Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

July 20, 2007

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Today’s Stories

~**~**~

 TAKEN ON A MISSION (June 2007)

By Georgewaters Ojeigbe – Lagos, Nigeria gojiegbe@oregun.jhplc.com

She was always seen preached the good news in the ferry boat every morning on my way to the office.  This was in 1997.

I have forgotten her name now but I have not forgotten her humbleness to Jehovah God.  She was never expensively dressed but was neat and she spoke good English, although, spoken in the Yoruba accent.  The word ‘I mean’ never escaped any of her sentence.  Her preaching focused more on purity of the heart.  I admired her courage and then wished I was like her.

Most times when we disembark from the ferry boat I used to go to her for spiritual questionings and she in turn encouraged me.  This was how we got acquainted. 

During this period, I was having accommodation problem which I told her about and she prayed with me which was the day I last saw her.  I have not forgotten a testimony she once told in the ferry boat which was about how a vivacious snake entered her toilet through the rooftop. 

Finally, I got my accommodation problem resolved and I moved to the new apartment which was further away from my former house.  I needed to tell the woman of God my testimony but she was nowhere to be found and I kept on praying that I meet her one day.

One Sunday morning I could not attend church service due to financial reason.  I was still adjusting to the environment especially as the cost of transportation had increased due to the additional distance.  As usual there was no electricity power which made the house boring so I feel asleep again at about 9 a.m. 

In my sleep I found myself flying over a strange place; a swampy forest area, where I flew over a house having a vegetable garden behind.  Suddenly, I awoke and wondered what my dream was all about.  I knew I was not a wizard and even if I was I could not have flown during the day.  Well, I guess it was just one of those dreams.

I became a little frightened and in order to ease my fret I got out of the house and started strolling down the estate where my apartment was situated.  I journeyed further until I reached a gate leading to the back of the estate.  Even though I knew not where I was heading to, I just continued journeying down the track leading to a bushy area which seemed adventurous to me.  In case of eventuality, I picked a stick on the way as I became conscious of seeing a snake; I dislike the sneaky snaky animal. 

I was eager to see the end of the bush path which was lined up with scanty poorly built houses.  I turned many corners and the more corners the more bushy it became until I got to a forest area.  I trekked a long distance away from my house and I knew I was going to find it difficult tracing my way back.  Though, I knew I would meet one or two persons on the way to show me the way back but I still nursed the fear of being kidnapped by ritualist.

“B-r-o-t-h-e-r…, b-r-o-t-h-e-r…” came faintly the echo.  “Brother!”  The call came sharper.  I startled to a halt and turned, only to see a boy of about twelve years old smiling. 

“This is my mummy’s house”, so the boy said to me.  He turned towards one of those poorly built houses and walked towards one of the houses.

“Mummy, mummy that brother is here”, I heard him said repeatedly. 

I was wondering where on earth this little boy knew me from.  In a short while a woman emerged from the house.  She looked at the son and then turned to me with surprise.  As soon as I saw her face I realized where I had seen the boy.  He had once joined the woman of God in the ferry boat.

“This is my house” the woman of God said to me, next followed a man behind her who she introduced to me as her husband.  She introduced me to her husband as the one she had always talked about.  Her husband nodded.  

As if the family had been expecting me they led me into their house and welcomed me with a cup of water taken from a pot station in their sitting room.

Later on, the family of three led me around their compound showing me their vegetable garden.  Her husband told me about his acquisition of the plot of land and how they wished to sand-fill the swampy area.  It was then it dawned on me the meaning of the dream I had in the morning.  Some minutes ago, I had flown over this spot in my dream.  I turned around and it was the same area I saw in the dream.  The dream had come to pass. 

I told the family about my dream which they concluded it was God’s doing.  He wanted me to know of their whereabouts. 

The family and I became close and I usually visited them.  They had wanted me to be a regular member of their church held in their compound and established by her husband.  They had visions for the church which was sparsely attended.  It was built with six pillar woods covered with warned out zincs. 

After a while I could not visit them any longer since I go to my place of worship constantly and at the same time I usually get home late from work.

Two to three years later I decided to repay them a visit and I just could not locate the way any more.  The place had changed. 

Not knowing that I had passed the compound numerous times until I enquired of them from somebody in one of the newly built houses around and I was told that the original occupant of the land had sold it before moving down to Ibadan, in Oyo State of Nigeria.  It pricked me because I knew I have finally lost contact with them except if such a dream would again lead me to their new location in far away Ibadan.

Dreams are real and could be interpreted in different ways by the beholder. 

THE END!

~**~**~

Warning Tear jerk Mark Crider, it is about an abused animal.

Rainbow Bridge Gang. Buddy

Tinker and Poo

tinkerpoo2000@yahoo.com

We was setting here resting up from dinner, when up the lane came this beautiful Golden. A couple Dollie Angels jumped right up and ran to meet the newcomer.  They knew right off this one needed some special loving, and care.

We got the news bit by bit. More inhuman treatment of one of our kind.  And worse yet by a man of the law.  Can your trust anyone these days?

We found out this is Buddy, and come to find out he lived next to our back yard.  Seems the cop shot at Buddy, nicked him and he took off for a hiding place.  Yes Buddy was on the wrong side of fence, but he was in our old stomping grounds.  Should have been safe there, you know Bill loves dogs. 

Well they went ahead, and darted him, crossed the fence, threw him over into our old stomping grounds, loaded him up and took to a vet.  For some reason the “would be” vet didn't do anything. They took Buddy outside, and finished him off.  Then took his body to the city dump.  Nice people, wouldn't you say?

Buddy said his people weren't at home at the time.  Guess they came home and found blood all over the place. 

Well Buddy is here in the land of no more hurts and mean people.  We seen the Dollie  Angels got him all fixed up with his own bed, blankets, and bowls.  He is a right nice looking chap, we got a lot of talking to do, being how he lived next door.  Maybe we can find out a few things.

Yes Tam, Rich, and kids, your beloved Buddy is here, all too soon, he was just a young fellow.  We will make sure he has a front row seat tonight for the movie.  Oh and Tiny came on a run to great Buddy, family you know.

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

A Special Celebration

Cynthia Groopman

All chocolate lovers bask happily in the golden sunshine

of smiles and elation,

As they participate in a very special anniversary celebration.

The chocolate Candy Hersey kiss has its one hundredth birthday,

All exalt in a cheerful way.

Oh, chocolate Hersey kisses are so sweet,

Indeed a delicious treat.

We take one for a snack,

But want more and sneak back

With almonds, or plain they hit hunger spot,

But we must watch our diets and cavities and thus cannot eat a lot.

These candies we truly enjoy,

Bringing us back to the wonderful times when we were carefree girls and boys.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

~**~**~

Sing a song

Cynthia Groopman

When days are boring, weary and long,

I ease my sorrow, tension and burdens, and sing a prayer song.

When the bluebird of happiness sputters all around with flare and elegance,

With mirth and celebration, I sing a song of sunshine's radiance.

When I am in a nostalgic frame of mind.

I sing a song and down memory lane love and joy I find.

When the rain pours and gushes all about,

It sings a song in a dripping pounding shout.

When the wind is blowing in a howl,

It sings a whistling song as it groans and growls.

So sing a song in all types of weather,

Certainly, we will all feel humorous and much better.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

 ~**~**~

Our Smiling Queen 

Cynthia Groopman

June is indeed our smiling queen,
With a crown of beautiful gold, adorning her head,
And her maids-in-waiting are fragrant soft roses of a lovely red.
Her face is all aglow, dazzled by a bright smile,
As she charms us with exquisite splendor for a while.
As she regally sits upon her throne of royalty,
Nearby, a humming bird sings cheerfully.
June sings a song of deep love,
And her beauty, serenity, and enchantment, are gifts from angels dwelling in Heaven above.
June's melodic voice is laden with an intense spirit of enthusiastic energy,
As she charms and delights both you and me.
With grass so green and lush, she enriches our lives with deep fascination,
As June sprightly dances in glowing elation.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia L. Groopman

~**~**~

 Technology Woes

Cynthia Groopman

Oh, during the past week,

My screen reader refused to

read and did not speak.

When I arrived home, there were no dial tones,

A silence prevailed when I picked up the telephone.

The server refused to send

emails out,

I became frustrated and began to shout.

The toilet flushometer broke,

Everything seemed to leave me in a state of  not being able to cope.

My cell phone had a problem with its battery,

Oh, technology, why not behave properly.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

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