be a writer.” Those words didn’t seem like they came from my mouth. I blinked my eyes severally like someone who was just getting out of hypnosis. I didn’t understand how I got to the living room; all I knew was that I had just said the abominable.

Flash Fiction: A Killer Bite by Tomiwa Adeosun

A strong offensive odour hit Mr. Adeleke's nostrils as he opened the front door of his house.

"Ah-ah, what kind of smell is this?" He asked himself aloud. Then he slowly traced the smell to the bathroom and as he opened the door, the strongest of the odour that had been locked away enveloped him, forcing him to shut his nostrils. With shaky hands, he lifted the lid of the water closet and discovered that it was full of faeces.

“Where could Segun have gone, to have left the toilet in such disgusting state?” Mr. Adeleke wondered as he left the bathroom to get some drinking water.

On getting to the kitchen, he was shocked to meet the pile of plates that had been there when he was leaving for work in the morning. "What! Even the plates are unwashed. I will beat this boy to coma today,” Mr. Adeleke fumed as he proceeded to the backyard to cut off some branches of the guava tree, to be processed into buttocks-smacking tools.

Poetry: Abimbola by Emebiriodo Ugochukwu

 

Abimbola

 Can you keep a secret?

How long can you keep it?

Can you not tell her

That while she slept

I took out time to stare at God's perfect masterpiece?

Her!

Can you not tell her

That she is my Muse

And her absence here

Has rendered my quill useless?

Can you not tell her

That for pride's sake

I act as if I don't know her favourite colour,

Her favourite food,

Her favourite author,

And her favourite books?

Can you not tell her

That I sometimes see how she stares from across the room

When we are seated apart

How her stares burn when she sees me flirting with other

girls?

Can you not tell her

That I know

That she quietly hopes I break up with ‘bae’

With those "expert" relationship tips she gives?

Can you not tell her

That her voice is terrible

When she sings,

And that smile on my face

Was birthed from pain in my eardrums?

Flash Fiction: My Silver Lining by Aladesuyi Seun

Trouble loomed. I just used the last ₦100 in my purse to get to my uncle’s office. I wouldn’t have acted so irrationally if he had not assured me of being employed immediately.

I stared at the secretary, who was totally oblivious to my situation, and asked, “sir, are you sure he won’t come back to office today because he told me to come exactly this time, today.”

The secretary looked at me disdainfully, making me feel as if my brain was unclad.

 “Least you can do is answer,” I muttered.

Stranded and frustrated, I tugged at the hem of my chiffon blouse, trying to figure out how to get home with zero naira in my purse. I had hoped my uncle would give me money to take cab back home.

Well, if there was anything, like a silver lining, it was not my fate; apparently, my life was full of dark clouds. I slowly made for the exit planning to walk all the miles home.

 “Miss Fiona Alade...!”

 I turned to see the secretary hurriedly making his way towards me with a brown envelope visible in his hand. I gave him a questioning look.

Smiling Again by Olayinka Egbokhare

I have learnt to smile again,

Learnt to play and to love and to receive love.

Learnt that one can work at showing love to others,

Learnt that love has eyes and dance and laughter

Love has sober, trying moments.

Love can mean sharing or giving or taking.

Love can come at unexpected times and from unlikely quarters.

Love can take flights of risk and be daring.

Love can put illness and loss aside and shine through,

Love can argue and disagree but will refuse to fight or bear grudges.

Love may be hidden because it is too premature to declare.

Love can hurt others who love us because it does not command their approval.

Love can peep or come forth in boldness.

Love will not leave you poor but richer all ways round.

Love can teach you life lessons that will make you strong.

Love will always prevail over the storms of life.

Biography

Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare was born in Ibadan, Oyo State. Her love for writing was brought to the fore by Mrs Ubah, one of her English teachers at the Federal Government Girls College, New-Bussa, Niger State. Yinka, the author of the widely acclaimed novel - 'Dazzling Mirage', holds a Ph.D in Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan where she teaches writing skills, advertising message development amongst other courses.

She makes her home in Ibadan with her husband, Francis and their children.

Poetry: Be at Ease, Mother

Your tears, like rainfall, wet the grounds

of sorrow within the region of regrets,

growing weeds of sadness on farmlands

fertilized by agonies of motherhood.

Mother, cry out your heart no more;

my future, like a mop, shall wipe away

dustiness of the past. Be at ease, mother.

-          Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom

That spherical earth; a part of you –  

covert, protruding, elapsing stipulated time.

The purge came with a pain, which you bore.

Nocturnal you became; your siesta sparse.

These tears, you'll once more shed; the cause,

I'll once again be, but for joy.

-          Makinde Damilola

For years, I kept sleep away from the tent of your eyes –

your pupils dilated in vain as my desires rushed at you like a flood.

Heart as solid as the rock, refusing to crumble under the pressure

solely borne. Yet your smile, as bright as the sun, keeps my feet

fired for a long walk. My accomplishments will be inspired by the zeal

to repay you for all the sacrifices. This promise,

a sacred covenant, shall be kept to honor motherhood.

-          Aladesuyi Seun