Skip to main content

(Excerpt from the novella Hard Times) Originally published by Human Change Communications Company by John Chizoba Vincent.

Immediately she walked into the house, he buried a slapped on her face and she lost her footing. Before he could blink, she jumped to her feet, grabbed his trousers and almost knocked him over. “Robert, what's the meaning of that?” she protested.
“Who's that man?” He yelled at her.
“Which man?” she shot back.
“Don’t take me for a fool, Rachael. I saw you hug a man down there. Who is he?”
She chuckled, let go of his trousers and shifted her weight to one leg. “You are not ashamed of yourself!” She hissed and then began to walk to the bed room. 
Robert pulled her back. “Don't walk out on me! I am the head of this house. You need to explain to me what happened down there! I saw you hugged a man!”
Sighed, “I have a sore throat. I cannot talk for long, Robert!” She flashed a menacing smile at him and continued, “But if you push me to the wall, I will answer you roughly. It will be wrong if your miserable kids see me as a bad wife. Excuse me! I must rest!"  
She tried to walk away. Robert pushed her and she landed awkwardly on the chair. "I need you to talk to me, woman! I am your husband!" he barked. "You are not going anywhere if you don't answer my question."
Wrapped in anger, she rose to her feet and adjusted her dress. Pointing at him, she said, "Listen, Robert, if there is anyone to be afraid of in this world, it is not you. You call yourself the head of this house? Look at your children. They are all dying of starvation. Tell me, when last did you put money on the table?  When last did you pay your utility bills? Are you not ashamed of yourself? I expect you to be worried about your life. The man you saw downstairs is the kind of people we call a real man. He is the one feeding us!” she pushed him aside and walked into the room.
“Rachael, are you cheating on me?" He turned violently and followed her into the room. Red with rage, he pounced on her and they fell on the floor. He landed several blows as she remained pinned to the ground. Satisfied with the damage he had done as Rachael bled from the nose, he pulled away. Robert grabbed his shirt on the bed, he slammed it on his broad shoulder and walked out of the house.
After she had cried her hearts out, Rachael paused. Sobbing gently, she rose to her feet. She took her handkerchief and wiped her bruised face. She changed her dressed and left the house. Perhaps to find solace on the warm hands of her new boy friend. 
Rachael stayed away from the house for nearly six days. For the days that she was away, we barely had a good meal. Then one evening, she returned home. She looked refreshed and charming. Her coming was the messiah who had come to save the world. I thought my father was going to start another quarrel. I was anxious to see how the event would play out. But he tamed his demons. I guess he must have missed her too or he had been overwhelmed by his shortcoming.
One day, from the balcony, I saw Osinachi beating his wife and the woman cried for help. People gathered to separate the man and his wife, my father was among them. The disturbance brought my mother to my side. When she noticed Robert in the crowd, she hissed and said, “Birds of a feather!” She turned and walked away.

 Meet John Chizoba Vincent.--He's a prolific poet, writer, and cinematography.

Labels:

Comments

  1. UnknownAugust 24, 2017 at 12:15 PM

    This is a nice work. So thrilling and full of suspence. Kudos Chizoba!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From the novel entitled, "Beyond Imagination" by Oladele Dada.

 Oladele Dada. It was dawn. The chilly dust-laden wind formed dense fog on the road. The rocky hills and the tall trees made Ajewole a beautiful town. The birds sang aloud, and clanging of stainless dishes in the neighbourhood suggested human activity was at its peak. Humans had begun to move to their various destinations. Adunni had trouble with child bearing and her husband was worried. Then she booked an appointment with her doctor. After several tests, the doctor suggested the couple be patient and that she will surely get pregnant. Not long after, Adunni was pregnant. After several months, Adunni was delivered of a boy. The women in her neighbourhood, alongside the children, sang and danced to her home to celebrate with her. Her husband, Fredrick Olagbade, thanked the Lord and named the boy Juwon.     As Juwon grew, his mother had another child whose name was Olakitan. Juwon was intelligent and his parents were struggling to make ends meet. As poverty st...
6 comments
Read more

BOOK EXCERPT: The Farmhouse by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

The Farmhouse  by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren Chapter One The Family `Once upon a time in the old town of Gid, an old farmer called Erasmus had a horse and a son. The boy’s name was Jason, and the horse was Francis. They lived in a farmhouse, and Francis took them everywhere they went. The farmer had no wife. She died after Jason was born. Erasmus vowed never to remarry and had remained a widower ever since. Taking care of Jason and Francis alone was never easy, but the farmer promised his late wife on her deathbed that he was going to raise Jason into a fine man. One sad morning, the cockerel said it was dawn. The disturbance woke Jason. The boy stormed out of sleep. He removed the blanket and rolled out of bed. He went to the window and peered out. The weather was clear, and the boughs of trees bowed and danced to the sweet movement of the morning breeze. Jason liked the morning, and then he carried himself to the sitting room, where his father was on his knees saying his morning prayers....
1 comment
Read more

NEW RELEASE: Those Ghostly Victorians by Annette Siketa

  Those Ghostly Victorians by Annette Siketa ABOUT THE BOOK At its zenith, the belief in ghosts in the Victorian era bordered on the hysterical. From stately homes to deserted wells, no dwelling was complete without a resident ghost. Halls and mansions and even the odd palace or two, spawned a multitude of family legends, many of which still persist. Many people claimed to have direct contact with a ghost through an object such as a ouija board or a pen, the latter collectively known as 'spiritual writing'. For example, a secretary allegedly continued to take dictation from his employer long after the latter was dead. Whether it was through books, plays, or supposedly true stories, the influence of the supernatural was profound. And it is not difficult to understand why, especially in the 'lower class', the majority of whom were uneducated. With nothing but drabness and poverty on the horizon, events such as a windy night or a violent storm were likely to set the ima...
Post a Comment
Read more

NEW RELEASE: “COMING HOME” BY OMORUYI UWUIGIAREN

  COMING HOME  BY OMORUYI UWUIGIAREN   About the Book Dalmos didn’t just save her life; he became her silent guardian, shielding her from the crushing weight of medical bills and the trauma of her past. When Lizzy reaches out to thank her mysterious saviour, she expects a formal meeting. Instead, she finds a man drowning in a different kind of silence—the lingering grief of losing his wife to a battle he couldn’t win. In the quiet intimacy of a “ party for two ,” two shattered souls begin to piece themselves back together. Lizzy is running from a toxic past and a brutal assault; Dalmos is hiding from a house filled with echoes. Together, they discover that while the world can be cruel, the right person can make it worth surviving.     Excerpt   Chapter 1 The task at my office wasn't just a project; it was a paper mountain that loomed over my desk, threatening to bury me alive. Every end of the season was like this—a brutal marathon t...
Post a Comment
Read more

BOOK EXCERPT: THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT DICTIONARY by Annette Siketa

  THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT DICTIONARY   Annette  Siketa   © Copyright Annette Siketa, 2025   EXTRACT     Author’s Note.   I have no doubt that some readers will find some of the listings in this dictionary, offensive, and while I regret any discomfort this might cause, neither I nor anyone else has the right to censor history.  Therefore, no listing comes with an apology. Readers should bear the following points in mind:      • Words such as ‘bastard’, ‘gay’, and ‘queer’, are used in their original context. • Unless specified otherwise, all places  are located in   England . • Some quoted text could not be verified due to the passage of time.  In these instances, the text is quoted exactly as it appears in the source material. • Where a word has evolved into different meanings, the oldest known meaning is usually given first. •  As a general rule , some old, misspelt, and hyphenated words have bee...
Post a Comment
Read more

The City Heroes and Other Stories from the Heart of Africa

Tonight during story time take a trip to the heart of Africa. Make new friends including a clutter of cats otherwise known as The City Heroes. Follow a pair of jungle ants as they rescue their friend from a raging storm. Tag along with a country boy as he hunts wild birds to prepare a feast for his father’s arrival. Understand the true meaning of mercy and charity when a stranger is caught stealing eggs from a farmer. Help a baby named Thomas find his way home after he strays from his father’s boat. Follow Blaize and his newfound canine friend Thatcher as they thwart a group of kidnappers in Blaize and the Master of Enchantment. Beautifully illustrated pictures help tell all six stories including The City Heroes, The Jungle Ants, The Country Boy, Stranger on the Farm, Baby Thomas and Blaize and the Master of Enchantment. Encounter adventures beyond your wildest dreams, learn about the beautiful country of Nigeria, and see how easy and how fun it is to learn about a new culture...
3 comments
Read more

BOOK EXCERPT: The Bald Monkey by Dickon Levinge

The Bald Monkey by Dickon Levinge ABOUT THE BOOK An anarchic black comedy of denial, anger, obsession, revenge and extremely poor judgement. Seven years after losing his wife Henry still grieves. Her body was never recovered and Henry, a photographer who lives in the idealised snapshots of his past, stubbornly maintains she's just missing. Now his estranged sister-in-law, Marion, re-enters his life to finally have her sister declared legally dead. Local gallery owner Sonia 'Groucho' K discovers who was responsible for the tragedy. Wounded by a recent betrayal she sees an opportunity for vengeance-by-proxy. She leads Henry and 'Dizzy' Des, a former convict with a kind heart but a hair-trigger temper, on an elaborate mission to disappear the culprit. The trio conspire in their regular watering hole, The Bald Monkey, and their plan becomes increasingly absurd. Meanwhile, Henry rekindles his once close friendship with Marion, the only remotely level-headed member ...
Post a Comment
Read more