Short Story Galore serialization continues 6
She cogitated why. Her own mother
discussed it with her so why she was nervous to do so with her own daughter?
She knew why.
Just like her, Rose was an
introvert. She didn’t seem interested in boys. Didn’t really speak about them.
So Sarah didn’t want to broach the topic of being careful about boys so as not
to have a different meaning: that she was giving her the green light to start
having relationships.
She gained courage one day, took
in a deep breath. “Rose.”
“Yes, mum?”
Sarah couldn’t look her in the
eye. “Oh! Nothing!” It’s hopeless,
she thought.
Later, she picked up the phone
and punched buttons aimlessly. Her mom’s voice came on. “Hello.”
She didn’t say anything
immediately. Why did I call mum, she questioned herself. She knew her
objective, but couldn’t raise it. “How’re you doing, mum?” she preferred to
ask.
“I’m fine. And how’s Rose?”
Sarah’s mother chuckled. “The boys must be chasing all after her now.”
Scared of letting that topic metamorphose, Sarah quickly
said goodbye.
While cleaning house, a chore
that always made her feel relaxed, her mind wandered, searching for a remedy
for her uncalled-for dilemma. And as she dusted the bookshelf, it hit her. If
she was unable to talk to Rose, why not act, indirectly?
By pairing her with a nice boy?
Now in the middle of vacuuming,
she paused. There was just such a boy. Her friend’s son, always reading, got
good grades and wanted to be a computer engineer.
She went to their house.
Tade was watching TV. “Good
evening, ma,” he greeted her, taking his eyes from the screen for a beat before
returning them.
“How’re you, Tade?” She knew her
friend wasn’t around, but she asked, “Where’s your mum?”
His programme came to an end.
“Gone to her exercise class.”
Sarah clucked disappointment.
“Oh! That means I’ll see her some other time.” Then, as if as an afterthought:
“Why don’t you come over for dinner at our house one of these nights?”
Tade became flustered. “Why?” he
asked nervously, his hands twitching. “Why?” he repeated.
Note: This is the second page
of The Dreading, the first of the short
stories in the Oseyiza Oogbodo book, Short
Story Galore, which’s serialization began some weeks ago but had to begin
again due to some unforeseen hitches. More excerpts to follow on this blog. It
is available on Amazon and many other stores through the links below. Other
available Oogbodo books are The Good Life,
The Newell Murder.
www.amazon.com/dp/B07DJYFJ28
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DJYFJ28
www.amazon.de/dp/B07DJYFJ28
www.amazon.fr/dp/B07DJYFJ28
www.amazon.it/dp/B07DJYFJ28
www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07DJYFJ28
Comments
Post a Comment