Novels by Sketches

Rahab"Okay?" My eyes say roaming over him while my mother talks with the doctor. We're alone in the room, he looks visibly better. I say a silent prayer of gratitude for that."I'm fine, i'm okay" My dad says. Turns out he wasn't going to bleed out and die, I was just being paranoid, who would've thought?Now that the most pressing issue is out of the way, I am able to focus my thoughts on other matters. For example, my father's betrayal."W-why d-ddid you wait-t t-ttill t-tod-day to t-tell me s-sshe w-as c-coming?" I begin without preamble.Do not misinterpret. I am angry and I want to sound angry, but instead I just sound tired, my voice barely above a whisper."I s-saw mon-ney in y-your r-rroom w-where is-ss it-t fr-rom? I push without waiting for an answer, the questions in my mind finally bubbling up to the surface."W-we've b-been l-liv-ving in t-

Emilie.Someone's crying. Wait, crying? Why is there crying? More importantly who is crying?I hear the cry and I'm up before I can even open my eyes. As a result, I run smack into the door and am alerted by a sharp sensation climbing up my feet.Is it possible to break your toe? Because the pain feels like I have definitely mangled something down there.Biting back a yell (and a curse), I finally open my eyes and check the offended toe. It looks an angry red and is throbbing crazily. I walk- rather limp downstairs to the find the source of the commotion.Of all the families to end up with, why did I have to end up with this bunch of barbarians who have little or no regard for sleep."Just one hour, only one oh, that's all I asked. I really need this sleep, I was up all night guys, is it really too much to ask that I get an hour's worth of shut eye?" I plead questioning

RahabI stare at her for what truly feels like eternity. She doesn't look like the woman I remember, not even in the least.Her features are softer now, more round, like she has put on extra weight. Not in a bad way really, i'm just shocked at how different she looks.Her skin, the same colour as mine, shines in a soft glow where mine is cracked and dull. Her kinky hair is pulled into a low bun at the nape of her neck, I stare enviously at its volume and life.How can two people who look so alike be so different? Basically, i'm my mom on a low budget, like very, very low budget. Whatever figure comes to mind at this point, halve it, then divide it by the square root of eighty one, that's the budget i'm talking about. God! Its so easy to dislike her, she looks so pretty, so, so... polished!Neither of us has said a word to each other since she came in, not for lack of trying (on my part a

Emilie"When did you get back?" I ask entering the study."Just now, sorry... Did I wake you up?""Nah, precious had to pee so... Here I am!" I say with more enthusiasm than I feel.My dad looks up and shrugs evenly. He carries on shuffling papers on his desk, his eyebrows knitted together in a light frown."What are you looking for?""Nothing, don't worry. It's... I'll find it, eventually" he brushes off going through the papers carefully now."I know, but what is it?" I probe further, he sighs and rubs his forehead. Finally giving in, he says;"Its an engineer's payment certificate, it was issued to me, by this company"He slides a paper to me across the table to face me tapping on the heading, indicating the company name.I take it and study the logo carefully. The rest of the writing looks like

Rahab"Kudin ki sai dari biyar da hamsin" The girl informs, clearing my plates from the table."Kin hada sosai?" I ask suppressing a burp."Eh" she replies"Na siya lemu, nawa shi?" I press, smeared conscience and all, I don't want to cheat this girl."Lemu, dari ne""Torh, nawa kudi na, ki hada shi, irin totally?""...Dari shida da Hamsin""Gashi dubu daya, bani changi" I finish, handing her the money."Ki sowri, karki manta da shi fa" I warn as sternly as I can manage, but my full stomach makes it hard for me to sound anything but tired.I haven't had a full meal like this in weeks, heck... Months even.She arrives with my change and I stand to leave, no use staying any longer than I have.The local buka is free now, not as packed as when I first arrived, only God knows how

EmilieWe all wait eagerly at the door for my dad and brothers, this has been the longest week so far. It takes a while, but we finally see their cab pull up.Dan Dan is the first to dash out from among us, while precious follows closely, laughing as they both run.Unique bounces lightly beside me and I know how much she wants to go to them as well."You can run you know? We promise not to use this against you" Agape jabs playful, beating me to it and for once unique doesn't seem offended by it.She simply walks (in obvious controlled steps) to the car, while both Agape and I tear up, laughing at her effort.My brothers get down from the car, and take turns hugging everyone. Mike's wide frame engulfs both Precious and Dan Dan in a bear hug, while Salem's lanky form leans down to give them side hugs. Typical Mike and Salem.I smile beside myself, th