Stories From Life

By ogova ondego

History is written not to justify anything but to inform, educate and caution. This anthology of prose, poetry and drama is based on that premise. Besides informing, educating and cautioning, it is meant to entertain and celebrate humanity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ComMattersKenya
• Release date: Jul 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201888299

Book preview

The Day I Almost Died

The letter arrived rather late in the evening. It had taken a long time. I was unprepared completely for the news it gave me. Although seeing is believing, I could hardly believe I had been promoted to Assistant Manager in the big and famous Media Group company. I laughed, jumped, rolled down, cried and acted out all the crazy things I could think of.

My brother came in as quickly as lightning, wondering whether there was a fire in any part of the house. He was followed closely by the dog who was curious about the noise I made. I guess he didn’t know that curiosity killed the cat. Moreover, he did not think of himself as a cat.

Things had never come to me as good as this before. Of course blessings come in pairs. My mother also did the same as I once she had been informed of the news. I was to assume my position the following morning. I didn’t think it was proper to be late on my first day in my new position so I went to bed early; after all early to bed and early to rise.

The early morning sun saw me off as the dew on the grass evaporated. I was dressed smartly in a navy blue suit and shiny black shoes. I carried my briefcase as if it contained the Kenya government’s annual budget speech and to sum it up had a shiny top hat over my black hair.

My brother looked at me enviously. I almost laughed at him looking at me like a cat in the rain. I got into my new car and drove off, leaving dust floating in the air.

Arriving at work, I met cold stares and nobody responded to my greetings. What a bunch of losers, I thought to myself. My allies, who I had worked with for some time, now looked at me like a tomato in a pumpkin farm.

I hurried away from their hard looks and into my new open office. If looks could kill, I would surely have dropped as dead as a stone on the floor. I had just settled into my new job and was playing a computer game when an announcement came over the intercom. A few minutes later, Media Group radio and television had both stopped broadcasting. All the other stations reported a strike at the Media Group.

Oh no! I groaned in exasperation. This had started happening on my first day of work. I felt it was my duty to address this issue, so I called a meeting. As I said my long, boring speech, some of the staff took forty winks while others looked at me as if I had come out of hell.

Let us not make mountains out of molehills because soon you will be given your wages. A promise is a debt, I completed my speech. I got up and left. Someone crumpled a paper and threw it at me but I gave it a cold shoulder.

I had completed the third level of my computer game when I heard noise that sounded like doomsday. I looked out of the large panels of my window. Down below, in the car park, my new silver BMW had been overturned and lay in a pool of oil. Stones made contact with windows breaking them into small pieces. I looked on, unbelievingly.

Soon, a stone flew and shattered my window panes, while employees were carrying off computers and anything else they could lay their hands on as compensation for their pay.

I ran towards the nearest lift but the power was off so I took the flight of stairs. I arrived at the gate breathless and speechless.

Stop! I shouted and got a stone on the forehead in response.

Soon fists and stones were flying. I was beaten to the extreme of almost bleeding to death.

Had it not been for an onlooker who called the police, I would have been reuniting with God in kingdom come. I woke up two days later after a leg surgery. My kith and kin looked at me sympathetically. They had bestowed showers of gifts on my rescuer. After all, one good turn deserves another.

After fully recovering, I resigned from my job since I wasn’t willing to live through another experience like that one that almost ended my life.

As long as the sun sets in the west and rises in the east, I will forever remember that day. The day I almost died.

Fadhili L Ogova wrote this story as part of his English composition class assignment at the age of 12.

***

The Shriek of Terror

We had just taken supper and were preparing to go to bed. Suddenly, shrill screams rent the air. It was as if hell had suddenly been let loose with Satan’s legions of demons turning against one another in a vicious frenzy of killing. People were running about wildly, some carrying babies and children while others just ran on, all fleeing to the nearest forest. Struggling for survival. Even though the thick forest surrounding the area teemed with all kind of ferocious wild animals, the fleeing people felt they would be safer with them than in their own village where man’s barbarity made leopards, cobras and puff-adders appear more docile.

After telling us to stay back, my father opened the door a little and peeped out. He then stepped out to find out what was going on. No sooner had he done this than gun-fire was heard. The next thing I heard was Dad’s prayer: Gracious Lord, I commit my family into your care. Fearfully, I ran to the door which was now ajar.

Even as the prayer escaped from his mouth as he hit the ground, the volley of bullets continued to pump into his body. Within no time he lay still. And silent. My father. My hero. Faithful friend and companion. Dead and forever gone.

Please God, let this be just another bad dream. Dad cannot be dead, I prayed silently. Then everything stood still. For how long I do not know, but it was wails from my younger sister which brought me back to reality. My mother dashed out and fell on the lifeless body of my father, wailing. Impulsively, I found myself running