Stepping into the tent, she shivered. Lit by a single flame burning in a clay pot the tent was chilling. The masquerade mask in the corner, raffia mat covered in blood lying beneath the skull of an ape and the short broom allegedly used to drive demons away worsened her fears.
In a voice like thunder “What can Osimiri do for you today?”
Standing-still , Mrs Ikem swallowed her voice.
“Speak woman! Osimiri despises the faint hearted.”
“I want healing … healing for my son, he is at the brink of death.” she squeaked.
“Osmiri knows this, he has his demands.”
“I will do anything”
“Very well, Osmiri requires the following: one white peacock feather, the toe nail of a black peacock, the croak of a frog and the testicles of a day old white lamb.”
“Ahhh! Where do I get them from?”
“Osmiris’ messenger is willing to help you for a price.”
“How much?
“Thirty thousand naira.”
“Where do I put the money?”
Emerging from the shadows, a dark tall mass draped in red towered over Mrs Ikem “hand it to me.”
Relieved to finally deal with an individual, she proceeded to retrieve the cash from her bag, only halting when she caught a glimpse of an iPad in his hands.
Ehhh! When did native gods start hiring technology savvy messengers?
In Nigeria, to the best of my knowledge traditional doctors aren’t expected to be technological savvy or into gadgets to be more precise: their business is expected to be spiritually not physically aided. Often the ingredient for a cure is ridiculous as I tried to portray in the story. Sorry it went over the limit won’t happen again.
Osimiri – means river (so river god).
In response to the writing challenge flash fiction for aspiring writers hosted by Priceless Joy click on the link to visit the blog. The photograph was provided by Sonya less than a 100 words and the challenge is to write a 100 – 150 words (+/- 25 words) story inspired by it. Do click on the link for other stories.
Written for Nablopomo day seventeen.
Thank you for stopping by.
I like this – meeting of the old and the new. Nice take on the prompt!
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Thanks Sonya. 🙂
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Great story! Very interesting how the spiritualists in Nigera work. I also would be leery if I saw one have an ipad when they clearly aren’t suppose to be into technology. I enjoyed reading this!
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Thanks Joy.
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Great story and I loved your explanation, well done…
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Thanks Michael.
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Very interesting about the god and all his requests. I would not want to have to collect all those items. 🙂
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Neither would I, it’s an impossible mission. Thanks Deborah.
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I think in these stories it usually is. I love these kind of tales. The hero must go on a journey or quest and find something to break the spell. 🙂
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True, thus the quest begins for Mrs Ikem.
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Great story! I love the idea of a traditional doctor with an iPad. It’s a somewhat bizarre contrast.
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I know right! Next we’ll see ghosts having Skype chats. Thanks J .A.
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They have a real scam going on there. Poor lady loses her money and probably won’t get a healing after all. Good story. 🙂
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Thanks Susan, true no healing powers in that tent, just greedy fraudsters.
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this is a lovely story and love how you wrote the prompt. thank you for sharing! ❤
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Awww! Thank you for reading and commenting.
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This is a thoughtful and interesting tale. I like your take on the prompt
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Thank you.
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What a shock it would be to see a god requesting to swipe your credit card on an iPad. I liked the humor in this piece.
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LOL! Thank you, I am happy that came across.
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we all go over sometimes….I am a repeat offender myself! But still short enough to put the “flash” in the fiction 🙂 Love the iPad. Seems like everyone is connected these days
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LOL. True everyone is connected.
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A rare way to ‘pay’ the gods???? Enjoyed.
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Mrs. Ikem’s thoughts exactly, fraudsters much, I think so.
Glad you liked it.
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