Helicopter Beetles: Obsession, Fear and Longing

By Muthoni Garland
$7.99 Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: March 01, 2011
Words: 44587 (approximate)
Language: English

Short description

"The black dots on the carpet reminded her of long-ago helicopter beetles. When she and her brother, Caleb, had caught the fat black lazy fliers, they tied the legs with string. Raising skinny arms, they twirled the beetles around and round buzzing like helicopters. Caleb and Doreen stared up at the blur of insect and string until it seemed the sky was closing in." African stories.

Extended description

An anthology of African stories about obsession, incest, love, fear, tenderness and murder.

Of Love and Insects
The Remaining
Obituary Man... (Read more) An anthology of African stories about obsession, incest, love, fear, tenderness and murder.

Of Love and Insects
The Remaining
Obituary Man
Eating
Tracking the Scent of My Mother
Odour of Fate

*****

Of Love and Insects

"As Doreen Owino entered the open-plan building on her way to Mr. Cartwright’s office to ask for another fortnight’s leave of absence, conversations broke off and a hush followed her wake. She lengthened her stride to minimize the swishing sound of tights rubbing together at her thighs. And she studied the carpet to avoid eye contact, and the inevitable expressions of sympathy from her colleagues at Global Beauty. The black dots on the carpet reminded her of long-ago helicopter beetles. When she and her brother, Caleb, had caught the fat black lazy fliers, they tied the legs with string. And raising skinny arms, they twirled the beetles around and round buzzing like helicopters. Caleb and Doreen stared up at the blur of insect and string until it seemed the sky was closing in, and God, the God of Sunday school – oh be careful little hands what you do - would knock them on the head. And laughing for all of Africa, they’d fall to the ground, onto that worn dusty clearing, dizzy and uncaring that Mama would scold about their filthy clothes, especially her, the eldest daughter – Yawa nyamama!, and make them scrub their bodies with loofah.

Now the only one with a buzzing mind seeing things was she. If it wasn’t malaria-carrying anopheles mosquitoes blending into the flowers on her curtains to digest her blood, it was weevils visiting her meals in the guise of innocent beans, and now these beetles pretending to pattern a carpet. Resisting the urge to root in her bag for her trusty can of Doom - Doom Kills Dudus Dead! Doreen trampled the dots."
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Adult-content rating:

This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages. For more information, see the Support FAQ.

Tags

love, murder, incest, obsession, longing, loneliness, tenderness

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