I was maybe four? Fifty-plus years later, the images remain distinct. Between my parents on the front seat of their Oldsmobile, I stood mesmerized by the convoy of passing U.S. Army vehicles. There must have been at least 100 of the olive green Jeeps, tankers and all manner of show of force. “Where are they going?” “How many are there?” “Do they have guns?” I peppered my parents with questions. I don’t recall the answers....

There was a Facebook post the other day that asked: What object defined your childhood? Loads of comments underneath. Tons of dafties with nothing better to do. Pictures of Space Hoppers, the towers at Ravenscraig imploding, Harry Potter, Tamagotchis, that sort of thing. I only saw all this because my friend had replied: What about all that white dog shite, eh? And everyone went: white dog shite, fair point. Thumbs-ups bi...

“Look!” Cradled in outstretched toddler hand, a treasure. “What is’t?” I surmised immediately the origin and purpose of this newest wonder, I am, however, intrigued as to the deductive powers of my darling Cecily, so remain silent. “Maybe it’s a…” nose to discovery, intricate details examined close, “a…from a robot, like somthun’ that makes him move, a big,” arms held out wide to approximate imagination’s size, “robot and...

What people don’t realise is that death isn’t what they think it is. ~ You find yourself in a waiting room…Sitting comfortably on the couch. It’s not too cold, it’s not too warm…It even comes complete with old school elevator type music. They probably figured a setting as familiar as a doctor’s office would be calming, but then they never met my orthodontist. He is still very much alive and torturing little children with...

Everyone has a story to tell, about who they are, where they came from, what their names mean. Not to boast (okay, I’m boasting a tad) I happen to believe there’s something extra magical about mine. While I don’t believe in organized religion, you might even say it was God’s doing; I happen to believe it’s fate. In order to know my story, you first have to look before me, even before my parents, but to theirs. Their Fathe...

There's a house, in the south, with a room I once dreaded. No-one was murdered there, no-one beheaded. I loved the house, the home of my cousins, But I hated that room, and for that, there's no reason.   On a bend on the stairs, was a step to a door. I would hurry past, though I knew not what for. No reason to worry, there was nothing to fear and yet, when I passed, I could not linger near.   As a child, I would visit, at...

Humpty Dumpty and Three Little Pigs caught the Old Woman in the Shoe, They knocked her and bopped her until they were stopped by a Little Boy Blue. Where have all the nursery rhymes gone? What has up-ended their reign? Was it radio or TV? Or insidious video games?   Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, have you any pull? Is it MTV or X-Box that replaced all your wool? Where have all the jump ropes gone? What has taken their place? Hops...

In my childhood, I had lived in a house without neighbours, so I raised up in a calm sphere, only my brother who I had played with all the time. I felt as I lived in a desolate world.When I was eight years old, one sunny afternoon in March, on arriving from school, I had told mom and my grandmother proudly ( to show that I have friends too) that my girlfriends were coming to my home to play together.At school, I was lonel...

It was the turn of the century before bubble gum filled lollipops had become the obsession of every Zambian child. Cola flavoured lollipops were all the rage back then. I would never quite go as far as saying I would have done anything for one, but I did do something quite shameful once.It was a hot summer morning in the city of Ndola. My mother had just sent me to the neighbour’s house to give her something. What that so...

"You've been good today, so when we get home, you c'n have some ice cream."Aunt Charlotte holds his hand as they walk out of the white clapboarded church into the spring air. Up ahead, at the foot of the steps, Brother Pitman shakes a hand, then another, smiling at each face of a sister or brother. His preaching lasted forever today, with lots of rumbling breaths and flipping his bible back and forth in his hand. Gary tho...

Her imagination is beautiful So precious in all she isPlease don't change a thing Always wanting a hug and a kissThe stories are endless Changing every timeDancing on a big stage Or singing a nursery rhymeLook momma I'm a princess Later I'll be a kitty or a duckTomorrow in a gondola Wading through the muckGive her half a minute She will make you smile With her tutu and bootsShe does so with such style She is not quite thr...

Being a kid, no one minds him as he collects wine bottles around the neighborhood.Every night, he carefully takes out a piece of paper and scribbles anything that comes to his mind. Sometimes a rhyme he learned from school. Sometimes a drawing. Most of the time, little stories his mom reads to him at night.At dusk each day, he runs to the shore and places the bottle on the hollow of a huge rock. Then he hides and waits ne...

I had about five minutes to think this over. Picture this: I’m sitting in the bathroom taking a dump, I have a case of diarrhea and stomach cramping due to having a stomach infection that occurred right after I returned from my trip to Mexico during spring break when I suddenly see a video shared by a Facebook friend. The title reads Things People with Anxiety Want Their Friends to Know. I can’t say I am very concentrated...

I.Depression /dəˈpreSH(ə)n/ noun A mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep. This is just scraping the surface of depression, because there’s so much more. There always is...

I’m not very good at drawing. I can get by, but it’s not exactly my strong point. That being the case, to be able to look back and say, “I won a prize for my artwork,” is quite an achievement.Admittedly, it wasn’t a huge competition that provided me with my moment of glory - “Life Drawing from Nature,” 7 - 10 years category, at the local country fete, to be exact. The prizes on offer were numbered rosettes plus horse ridi...