Short Story Galore serialization begins

THE DREADING

If Sarah would only think back, she would realize she had been anticipating it for a long time in her subconscious.

The only reason it was bursting to the surface now was because the time had inevitably come.

Rose came down to breakfast. Studying her out the corner of her eye, Sarah noted that her first child was already developed – true and for real.

She didn’t know how she was going to handle it. How did other women do?

“Mum,” Rose poured cornflakes into a bowl, and when adding milk, “is something bothering you?”

“Not really, darling.” She made sure her voice was composed. That it didn’t betray how she felt. “Why’d you ask?”

Rose dipped her spoon in her cereal. “You didn’t answer me when I greeted you. And I did so twice.”

Sarah hastily came up with a reasonable excuse.

“You looked at me like you were seeing someone else,” Rose added.

Was she that obvious, Sarah wondered, laughing away the moment.

A little while later, as she was driving the children to school, they were caught by the red light. A man crossed the street in front of their car.

“Do you know that man, mum?” Rose asked. “He was staring at you but you didn’t notice.”

Sarah nodded negation. “I don’t know him,” she said, looking at the retreating rear of the man. Her mind was in turmoil. Was it really her he gazed at, or, she didn’t want to think it, Rose?

That night, she rationalized over what was troubling her.

Rose hadn’t yet mentioned anything about any particular boy but she felt she would soon. Though she didn’t have a grouse about her dating anyone, all she cared about was the type of person it would be.

Her problem unsolved, she slept.

The following morning met her still troubled. Then the only solution hit her. She should talk to Rose on the issue. Advice her and let her realize it was better to have a responsible boyfriend than a glamorous sort who would be unreliable.

Many times, she tried to bring up the subject.

But the cat always got her tongue.

Note: This is the first page of The Dreading, the first of the short stories in the Oseyiza Oogbodo book, Short Story Galore. More excerpts to follow on this blog. It, and other Oogbodo books are available on Amazon through the link: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/bookshelf