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EIGHT--THE FOOD DISASTER
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Nightmares NINE--THIS TOO SHALL PASS
"Dear dad, thank you for everything. For loving mom so much and not leaving her even during her crisis of miscarriages. You're indeed the best dad in the world. I hope you don't miss me too much. I promise to be around here watching over you and granny even though you won't see me. Tell granny that I love her and that I'll visit her too. Tell her that I'll be joining Uncle Cornell in heaven. And mom. I've even started imagining myself sitting and talking with him but I guess the dead don't talk to one another, do they? Tell Ivy and Alicia (if they ever ask after me) that I will miss them and that I still love them. I'm so happy because I can see peace before me. Soon. No more scary nights, no more weary days, no more asthma, no more bullies, no more tears for I am going to rest like Uncle Cornell and maybe I'll meet mom too?"Baron found that note in his daughter's drawer two weeks after her suspension ended. She had been cheerful and he had been wondering what got into her even thoug
Nightmares TEN-- "HELL HER"
The next day was nice. Baron took his daughter to school in his car after packing her breakfast. The future looked bright for both of them and his daughter's cheerfulness encouraged him. There were still moments of tears and longing for Dawn but everything was better. They prayed together and spent a lot of time together. At school that day,during recess, Juana decided to go out for the first time in weeks. She went to the school eatery to buy some food and a bottle of Coke for lunch. Aunt Ann was absent that day and she wondered why. The eatery was full when she got there. Everyone minded their business instead of mocking her like they did before. Juana didn't know what was worse-those students treating her like she was invisible and minding their businesses or them seeing her and mocking her everyday. She stood at the back of the eatery and waited for someone to leave his seat so she could take it. She waited five minutes before two tables got vacant. She went in quietly and bough
Nightmares ELEVEN-- BACK TO SCHOOL
She was awoken by a bright light blinding her face. She shielded her face from the light with her palm and yawned. The atmosphere was calmer but it was even darker. She stood up stretching her limbs and massaging her ankles. Every room had their lights on now. Her head was throbbing but she was more aware of her environment now. It was 7.15pm. "Come in here and have supper with me, sassy doll" She heard him say."You have to eat you know, to be strong" he said coming out of the room towards her with a plate of fat chicken in his hands and a glass of milk. The chicken had a putrid smell and Juana was sure the milk was stale too. He squatted before her, dropping the meal and she realized that he had been drinking. He had a bottle of half-empty alcohol in his back pocket"Eat" he commanded"I want to go home" she mumbled tearfully"This is home, baby. All you ever need is here" "What do you want from me?" She asked with a straight face. She didn't want to let him see her fear."I just
Nightmares TWELVE--NARROW ESCAPE
Baron stared at the road. It was still dark but he could see a figure running towards him. His mind flashed back to the previous night, it had been hell for him. He had left home in frantic search of his daughter and had returned home without her. The bus driver had reported her missing and he was shocked to receive that news."What do you mean you can't find her? Like she's a matchstick or a pin?""I don't know..I thought she was in the bus with others" the school bus driver complained shivering.Baron had started his car immediately and dashed off to her school but she wasn't there. The driver who had followed him unlocked the school gate and shouted her name in all the classrooms but it was all futile."Look! Here's her bag" he beckoned to Baron who immediately turned towards his direction. There in the sand, few metres away from the gate lay a schoolbag recognized as Juana's. Her phone lied in the sand beside it. Baron screamed her name and searched the woods close to the school.
Nightmares THIRTEEN --GHOST GIRL AND GHOST SEER
Juana climbed into bed feeling very sad. Tears welled up in her eyes. Could any good news come about her mom? She was as good as dead. But if she wanted to hear her voice, she always did hear it. She only had to close her eyes and imagine her still alive and around, calling her to come help in the kitchen. As soon as she opened her eyes, her voice was gone.She felt terrible for getting her father emotional. He was trying to be happy and she had just come to spoil his mood. It was almost dinnertime when her granny returned with groceries and rice and chicken and a lot of sweet potatoes. She began to prepare dinner and it only made Juana's mood worse because it felt like she was trying to replace mom. She tried not to show it too much that she was mad at both of them for not talking about mom anymore. She heard and perceived the sound and smell of her cooking from her room, and refused to come out even when her granny came knocking to say 'Dinner is ready, darling' She felt like shout
Nightmares ONE-- TERROR IN THE NIGHT
"Juana! Juana!" She heard someone call her name and she opened her eyes, expecting to find herself in the empty, deserted, scary room but she had been dreaming, a very scary dream."Juana are you okay?" She wiped her eyes with her left thumb. The table clock read 6:30am."Sorry I woke you up from your sound sleep this early, darling". It was Baron, and he was sitting on her bed, holding her right hand. No, Baron wasn't her boyfriend, he was her biological father-Baron Leon- he had been sitting on the bed for ten minutes, watching her eyelids shut tightly in deep sleep and waiting for an opportunity to talk to her, and so when she had turned roughly around on her bed, he'd tapped her and called out her name." Are you okay?" Baron asked again and Juana nodded, sitting up simultaneously."I'm okay dad""I saw your lights on, and found your door open, so I came in to check if you were up writing or just lying awake in bed. But when I found you deeply asleep, I guessed th
Nightmares TWO-- THE 'EVIL' GENIUS
Juana? Let's talk about her. She's twelve, tall, pretty, intelligent and smart, asthmatic, lonely and a genius. Juana was one of a kind, a smart, emotional person and an only child. She had eyebrows and eyelashes that had been shaped from infancy and a very clear skin; she was adorable.Juana Leon is her full name. She had been asthmatic since childhood and as a result, inhalers have had to be a constant presence in her life. Doctors actually told her parents to let her know about her condition while she was still a kid because according to them, coping with asthma would be easier for her as she grew up. "She'll be able to cope quite well on her own, especially when you're not available" they told her parents and they were right; Juana has learnt to cope with it quite well on her own. Being an only child, she grew up to develop interests in pets especially dogs and rabbits but that didn't stop her from feeling like having siblings to call her own, especially a younger siste
Nightmares THREE-- THE ENEMY OF YOUR ENEMY IS YOUR FRIEND
I was lonelyUntil you cameA friend you were trulyWe played handball and some other gamesMy joy knew no boundsSeeing you jumping at me, making barking soundsIn the mall,On the lawnAt bedtime when everything is quiet and stillAnd in the street, on the floor, on the road, on the hillI fed you with foodYou fed me with companyOur friendship was very smoothAnd I could not see between us any sufferingYou were my personal belongingYou made my nights and morningsOne morning came and you leftYou said goodbye but it hurtI knew it won't be fine anymore and I did fretBut it seemed that was my lotYou are my friendBut you brought me painIt was not something you did intentionally sendAnd up till now, I still caress the spot on my bed you did layI love you CampbellI miss you, my best friendAnd although you did bring me pain,You never
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Nightmares THIRTEEN --GHOST GIRL AND GHOST SEER
Juana climbed into bed feeling very sad. Tears welled up in her eyes. Could any good news come about her mom? She was as good as dead. But if she wanted to hear her voice, she always did hear it. She only had to close her eyes and imagine her still alive and around, calling her to come help in the kitchen. As soon as she opened her eyes, her voice was gone.She felt terrible for getting her father emotional. He was trying to be happy and she had just come to spoil his mood. It was almost dinnertime when her granny returned with groceries and rice and chicken and a lot of sweet potatoes. She began to prepare dinner and it only made Juana's mood worse because it felt like she was trying to replace mom. She tried not to show it too much that she was mad at both of them for not talking about mom anymore. She heard and perceived the sound and smell of her cooking from her room, and refused to come out even when her granny came knocking to say 'Dinner is ready, darling' She felt like shout
Nightmares TWELVE--NARROW ESCAPE
Baron stared at the road. It was still dark but he could see a figure running towards him. His mind flashed back to the previous night, it had been hell for him. He had left home in frantic search of his daughter and had returned home without her. The bus driver had reported her missing and he was shocked to receive that news."What do you mean you can't find her? Like she's a matchstick or a pin?""I don't know..I thought she was in the bus with others" the school bus driver complained shivering.Baron had started his car immediately and dashed off to her school but she wasn't there. The driver who had followed him unlocked the school gate and shouted her name in all the classrooms but it was all futile."Look! Here's her bag" he beckoned to Baron who immediately turned towards his direction. There in the sand, few metres away from the gate lay a schoolbag recognized as Juana's. Her phone lied in the sand beside it. Baron screamed her name and searched the woods close to the school.
Nightmares ELEVEN-- BACK TO SCHOOL
She was awoken by a bright light blinding her face. She shielded her face from the light with her palm and yawned. The atmosphere was calmer but it was even darker. She stood up stretching her limbs and massaging her ankles. Every room had their lights on now. Her head was throbbing but she was more aware of her environment now. It was 7.15pm. "Come in here and have supper with me, sassy doll" She heard him say."You have to eat you know, to be strong" he said coming out of the room towards her with a plate of fat chicken in his hands and a glass of milk. The chicken had a putrid smell and Juana was sure the milk was stale too. He squatted before her, dropping the meal and she realized that he had been drinking. He had a bottle of half-empty alcohol in his back pocket"Eat" he commanded"I want to go home" she mumbled tearfully"This is home, baby. All you ever need is here" "What do you want from me?" She asked with a straight face. She didn't want to let him see her fear."I just
Nightmares TEN-- "HELL HER"
The next day was nice. Baron took his daughter to school in his car after packing her breakfast. The future looked bright for both of them and his daughter's cheerfulness encouraged him. There were still moments of tears and longing for Dawn but everything was better. They prayed together and spent a lot of time together. At school that day,during recess, Juana decided to go out for the first time in weeks. She went to the school eatery to buy some food and a bottle of Coke for lunch. Aunt Ann was absent that day and she wondered why. The eatery was full when she got there. Everyone minded their business instead of mocking her like they did before. Juana didn't know what was worse-those students treating her like she was invisible and minding their businesses or them seeing her and mocking her everyday. She stood at the back of the eatery and waited for someone to leave his seat so she could take it. She waited five minutes before two tables got vacant. She went in quietly and bough
Nightmares NINE--THIS TOO SHALL PASS
"Dear dad, thank you for everything. For loving mom so much and not leaving her even during her crisis of miscarriages. You're indeed the best dad in the world. I hope you don't miss me too much. I promise to be around here watching over you and granny even though you won't see me. Tell granny that I love her and that I'll visit her too. Tell her that I'll be joining Uncle Cornell in heaven. And mom. I've even started imagining myself sitting and talking with him but I guess the dead don't talk to one another, do they? Tell Ivy and Alicia (if they ever ask after me) that I will miss them and that I still love them. I'm so happy because I can see peace before me. Soon. No more scary nights, no more weary days, no more asthma, no more bullies, no more tears for I am going to rest like Uncle Cornell and maybe I'll meet mom too?"Baron found that note in his daughter's drawer two weeks after her suspension ended. She had been cheerful and he had been wondering what got into her even thoug
Nightmares EIGHT--THE FOOD DISASTER
It was getting dark when Baron returned home from his ranch. He looked so tired but he managed to prepare dinner for his daughter. He didn't eat himself but he watched Juana eat. Juana was in her parents' room when he arrived. She was hugging her mom's things, her cream, her jewelries, her pillow, her dresses, and she had fallen asleep in that position. It was Baron who woke her up and took her to the dining room while he began preparing dinner."Did you have anything to eat?""Yes I fried chicken" but she was lying. She had only eaten some cookies she found in the kitchen and she was famished now. At the table, she smelt the soup and tasted it. It was delicious. Baron had taken pain to make his mind alive while preparing it. He was deeply repentant for ruining his daughter's breakfast on her birthday and for not coming to make lunch as he promised"I called you but you didn't take it" he said"I was not aware" Juana said.The house was boring and dull without Dawn. No one had even c
Nightmares SEVEN-- WHEN LIFE STARTS TO GET SCARY
Thirty five minutes later, Baron was back to fetch his daughter and as they both walked to his car, the woman who was the cosmetologist that attended to Juana shouted "Happy birthday gorgeous, hope you have a nice day!" Juana waved without saying a word. Her stomach growled but she didn't tell her dad. She even refused to sit in the passenger seat beside him. "Had a nice time?" Baron said. There was sweat on his brow but he didn't care to wipe it."I need a big breakfast!" She retorted. "Right" then he turned towards the road that led to Jasmine Foods, her friends' mother's big restaurant. She checked her laptop again for mom's email but she hadn't replied. She hadn't even read the one she sent. She slapped the lid back on the keyboard violently."Daddy, I'm gonna ask two questions now and if you don't answer me this time, I'll get down this car while you're still driving, okay?""Okay" he said staring at the steering wheel before him."Good. First, why did you bring me here?" To
Nightmares SIX-- NORMAL IS HARD
Her package arrived from granny's delivery guy an hour later but she didn't look through it. It was a little pink box beautifully wrapped in pink. "I'll open it later" she said after waving the guy goodbye. She danced and danced while waiting for her mom to return. Her granny called back an hour later to ask about the state of things and Juana told her everything and thanked her for the present. Her dad has still not talked to her, and her mom was not responding to her email. After dancing, she went through her phone expecting happy birthday wishes from her former friends, Ivy and Alicia but there wasn't any message from them. She began to wonder "how did we get here? We used to be really close. We were like sisters. What happened to us?" She looked outside her window again. The sun was shining mildly and its rays decorated the curtains and danced around on her bed when she opened the windows. Now Juana was tempted to go to her friends' house. The house stood on the other side of th
Nightmares FIVE-- GROUCHY DAD
Still in her pink pajamas, Juana hopped down her tall bed and made for the door. She wanted to see why her dad hadn't come knocking on her door that morning to say happy birthday. "Or could I have missed his knock?" Juana asked herself. "No I was awake most of the night" she said to herself again. Everywhere except the floor and the wall in her room was pink.Her pajamas, teddy bears, bedspread, blankets&duvet, bathrobe, pillow, hangers, wardrobe, laptop, phone, toothbrush, hair gel, and about eighty five percent of her clothes. Even the paintings on the wall were all in pink frames. She looked around her room and smiled to herself. "I'm thirteen now but I won't ever stop loving pink". As soon as she stepped out of her room, the pink world vanished. Everywhere was milk-coloured.The hallway was as quiet as a graveyard. Her parents'room door was slightly open. She peeped in and saw that the lights were off.'Where's Dad?" She wondered. She walked farther in a
