Life Tales; Edd’s Story

I have had many angles to life (not as experienced as the older ones). This is a segment I have thought about as I was trying to move the writer’s block. The block is still there. As long as I have a passion for filling in blank pages it will still creep in. it is like the way life is, you clear one fault you find another and you have to deal with that one. The down side is there is no running away but on the other hand, it is a nice ride on a roller-coaster (I just know it from movies)where it terrifies you like hell at the same time you have fun and by any chance you don’t want to get out of it.

Enough of my life talks…

Welcome to my zone…

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“Son, I need you here. This work is too much and there is little help. I can’t afford to employ another person and at the same time afford life as it comes. The hassle is real and I am not in a position to hold all those pillars. “

He read that text and as expected he wasn’t sure what he meant. Immediately he had thoughts running in his mind. He is calling me over to his work for what purpose? To use me? Yes I guess he is. From my standing point he can’t afford to make me an employee that makes me a volunteer. Will make it in the city if I am a volunteer? What if I become like those magicians who went to Fillory? He was one smart guy. In his late teen he had managed to stay in their little town and do some hassle here and there. He is one natural business guy with utter passion in management and design. The design aspect in him is strong. At the age of ten he stitched his first denim bag with a manual machine (any tailor can tell you that it is the hardest to use and especially on a hard fabric like denim.)

Edd is his name. He is one of those boys who lived with his mum for obvious reasons. Dad is in the city trying to hassle for the family. It’s just another typical today story. Staying with his mum has made him one of these fine boys who appreciate ladies. He has lived with the downside of his mum as well as the peak of her life when everything is going on almost perfectly (I am aware life will never be perfect in the eyes of any human.) life with mums is quite a good ride. Even in the jungle mums are the best (not disregarding Dads).

“Edd? Where are you?” A high pitched voice calls from one end and without hesitation,

Edd responds in a deep hoarse voice, an indication that he is from a long silence.

“I am here mum!”

“Your dad has called me and he wants to know what you have decided.”

Edd moves out of his room and his face looks pale. The look of things doesn’t make him a happy little puppy. “Mum, do I have a choice for that matter?”

“Edd, it depends on what you really want but your dad needs you more than I do at the moment. Just go and help him out. When things get to normal you will have your say on what to do next.”

At the back of his mind he is pretty sure mum knows he doesn’t want to go. For reasons best known to her.

” mum I will call him tomorrow and let him know what I think. I the meantime I have to sit this one out for a while so please, don’t tell Sly I am around.”

Sly is one of these fine ladies. They have lived in the same hood for a long time and have given each other titles, the best friend forever thing. It was Sly’s idea. Girls are just girls.

“Edd, why do that? Sly is your friend and besides, I cannot keep her from you. You guys understand each other better. Not that I can be in the middle of your sit outs.” Mums tone was quite clear that she will not do as instructed and chances are, she will direct sly to him.

“ok mum. Are you getting late for work?’

“Yeah, am leaving in a moment. Meanwhile, I assume today you won’t do anything. So I have left some food at the kitchen counter. Make sure you eat. And please, dad is expecting your call.”

Mum goes ahead and without any response, Edd goes back to his room. What he clearly knows is he doesn’t want to move into to the city and the scare is that he is has a new start waiting on him. He had made a niche back home. All that is going away. Edd loves serenity. He knows the city won’t offer that. It is just another typical urban jungle. The existence of tall buildings with all kinds of fruits dropping scares him. He remembers his cousin Jude who is now a city dweller. He has never come back home since he cleared university. The last time they had a conversation was when he had had his firstborn baby. Edd doesn’t want this to happen to him. He thinks of his mum and he doesn’t like the idea of leaving her alone. Yes alone. Edd has two siblings who are now in high school. Both are boarders, you cant expect them to leave school and keep mum company.

As he is deep in thought he notices some movement is his room. It is sly. Just another reason why he is scared to move. These two have nothing going on but both have something in their head (or is it heart) that is not very clear.

“Edd, I have been standing here for the last twenty minutes. You look disturbed. What is going on? Are you ok.” She sits next to him and feels his fever with the back of her hand. Edd feels a tickle in him that sounds odd. He had never thought of anything beyond them being friends. The thought of him leaving her behind has a roused a new kind of feeling. That expression that means, staying away from you is scary. he knew he couldn’t hide the new developments from her so he fumbles with words;

“sly, dad wants me to join him in the city.” The face sly wore has never been seen before. It had a thousand expressions. Why? I will miss you. We had something going on…the list is endless.

“Edd, are you going?”

“I have not decided yet but from the look of things I only have one choice.” Edd has never been this vulnerable in the presence of sly. The range of emotions was very high. His heart was beating fast and he was shaking. It was clear to him that he was not prepared for such a change and besides being able to handle himself in the presence of sly, his intuition what damaged today. It is one crazy moment.

Sly rests on his chest and she is also on the downside of things. At this point, the teachings become very important.

The phone rings. And a soul is saved.

“Hello dad……

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PS. Names and characters do not represent actual people. The events are derived from past experiences and others are fictitious.

Well keep tabs…

Erick Ashihundu.

 

 

 

 

#Words

After a series of running away from blogging i find myself in the game.I figured out that either way i had to do something with the few skills my English teacher taught me and the passion i have for words, keyboard/pen and blank spaces.Filling in thoughts, ideas, opinions and anything that can be expressed in writing. so welcome to my zone……

Words………

According to oxford English dictionary a word is a meaningful element of speech writing used to form sentences with others. Words can stand alone or with help of others. Just like humanity. You can be humane alone or with other humans. The good thing about that is the more humane people together more the more the world makes sense to us.

Someone may wonder why I took the topic words as my first blog. My first venture into a field I only dreamt of. Honestly I may not have the best reason to suit everyone but only one explanation; A word is that thing that is part of us forever. It has existed in every generation. We use words to express our innermost fears, words to win over business propositions, among many great uses of words. So how about we appreciate words as they come?

Many times we hear of guys having fewer words to put out there or excess words put out there. How about those who have enough? For instance C S Lewis has all these words out there. Are they excess? Well, I see them as enough. His words are fit for kids and adults too. The thought in my head is that he really had enough words to feed the world with utter imagination and deep critical thinking (well if you read his works then you’ll agree) Have you ever survived on fewer words? I have many times and its cool to ether but rarely do you get your way. Having few words can be that fun right? How about having to answer a question with one word when someone needs a whole sentence? That can hurt many parties especially the potential control freaks. I                 have to agree with lots of thinkers that words are very important and the right amount will keep you safe. So let’s embrace the safe mode, enough words.

Are there right words? And if yes what are their measures? This guy says yes because he doesn’t want to hurt another person by the word NO. To him saying NO is a wrong word. But the reality on the ground he starts by saying no to saying yes? Well, we fear hurting other people with words. Yes, that’s the beauty of a good heart. The good heart itself should be that which will tell you no when it’s meant for that. This is where my argument comes in; having the right words is just like a knife. It will cut the meat into great pieces but also, cut you if you direct it into the wrong way. That is how words work. The right use will lead to good outcomes and the wrong use will hurt us. I agree with those who tell us when we go wrong and further give us possible solutions. They are always on the speed dial of a messy brain trying to save itself. The use of words in the right manner always suggests that someone is composed and hence, a mature human. That is just how things work. Or let’s say the rational way of doing and seeing things.

There are these words that will always have an emotional reaction. I love you, thank you; I am sorry…naming it. I remember that day I got this card saying I love you with the senders name on it (yes, my first love sent me a card). Those words were kept somewhere sacred; my wallet. Anytime I would access my wallet I would meet this card and as a puppy I would make those faces of joy; yes that face. That is the effect of these good words. Reality stood that maybe I wasn’t ready to see these words or maybe I was too ready for them. Sometimes that is how we should use words that will create an epitome of emotions. Perfect timing is very important to us. The right moment of saying sorry will save you from the wrath of the offended. The way we put out the words also matters. If we say sorry without empathy or that thank you without appreciation it’s just nothing in the ears of the other party. This is to say that anything that rolls with an emotion needs the right emotion to air it out. I agree its ok to be sorry and appreciative. That is the other basic necessity to words and their value to words human relationships (I hear they say it’s part of social rules). Let’s say it’s just the good values we get if we choose to be good.

Sometime back someone got carried away by emotional recklessness. The reason behind it was very absurd I call it. The guy was told some bitter truth. The delivery was harsh (of which I personally don’t like) but the message was quite clear. That is how words with truth words and of there is no truce then someone ends up being wreck-less hence airing themselves as that childish. No one is morally allowed to keep the truth from anyone. At least from the moral dictionary I learnt. The same case applies to the recipient of the message of truth. We got no time to consider reacting negatively because we were told something that didn’t please us instead I agree with those who accept reality or better still, sit down and either explains for clarity or apologizes.

Summing up, a word will be very important if it is well said and for the best intentions. If we use words to hurt the other parties it means we will be in constant conflict with life itself. The sweetness of a word will keep tracking the ear that wants to hear it. Words are the basis of many forms of expressive art; music, spoken word, poetry, debate among others. So let’s agree to use words to build humanity. The more positive words around, the more serene and peaceful zones we have and the more we own the sense of humanity.

I rest my case.

Erick Ashihundu.