Lose Myself by Uche Peter Umez
Solid high heels clicked against the hardwood floor. Tall and curvy, she smelled like meatloaf, with a dash of mustard. She had just glided by. Now she stood in front of the table which displayed assorted wines, spirits, lemonades, and mineral water. Curtis, the host, had assumed the role of unofficial barman behind the table mixing drinks; his smiles seemed too generous you wondered if he was familiar with melancholia.
This story has been selected for the StoryTime anthology African Roar 2011, please go to the African Roar site for more info.
Lose Myself was written by Uche Peter Umez.
Copyright Uche Peter Umez 2009.
Uche Peter Umez is the author of Sam and the Wallet [children’s novella], Dark through the Delta (poems), and Aridity of Feelings (poems), and Tears in Her Eyes (short stories). His collection of children’s stories, Tim the Monkey and Other Stories, is forthcoming from African First Publishers.
His awards include: winner, 2008 BSU Creative Writing competition; Highly Commended winner, Commonwealth Short Story Competition, 2006 and 2008 respectively; winner, ANA/Funtime Prize for Children’s Fiction, 2006 and 2008 respectively; finalist/runner-up both for the 2007 Nigerian LNG Prize for Literature, and the 2007 ANA/Lantern Prize for Children’s Literature.
An Alumnus of the International Writing Program (IWP), USA and the Caine Prize for African Writing Workshop, his short fiction, poems, reviews, children’s stories and non-fiction have been published on-line and in print.
He has been selected as a laureate for the 2009 UNESCO-Aschberg Bursary for Artists.
9 comments:
Uche Umez is a great writer of short stories, this one didn't disappoint. There was some POV mix up but otherwise, well done.
As a writer myself, it was easy to empathise with the main character's conflict. For some reason, I expected it come out in the end that his wife had something to do with the encounter with Selena- a trap perhaps. I liked the surprise ending. Well done and looking forward to more of your work
Interesting, Uche! I lost myself in the internal ramblings of your protagonist. A lovely piece... and yes, that the POV were not well anchored. Good one!
Thank you Myne, Masimba and Jude, you guys are the greatest!
will surely look into the oddities, strangely i thought i noticed that, but can't blame the devil's printer but myself, and will remedy the defect...!
COMMENT ON THE MESSAGE OF THE STORY. i can certainly empathize with the ''self struggle'' of the protagonist. self discipline, values and vows, religion- and good old curiosity. I really couldn't wait to know how the story would end( all though it has far from ended for that was only an episode and they`ll certainly jam again . perpetual struggle!!! ...and i really ask the question, how does one calmly go on in a marriage of decades without falling prey to this wanton desires? the depicted scenerio of the tale is blind blowing- women all all races- soft and supple, sweet smelling - and willing....not forgetting that as a writer, an ordered life can be terribly boring and uninspiring for creativity. what do you guys really do out there? everyone sorts himself out best they can? what would i have done? and when you cross the line? will things still ever remain the same for you? will you still have a marriage? or a pack of lies? cos it could happen again and again. the story made my day. the telling was not laborous, it flows...well done Uche. And you currently among Indian women? ya ya ya ...keep the stories coming brother. best.
Thanks, Omale. That story almost got me thinking, and actually originated from a party i attended in US last year(without all the rosy scenes depicted above, though), and my mind started wandering and making up a "conflict" about a chap trying to go "mono" while all around him everybody is letting their heads down and catching fun.
now, i have not crossed the line, and i hope i don't cross it. yes, i am in India, and India is awesome...but much as you like beef, you would have to forgo it for the most part of your stay
cool, ...i can only ask Uche that the gud lord lead my two legs far far away from temptation for i like to be a good man. if you find yourself in the situation that your character did, one is likely to cross that line . so i`d rather not attend,remaining ''anti-social''emmm but Uche where`s the fun incidentally?
ayi-kwei armah esque
cool, ...i can only ask Uche that the gud lord lead my two legs far far away from temptation for i like to be a good man. if you find yourself in the situation that your character did, one is likely to cross that line . so i`d rather not attend,remaining ''anti-social''emmm but Uche where`s the fun incidentally?
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