Obinna Strange

Let’s pretend sex between two eastern couples happened and it begot you, thereby making you the second son and the last of three children. The family is strictly catholic, and by virtue of the catholic faith your mum dedicates her protruding belly (which is you anyway) to the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary for protection and safe delivery through the supervision of a priest. In the mix, the priest proclaims the unborn foetus a future servant of the most high in the making, telling your mum not to stop you from becoming one. What a life. As you grow older, the story is repeated over and annoyingly over again to your hearing, making you have second thoughts about life and what to expect from it. There and then you begin to ask yourself questions ranging from why you were you were christened Emmanuel on your name day, to why you weren’t christened Evan or Wayne or Brad or Jason or Jordan or some exotic foreign name, to what life has to offer you as an average Nigerian from a middle cl...

INFIDELITY (By Katherine) One of the major causes of break ups these days is infidelity... It's responsible for the dissolution of many relationships as we know it, whether directly or indirectly. But the question that comes to mind always is why do people cheat? Well, it ranges from insecurity, to lack of contentment, down to peer pressure, greed and of course, our village people, but I'm not here to talk about the reasons why we cheat, I'd focus rather on the act itself.. Infidelity! A true relationship is one borne out of love, trust and respect, mutually. It's a two way affair, one can't be loving on behalf of the other, the two parties involved must reciprocate the love maximally. Infidelity is an infraction on love. It's a manifestation of the love of one's self above the other. When you get involved in a relationship, the idea is to forget yourself and think about the welfare of your spouse, and he or she in return the favour. Utmost mutualism,...

SO IT GOES        'Skrrrra!!' Gust the sound of the guns the rebels used to invade our village. A thousand foot steps followed suit like thunder after lightning and a million thoughts rained on my clouded mind. Should I flee for safety like the moon when the cock crows or stand to defend my loved ones like the midday sun. But in that moment, the decision was made for me... 'KPA KPA KPA' and my numb body felt jolted as 'Chiama' my little sister tapped my legs to wake me up from the mat in our room. It was a dream, but I made a decision that day. Author: Tobenna Ogbalike

CAMPUS DILEMMA 3 “Nothing much, just didn’t want to stay there anymore” I replied looking away. She laughed before asking “Or you think I have got something up my sleeves” “Do you?” I asked looking her in the eye balls. She stared at me without saying anything before the waiter arrived with our order. She made to pay the bill but I refused. “This meeting was my idea so I got the bill.” She said trying to persuade me to allow her pay the bill. “This meeting might be your idea, but the time and venue was mine so allow me to do what I have got to do.” I said and paid the waiter and she left. I served her drink and did same to myself. I took a bite from the meat pie before asking her. “So do you recognize this table?” “Yea I do, that was where you sat and here was the girl you came with” she replied giving me the ‘you think I don’t know why you brought me here’ smile. I still had that doubt that she is a bait. But on the other hand I asked myself. “Why will Cindy try to s...

CAMPUS DILEMMA 2 The banging at my door woke me from my sleep. I realized the mess I have made on my bed. Jeez!!, so it was all a dream with Cindy tormenting me this bad. I rolled of the bed spread , got into my boxer and went to answer the door . 7 . 00 am , summary , I slept after talking with Precious and had a dream with Cindy . No wonder they said most of our dreams are made up by our day actions and thoughts . That Sunday just like other Sundays , I didn ’ t feel like going to church . I can ’ t remember the last time I went to church . I think the last time was in the first semester of my first year . Truth is that I am a staunch catholic . In fact, it flows in my blood . My parents are knights in the Catholic Church . I started serving at the alter when I was 10years old. I lost the appetite for church activities after my first year and since then I have been worshipping God in my own way . I did my morning drills of 150 pushups ( 30 ×5 ) and 150 sit ups ( 50 ×3 ) , had my ...

CAMPUS DILEMMA 1 It was really a day well spent as I walked out of Chitis with Cindy . It wasn ’ t just like a normal first date . There was no awkward silence, and a question and answer kind of session . The connection was there. We flowed like we have known each other for ages. Within me , I knew that whenever I decide to pop the question , the answer is going to come out in positive . We talked school politics , state politics , religion, culture and every other thing that was left to be talked about . Her view were so articulate . She seemed to know a lot about everything . I was impressed by her views and I also made sure to leave an impression with her. I hailed a cab as we got outside the café . About to hop into the waiting car , an “excuse me sir ” caught me in my track . I turned to see a waiter walking towards me . I did a quick mental check. I know I paid my bills because I still have the receipt. We didn ’ t leave our phones behind or anything. “Yes , can I help you...

                            Calistus The court was filled to the brim. Men, women and children all looked sternly at the plaintiff as Winifred handed the arraignment to the jury. There was silence as the judge called the court to order and moved a motion for my trial. I looked at my old friend, Winifred as tears streamed from my eyes. She wasn't the judge, but I needed her help this time as one. Unfortunately, it was late. Calistus has filed a case against me of killing his one year old son. I was to be jailed for life if found guilty. Quickly, the events that brought me to this honourable court, now my greatest place of ruin appeared in my head. My seventh abortion was successful. "You'll need to start using contraceptives if I should advise", the doctor had said. I met Calistus on my friend's birthday party. I was in my third year in Pharmacy, he was in his penultimate. I lived a lone life since I lost my b...

BECAUSE THEY WALK BY SIGHT... In this life eh Many people will loose a lot because they walk by sight. I'll tell you what I mean... I've met girls that straight up don't like me cuz I have black lips. To them, I'm a chronic smoker that's why I have black lips (Funny something, I don't even smoke). So what if I smoke? Does that make me a bad person? That you don't smoke and someone else does, does that make you better? Does smoking determine respect and value or amount of care and loveliness that comes out of someone? I've met smokers who will die for me and non smokers who don't give a rat ass. So you get mad that I smoke (even if I do), but can't come to my rescue when I need you. Please I prefer a smoker that will come deliver me when I need help. I've met guys who feel I'm a tout and worthless because I carry a full hair. I come across them often and because I have hair which sometimes look dreadlocked, they think ...

You’ll Give a Nigerian tailor a material in 1967 and say to him/her ‘abeg oh I go use am for 2015, shey e go don ready by then’ To which they’ll reply ‘ah ah oga! Why you dey talk like this. 2015 still far na. me? Tailor swift? Oga come by 12 midnight for 1914 e go don ready. I go do correct throw back Thursday for you. No worry.’ And you know how the story goes. It is 2017 and you’re yet to get that cloth, generations after generations. Some Nigerian tailors are wonderful people I swear. It usually starts with a friend recommending one very sweet, nice and sharp tailor for you. ‘see stevo! If that guy sew cloth for you ehn you go dey over sharp. No near people o because you go dey cut dem like razor blade. Abeg oh! I don tell you oh, I no sabi write statement for station oh’ and with that you’re sold. You realize your calling in life is to slay; to cut people so deeply with your wears that they’ll be bleeding with admiration. You seek out this tailor. At first, you’ll give hi...

Apostate The last time i checked, people who believe that a virgin gave birth to a god were just mocking those who believe that they will be given 70 virgins if they died for a holy cause.  I don't believe either nor hold any claim of 'supernatural truths'. Yet, my humble position have attracted ridicule, in the guise of bogus questions, from 'skeptics' who never believe that someone can live without recourse or reverence to at least one supernatural entity. Most often, such questions directed to me have unverifiable answers like; Who 'created' everything, Where would you spend your 'eternity', What 'controls' everything? As if my agnostic position implies omniscience. Scot Adams in his book 'the god debris' said you can only know if people really believe, by looking at their lifestyle and not by what they profess. To that end, i 'respect' religious suicide bombers who will give up life's greatest gift (life itself...

MARRIED MEN AND THE COOKIE JAR "All men have the tendency to cheat". This theory has been proven countless times. Most times I wonder why even after trying several jars and finally deciding to settle down to one jar and take vows (which are just mere say to many) to remain loyal and faithful, they still end up trying other jars. The rhetoric "Don't these men ever get satisfied?" Comes to mind I was oportuned to speak to a "runs girl", who is very much proud of her trade. She said she prefers the married guys to the single guys (trust me I was shocked and almost soiled myself). She told me the married guys have one similar manner if approached. Her words; "they tell you their friendship(oh! Yes they call having a sex partner- friendship) with you doesn't entail sex only". They try to prove how self willed and in control they are by going the extra mile to say it doesn't change a thing if the girl is stripped naked. Whether or not...

Error File I do not understand, never did and never knew Why things you never wanted always found their way into your life with amazing directions and arrived not a second more and not a second less Was it part of the the creator's plan or was it some sort of cosmic creature  who took delight in sending the things that you never planned for at moments you didn't want them. At birth, I had a programme file I was meant to follow. I think Religion was that file, only two things mattered, My Creator and My happiness if it did not interfere with that of others. Growing up, I had to combine my programme file with a system file. This file had the sum total of every single thing I ever loved and every single thing I ever hoped or aspired to be. It contained every single detail of my life .   Presently, I have an error file. I don't think it was meant to be created. I lived by the books, no deviations, too many restrictions, the perfect child and no matter the angle peop...

SUITE 303 JERRY MARRIOTT HOTELS His penis didn't agree that he would celebrate with his friends and was just 'looking ground' anyhow. Shantel naturally noticed he was anxious and ran her palm across his chest whispering 'it's not your fault' and soothingly told him 'calm down'. But the fact was He was on a runs girl in a bed in a JM suite, his G was giving another girl serious 'Lamba' (and would have casted him to the others in the sitting room of the suite) beside him on the same bed and his village people where actively working on his ability to get an erection. 1. How the hell was he supposed to calm down? 2. How the hell wasn't it his fault especially considering his low levels of physical fitness where because he was always either on a car or on a bike and the last time he had gone to the stadium was in his 3rd year? Her cool, homely voice called him back to the present and as she teased his nipple, Tope instinctively lowere...

I guess she lied to me about her school, so I lied to her about my age. Now, I don't care what they call biscuit in Ghana or if she's ever been there. Each morning, I dial her number and hope it rings. But I always get the same reply 'The subscriber you're calling, is currently not available' Why didn't I get her Facebook username? Why didn't I ask of her mail address? And how long will it take me to scroll through the list of Lindas on Facebook to get her. What if she uses a sobriquet for her user name? Watching her walk towards me that morning, I already knew something was going to happen. 'Do you guys sell cookies here?' She asked. I stared at her, not certain how to reply. Our eyes met, hers was blue, the colour of her blowse. She didn't take off her eyes and I wondered if my eyes were no longer scary like my friend's girlfriend insists. 'I want some cookies' It was then I saw the line that demarcated her boob. '...

    Have got something in my chest that I've always wanted to let off. Look, don't you find it funny that those things we promised ourselves when we were little not to ever do, we find ourselves indulging now. Am sure you remember when your mom was complaining about your neighbor's daughter sleeping around with men, doing runs girl. You told yourself that you will never disappoint your momma, that being a runs girl is disgusting. Well,  I hope you still have such mindset. Do you remember your street thugs? How they gather in one side smoking and getting high. These niggas are broke and look hungry. They come to you and then ask for #10. You give them hoping they will use it to buy food, rather they go ahead and still buy one more cigarette. And then you ask yourself what they ever gain from smoking crap. You promise yourself you will never touch it. I dunno about you but I do remember. Now, you've grown up, You're in the Uni. Life is different and more dif...

FATE I didn't really believe that all things are planned. That we're all just part of a grand scheme. I believed we shape our own destiny. But  after i met her i never thought the same way again. It was early december and i contracted an eye infection called conjunctivitis, known mainly as pink eye or here in Nigeria, as apolo. I was in an A level school in Enugu. Ifeanyi was one kid in my hostel who dreaded the very contagious infection like no one other. And knowing that, being the trouble maker that i am, i tormented him with it. Always running towards him and have him run away from me, it was fun. On that fateful Saturday, i remember hearing that he was in one class with a girl he liked, so naturally i went up there to torment him. On opening the door i saw what to me,  was the most beautiful girl i had ever seen in my life. Ok, my heart was racing, i had forgotten totally what i came there for. Luckily ifeanyi broke the ice, "ooOOohhh stephen, why won't y...

It finally stopped raining, the weather was chilled. It was the perfect evening for one of those impromptu strolls I took with the only friends I had at the time. We had done our usual ritual before going out in the evening; we had to keep warm and it heightened our senses. We admired and appreciated nature better. After the almost unending walk, we decided to buy food at S.U.B. There’s no way guys will go to S.U.B and won’t admire the wonders of nature. Yeah, I’m talking about girls. We got to the popcorn stand first to cure our crippling munchies and to use that opportunity to observe anything in skirt that walked past. We stared at all kinds of girls with our eyes and mouths wide open; fat, thin, thick, plump, all pretty. I don't think any girl was ugly then. They all looked "hermosa". She just walked out of S.U.B, phone in hand texting away. I couldn’t take my eyes of her. She had the perfect body, skin the color of caramel, she had a graceful gait; there’s not...