“You can play it on the piano then.”  He did not say this like he was urging me.  It was more like a command that he expected me to obey.

Motioning for me to follow him, he led the way to the half-opened door that led to the music room.  As he pushed the door open, I almost ran back to the sitting room in horror.  Sitting on a black wooden piano bench, sat two men, fully dressed.  One of them wore native attire, complete with the agbada, while the other man wore a black suit.  Both of them had their backs turned to the door and sat facing the piano.  They sat motionless as if waiting for me to join them.  This whole time I had thought that Uncle Alexander and I were alone. I was wrong. read more…

Mama had not yet returned from work, and I had already been to Mama Peju’s shop.  She did not have the house keys.  That meant that I would have to wait outside the door until Mama came back.  Today, that option was not-so-palatable.  Waiting at Mama Peju’s shop was out of the question.  I have already mentioned my displeasure at her ‘business practices.’  Besides, she was constantly asking me if I had heard any news from Papa.  In case you were wondering, selling bread was just a front for her real talent: gossiping.

Her shop was the original gossip headquarters in our neighborhood, and I did not want her asking me questions about Papa.  Not that I could not say ‘No’ to her, but she possessed some sort of power over people, an unnatural ability to extract information from people under the guise of being genuinely interested in their lives.  Remember I told you I can read people.   Maybe that’s why Mama trusted her enough to leave the house keys with her every weekday.  Or perhaps Mama reasoned that if there was ever a break-in, she would know who to accuse.  So, Mama Peju’s shop was out of the question.  That left the rest of the neighborhood. read more…

The Piano Book is my first published short story. I first published this story in 2012 on Smashwords. I received encouraging feedback and recently realized that I had never shared it here, on my blog. I believe you guys should be the first to know about my work, and I try to do that here. I feel it is time to share the story in parts here, as I know some readers will not read it on Smashwords or on e-readers. So, for the sake of those readers, and for those who have never read this story, I will be sharing it in parts over the next few weeks.  Here’s the summary:

A curious 10-year old school boy visits the house of a reclusive neighbor to play his piano. What he discovers is the ultimate reason why this neighbor does not like visitors.

And now, here is Part 1.  Be sure to leave a comment, feedback or suggestion.  Thanks in advance! read more…