PROJECT PEN: STAGE ONE

PART II

BLIND IMPRESSION STAGE

WELCOME BACK to the second episode of first stage of Project Pen, 2022 called the BLIND IMPRESSION STAGE!🎉

Before we go on, can we take a chance to give a STANDING OVATION to the contestants who were here in the first episode (in the previous page)!🎉🎉

So, we will just pick up from where we left off, and let us welcome in the contestants in Batch A once again;

001              Ayinkus

002              Ohhveeohh

003              YourCrypticGrey

004.             JagunJagun

005              A.b. Cleo

006              Lucifer's Baby

007              DD Marx

008              S.A Writer

009              The Purple Writer

010              Fiyinfoluwa

011             Akira_16

013             Orianna

014             Pam

Continuing from where we left off yesterday, we will be seeing the works of Contestants 008 to 014, and be getting the JUDGES REVIEWS on all these wonderful works!

Note that, all we will get to see now is the Judges Reviews, and until the next week, after Batch B Contestants go for their own round of the Blind Impression Stage, the final results of the Stage One, the list of Green Liners, Red Liners, and Gold liners (if any), the two evicted Contestants, and the final list of Contestants who made it to the Stage Two, will NOT be announced yet. So, stay tuned, and see what the final verdict from the Judges will be!

Now, let the show begin!!

Introducing our very first Contestant for the episode;

S.A Writer 008
SENTENCE PROMPT: SHE GAVE THE BEST HUGS.

One... Two... Three. I struggled to control the pace of my frantic breathing. The tears stung beneath my eye lids and I closed my eyes willing the sickening despair that clung to the walls of my stomach to go away. I was finally able to still my shaking hands as my eyes lifted to her unconscious body on the bed, the oxygen mask was connected to her nose and it's been a whole week since she was last conscious. Perhaps if I had closed my eyes once more, it would just be a bad dream that would slowly drift away. But I knew It wasn't. It wasn't a bad dream, every bit of it was real as it could be. I could recall every single thing that had occurred in the space of one week and a half. We had gotten into an argument over me coming home late, she had perceived the smell of weed from me.

Even if I had tried to deny it, she would have known I was lying. I couldn't deceive her even if I wanted to. She didn't approve of my constant habit of getting high in the past few weeks. Which typical african mum would have approved of it anyways? It had led to another argument between us. I remembered stomping to my room in petty anger and banging the door on her face. I recalled the whole house being silent while I miserably sulked in my guilt and when I had finally gotten the courage to apologise to her, I had found her passed out and unmoving, her pulse almost becoming nonexistent.

I was filled with the over whelming urge to pull my hair out of its roots in my anguish, I hated this feeling of helplessness that had mercilessly engulfed me.

I was fucking selfish, i was the definition of everything that screamed self centered. How could I not know that she wasn't okay? How could I not know that she was getting worse by the day?  I was a horrible son. I failed her. I promised I was going to better than my father but here I was pushing her to an early grave.

Stop it, it isn't your fault, you couldn't have know that she was going to slump at that moment.
But it was. I wanted to take it all back, my careless spew of words, the comebacks, the arguments. I wanted to take it all back. I didn't mean to trigger her, I didn't mean to hurt to her. She was my mother, the only person that didn't think I was a failure. I loved her. I bitterly chuckled under my breath, nothing was funny but here I was laughing, bitter, desperate and angry. It's what I did best wasn't it? I always hurt the people that I love.

I buried my face in-between my hands, constantly reassuring myself that everything was going to be fine, that she wasn't going to leave me, that I was going to finally get the chance that I needed to become a better son, that I was more than just a hopeless drug addict, that I was more than a failure and a useless son, that I loved her. I grabbed her hands in between mine, they were so cold. I didn't know when I began to sob quietly.

  I wanted the pain to go away, for once I just wanted to do things right. I felt the universe had a personal vendetta against me. If there was a God in heaven, I hoped He could see how over come with misery I was.
"Please mom, look at me" I whispered, gently raising her hand to my lips. I hoped for a miracle, any form of miracle. I didn't believe in miracles but I needed to keep my hope alive.

"Jeffery?" My eyes quickly lifted to the door as Laura stared at me, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"Laura" I whispered as I hastily wiped at the tears on my face.

"What are you doing here?"

She quickly walked up to me.

"What kind of question is that? I'm your best friend you moron, who is supposed to be here if not me?" She glared at me and my lips lifted up into an amused smile.

She does that to me, without having to do anything she assures me, almost makes me believe the world is full of rainbows, ponies and happy endings. Sometimes I wonder how she doesn't know that I was hopelessly Inlove with her.

Then tell her!

I couldn't. I didn't want things to go awry and akward between us, I was contented with taking anything and everything I could get from her, even if it was just her friendship. I loved her too much to lose her. Her eyes turned soft again as she stared at me, She lifted her finger to wipe off a stray tear that ran down my face.

"Jeffery, you've been crying?" she softly whispered and then she giggled and shook her head.

"I say the most stupid things sometimes, look how swollen your eyes are and yet I still ask you if you've been crying"

She gently wrapped her hands around my torso, leaning her body into mine. It was a bit akward because I was way huge and taller while she was on the smaller side but It was perfect. Laura always gave the best hugs. It was almost  like she had the power to effortlessly drain my pain away from me and make it nonexistent. I closed my eyes at the soothing sensation of her hands gently caressing my hair, my heart beat slowed In relief and I inhaled her scent of Jasmine and lavender. She always smelled so good plus her hugs were heavenly. She gave the best hugs.

In that moment I wasn't ashamed of breaking down, I wasn't ashamed of my mistakes and I wasn't afraid of a terrifying unknowing future. In the moment it was just her and me, with the comfort of her soothing and sating hug and me basking in relief.

It was okay not to be ok.

"It's going to be ok" she repeated my words of assurance and I only sighed content.

"Bia! I hope you people are not planning on commiting fornication while I'm dying on my hospital bed" my arms fell limp In shock as I quickly turned to look at my mother. She was staring back at me, with tired eyes and an amused smile. My breath caught in my throat.

"Mom!"

"Aunty Monica!"

" You're awake!"

The End.

Host: Now, what do the Judges have to say about this lovely piece?? Let's find out!

JUDGES REVIEWS

Judge Orange✨

It's overall an okay piece.

In my opinion, it felt a bit rushed. It was  almost hard to read. Imagery was a bit weak, and it was a bit hard to decipher between thoughts and actions. It all seemed too abrupt. It looked somewhat unedited to me too, and in many places, there were punctuations lacking and that is something I want the writer to work on. This work truthfully does not seem to me like it was given its best. It could have been better.

Judge White✨

There were a lot of Punctuation errors, commas where they weren't supposed to be, full stops when the sentences should have continued and sometimes, no punctuations at all. There were so many perambulations, and it was unnecessary wordy like you just wanted to extend your word count. You could have conveyed the character's guilt without the theatrics and in much simpler words that would still do justice to what you have in mine.

The story all together could have been better executed and put together.

Judge Gold✨

Your story captivated me right from the first paragraph. You were able to infuse a lot of things into a short story and it was amazing

Judge Silver✨

I liked this. Wished you gave an extra push for the storyline but liked it nonetheless. One or two grammatical errors here and there but the description filled up the empty spaces the mistakes dug up.

Judge Rainbow✨

Apart from a few punctuation mistakes, I loved your piece. I felt Jeffery's guilt, regret and everything. His promises to be a better son had me too, and I hope he would actually keep to that promise oh. I'm also quite relieved that Mama Jeffery didn't die.

THE PURPLE WRITER 009

SENTENCE PROMPT: SHE GAVE THE BEST HUGS
TITLE: LOVE, ZAR.

"Zayyad! Are you okay?! I ran into Jubril at the party and he said I should check up on you but he wouldn't tell me why." Zaria said as she walked into her twin brother's room. Zayyad, on the other hand, sat up hurriedly from his bed and wiped his tears. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw his bloodshot eyes and since he doesn't drink, she figured he must have been crying.

"Abdulmajid, have you been crying? What am I even asking, why are you crying?" Worry lines framed her mouth and tugged at her eyes. Saying she was surprised to see him crying would be an understatement. Since they were kids, Zayyad had always hid his feelings, so much that their mom had feared that he was suffering from some kind of disorder.

"I wasn't crying. Why are you back from the party early?" He asked, trying to change the topic.

"I could ask you the same and I'm not blind, I know what I saw. Why are you crying?!" Zaria demanded.

"Zaria, I wasn't cr…," his voice trailed off at the stern look etched on her face. With slump shoulders and drooping eyelids, he continued, "You were right, she has been cheating on me."

Zaria didn't need a soothsayer to know that he was referring to his girlfriend. Her temper sparked instantly. "That bitch! I knew it!" She rushed over and sat beside him. "I'm sorry Zay. I'm here. You'll be fine, okay?" She pulled him into one of the tight hugs she is famous for.
Her hugs, right from when they were kids, had this almost magical way of calming him and making him pour out his emotions and feelings. The same feelings he refused to let out to anyone.

"Why? What didn't I do for her? Whenever she complained about anything, I made sure to change. Heck! I even started going to parties just to please her, so why?" He cried into her arms.

Zaria remained quiet, running her hand soothingly on his back. "She even had the nerve to flaunt it in my face and to think it was with someone I consider my friend. I always wondered why she couldn't stand Michael, never knew it was just a front to deceive me. You know, there's was one day in school that I asked her why she doesn't like Michael and you know what Tiolu told me, she said it's because he sleeps around and that he has probably slept with half of the girls in our class."

"Zar," he continued, calling her nickname. "Am I not good enough for her? For anyone?"

"Shut up!" Zaria snapped, pulling away from the hug. "I wouldn't have you question your self-worth just because of…" she hissed before continuing in disdain, "…because of that girl. Zayyad, you loved that girl and she turned around and did this to you, how is that your fault?"

"I'm not talking about Tiolu alone," he sighed. "The scouts from NBA didn't pick me."

"Hmm?!" Zaria's eyes widened even more than it did the first time. Her brother had been preparing all term for this. Since the announcement at the beginning of the term, he had been training extra hard just to get selected by the scouts and now this.
"Come here," she said, pulling him into another affection filled hug. "Zay, even though the scouts didn't pick you, you saw the people they picked, ask yourself what qualities they have that you don't have. Work on them and I'm sure by the next time the scouts would come, you'd be selected. You hear?"

He nodded and she continued, "and as for Tiolu, just try and take your mind off it. It might be hard but just try, okay? If you need to talk about it or anything, remember," she pulled away and looked him in the eye.

"Zaria dey for you," she finished in a sing-song voice.

"Are you Starboy?" He chuckled.

She stuck her tongue out at him, "Whatever. I think the reason Jubril didn't tell me what happened was because he knew I was going to kill Tiolu if I knew. That girl had better not cross paths with me…" she was saying before her brother's loud laughter interrupted her. "What? Why are you laughing?"

Instead of answering, he pulled her up and made her stand in front of the human-sized standing mirror and said, "Zar, look at yourself in the mirror. Do you look like someone that can fight? Zaria, you and I know that you can't do anything to Tiolu." He paused and added teasingly, "except if you will hug her to death."

Smacking his head, she retorted, "that's a lie. And to think I want to kill someone for your sake."

"Ouch! Why are you so violent?" He chuckled. "Relax, besides you give the best hugs and I think Tiolu will need it when Michael abandons her like he did to his last ten and counting girlfriends."

They chuckled. Zayyad sighed with resignation, "I still can't believe the scouts didn't pick me." Once again, Zaria pulled him in a tight embrace that calmed his nerves and made him forget his problems for a while.

"You'll be fine, Zayyad. We're in this together. You know I love you, right?" She felt his head bob on her shoulder. "I love you, mum loves you, dad loves you and even Zahil too. We all love you and we're proud of you."

He heaved a sigh. "Thank you for everything, for every time. The encouragements, advices, your hugs when I'm down and let's not forget the food," he chuckled. "Thank you for being the best twin sister ever, Zaria. I love you so much."

"You're welcome and besides, if I'm not a good twin to you, who will I be a good twin to? It's okay." She pulled away from the hug and in unison, they smiled at each other. One could feel the love and appreciation oozing out of the identical twins.

JUDGES REVIEWS

Judge Silver✨

Nothing much to say, I admired the sibling bond, It was sweet and cute.
But, I preferred if you had pushed the story in a different light and added something different and a bit more magic, if you know what I mean. It was a sweet story that just needed a sprinkle of spice. 

Judge Rainbow✨

The twin/sibling bond and love shown had me awwning.🥹  but I didn't really feel the emotions that much in this piece. I feel you can improve on that. But, I see potential.

Judge Black✨

Love, affection, heartbreak, sibling bond, cuteness overload, the prompt execution! I saw and felt it all.

Judge White✨

The story needs a little work. It was almost bland because the emotions weren't well portrayed and I couldn't feel anything as I read. I couldn't feel the pain of the character that was cheated on and I didn't really feel the twin intimacy with his twin sister. I saw it, you showed it, but I didn't feel it if you get what I mean. You were mostly showing, not telling.

Judge Gold✨

Your story could have been good but I could hardly feel anything while reading.

Judge Orange✨

This made me smile. It wasn't perfect, but it was worth the read. I like the fact that the use of words was simple and neat, but for some reason, I failed to feel much impact from it. I loved the twins' relationship though. Their conversation was beautiful; it made me blush for them. If there's anything I will commend the writer for, it's their character execution.

In conclusion, it was a good story. It was not the best I have read so far, but it was good.

FIYINFOLUWA 010
SENTENCE PROMPT: SHE GAVE THE BEST HUGS

The night was chilly. He decided to go for a walk in the estate. This time, he wanted to clear his head and have a breath of fresh air. That was exactly what he needed.

He'd been facing too many problems, too many that drove him crazy. His mental health was a blaring negative. All he wanted was peace, quiet and serenity. He had been living like this for a long time. Losing his father in an accident, and also losing his mother's love and legs to that same accident. If only he wasn't graduating that day. Maybe they wouldn't have come to see him.

He sighed to himself and put his hands into the pockets of his varsity jacket. His phone vibrated and began to ring and he pulled it out from his pocket. It was his girlfriend calling.

"Where are you?"

She asked immediately he picked the call. She had been his best friend since the era of their wearing of diapers. Now they had both grown and were this close to finishing high school. She knew everything about him. From his family problems, to his own problems, to every secret about him unknown to his family.

He asked her out in their tenth grade and she didn't waste time before saying yes. News spread like wildfire and they both reigned as the cutest couple in the whole of their school.
He found happiness with her. Yes, he did.

But that didn't mean his own problems stopped.

"On a walk," he replied his girlfriend.

"Why?"

"To clear my head." He wasn't completely lying because that was what he told himself and that was what he told her also. But the truth was, he couldn't afford to stay in that house for even a second. He'd probably become crazy from all the toxicity and tension that ruled that house.

"What are you wearing? A varsity jacket, right?"

His girlfriend made him laugh at how she guessed what he was wearing correctly. Varsity jackets were his thing. His favorite style of dressing. A type of jacket that matched best with sneakers, soothing match of colors and beautiful, peaceful shades. They were the best, really.

"Are you laughing at me?" His girlfriend gasped, sounding offended which only made him laugh more.

"What comb'?"

He knew she rolled her eyes while saying that.

"Red and white."

"I see. Turn around."

He did as she said, slowly and in a depth of confusion. He turned around only to see his girlfriend waving at him with the brightest smile on her face, feet away from where he stood.
He shook his head in amusement and began walking towards her. She was the best, really.

Finally, he got to where she stood and they both dwelled in silence for minutes. She decided to break it.

"How've you been, 'Mir?"

All it took for his walls to break down was that one question that consisted of four words. All it took for him to lose it was the sincere look of concern on his girlfriend's face.

"I fought with Mum." He replied and exhaled shakily. "She thinks I'm a curse."

Ya Allah, his girlfriend thought immediately. That was really harsh coming from Ma Abdallah, Amir's mother.

"I don't know what to think again. I'm starting to feel like a curse, honestly."

"Hey, no." His girlfriend stopped him before he could say anymore and stretched out her arms. "Come here," she gestured for him and when he bent down to rest his chin on her shoulder—since he was really tall, 6'2 and she was just 5'2'—both of them chuckled at each other. She shivered in the hug and sighed while running a hand through his hair and running the other up and down his back.

They both stayed like that for minutes, in peaceful, comfortable silence that spoke louder than words.

"You know what?"

"What?" She mumbled.

"There's a girl I know. She's really pretty. And guess what...?" He teased.

"What?" She groaned in mock exasperation.

"She didn't know she gave the best hugs."

"Oh, you... Gosh."

He burst into laughter after withdrawing from the hug and seeing his girlfriend blushing furiously. "She really does give the best hugs."

JUDGES REVIEWS

Judge Orange✨

I wish I could rate this story higher, because the writer seemed to have some good writing techniques, but the plot was weak and didn't seem to have enough solidity to it. It was mediocre in my opinion.

Judge Blue✨

This is nice though, but kinda dull for me. I didn't really understand the emotions of the story. The  story needs work but you tried. And there were some places where I had to double-check to understand, like: His mother losing her legs. I thought it was him at first though.

Judge Silver ✨

Okay, I liked the storyline, the character execution was great and clear even with the limited words. The punctuations were spot on and the work was well organized.

But, I didn't feel the emotions, this was someone who had lost his father, whose mother now deemed him a curse, and who felt the accident was partially his fault and yet I couldn't feel his grief. I knew he was sad and all but I just couldn't feel it. Also, I don't really fancy how the prompt was laid out.

Judge White✨

This storyline had a lot of potential but I'm sorry to say, you failed to bring it out. There is a lot you could have done but didn't do. You didn't make us feel the guilt of the character, you were just telling us "My mum thinks I'm a curse, I think I am too," We didn't feel his pain. And then you failed to make the hug emotional, you only told us about the height difference of the lead and his girlfriend, there was zero chemistry.

I'm sorry to say but the storyline was underutilized, and so was your word count. Maybe you were being too conscious not to exceed the giving word count, but then there were unnecessary descriptions you gave that could have been replaced with a more heartfelt one.

AKIRA_16 011

SENTENCE PROMPT: SHE GAVE THE BEST HUGS.

She sat worriedly and anxiously on the stool with her elbows on her knees and her face in between her palms. The curtain made a wavy movement as the heavy wind made it entrance through the opened window.

"Oh my goodness, she left a day before yesterday for study dates with her friends and now she's not back. I have called her friends phones but none of them are picking up their phones, even her phone is switched off..." She mumbled worriedly as she stared out the door, ignoring the rain that kept sprinkling unto the door step, the muddy and not cemented floor absorbed the sprinkles.

The thunder struck and she looked up, the lightening that followed sketched out a figure outside the door. Her palms automatically covered her mouth in shock as she stared at her only daughter all wet and rough, tears welled up in her eyes as waves of relief flushed over her. She stood up, running towards the door and engulfed her daughter into a warm and comfortable hug.

"Eh eh Asake. You scared me, your friends weren't picking up and-"

"I lied mom...I lied." Asake's words came out low and monotonic and she frowned, she pulled away from the hug and cupped her daughter's cheeks then frowned. Asake was crying.

Asake stepped away from the door and crouched unto the floor beside the wall, burying her face in between her pushed up knees. She locked the door and crouched down before her daughter.

"Asake, what happened? You told me you were going to have two nights study dates with your-"

"It was a lie, mom. I'm so sorry for lieing, I thought he was who I really thought he was-"

"He?" She cut her daughter off, Asake held gaze with her mother for a split second but dropped her gaze to the floor beside her; ashamed.

"I'm so sorry...I had a boyfriend not to long ago, he was nice to me, he helped me with my studies at school too, he was so pure that I...I-" Asake stopped as her sobs were getting in her way of speaking.

She placed her hands on Asakes's shoulders and gave it a little squeeze, "What happened?" She asked calmly and Rebecca gulped, gaining the courage, she looked up at her mother.

"He tried to rape me. I swear, I mean, I know...I shouldn't have gotten a boyfriend in the first, I should have remembered all your teachings and words when he was brainwashing me with kind and sweet words. I wished I had listened." Rebecca bursted into tears, Her mother smiled, she clapped Rebecca's back gently.

"Now you understand when I say that not all comes the way they appear. It's good, you've learnt from your mistakes. I know you would never fall for it again," She said calmly as she raised Asake's head up, her daughter nodded vigorously and she smiled.

"I will never ever fall for it again, mom. I promise," Asake promised and She chuckled softly. It was obvious that her daughter was still in shock due to the way her body was shivering.

"I was so worried." She said and Asake mouthed an inaudible sorry, "Oh dear, come here," She opened her arms wide for her daughter, Asake accepted the hug with a smile, a tear rolled down her cheek in the process and she sniffed in.

"Mom?" Asake called quietly and she looked down at her child.

"Yes child?"

"You're warm." Asake commented and She chuckled softly.

"What do you expect? I've been wrapped up in this warm house for hours, you know?" Asake laughed shortly at her mom's excuse for being warm. The heat that emitted from her body gave a warm welcome to Rebecca's cold and shivering body.
She rested her chin on her daughter's head and hummed a tune. Most African mother's would have shouted and beaten their daughters even after their confession, some would starve their daughters for a day so that they could learn their lesson, some might not even believe the whole story about their daughter escaping a rape scene, in some homes, it would have been a terrible moment.

Some parents needs to understand that their teens needs them the most at this time of their age, they need parents who would bring them back to the ground with a strict but careful way, a parent who would hug them most times and make them feel special, not the ones who would beat them everytime and that was why she has always been there for her daughter; Asake, even though Asake could be strong headed sometimes, she was always there for her, putting her through some words of advice.
She pulled her daughter closer, Asake smiled, not knowing what was running through her mother's mind, *This is so comfortable * Asake thought with a deep sigh, she suddenly flashed back to herself in grade seven when she won a medal in a swimming competition and her mother had come running, engulfing her into a similar and comforting hug; she grinned.

*I bet she doesn't even know that she gives the best hugs ever *

JUDGES REVIEWS

Judge Orange✨

The story was interesting. It gripped me from start to finish, and I wanted to see how it all played out. I am only ticking off this one as good because the writer appeals to me as a natural storyteller.

Judge Pink✨

I love the message the writer was trying to pass across and I enjoyed it.

Judge Black✨

I love the fact that the writer tried to teach a lesson in less than a thousand words and I could also see where the prompt came in. Brilliant. But I couldn't really sympathize with the characters. I think I felt the opposite of what I was supposed to feel.

Judge Purple✨

The writer tried to teach a lesson, which is a good thing. But I didn't feel any emotions. I got no emotions from reading the story. It was just so plain. The writer didn't do justice to the storyline.

Judge Gold✨

*I shouldn't have gotten a boyfriend in the first.*

Place was omitted in the sentence above and even though it's just a minute mistake, this is a contest and you should have given extra attention to your work but then, you told a very nice story with an important lesson.

ORIANNA 013
SENTENCE PROMPT: SHE GAVE THE BEST HUGS

I’m finally on my lunch break. I sighed in relief as I pulled my phone out of my handbag. The lawyers in this building never seem to give the associates any breaks. They don’t cut us any slack either. My colleague Henrietta had almost gotten fired today because she misspelt a few words when she was typing out  a recorded dissolution. Speaking of Henrietta…

“Whatcha doing?” She asked suddenly appearing in front of my cubicle. I was used to this so I didn’t jump in fright.

“Enjoying my break” I said before tapping on the Instagram icon.

“Don’t you want to hangout with the others?” She asked.

“Nope” I said while scrolling through Instagram. It was almost like my for you page was broken. All the posts I had seen so far were things I wasn’t interested in. Tarot cards, Stranger things edits, MBTI types, had Henrietta been using my phone again?

I was just about to ask her when I saw a picture. I smiled feeling nostalgic which Henrietta obviously interpreted as a bashful smile.

“Who is the guy?” She asked jumping

“Is he fine?!”

“No!” I snapped before passing my phone to her. She looked at the picture and nodded. What she was looking at was a younger version of me and Sophie my best friend from UNILAG at our convocation. Sophie had posted the picture and added the caption “I miss the old days”

“So you’re a lesbian now?” Henrietta asked wiggling her eyebrows playfully. I eyed her angrily which made her laugh.

“She’s my best friend” I sighed “Or at least she was. She used to give the best hugs”

“Tell me about her” Henrietta said leaning forward

“Well, there was one time…”

•••••

It was raining heavily outside and though it sucks to say this the weather definitely matched my mood. I pushed my blanket out further so it could cover my feet before cleaning away my tears with my hand. I was really hoping this wouldn’t happen again but it did and now I just can’t stop crying about it. And I can’t call anyone over to talk because its way too cold to be outside.

I was going to try to fall asleep when I heard a knock on the door. Unlike most of the other students I lived in a flat off campus so it was pretty weird to be having visitors at the moment. Thinking I was imagining it, I ignored the knocking but then the person knocked again.

“I’m coming” I groaned walking towards the door. It was probably my annoying neighbor Temi coming over to ask for sugar or something.

“Who is it” I asked just to be sure. My blanket was still wrapped around me. It was cold and I was too lazy to look for my hoodie.

“Its me Sophie” The person at the other end replied.

I immediately unlocked the door and let her in. She was in her favourite purple hoodie and had a tote bag on her shoulder. She walked in and shut the door behind her, after which she gave me a tight hug.

“Why’d you come?” I asked after I had pulled away. I hadn’t told anyone about what had happened yet.

“You didn’t tune into to Alessia Cara’s live stream” She said “You’re so obsessed with her and literally stalk her on social media so I knew something was up”

I started crying again, this time because I was glad I had a friend that knew me so well.

“You should’ve just called” I said feeling bad “Should I make you something hot…”

“No I’m alright” She said smiling “You weren’t picking my calls. Your phone was switched off”

That was when I remembered that I hadn’t charged my phone since I got back from school. Not exactly a wise choice but I was too sad to care.

“So” Sophie said taking a seat on a sofa “What happened?” I sat right beside her and tried not to burst into tears again.

“Its Timilehin” I sniffed “I caught him making out with Tina at the back of his hostel”

“Shit!” Sophie said her eyes widening

“I’m so sorry Becca…”

“Why does this always happen to me” I sobbed “Deji, William, they always dump me or screw me over? Am I the one doing something wrong?”

“NO!” Sophie said putting an arm around my shoulders “They’re just assholes who don’t know anything more than messing around with beautiful girls”

I kept crying. I know it was supposed to make me feel better but it didn’t even make a dent.

“Just try to relax ok” Sophie said. I nodded and went back to lying down.

“Can I use your kitchen real quick?” She asked me

“Yeah sure” I said without even looking at her. I closed my eyes, just hoping I fall asleep before I fall apart again.

Someone tapped me and called my name softly. I woke up and sat up reluctantly rubbing my groggy eyes. Then I noticed the display on the table.

“Food!” I said brightening up a little bit. My center table now had two plates each with two pairs of a toasted sandwich in them and two steaming cups of what I hoped was Cadbury hot chocolate. Sophie passed me a plate before taking one for herself.

“Thanks” I said before taking a bite. It tasted so good. The melting butter, the crispy edges of the bread, it was just awesome “Its so warm an nice”

“Like a hug?” Sophie asked smiling at me.

“Yes you weirdo like a hug” I said before taking another bite.

••••

“I’m sorry about what happened to you Becca” Sophie said after taking a sip of the hot chocolate “Timi is a real douche and you aren’t at fault for it”

“Yeah” I sighed “But this whole thing has made me realize that maybe its time to take a break from boys”

“I understand” Sophie said “I just want you to know that Ill always be here for you even if its just to make some toast when you’re feeling down”
I smiled at her feeling amused but really grateful. If only everyone had a golden heart like Sophie.

“Thank you” I said then she engulfed me in another one of her signature hugs. It was warm and calming, she was trying to let me know that it would be ok.

“So why don’t you guys talk anymore?” Henrietta asked.

“She relocated to America last year” I replied “She’s always busy and we just lost touch”

“I’m sorry” Henrietta said softly

“It’s ok” I replied smiling sadly “At least now I know she misses me as much as I miss her”

JUDGES REVIEWS

Judge Silver✨

The flashback idea was nice, I liked the storyline but I felt you could have done more with the prompt, you were getting there just that the absence of some much-needed commas and full stops and the slightly-off execution pulled you back.

Judge Black✨

The writer needs to work on their punctuation and I was hoping to see more or something different with the use of the prompt. But this was a well thought out and bittersweet story.

Judge Purple✨

I would commend you for coming up with this because it's not easy to plot a story. But you need to work on your punctuation. Next time pay more attention to your punctuation.

PAM 014
SENTENCE PROMPT: SHE GAVE THE BEST HUGS
TITLE: EULOGY TO AN UNSUNG HERO

It was a few months after my home country, Nigeria had finally transitioned to civilian rule under the Presidential System of Government and I had had a very hectic day. After thirty-three years of military governance with a few breaks in between characterized by strife, dictatorship, hardship and assassinations, Nigeria finally switched to democracy.

I strolled into your restaurant that day looking every bit the way I felt, tired and frustrated. My tie hung loosely on my neck and my white shirt, which I had ironed to perfection the night before was rumpled.

You must have sighted me from where you usually sat at the counter because you swiftly made your way towards me. You attempted to take my briefcase and tried to make small talk, asking me about how my day went while telling me about how yours went.

Pausing to look at me, your chatter slowly dwindled as you sensed my sour mood. Oblivious to this, I had continued nodding, an instinctive reaction I had imbibed over the years.  As I took my seat at my regular spot, you looked me square in the eye and demanded that I tell you what was wrong with me.

Sighing deeply, I proceeded to narrate in a monotonous and weary tone my events of the day. My girlfriend of two years whom I was planning to propose to the following Saturday had broken up with me over a phone call and my boss at the legal firm where I was interning had given me a query for something I had no idea about. I was heartbroken, frustrated, tired, and stressed but it was just Thursday!
Placing both hands on the table at which I was seated, you had called my name in a stern voice forcing me to meet your gaze. In the same strict, no-nonsense voice, you told me to forget about the girl whose name I can no longer remember as she did not have the decency to break up with me physically.

Pulling lightly at my cheeks, you advised me to focus on what mattered, my life and that irrespective of what happens, you will always love me and I will always be your little Bayo.

Afterwards, you pulled me into a warm hug, one that felt like home. You smelt of curry and cinnamon, a sign that you had left the kitchen not quite long ago. Your hugs were very comforting, they reminded me that it's okay to break down in tears, that it's okay not to be okay. 

Tears rolled down my cheeks in torrents as a feeling of relief washed over me. I remember saying that it wasn't even the weekend yet, but I was already tired and as a man, I wasn't even supposed to cry. Patting my back in a bid to calm me down, you pulled yourself away from me and told me that crying does not indicate that I am weak. Rather, since birth, it has been a sign that I am alive.

It's been twenty years since then Mumsi Bayo as I fondly called you, but that memory of you is one I would never forget. The funeral service where we would pay our last respects to you is today but I find it very difficult to believe that you are gone. You gave the best hugs and reminded me that I was home, the hugs that I would never get again. The thought of this alone tears me apart.

I love you Mumsi Bayo, always have, always will. The remaining three scores and ten that I have to spend on earth will not be easy without your love and guidance. Thank you for taking me, that gangly-looking Nigerian boy thirty years ago and making a barrister out of me. You taught me the value of family, the meaning of love and the importance of friendship. We were not related by blood, not even by descent or nationality but you did not let that deter you from being kind to me. Words cannot explain how much you mean to me, even in death. Not that there are no words, but because you know that I've always been bad at expressing my emotions.

I know you would keep watching over us where you are above, and my kids are grateful for the privilege of knowing you. Including my wife, Foyeke, we are all grateful.

Till when next we meet,
'Bayo Afọlábí (S.A.N.)

JUDGES REVIEWS

Judge Orange✨

It's the creativity for me! The writer did something I liked; the use of first and third person in their work.

How they were like, "'I' walked in and 'you' wanted to take my hand bla bla…"

I LOVED how they were able to intertwine that into the plot and create something magical out of it. So, apparently, this character that's 'you' (which should be whoever is the supposed reader) passed away and the writer goes ahead to elaborate how it feels like "you" are still watching over them. It felt to me like I was the "you" indeed. I was watching over him —as the writer said — which makes it more solid, and a bit creepy, since I am literally reading the piece about him.

That is one hell of creativity. I felt chills run down my spine at that part. This Contestant deserves a golden line, abeg!🔥

Judge Black✨

The writer knows how to stand out. This was very different from the other stories because of the point of view used, the detailed description and the form it was written in.

Judge White✨

This writer is UNIQUE. I have never seen anyone use the second person Point Of View that will captive me in this way. The plot is beautiful, the descriptions are top tier, the punctuations on point, the entire piece is AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL. The Creativity of this writer is out of this world and I cannot wait to see more from them. Well Done.

Judge Silver ✨

Beautiful. This piece made me want to cry and smile at the same time. I felt every bit of the moment. The setting, character execution, and punctuation were just amazing.

THAT ROUNDS UP THE JUDGES REVIEW FOR THE WORKS OF 008 TO 014!!🎉🎉

Kudos to ALL the writers for Batch A; you all did AMAZING!

To the fans, which work was your favorite? Who do you think scored the sentence prose the best?? Comment below!

Anticipate the BLIND IMPRESSION STAGE for the Batch B next week!

Also, anticipate the Diary Room/Confession Night for the Batch A Contestants! Comment which contestants you would love to see during the diary room/Confession Night down below!

Next week will be even hotter! Because then, we would see the final verdicts and who will make it to the Stage Two of Project Pen and of course, the two Contestants that will end up going home on Eviction.

SEE YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PROJECT PEN!