Essentials of Fiction – Class Blog

Essential writing, homework for lesson 8.1 At the wedding,

Written by Louise Grammatico

The day was the first warm day and the weather was sunny in the early autumn after a week of heavy rain. A little after eight o’clock pm Karl saw Noelle among the visitors in the crowded space of the pub. The visitors of the place this day celebrated the wedding of Paola and Sebastian. Noelle was a cousin of Sebastian and neighbour. Karl was an uncle and close friend to Paula. They were an equal age, in a friendly connection among them and often assembled to see each other. The two-stored large house where was situated the pub was surrounded by big rear garden with tables and chairs for the visitors.

Karl approached Noelle and stared at her smiling:

‘Today there are quite a lot of people here, isn’t it,’She replied glancing at him with her green eyes:

‘Good to see you today,’ She wore an exquisite sequined gown, refined small handbag and beige shoes on high heels. Her blond hair was arranged in an elegant hairstyle for the event. Karl gently asked Noelle:

‘Would you like something to drink?’ He was dressed in a cobalt blue suite, combined with a white shirt, multicoloured tie and black shoes.

Noelle explained kindly:

‘I just have got a glass of wine. Thank you,’ her eyes passed over the surrounding people. This day because of the wedding all of the attenders were dressed with elegance and good taste. Most of the man wore suits and stylish shoes. The ladies outfits were refined with luxury hats, colourful handbags, and stylish accessories.

‘Are you waiting for someone?’ Karl asked Noelle glancing over the people around them as well.

‘No, Virginie and Claudine are outside for a cigarette. She paused, then asked for his girlfriend in a long term:’ Where is Arlette?’

He answered laconically:

‘I don’t know. We have split.’

Noelle knew that Karl likes her, but she knew on the other hand that he was in a strong relationship with Arlette.

Noelle said for response:

‘I can’t imagine that! I used to see you always together,’ Noelle turned her eyes around looking to see Claudine and Virginie or maybe Arlette. Guessing Noelle’s reaction Karl replied to her:

‘Arlette is not here today. She asked me previously if I will come in order that she has go for to avoid seeing me,’ Karl seemed sad. His big brown eyes stared aside in the space.

‘Why is that?’ Noelle’s eyes wide as she glimpsed at his pale face.

Karl explained to her:

‘Arlette said that if I attend this wedding, she will only call the couple for greetings and that she will not come today,’

They stayed without to speak for a while, but their silence was filled with the sound of a tender song. Noelle suggested:

‘If you give her a call now, she will come. I am certain,’

Karl turned his face to Noelle holding his glass at hand and said:

‘I will not give her a call today,’

Noelle replied:

‘But you are still in love with her. You cannot conclude so lasting relationship at once, solely like that’. In her view, he hasn’t seemed hurt as it was expected after so lengthy relationship.

‘It is not just like that. We got embroiled with each other,’ Karl pulled out his mobile phone and fixed his eyes on it.

Noelle asked intrigued:

‘About what?’ Her wondering glance came onto his face but Karl ignored it and turned his eyes away from her view.

‘It was bound to happen sooner or later. I want to move on from this relationship with another woman,’ He replied still checking something on his mobile phone. Noelle glimpsed at him criticizingly and asked cheerily taking a pull of her glass of wine:

‘If now Arlette here right now, what would you do?’ Noelle knew them both almost all her life and for her was natural to see them always sticking together. Karl answered rather hesitatingly mostly truly:

‘Nothing. We are free people. No need to feel smashed. I told her that she has to come to respect the wedding of some of her close friends in spite of that she is set at odds with me,’ Karl felt still connected with Arlette.

Isabel, one of their common friends approached with glass at her hand and stopped to great them:

‘Nice wedding, isn’t it, The weds seeming so                             ’ she pointed with hand towards Paola and Sebastian.

Noelle agreed:

‘They are so sweet,’

The mobile phone rang in the hand of Karl and before his walk away Noelle identified the voice of her acquaintance Arlette. Her loud voice resounded by the phone seeming agitated.

Isabel said to Noelle:

‘I will stay here for a while prior to Claudine and Virginie return,’ and glanced towards the garden. Noelle turned her view as well at the same direction and noticed her friends speak with two unknown young men. After a couple of minutes, Claudine and Virginie arrived backaround the table. Noelle saw Karl by the window getting into his car with ruffled by the light wind hair setting for somewhere, probably for the home of Arlette at the west part of the town. Isabel caught her view and guessed her feelings. She said to Noelle:

‘I have heard that they are no more together,’

Noelle responded:

‘She gave him a ring and he jumped immediately,’

After less than one hour, Karl returned in the pub with a bucket of flowers in his hands and head to the table of the newly wedded couple. He has spoken with them and handed something to Sebastian and the bucket to Paola. Passing along the table of Noelle he told her:

‘I told you,’ and continued to the table where he was staying previously. A little later Noelle chooses to return home. After the greetings for ‘see you soon’ , merely when she arrived at the front door Karl draw level with her and suggested:

‘May I give you a call next Saturday to see you in town?’

Noelle smiled and replied:

‘I am not sure.’ Then she smiled again and added: ‘ Yes , you can. But if Arlette cause me a scandal, you will be responsible.’

The men smiled on his order and said:

‘Give me your number,’

They have spoken a few minutes more and she went home with his number on her notebook.

After half an hour the new couple head for their home and the other attenders started to prepare for concluding the happening.

Author: Louise Grammatico

Essentials of fiction writing, The kidnapped baby, homework, written by Louise Grammatico

In the quiet evening of the cold winter day in the midst of January when returning at home after work Nathan found his partner Cynthia changing nappies of an unknown baby at their lounge. From the standard entrance, he entered into a large living room with a wide staircase leading to the second floor. A pair of beautifully furnished chairs and sofa created a welcoming and homey atmosphere surrounding a table. The brown carpet and snow-white net curtains added taste to the place. They were together two years already and she still and not produced a child, so the appearance of the small beautiful white baby extremely surprised him. When Nathan noticed the little girl he did not have any idea that his life was about to totally change in a new way.

Nathan was of average height, with black hair and brown eyes. He had a cruel streak and his face was as wide as the nearest valley. When at work he wore sportive type trousers, a jumper beneath the brown jacket and sports shoes.

Astonished from the baby’s presence he asked Cynthia:

‘Who is this baby? Who are the parents?’

Cynthia carefully accomplished the fig out of the infant and answered with a little retard:

‘This is a Fernanda, the daughter of Frederica,’ the child laid completely awake with her eyes widely opened.

Still not comprehending the situation he asked:

‘Where is Frederica? When she will get back her child?’

‘I don’t know,’ replied Cynthia without to watch him in the eyes help, somehow uncertain in her help. His penetrating glimpse fixed over her face and pounced on her fairly blue eyes.

‘Honey, does she will pay for the babysitting?’ he inquired, stopped for a while and added: ‘She is quite wealthy,’

‘She has to pay me a lot more than only for babysitting,’ Cynthia stated calmly. Then she raised her eyes, grinned, traced her finger over his big palm of hands and told to Nathan:

‘I theft the child today from her house. I suggest you both we later on to contact her and to ask her for a ransom,’ she glanced again at his face, but it gave no sign of his reaction. Reflecting on her words Nathan questioned her:

‘Cynthia, has someone saw you with this child today?’ The face of Cynthia suddenly burned; she turned her head away from him when answered not very assured in her words:

‘I suppose not,’

‘But she can complain to the police, Cynthia,’ Nathan stated worrying and his searching eyes ran over her face again.

She quickly responded with assuring tone:

‘No, she will not,’ her eyes widened as she stared at him.

‘How you know that?’ Nathan asked Cynthia and a slow smile worked its way across his face and into her eyes.

‘She is afraid for the child. She wants to avoid danger for her health or security as she loves the small girl. Certainly, she will not contact the police, one hundred percent,’ confidently explained Cynthia.

‘I am not sure what if she complains to any of her friends or the father of the child,’ he increased his rotund voice, ‘It is not what I want,’ he slowly shook his head and created a grimace.

Cynthia replied:

‘Nobody is there now. They are away. One of them is in the sea, one other is locked,’

‘Cynthia, don’t bet on it. She could find someone else,’

‘No, she will not. I want this money. I want a new car, or almost new. And nice clothes to get. She will not complain. Listen of what I am saying,’

‘How you will contact her? By phone?’

‘No by phone. My cousin gave me this bug. The other part is in her bedroom.’ She paused and smiled, then continued:’ When she goes to slip, we will give her a call. Then you will see. We need to go there and to obtain the money.’ She stopped for a short moment, ’She isn’t gonna get away with any more of five thousand,’ she nodded her head.

‘You are so organized’ exclaimed Nathan thrilled obviously impressed by the idea of Cynthia,’ How you chew over that plan?’ He was a crumpy man, always in need of money as he was drinking a lot, was feeding several children and was not quite a lot of workable.

‘See, she is awaking. If she starts to cry and the neighbor heard, what we can do?’ Cynthia glanced at Nathan’s face. He responded:

’We need to hide her somewhere,’

Cynthia said to him:

Nathan, don’t be silly! She is so small. She is only a child and that’s it. Now she will sleep till the midst of the night,’

‘But if someone asks, what we can say about her presence here?’ continued to wonder Nathan.

Cynthia replied:

‘I will tell that she is my granddaughter and that her mother who is my daughter will come next month to bring her back home,’

Nathan wanted to clarify for himself the particularities and asked:

‘And why the girl is now here with us?’

‘If someone asks I will tell that her mother is now too busy and that’s it’ answered Cynthia.

‘And nothing more?’ questioned Nathan. She replied:

‘Nothing more,’

Nathan had a good feeling inside him, and a big smile appeared on his face but continued to reflect on the premediating of Cynthia’s plan and asked her:

‘What if someone from the police asks for the infant?’

She responded confidently:

‘Leave this to me! I will explain to them,’

At this moment someone knocked on the window’s glass. Cynthia took the girl into her hands and said:

‘I will go with the infant on the second floor,’ and headed for the staircase.

It was one of the neighbors asking for the grass streamer. Nathan explained to the man that the streamer is broken and that it needs some repair. The neighbor got away. Cynthia injected the child with a soporific liquid to prevent noise and to force the toddler to sleep longer. The couple has watched some TV shows all along became the time for supper. Whilst Cynthia washed the plates after the dinner, Nathan drunk some whiskey before she contacted Frederica by the commutative appliances. It was a little after midnight.

‘Frederica, are you sleeping?’ asked Cynthia.

‘What?’ Frederica was at her home waiting for the police to find her very recent kidnapped daughter.

‘Tell me, do you have some money,’ said Cynthia.

‘Who is there?’ a little confused asked Frederica.

‘Frederica, do you love your daughter?’ continued Cynthia with her questions. Frederica quickly recovered her wit and asked:

‘Where is my girl? Who is there?’

‘Frederica doesn’t ask anything! Take some money with you and come in the garden to bring then to us!’ ordered to her Cynthia grinning to Nathan.

‘How much money you want?’ inquired Frederica.

‘Five thousand are okay,’ said Cynthia.

‘Five thousand! I don’t have so much money,’ responded Frederica.

‘Frederica don’t be silly! If you don’t find five thousand to tomorrow afternoon, I will kill the child. Listen to me, I will ring you at three o’clock in the afternoon. You have to be on the line to speak!’ said Cynthia and terminated the conversation.

Cynthia has stayed all day in the house occupying herself with some housework. In the morning, after Nathan went out for some shopping. She fed the child one time and watched an episode from one of the multi-serial TV productions.

Frederica could not sleep all night as she worried about her daughter. She was unaware that the girl stayed in one of the houses in her neighborhood. She knew that if she finds the required amount and pays it to the kidnappers, it is very probably they to kill the child. In further, she had not to access such an amount in her bank account. Her business was not very successful at that time as a big volume of the products were stolen by the workers. Frederica knew that all the surrounded people jealous of her and her family and theft everything that they can without any scruples’. The incomes in the bank were not enough to cover the thefts.

In the morning she went to the factory to unlock it and to organize the shift. At 1,30 pm she left the factory and returned at home to wait the expected call from the kidnappers. From the factory, she gave a call to the police officer and narrated to him for the call by the offenders. The officer instructed Frederica to keep the contact but not to pay the ransom.

Author: Louise Grammatico

The rendezvous, by her point of view, Essential writing, lesson five

Narrated by Louise Grammatico

On the arriving of Hilda on the place of the rendezvous, before the shopping center, she comprehended that she needs to pass quickly this introduction and to move on. Recently she has split with her long- term partner and common acquaintances suggested to connect her with a man who in their opinion possessed good qualities. They shook hands and Craig invited her to visit any coffee bar around the shopping center, but Hilda preferred somewhere else. He was around thirty- eight, tall, stout, and friendly. On his large pale face was surrounded with a brown hair she noticed small eyes, a little pulled apart and some small sunspots.  He was casually dressed as on his enlarge figure he wore a grey jumper, chino trouser, fashionable jacket, and black shoes. She suggested to walk and along the way she tried to initiate a conversation, but he glanced at her with his blue eyes and replied short.

‘’ Hilda, do you walk always so fast?’’

They walked, most of the time silent, prior to choosing a place to sit. Craig laughed not very high but somehow odd. They entered the place and noticed that the coffee bar was traditionally packed and smell tasty.

‘’This is a suitable place’’ specified Hilda. The salon was beautified with well- selected chandeliers, high-backed chairs, fashionable pictures, and crystal mirrors on the walls. After they sat Craig said to her:

’Thanks for coming at this blind rendezvous. ‘’

Hilda showed her interest: ‘’What is your occupation?’’

I always intended to be a consultant being slightly socially awkward. It turned out I was a trader which was very successful for me in a long run,’’

They ordered some drinks for consumption but after half an hour they still have not arrived. When Craig asked the waitress, she apologized:

‘’I am really sorry! Have you spoken with another waiter?’’

Soon after it the waitress brought the cups and asked him something as a well-known person.

‘’You will have probably all the waitress rushing to keep you amused,’’ Hilda smiled. People at a nearby table watched in their table.

In response to her in the course of their conversation he admitted:

‘’I like to see people after work as well. Sometimes on the coffee shop, I can stumble on a someone who I haven’t seen from a long time.’’

The shine of the sun penetrated through the glass of the window creating the air warm and bright. On the other tables could be seen well -dressed people relaxing after work involved in bubbling conversations and laughing. Craig and Hilda flited rapidly from one topic of their speaking to another.

‘’It is true, I couldn’t explain what I feel,’’

She hesitated before replying:

‘’You have found today a wrong woman to have an affair with perhaps, ’’

Craig protested laughing:

‘’Oh, surely, not,’’

‘’Are you seeing someone’’ asked Craig and raised a full glass to his lips.

‘’I was looking for the perfect man. I had never placed myself through the ‘’if he loves me or if he loves me not’’ play, nor waist hours waiting for the ring of my phone or spending my time wondering where he is and with who,’’ revealed Hilda.

‘’There is no need to be sarcastic,’’ Craig said and leaned back on his chair.

‘’There is not a point to arguing for these things,’’ Hilda added nodding and showing him the brightness of her smiles, then she continued: ‘’I am not so young,’’

‘’Have You heard the theory that the choice of an eligible man increases with age?’’ he asked kindly Hilda with the intention to get together with her.

She exclaimed:

‘’Oh, you expect I will find a way to do it soon?’’

Craig announced open-hearted:

‘’Now you have a good chance of that to happen,’’

‘’I am only very selective. I have not seen anyone who is similar to my last partner,’’ Hilda gave him a contemplative smile: ‘’And you?’’ she asked.

‘’It was the same for me, but my social life had not been so fulfilled’’ Craig explained,’’ I was continually recalled by my last partner that I haven’t had enough achieving in my entire life. Is that ethical, what do you think?’’

After a short pause Hilda said:

‘’I know exactly how you feel. It is not sounding idyllic,’’

For response he revealed to Hilda:

‘‘It is o ’key. I am happy we have got that sorted out and I am cheerfully divorced,’’

‘’These things happen sometimes with people. Relationships fell apart all the time obviously,’’ she concludes when she grew tired of speaking with a man with whom she had no wish to form any friend-ship and that she had enough of this arrangement.  Her instinct was telling her that this man would not be suitable for her. These thoughts hurtled into her head. Craig noticed:

‘’Not to worry about me. It was expected to happen sooner or later,’’

When the waitress arrived near their table Hilda paid her part of the bill

Craig watched inquiring into her eyes and tried to guess how their prospective relationship will go:

Then he asked Hilda:

‘’Would you agree that people in their fourties are the most reflective and have become more aware of hidden jeopardy?’’

‘’What you want to say,’’ she asked.

‘’ Hilda, didn’t you want an eligible man to stay with you,’’ Craig questioned her straightforward.

‘’Are you completely honest with me,’’ she smiled with the hope he was enjoying himself more than she was. She checked her watch. Neither of them said anything. Thankfully, her phone rang and she tried to be not relieved. The evening time visitors are starting to occupy coming through to order a drink at the place previous to visiting around the pubs in town.

He told her:

‘’I would like to see you again,’’ watching at her with his blue eyes.

He was just not that type of man who she liked most

‘’I have remembered something that I was supposed to accomplish before the end of the month,’’ said Hilda in reply.

Craig asked her:

‘’Shall I give you a ring again after some time later on?’’

She replied to Craig:

‘’When I accomplish my project, I will give you a call,’’

She prepared to leave and said:

‘’I have to go,’’

She went out of setting for her home situated not far.

Author: Louise Grammatico

Some changes at the office, lesson 3 essentials of fiction writing

This week at the West office was at hand, some forthcoming changes as the autumn were getting on. Imogine has heard in the afternoon break time that Hazel will move soon at another section of the company in connection with her retirement. At that moment Imogine realized that she wants to become the next branch manager and she started to wonder if Guendoline wants this promotion for herself.  On Thursday, after Guendoline arrived Imogine obviously agitated had asked her till she arranged some files at the beginning of the day:

‘’Have you heard that Hazel is changing the job, she is moving in another branch?’’

‘’No, I haven’t. How you know about it’’ Guendoline answered to Imogine question with a question.

‘’Noelle from the second room told me yesterday after you left for your appointment.’’ revealed Imogine.

‘’Why she is going for to change?’’ asked Guendoline a little interested.

‘’Maybe she will tell us,’’ assumed Imogine.

‘Guendoline commented: ‘’Interesting news, isn’t it?’’

‘’I am wondering who the new branch manager will be?’’ Imogine continued the theme.

Guendoline simply answered:

‘’I don’t know’’ and continued to arrange the files on her table.

‘’Are you interested in this position’’ questioned Imogine. She stood at the center of the space with staring tensely at Guendoline face.

‘’What you want to know?’’ Guendoline felt interfered in her work

Imogine had already fixed on Guendoline her penetrating eyes than she insisted:

‘’If the boss proposes you the position, will you accept it?’’

This straightforward irritated Guendoline and she did not answer. Then, she said:

‘’What about you? Are you interested in this position?’’

‘’Oh, yes. I really like this idea. I think that I can do the job properly,’’ admitted Imogine.

Guendoline stated in response to Imogine previous intervening to her:

‘’But you are not enough experienced for the higher position steel yet. It is required work length within the company at least five years,’’

‘’I know that, but I don’t think that it will be appointed someone new in this branch. The colleagues from the other spaces here are also with shorter than five years work length in this company,’’ exposed the way of her thoughts Imogine.

Seeming smart in her elegant skirt and fine blouse Guendoline assumed:

‘’It could arrive someone from the other branches,’’

Imogine announced as an explanation to her insolent questions previously:

‘’I will apply for the position when is advertised,’’

Guendoline encouraged Imogine:

‘’You can try,’’ and started to work out a task.

Imogine gave a call in the central office and contacted Blanchet, the secretary of the head manager:

‘’If you heard that the position is wanted can you let me know, please,’’

‘’Sure,’’ agreed with the secretary.

They knew each other from before the time working for the company. In the afternoon, when Hazel was on coffee pause, Imogine checked the company website, but the position was not listed on the career page yet. The next day Imogine gave a ring again to the secretary of the boss and she arranged an appointment for herself.’’ Ballina, the secretary warned Imogine:

‘’I don’t think that is a good idea to ask the boss for your promotion,’’

‘’Why not?’’ protested the young woman.

‘’Because you have not five years neither in the company nor in the entire your career.’’ Emphasised the secretary. She knew the parents of Imogine and felt the young woman closer than just a colleague.

The news that Hazel moving forward and leave her position vacant spread among the staff and the associated with the company people in further.

The next day Imogine stood on the aisle speaking on the phone as she tried to persuade Herbert Koldwell from the South branch to do not apply for the position of Hazel, as he was one of the persons, selected by the management, with a real chance to be appointed for the position. Sitting in front of her computer Hazel commenced a conversation with Guendoline:

‘’Have you heard already that I will move soon in another office of the company,’’ she watched at Guendoline inquiring and seemed like someone who is keeping a secret. She wore polo blouse, striped trousers, jacket relevant to the season and black boots.

‘’Only a little. Yesterday,’’ shortly replied Guendoline as she was intrigued.

Hazel confessed:

‘’This job is too intensive for me and I want to work with people closer to my generation. The position in the other office is calm and suit me in a few aspects. The boss asked me who I should suggest to replaces me, and I told him only your name and nobody else.’’ She paused for a while and revealed: ‘’The boss asked me for Imogine, but I told him that she is too young and that her private life predominates in the work timeframe. He told me that he will previous and reconsider again but that he is willing to appoint you.’’ Hazel glanced at Guendoline smiling inscrutably

Guendoline listened carefully and responded watching at her documents arranged on her work-table:

‘’Thank you, a lot.  All this is quite surprising for myself.’’

Hazel added in further:

‘’That is not everything. The boss said as well that he is considering Herbert Koldwell from the South office for my position but is not yet formed his final choice.’’

‘’That is very interesting,’’ concluded animated Guendoline thoughtfully expecting what will follow next.

The next day Blanchet telephoned to Guendoline and invited her for an interview with the head manager after one week at the central office of the company. Guendoline have not said the news to Imogine, but her colleagues already knew as she said to her:

‘’Congratulations, Guendoline. Blanchet told me that you are selected for the interview and because I am not, you are probably the next branch manager here,’’ Imogine stared at her jealously and seemed confused.

Guendoline nodded trying to avoid escalation:

‘’It is not confirmed yet, Imogine,’’

Imogine hesitated but steel prompted curiously inquired Guendoline:

‘’Guen, do you plan to accept the offer,’’

Guendoline felt irritated from the insolence of her colleague. Her face flushed and she exclaimed:

‘’Why you are asking me again for it?’’ emphasized her question Guendoline and showed her condemning attitude.

‘’Because I already applied for the position,’’ Imogine leaned on her chair.

Hazel was returned before a few minutes at their office space and as she has heard the conversation she said:

‘’ Imogine, it is not right to insist like that. I am steel the chief here.’’

Seeming affected Imogine went out of the space and start speaking on the phone.

In Saturday Guendoline bought some new clothes, as she wanted to seem perfect for her appointment. She hesitated between elegant trousers in grey combined with a printed blouse, blazer in responding color and a set including a suit with a skirt in green blue, a graphite blouse and a stylish long coat. Finally, she has paid all of the chosen apparels and additionally she bought from one another store a handbag. Guendoline hesitated as well if to renew her hairstyle at stylist salon in town after the shopping but withhold.

The week passed as her colleague tried to speak with her, Guendoline tried to avoid her and the atmosphere in the office was stressful. Some of the other colleagues from the branch told to Guendoline that they prefer a man for the position rather than so young woman and warned her that the job is connected with a lot of responsibilities.

Herbert Koldwell telephoned to tell her that the position was already proposed to him, but he is afraid to become superior to mostly female working staff and that he refused the position and wished to her success. He warned Guendoline that Imogine asked him to refuse the promotion as she wanted the position for herself.

At the day of the interview, Thursday Guendoline awoke early and got dressed neat and smart. Finally, she selected grey trousers, fashionable blouse combined with a tailored coat, shoes on high heels and beautiful handbag She refreshed her hairstyle but had not applied any cosmetic, even some lipstick. That helped Guendoline to seem more natural and emphasized on her the intellectual aspect of her personality.

For the interview, Guendoline arrived with public transport twenty minutes before the fixed time. She bought from the stand situated opposite the site a cup of fresh coffee and once again asked herself some questions related to her work. The cloudy weather had not promised a successful day for anyone. The sunshine began to forsake the space, it was almost ten o’clock and the beclouded atmosphere was tending to reduce the twilight. A little nervous, Guendoline entered into the office of Ballina, the secretary of the head manager of the company. Guendoline steel has spoken with the secretary, as Ballina has offered to her coffee, which she refused when she heard the voice of the Mr, Handersman the head manager of the company:

‘’Hello, Guendoline, you can come inside for the interview,’’

The office was large and well arranged with obvious neatness and comfort. On the table blossomed some fresh flowers in a vase. The manager was around his fifties, not too tall, but slim, with brown hair. He seemed well presented in his new suit. From his intelligent face watched lively blue eyes, glancing at her with friendliness.

He Invited Guendoline to sit on the chair and explained to her:

‘’In my view, you are not perfectly suitable for the position of branch manager, but I think that you are a progressive person and would suggest to appoint you on a trial for three months. If you fill the requirement of the administrative management, you will be given this position permanently.’’

Guendoline expected an outcome similar to this and felt a little pleasant, surprised and answered quickly:

‘’Thank you for the honor. I will do my best in this work,’’

They have spoken several minutes further and she returned to her office. Hazel immediately asked her for the interview and Guedoline told her for the trial. Till to the end of the time-frame, she received greetings and opinions by her colleagues. At first, Imogine congratulated Guendoline again, but the bitter in her eyes and the sarcasm on her lips revealed her jealousy and that Imogine obviously was not happy from the outcome in the changes. It was a walkover as it appeared to be in their office.

Author: Louise Grammatico

The evening appeared to be cold, but the weather promised the following day to be beautiful. The last sparks of the colored in the purple shine of the sunset sank beneath the horizon. Soon as I aligned from the bus after finishing work I walked going home lost in my thoughts for tomorrow. I wore black trousers, blouse, long coat, black shoes, and handbag so I did not felt cold. The fresh air was filled with the scent of the flourishing of the approaching spring.  I was thinking also that I belonged to this land among these fields, mounts and hills, to the swamp, the river and her bridges along her way, right away to the see. I have spent a big part of my life in other places. I lived in a family where I grew partly in one city, I was started studying preliminary school in another city and graduated from the university learning finance and macro-economy in one another city, where I have settled. Regarding the past, I cannot comprehend how now I am living without visiting the theatre, ballet, and opera. I enjoyed before attending a musical theatre, classical and rock concerts regularly.

There are inevitable surprises of the life. The road seemed lonely, and the bewildering noise of quickly passing car pulled me out of my thoughts and sharpened my senses. Walking slowly as I felt tired, suddenly, I have heard quiet footsteps just behind me. As I felt all alone in the falling obscurity, I was wondering who my follower is. The night was coming slowly. I crossed the road passing over the other sidewalk and left behind the other passer-by.

He was a heavily built man, not overweight as he was stout. His outfit was sportive in the dark tones with trembling yellow high visible worker’s vest along old brown trousers, black jacket with fur neck-piece, black boots, and big black bag. He has hastened his steps and out-walked me, stopped for a while glancing at me unfriendly. I spot that he was a little bearded and completely unknown.

Against me approaching car moving fast making noise in the silence of the coming night. It was no illuminating streetlamps along the way. In that short moment, I was thinking in a retrospective way for what was happened in my life. I remembered for the high-school years when I met a lot of people surrounding me at the present. I recalled for my youth, clearly memorized every word and every face, most of them looking the same, as the time has stopped his impact over their appearance.

‘’Surprise!’’ I told to myself. ‘’It does not matter what he was, or he was not. It is a bad thing to cause similar emotions to whoever it is. Some cold shivers went down my vertebrae. I felt frightened sudden and quickly and I tried to walk away without to do any noise. The harsh sound of a nearly passing car fell away into the air. I could sense something of wasted life in the sticky leaves translucent to the last. Also, I had the sense that something went badly wrong for me. I intended to say: ”Why you embarrass me?” But these are less than word, they just hang flat in my thought, before I even completely re-thought them. So I did not. The stout figure walked away, and I sigh with relief. I don’t know how I got into it.

Among the trees from the stiffness, too narrow to be named a walkway but large enough to hiding someone, and out of the obscurity of the falling night a figure was emerging, and set to approach me, but shrinking in the remoteness as I walked away. I was not in the spirit for a conversation with a stranger this evening, but the curiosity blossomed like leprosy inside me and flourished like a summer flower. I soon apprehended to my own amusement along the gardens weedy fences that it could be not about me, but any other involvement. At the time of changing the seasons, it never happened to us to think to ourselves.

The houses along I passed had recent paint and like our own possessed flowering gardens. A fall of bush roses on the fence recollected to my view that I am approaching home. I fastened my walk and soon got inside the house tempting for a hot cup of tea.

Author: Louise Grammatico

There is no way to explain it except to say that it was an instant attraction, almost electrifying, like the ones you only read in romantic novels. You are probably thinking I’m exaggerating and you might be right. It’s been seventeen years after all, and countless of romantic novels since that first encounter. But I have to say he made a damn good impression for me to pour out thousands of words on paper about him. So bare with me please!

I remember he had this air of superiority about him. Like, he was someone important. Now looking back after so many years, he appeared more like a leader to an affluent philanthropist group ready to make a change in the world and I was ready to follow. You get what I’m saying, he made an impact on my life. A big one! And changed my perception of men and love for life, which set a standard or a pattern if you will, to what future men have been up against ever since.

I was sixteen going on seventeen when we met. It was 1998 and I was blessed with a rare beauty that didn’t go unnoticed to the people around me, least of all, boys. I had long curly hair, that I wore straight most times. Curls weren’t a trend back then. Not like today where everywhere I turned whether its on youtube , facebook or on the streets girls are rocking their curls. Besides, having long hair in itself was seen as an out of the ordinary beauty. Back then, people in the black community saw that as having good hair. To add to all of that beauty, I was kissed by the sun and had this golden cafe-au-lait complexion, big dark brown eyes that I’ve been teased for when I was younger, but by the time I was a teenager those eyes did nothing but complemented my heart-shaped face. The fact that my womanly shaped developed at an early age didn’t hurt at all either. My aunt, my dad’s only sister, was a tailor and created dresses mold to the shaped of me and my cousins bodies. We were always dressed in our best whenever we were in public. And that particular day in 1998, I was in a new orange lycra and black lace backless dress that screamed attention when I walked into a room. And attention I got. His attention in particular.

We couldn’t take our eyes off each other. It was the engagement party of my dad’s cousin, Patrick, whom we all refer to as Coco. There were guests from both his and his fiancés side of the family. Everyone was busy socializing and dancing to the music. I was sitting in a corner of the room and he was helping with refilling the drinks. We didn’t say a word to each other for a long time. Our eyes were doing the talking for a long while until he approached me, extending his hands for a dance. I put my hand in his and I felt a warmth radiated through my body and tingled my palm binding my hand with his. At that moment, I knew. He was mine and I was his.

We didn’t talk during the dance. We didn’t even look into each others’ eye. We just merged our bodies together into a slow dance. I could feel his breath tickling the skin around my ears swaying to the rhymes of his heart beating against my chest. My palm were sweaty in his hand and his other hand burning the spot where it laid on my lower back.

«Meet me in the hall» he said and released me, which left me confused until I noticed the song had ended.

I went into the hall, he held my hands in his and we talked. I can’t remember everything that were said, but I remember him telling me his name and that he was the soon to be brother -in-law of my cousin Coco. And the last thing I remember was him pulling me close and our lips met and merged into the perfect kiss. A kiss, I would remember on and off during theses sixteen years.

In the room near the hall, I heard my dad calling my name. I jumped and broke our kiss. My hands slipped from his just as my dad rounded the corner and appeared in the hall. He looked at me confused, but I ignored the look and turned to my dad.

«We are leaving. Go say goodbye to the family.» Dad said and went back to the main hall.

« I have to go!» I said

«Ok» he said and gave me his number which I committed to memory since I didn’t have a cellphone. «Call me» and little did I know at the time that this day had marked the beginning of a seventeen-years long love triangle, not you typical love triangle. But one between a father and his daughter and a girlfriend and his boyfriend. Little did I know that this love triangle would bring about tears, lost, despair, anger and the destruction of families.

I was eight when I first realised that a parent’s love isn’t always unconditional. That not all parents love their children the same.

I was also eight when I first realised that with love comes pain. I remember it like it was yesterday.

The pain of the bamboo stick flogging my right eye.

My body in agonising pain from the fall.

Yet the bamboo kept flogging my flesh. Still, that wasn’t the worst pain I endured that day.

No!

My worst agony was my heart breaking into millions of pieces and bleeding within me when it dawns on me that I wasn’t worth shit compare to my sister.

That my parents didn’t love me the same way they loved my sister. She was loved and wanted even. The latter wasn’t a factor at the time, but quickly became one later on when I found out I was a mistake. That’s what they called being irresponsible back then. A mistake. That realisation, I need not tell you, was a dagger straight to my heart. Not any dagger either. Nope! That was a magic one. One that only an evil godmother would enchant and turn into a lifelong curse. That’s how my life felt like after that day. A curse! A curse that would never abate unless someone of pure heart came to heal the stubborn wound of my bleeding heart.

You see, I wasn’t supposed to be born. My parents were young when they had me. My father was eighteen and my mother was nineteen. They were both unemployed and living with their own parents. They were, how their parents would put it, just kids having kids. And we all know the saying, “kids have no business raising kids themselves.”

The year was 1990. I had a new born sister. I was no longer an only child. I should have been happy, but I wasn’t. May be I was jealous. I can’t recall it being jealousy though. As long as I can remember, I’ve always been uncomfortable around new born babies. Even in my adulthood whenever I encounter new born babies I become really shy. I won’t touch, cooed or even acknowledge the baby if I don’t have to. So, with that knowledge, I doubt what I was feeling at the time was jealousy. May be in the deep recesses of my childlike mind, I somehow knew that having a sibling would cost me my childhood and force me to grow up faster than I wanted to or even should. May be my sub-conscience was telling me that my childhood was already over at eight years old. I can only speculate. One thing I am certain though is that the year 1990 marked the beginning of my new life. Not the life of a carefree child roaming the streets of the neighbourhood, drenched in sweat and hair frying in coconut oil under the heated sun of the tropic, basking in laughter and joy at a simple children’s games. Not the life of the friendliest, kindest of child that everyone knew, and yes I was very friendly and respectful of elders in the neighbourhood.

No!

This year marked a life mapped out on the land of doom where every road was paved through hell. Eventually, I was no longer friendly, carefree, respectful and the deeper I venture through life my laughter started dying little by little until it died completely. Later, my mama will say, “You’re no good child! I can’t find a single good thing in you.” And I’ll look her in the eyes and wonder how can she expect to find good in me when I myself couldn’t find anything good in me?

To be continued….