1, 2, 3 Disappear: Part 5

123 Disappear Swirl Book Cover (Official) - 2

This was not the first time Dotun had seen a creature like this.  He was aware of two major reasons people kept such animals: as pets, and for food.  However, what astonished him was that this man in Sabo market was not using this animal for either of those purposes.  Instead, from what he could see, this man had turned the baboon into a money-making machine.  Whether the baboon objected to the debasing things it was asked to do, Dotun could not tell, because it was impressively obedient. read more…

Let Junior and Pretty Teach you how to Write a Powerful Love Letter

I love you card

Junior and Pretty’s video for their song, Bolanle is one of those videos that has the ’90s written all over it.  The outfits, the muddied beats in the background, the off-key background vocals.  All these things add to the comedy that is this video.

If you have never seen the video, do yourself a favor and watch it here.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20TNb7N-rNA]

As you watch the video, you might pick up new words (and back-breaking dance moves) that you can add to your vocabulary, e.g. Suprization – 4:47

Dat one na jara. read more…

1, 2, 3 Disappear: Part 4

123 Disappear Swirl Book Cover (Official) - 2

Dotun’s father, Mr. Ogunleye, was a farmer in Isare-Remo, that peaceful town in Ogun State.  He was also a palm-wine tapper, but neither of these two trades fetched enough money to take care of his family of four.  His only son, Dotun had been apprenticed to several tradesmen so many times, that Baba Dotun thought he was incapable of learning.

From the vulcanizer to the woodcarver to the carpenter, Dotun who had a strong build for his age never completed his apprenticeships.  All the men gave the same reason for letting him go:  he was too absent-minded.  And they were right.  Dotun was a dreamer.  read more…

1, 2, 3 Disappear: Part 3

123 Disappear Swirl Book Cover (Official) - 2

The arrangement was that Mama Joy would complete all her chores during the day and return to her home at the end of every day.  Since her home was a walkable distance from Mrs. Phillips’ house, she had no need for transport fare.  So, she came every day, cooked and cleaned for Mrs. Phillips, ran errands, and went back home at around 7 pm.  Everything ran smoothly for one whole month.

Mama Joy had not exaggerated her cooking skills.  She was an excellent cook, and during her stay, Mrs. Phillips sampled dishes from not just Nigeria, but also Ghana, as Mama Joy had spent two years living in that country.  Mama Joy was also very enterprising.  In fact, that turned out to be her downfall.  read more…

1, 2, 3 Disappear: Part 2

123 Disappear Swirl Book Cover (Official) - 2

“Which Dauda? Isn’t that the name of Otunba Adekunle’s gateman?” Mrs. Phillips asked in a voice that was devoid of empathy.

“N-n-n-o-o-o, ma,” Gloria stuttered.  “Dauda na de mechanic wey dey–”

`A quick slap across the face ended Gloria’s explanation.

“You got pregnant for a mechanic?” Mrs. Phillips asked, as if she felt that getting pregnant for a gateman would have been far more prestigious or easier to swallow than getting pregnant for a mechanic.  The timing of the revelation made it necessary for Mrs. Phillips to desist from immediate judgment.  But the following morning, she sent Gloria packing. read more…

Spicy is not the same thing as Pepperish

Colorful Spices at a market in Istanbul, Turkey

Colorful Spices in Istanbul, Turkey

Growing up in Nigeria, it was common to hear food that had pepper in it described as being “pepperish.” So, I am used to that word: pepperish.  But, I do believe the correct word is peppery.  Today, however, I don’t particularly care about the difference between pepperish or peppery (should I care?).  My gripe is with the use of the word “spicy.”

It was when I moved to the US that I heard the word “spicy” used more often than pepperish.  Over here, spicy usually means one of two things: read more…

1, 2, 3 Disappear: Part 1

 

123 Disappear Swirl Book Cover (Official) - 2

Twice it had happened that morning, and Mrs. Phillips was losing her patience.  She had called this boy almost five times, before he finally answered.  Dotun had only worked for a week, and she was already counting down to the day when she would kick him out of her house.  Yes, she had a date picked.

One has to be ready for such things, if every single house help you’ve hired in the last six months has left under less-than-pleasant circumstances.  That was Mrs. Phillips’ experience and she was ready for Dotun.  He was already displaying what she termed the “warning signs,” and strongly believed that to be forewarned was to be forearmedread more…

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Nigerian Fiction Writer Hello, there! My name is Sharon and I am a Nigerian Fiction Writer, Taker of Pictures and Lover of Humor. Feel free to look around or say hello. I don't bite. Usually. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.

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