ROYAL RUBIES

And sometimes, Our scars are emblazoned, For they need to be reference points. "Mummy, look! She's got the stripes of a tiger etched on her skin. Can she possibly pass for a tigress?" Jake's mum looked up puzzled and mystified. She mouthed I'm sorry to me. She was visibly shocked at her Son's rude utterance. Responding to her charge, she said, "Dear Jake, she's a normal human." Politely, I smiled at Jake's mum as though it were no problem. My heart sought to speak the language of freedom. My mind refused to be sober. Tears tickled my eyes and I knew I couldn't let out, at least not just yet. Gathering every ounce of respect left in her, she walked to me and spoke softly, " I'm sorry ma. Please forgive my son's crude joke. He had asked me to take him to the zoo so he could see wild animals, but somehow, I failed to create time for that". I smiled deficiently and told her, "It's OK. At least, he v...

" Wait, it's not yet time!" I walked into the air conditioned office. A pleasant looking receptionist ushered me to the settee. My feet rejoiced at the release to sit. My already aching ankles screamed for joy. My eyes wandered and settled on several faces in the reception arena. A lady was ushered into the conference room and not too long after, she was done with her appointment. Same thing was the case with some others two. Of a sudden, a superfluously dressed woman walked in and was immediately showed into the office we all waited to enter. The facial reactions that seeped from the faces of people seated was priceless. As an avid reader, my eyes began scanning the environment searching for what to keep my mind occupied. It took note of several ads that were placed around the reception arena. Several faces emitted hisses and disgruntled remarks. I studied the puzzled glances that escaped the faces of people waiting and shook my head. " Na wa o !...

"The eagle has no fear of adversity. We need to be like the eagle and have a fearless spirit of a conqueror! ” — Joyce Meyer The dark night slowly emerged, shadows stealthily walked in. The shadows seemed to dance with the sparkling stars. The moon stood still observing her frail form beneath. Her fears gave way. The trees suddenly shuddered in fright and the air became tense. Several unpleasant images conjured in her mind. A growing incertitude plagued her heart. What if he came tonight? Will he swallow me or salute in reverence? She banged the door but no answer came. She buzzed the intercom impatiently but received silence. The leaves rustled and she knew the hour had come. The heavy leather boots plunked the ground and shook. "Flee!" Her heart told her. Her feet failed so she stood, waiting and waiting for "its" arrival. The footsteps drew closer and her feet finally obeyed the gentle nudges from the heart. She fled, leaving it all behind. He...

The fat we so feared, has finally consumed us. We deprived our bodies of our beauty sleep so we jogged tirelessly. We signed up for several fat-burning exercises. We drank different varieties of homemade and industrial concoctions in the name of slimming tea. We said an emphatic NO to continental dishes that assaulted not just our eyes but also our taste buds. We shut our tummies from the desperate cravings for chocolate and red velvet cakes. We violently opposed the existence of mirrors. We fled and sidestepped the weighing scale. We succeeded in starving our bodies of vital nutrients in a bid to be perfect. We've lived like lions trapped in a cage. We ought to live life. Well, the good news is that the time has come to shed our inhibitions. The snake is unafraid to shed its skin. It does this shedding regularly to enable growth and to eliminate parasites that may have attached to its old skin. If a snake fails to shed, it dies! What fat has consumed us? How oft...

She swayed her arms as she paced briskly, Her mind replaying the day's activities. Her failed attempt to keep him from falling conjured up involuntarily. Her arm got stuck on the machine beside her. Hastily, she pulled out her hand and did a shoddy work. A huge part of her flesh was chomped off. "Ewwwww!" She exclaimed. Angrily, she kicked her foot against the machine. "What is all this?" She inquired. Her yoga classes somehow found its usefulness today. Her mind flashed back on how not to dwell on her present circumstance. She called herself to order and allowed for the injury to be. Prior to this occurrence, she always delighted in striping her skin when either hungry or bored. Today, She peeled it off, And it wandered into her mouth. While she chewed, It occurred to her that it had the taste of frustration and defeat. Same goes with life, we chew on dead things and expect freshness. Do we accept defeat and refuse to rise? What happe...