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"Tell the World" shares the compelling story of a small group of farmers from the northeast region of the United States who would go on to set the foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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I didn’t feel that spark on our first date but we had such a great time together that I had to ask you out again. And I’m thrilled that I did.
It turns out that you were the one I was meant to be with. Fifteen years and three children later, we’re still going strong. And as for that spark–I felt it on our second date.
This was written for the Ragtag Daily Prompt for today’s prompt, Spark. If you’re interested in participating, click HERE for more information.
Ife saw him waiting for the elevator. She tried not to make it obvious that she was watching him as she pushed the cart down the hallway. She knew he was in no. 406, the Royal suite. He was very handsome and a sharp dresser. He must be rich, she thought. This was a 5-star hotel he was staying in.
He was looking straight ahead and appeared to be in deep thought. He didn’t notice her and when the elevator doors opened, he went inside. After they closed behind him, she continued down the hallway to the different suites she still had to clean. When she got to his, she looked around. It was in impeccable order. The bed looked like it hadn’t been slept in. Out of all the suites on this floor, his was the one she didn’t mind cleaning.
As she got to work, she wondered how long he was staying in Kampala this time. The last time it was for two weeks and the time before that, three. He wasn’t the first Japanese businessman she had seen in the hotel or in Kampala. More and more Japanese were flocking to the city to live, holiday or set up businesses. Was he planning to live here or to set up a business? What about his family? Did he have a wife and children? He looked young–in his mid to late thirties.
Well, it was none of her business. A man like him would not be interested in her–a single mother working as a maid in a fancy hotel and living in a run-down neighborhood. And they were from different cultures. No, she would be better off finding and marrying a decent Ugandan man who wouldn’t mind being a step-father to her daughter.
Toshiro leaned against the tree, looking up at the hotel. She was probably in his suite 
now. He knew that she was watching him as he waited for the elevator. He could feel her eyes on him. He appeared not to have noticed or acknowledged her but he had. The temptation to look at her was very strong but he resisted. She could be married for all he knew and he was in a relationship.
To be honest, he was staying at this hotel because of her. The first time he saw her was last year when they passed each other in the hallway. Their eyes met and held for a long time before she lowered hers. Since then, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her or wanting to see her again. Perhaps, one of these days, he would say hello to her. There was no harm in that, was there?
Just then a taxi pulled up in front of the hotel’s entrance. He glanced at his watch. It was time to go to the meeting. Moving away from the tree, he hurried over to the taxi and climbed. As it drove off, he glanced up at the fourth floor. Hopefully, he would see her again tomorrow.
This is a prequel to Ife’s Toilet Crisis.
Photo by Sue Vincent
This was the tree where David and I met after school. He was the sweetest boy I ever knew and I always imagined that one day we would get married and have lots of children. It never occurred to me that laws would soon be put in place to make relationships such as ours illegal.
As soon as school was let out, I ran to the tree and he would be waiting for me. He was so tall and handsome with thick black hair and gentle brown eyes. We would hold hands and kiss but that was as far as things went. We would sit under the tree and talk for hours. Parting from him was always hard. I always willed the hours because I couldn’t wait to see him again.
Then one day, I showed up and for the first time he wasn’t there. I waited for hours but he never came. I was understandably frantic. After several days went by and still no sign of him, I decided to go by his father’s shop and was appalled to see the word, “Jude” painted across the window and the star of David. The shop was empty. I ran home and asked my father what had happened to David. My father sat me down and explained to me that the Germans had moved the Jews to the Ghetto. I learned that they were banned from from entering certain streets, squares, parks, woods and other public places. That meant that David and I couldn’t meet by the tree anymore. It was in the woods. David couldn’t go to my brother’s school any more.
After my father finished telling me everything he knew, I went to my room where I cried and cried. David who was forced to live like an animal because of deeply rooted hatred. My world had become a dark and ugly place of intolerance and ignorance. I wanted so desperately to see him but it was out of the question. My father told me it was best to forget about David. There was no future for us. He was a Jew.
I knew that I would never forget David. I loved him. He was my first and only love. And I never gave up hope that we would be together again–not even when I learned that the Jews had been deported to concentration camps. No one was willing to take them in and for some Jews, going into hiding would break up their families and that was unthinkable, especially those who with children.
The years went by, the war raged on and I became a nurse. My father died of a heart-attack a couple of days after his fiftieth wedding anniversary. Only my mother and I were left. My brother was killed years ago after he was arrested for being a part of a resistance movement against the Nazi Regime. My parents were devastated but I was proud of him for fighting against evil. I only wish I had the guts to do something too. Instead I prayed that David and his family would somehow survive and that when the war was over I would see him again.
Well, the war is over and I’m the only surviving member of my family. My mother died from a stroke a month ago. I buried her next to my father.
Tomorrow is my birthday but I have no one special to celebrate it with. It’s a nice afternoon so I decided to go for a walk in the park. I head straight for the tree. A man stood there with his back to me. He was wearing a hat and a trench coat. Something about him looked familiar. My heart began to beat faster. I could feel the color drain from my cheeks. “David?” My voice was barely above a whisper and yet he heard me.
He turned around slowly. “Ingrid.” He removed his hat and stepped forward.
“David!” I cried again and then we were in each other’s arms, laughing, crying and kissing. I don’t know how long we did that and I didn’t care. All I knew was that David, my David was alive. He had survived the ghetto, the camp and the war.
This was written for the #writephoto Prompt – Rooted at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo.
Sources: Holocaust Encyclopedia; Oxford Academic; Holocaust
When I was pregnant, I didn’t experience any morning sickness. I have heard of some women who experience it with the one pregnancy but not the other. Some, like Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, however, suffer from severe morning sickness known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum? It literally means “excessive vomiting in pregnancy”. Hyperemesis starts early, usually before week five of pregnancy.
In some cases it is so severe that the woman has to be hospitalized. Hospital treatment may include:
Some women might require bed rest but not too much. My cousin’s wife needed bed rest for both of her pregnancies. Other treatments include herbs such as ginger and peppermint; homeopathic remedies prescribed by your doctor; hypnosis and Acupressure. The pressure point where you can reduce nausea is located at the middle of the inner wrist. It’s three finger lengths from the crease of the wrist between the two tendons. When you locate it, you press one wrist firmly at a time for three minutes. Sea bands can also be used and are available at the drugstore.
Before trying anything, always consult your doctor. For more information on hyperemesis gravidarum you check out HER (Hyperemesis Education & Research) Foundation.
Two things you ought to know: your baby isn’t at risk. William and Kate are parents of three beautiful, robust children. In a post, a woman suffering from HG, gained only 12 pounds by 41 weeks pregnant gave birth to a 7.5 boy which is average. She cautions mothers not to assume that because the Duchess of Cambridge suffered from HG during all three of her pregnancies, it means that you will every time you’re pregnant.
Studies vary, but most find that women have a good chance of experiencing HG in future pregnancies. Statistics suggest over 50% will have it with each pregnancy and those with more than one experience of HG have a greater risk of experiencing HG in future pregnancies. It also seems to occur in similar patterns and severity, though it is not always consistent. Those who have mothers, grandmothers, or sisters who have had HG will often have at least some nausea and vomiting during pregnancy – HER Foundation
Don’t let these studies discourage you, Moms. Hang in there.
Sources: American Pregnancy; Baby Center
After I lost Bill, I never thought I’d ever love again or even want to be in another relationship. I was an old woman with children and grandchildren. I was content to live a quiet, unassuming life, puttering around in my garden and swimming. Then, I met you. You reminded so much of Bill. If I’d known you were a charlatan…
61 Words
This is for the Weekend Writing Prompt by Sammi Cox. For instructions, click HERE.
Young and sassy are the words my husband use to describe me. We are opposites. He’s an introvert and I’m an extrovert. He’s in his mid-fifties with grey sideburns but he still has the body and libido of a much younger man. I’m in my late twenties and I’m trying to keep up with him.
We met last year when a mutual friend invited a group of people to Maui for a week of sun and fun. Lorenzo didn’t go with anyone and nor did I. We were immediately attracted to each other and for the rest of the vacation, we were inseparable.
A year and four months later, we are newlyweds. For our honeymoon we went on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise which ended in Venice, the city of love. After we spent two days there, we headed to Milan to visit his family. We figured we might as well since we were in Italy.
I must say that although I half-expected it, it still came as a bitter disappointment when his parents made it painfully obvious that they didn’t approve of me. No doubt my color had more to do with it than my age. His teenage children from his previous marriage were polite but I could tell that they didn’t approve either. Being married to me meant that their father wasn’t going to return to Milan or reconcile with their mother.
I feel sorry for them. When my parents divorced and my father remarried, I was upset. I wasn’t nice to my step-mother, Violet because she ruined all chances of my parents getting back together. It took years for me to get over that disappointment and be civil to Violet. Now, she and I are friends. And I can see how happy she makes my father. I hope that one of these days, Lorenzo’s children will come around too. He’s the love of my life and his happiness means the world to me.
Lorenzo and I ended up spending only two days in Milan and then we were off to Rome. I loved Rome–the people, the food and the piazzas. On our last night, we visited Piazza Navona and enjoyed a couple of gelato as we admired Bernini’s perfectly lit Fountain of the Four Rivers.
Lorenzo and I were sorry to leave Italy but we were excited about beginning our life as a married couple and moving into our new home overlooking Central Park. It took a while for me to get back into a routine because of jet-lag.
Ten weeks have passed since our honeymoon and I’m standing in front of my enormous closet, looking at the designer clothes, bags and shoes I brought back from Milan and Rome. As I look through the outfits a smile tugs at my lips. I can’t wait to see Lorenzo’s face when I tell him the good news tonight over a home cooked dinner. We have two wonderful reasons to celebrate.
That’s right. We’re going to have twins. Whether they are boys or girls or one of each, we won’t know for some time or maybe, we’ll decide to wait to find out. Already, I’m making plans to turn the extra bedroom into a nursery and I’m just dying to go shopping for the babies.
The chiming of the clock reminds me that I have to get dinner ready. I close the closet doors and leave the bedroom. I’m going to make sure that tonight is a very special night for Lorenzo.
I’ve been learning to cook Italian dishes thanks to Jamie Oliver. I’m going to make tasty tuna meatballs with pasta and Caesar salad. And for desert, what else but his favorite–pistachio gelato from our favorite neighborhood gelato place.
After dinner and when we’re relaxing in the living-room, then I will tell him that we’re going to have twins. And then, we celebrate with a bottle of
This was written for the Ragtag Daily Prompt for Sunday’s word: closet and Monday’s word: jet. If you’re interested in participating, click HERE for more information.
My name is Ezra and I’m an Angolan woman married to Francisco, a Portuguese businessman. We have been married for ten years. We have two children, a boy named Bento and a girl named Mafalda. We live in Luanda. During the week, I’m at home alone because Rodrigo is at the office and the children are in school. I’m a housewife and I love it. I love taking care of my family.
From the time I was seven years old, I knew that I wanted to be a homemaker when I was older. My mother, God bless her soul, was my inspiration. I watched her work tirelessly and happily to take care of the home, my father, my siblings and me. When I was old enough, I helped around the house. She taught me how to cook and keep a clean house. She told me that one day I would be a wife and it was best to start learning how to do things as early as possible. Sadly, she didn’t live to see me get married or hold her grandchildren. My father and my siblings were at my wedding. They were happy for me and warmly welcomed Rodrigo into the family. They weren’t upset that I married a European man instead of an African man.
Rodrigo and I met when I was working as a cook at a restaurant owned by a family friend. He came in there one day to have lunch with a client. After having my Fish Calulu, he wanted to meet me to personally compliment me on the dish. Feeling a little self-conscious after being in the hot kitchen all morning and not having enough time to fix myself up, I went into the dining-room. He stood up as I approached. He was tall and very attractive in his expensive looking grey suit. I was immediately attracted to him. He smiled and said in Portuguese, “I wanted to personally tell how much I enjoyed the Fish Calulu. It’s the best I’ve ever had.”
I smiled shyly. “Thank you.”
His client had left so we were alone. “My name is Rodrigo,” he said, extending his large hand. I looked at it before placing my hand in it. The long fingers closed over mine in a firm handshake.
“I’m Ezra.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ezra. I wonder if you would like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
I gulped. He was asking me out on a date. I could hardly believe it. It took a moment for me to say, “Yes.”
“Good. I’ll meet you here at eight. “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.” I watched him leave and then returned to the kitchen.
The following night we went for dinner at a popular Portuguese restaurant. Afterwards, we went for a drive. We saw each other regularly after that and the following year, we got married. I quit my job at the restaurant after learning that I was pregnant with Bento.
Life with Rodrigo ideal. Our sex life is amazing and sometimes, we indulge in role play which add a little spice to the marriage. Lately, I have been dressing up as a slave girl while he pretends to be my slave master. But this is happening way too often. He wants to do it for every lovemaking session.
Last night, he pulled my dress down about my waist and turned me around so that my bare back was to him and had me hug the bedpost. He got the whip he had bought from one of those sex stores and started to use it on me. It didn’t hurt but Rodrigo wanted me to pretend that it did. When he was done, he dragged the dress off and threw me down on the bed. I lay there while he ravaged me, staring up at the ceiling and wondering if this nightmare would ever end. What had started out as harmless fun had become something I dreaded and desperately wanted to stop. I wanted to be his wife and lover again not his slave.
I’m sitting here in the kitchen, staring out at the window. I have made up my mind to tell Rodrigo that I’m not going to be his slave in the bedroom anymore. And if he cares about me and our marriage, he will respect my wishes. Worst case scenario, I will pack up and leave. And of course, take Bento and Mafalda with me.
Hours later, I’m in the bedroom and Rodrigo walks after taking a long, hot shower. He’s stark naked and by the looks of him, he’s in the mood. I’m standing by the bed, wearing one of my nightgowns. The slave girl garb was tossed in the garbage along with the whip. I was very determined not to subject myself to that again. Before he could say anything, I said, “Rodrigo, I’m Ezra, your wife, not your slave girl. I don’t ever want to play that role again. I didn’t mind doing it the first few times but you want to do it every time and it’s no longer fun for me. It has become degrading. I refuse to do it any more.”
Rodrigo stared at me. Silence filled the room and I found myself holding my breath as I waited for him to say something. He came over to me and putting his hands on my shoulders, he said as his eyes met mine. “Me desculpe, querida. I’m sorry. I should have realized that this particular type of role playing would affect you. It was very insensitive of me. Please forgive me.”
Relief washed over me like a tidal wave and I hugged him around the waist and buried my face in his chest. He will never know how close I came to leaving him if he had not respected my wishes.
Role-play in marriages is healthy and exciting but make sure that both of you are having fun. Never indulge in role-play which will demean or devalue either of you.
