Sunday 20 September 2015
Wednesday 9 September 2015
JUST A LITTLE PATIENCE
Once, I wondered what shortcut I could take to be rich because things are hard; I have no job, no money- nothing. At age thirty-one, I still live my mother and feed at her table. I am a graduate, brilliant, but poor and jobless. I established a very modest barber shop, but it brings nothing compared to what my friends earn. I wanted money; I needed to have it fast.
Since
I cannot steal, or engage in fraud, I decided to visit a voodooist for rituals
to wealth. I’ve heard it’s possible. I told my mom, but she advised me continue
in my prayer and hard work, and things will be okay, but I refused.
When
I got to voodooist, at the reception, I saw a young man in a straightjacket, a
lunatic. I asked the receptionist if they now offer psychiatric treatment, and
in her words, she said,
“This
young man was here days ago for money ritual because he is poor and his work is
not fulfilling. His wife left him, and he wanted to make life meaningful for
his only female child- a four years old cutie. The voodooist requested a little
virgin for a human sacrifice, and he arranged to pay some guys to help him
kidnap a child.
“Three
days later, he came back for his job, and the voodooist gave him a bathing soap
made from the child’s flesh and blood. The soap will bring him good fortunes as
he bathes with it daily. He also gave him a seed to plant; as the seed grows
into a tree, his wealth will also grow. Lastly, he gave him a sack containing
the head of the victim used for the rituals to bury in his backyard. When he
got home and opened the sack, the head turned out to be his daughter who was in
the boarding school! He became mad immediately”.
Well,
“that was his destiny”, I said, determined to try my luck. But the lady said,
“my friend, there is no free thing from the devil here. You will surely pay
back you in other ways. I have been here long enough, and there’s no point
having it all without peace". She further said, "exercise patience
and pray, because there is more to life, than increasing its speed”.
That
changed my mind completely; I stood up and left, and have never looked back.
Inspired by Mahatma
Gandhi words, "there is more to life, than increasing its speed"
Friday 4 September 2015
THE 2016 COMMONWEALTH SHORT STORY PRIZE IS OUT: ENTER NOW FOR FREE
ENTER THE COMPETITION HERE
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize brings stories from new and emerging voices, often from countries with little or no publishing infrastructure, to the attention of an international audience.
The Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000-5,000 words) in English. Short stories translated into English from other languages are also eligible. Each year, we select five winning writers from five different Commonwealth regions. Regional winners receive £2,500 (US$3,835) and the overall winner will receive £5,000 (US$7,670). If the winning short story is a translation into English, the translator will receive equal prize money.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER
Entry is free.
*this post is copied directly from the website www.commonwealthwriters.org
