For love of Him

"For Love of Him" is a book of short stories with a Jamaican/Caribbean flavor.  The stories were written to answer the age old question, who is smarter, the woman or the man? The stories are not all about love because in some stories children feature as the main characters.

(Here is an excerpt from the book) 

The trip home was uneventful except that the bus stopped more often than usual and they got home slightly late. Suzie told Artie to sit, relax and have a bottle of beer while she cooked.

     Suzie had just finished cooking and was about to serve Artie his dinner when the room shone brightly from the headlight of a car. Suzie rushed to the window and peeped through the curtain.

    “Jesus Christ, I am dead now!” Suzie exclaimed with a look of terror on her face.

  Turning to Artie she said “Quick jump through that window outside and hide.”

   Artie started to ask her what was the matter but he knew then what terror and fear was when he saw Suzie’s face. She yanked him out of the chair with such force and pushed toward the open window with such force that when he got to the window he dove through head first and laid still. He had been sitting in the chair only in his merino and briefs because Suzie had said she liked looking on him semi nude. Suzie had not allowed him time to take up the rest of his clothes.

     He did not have time to think about this because he heard a loud banging on the front door and a male voice calling Suzie’s name.

      “I am coming, I am in the bathroom taking a bath,” Artie heard Suzie shout in response to the calling of her name.

     A few minutes later Artie heard Suzie open the front door.

    “Come here and give me a hug and a kiss my sweet,” said the male voice.

    “Ouch!” Artie heard Suzie exclaim “Do you have to carry your gun whenever you come to visit me? You know I do not like guns,” Suzie said to the man.

     “Do you really expect me to travel to this god forsaken place without my irons?” the man asked.

    “Yes,” Suzie answered.

    “Wait, this place smell like some cheesy foot man was in here, I hope you are not keeping any man with me!” stated the man threateningly.

  “You do not normally come here, what are you doing here?” Suzie asked.

     “Baby it is three weeks since I last saw you. I missed you while I was away on that course studying and I have not been in the town or home as yet, I had to come and see you,” the man answered.

       “Does that mean you will be spending the weekend with me?” Suzie asked in an excited voice.

“Are you mad?” the man in turn asked in a shocked voice.

 “You never have time for me,” Suzie pouted.

 “Baby I rent a nice apartment for you near where you work so you don’t have to travel from here every day. I give you money and buy all the nice things you desire. Do you want more?” the man asked.

 “Yes,” Suzie answered.

 “What?” the man asked.

  “You,” Suzie said.

   “Baby if I divorce my wife then you will lose all of those nice things I have been providing. If I go home and cannot perform my husband duties then there is a hell of a price to pay. I remember the last time I could not because I could not perform because I was tired.” The man explained.

 “You were not with me, it was with some other woman,” Suzie said.

 “Baby we are men and we cannot have the same menu every day, sometimes you have to change the menu,” the man said.

 “You were lucky she did not kill you that night,” Suzie commented.

  “I do not know how she grabbed the gun so fast but luckily I was by the window so as soon as I realize I could not reach her before she grab the gun I dived through the window and the bullet still grazed my backside. I stayed outside for a long time until it was time to go to work then I put my hat on a stick and poked it around a corner to see what would happen. Every day I give thanks that my head was not in the hat. I had a bullet hole in my hat, I could not report to work without my gun and I had an important meeting that morning.” The man reminded Suzie of all that had happened that day.

    Artie was crouched under the window listening to Suzie and her male companion as they argued.

    Suzie said “You get to have all the nice time, you have your wife, you keep other women, you have me and you threaten to shoot any man that I have as a friend.”

    “Baby I love you, my wife and my gun and I am not sure which of you I love the most and I do not plan to share any of you with anyone,” the man said.

   “You love me? And nearly let your wife kill me?” Suzie asked skeptically.

     “It was not my fault. Someone told her we were friends. It was a good thing you had left that job the week before. She went to the place and beat the heck out of the woman that she saw that best fit your description,” Suzie’s companion explained.

     “Poor, virgin, Christian Junie, she is as afraid of a man as a thief and she had to go to the police to report that a woman beat her up for being along with her husband and she had no idea who the woman was that had assaulted her. Your wife was lucky Junie’s pastor told her not to press charge because it is not good for a Christian to go to a court house,” Suzie said.

 “You know she is not afraid to fight with me either for she is a warrior,” the man said.

“I think I need to leak some water,” the man commented.

      “You can either go back outside or use the bathroom,” Suzie said.

      “No, my grandfather said to prove that you are the man of the house sometimes you should stand a do it our side the window,” the man said.

    Artie was still crouched below the window he was glad that it was dark but he dared not move.  He felt the water coming down on him and knew it was the man leaking water.

   “Why do you have the window open? I could swear I passed water on a dog down in your rose garden. It is no wonder the place smell this bad,” the man said.

   “You do know I have not been home since you went to study and I had to open the window to let some of the nice night breeze blow through the house,” Suzie responded.

  “The food smell good, do you have any leftover?” the man asked Suzie.

 “You are lucky, I cooked enough to last me for tomorrow, come let me serve you,” Suzie said.

 There goes my dinner Artie thought as he heard the window being closed. He had looked out the same window the weekend he had spent with Suzie and so he knew he was in a fairly well kept rose garden. He could smell the stink of urine on his clothes but he dared not remove the clothes he was wearing. He wondered if Suzie would try to get if it was even his pants to him. As if out of spite a chill breeze blew through the rose garden.

      Artie tried to carefully felt his way along the house. He got pricked by thorns from time to time but managed to get out of the rose garden. He saw when the light was put out in Suzie’s room and thought of the bad thing that he would love to do to the car parked at the front of the house but he had learnt from a previous incident. Disabling the car would only mean the man in the house staying longer. There was an old shed in the corner of the yard and Artie made his way to the back and curled up in a ball as comfortably as he could.

      Artie yawned with hunger and he heard his stomach make a loud noise. The night got cold and he began to tremble. He dared not go into the hut because it was dark and a scorpion sting when he was young had left him with a healthy respect for dark places especially at night.

        He must have fallen asleep because the next thing he was aware of was a wicked crack of lightning followed by thunder.  He had no doubt it was going to rain. He listened and was sure he heard a whistle followed by the low calling of his name. Artie peeped around the corner and sure moving silently was a lantern. He whistled and Suzie came and told him it was safe to return to the house.

  Inside the house Artie wanted to curse, swear and fight but he knew that he was stuck for the weekend and it was only Friday night and he still did not know how to leave where he was because both times he had gotten there in the dark and had left before day light.

     Suzie went out of the way to reassure him that her male friend would not return for the week end. To compensate for the indignity Suzie insisted that she bathe Artie and the meal she was cooking would be ready by the time she was through.

   “What clothes will I put on?” Artie asked.

  “So that you do not feel bad, as soon as you have eaten we will go to bed and I will not wear any clothes either,” Suzie told him.

   "When you hand is in the lions mouth ...

© Prince W Bradford 2013

If you enjoyed this excerpt you can download the book from your favorite online retailer or get a print copy.

Available:  http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Prince-W.-Bradford/e/B00GM5OKR6

An excerpt from Walking Tall (A tale of two Richards)

  Walking Tall (A tale of two Richards)

If you love inspiring fun stories the you will love the book Walking Tall.  It is the tale of  the journey of two boys  from conception to manhood. They were given the exact same names by their parents for different reason and their lives were destine to continually cross.

(Here is an excerpt from the book) 

     

     On the first morning of high school I sat in one of the empty front seats. This was because ever since I was a baby my parents told me to always be first, be a leader not a follower, and sit in the front. When you are in the front you are seen more easily but when you are at the back there are too many persons to be seen before you are seen.

        I was shocked that first morning of high school when my form teacher was marking the attendance register and heard another person answer to the name Richard Williams. I became even more confused when the other Richard Williams said his middle name was Alexander.

       This was against everything that I had grown up believing. The Lord had made only one of me so how could there be another person with the name Richard Alexander Williams.

      I took one look at that other Richard Williams and immediately decided that the other Richard was an imposter and he did not belong in high school among the elite and brilliant. Our form teacher had said that she had only one Richard Williams on the register so therefore I must be the one so how could this other person have gotten into the school and he certainly did not look as wealthy as the rest of us.

       I was glad when I heard that this other Richard was called Anancy. I knew that Anancy was a spider but then I had a feeling of apprehension, spiders were crafty and had a way to be found in places that they should not be even in kings palaces. This I remembered from reading my Bible. Instinctively I knew that if there was one student in the class that would better me it would be this Anancy and I took an immediate dislike to the boy.

       I had hoped secretly that this other Richard was an impostor and that he would not be in the school so I was disappointed when later in the day our form  teacher confirmed that both of us belonged in the class. I decided then that there was no way I would be playing second fiddle to this Anancy or anyone else in the class.

      In my heart I was glad when in the middle of the term the test result revealed that Anancy was at the bottom of the class. From what I had learnt about Anancy from his friends I determined that Anancy did not belong in the class in the company of his betters.  This Anancy certainly did not dress and behave as if he had much.

     I got jealous however when I discovered that Anancy was well liked and was amicable enough to get along with most students in the class. Anancy I noted gave no indication that he knew how to do anything well. He listened as I and others talked about travel abroad, visiting theaters and cinemas, music, swimming and various games but he never offered a comment.

      I never saw Anancy at any of the clubs after school. I was surprised to later learn that many students had chores assigned at home and so had to head home immediately after school. Even stranger to me was the fact that some students had smaller brothers and sisters that were their responsibility until their parents got home from work.

      Every evening, during dinner time, I had to give a report about my day at school to my parents. That first evening of high school I reported to my parents that there was in my class another boy with the exact same name as I had.  My parents reassured me that though it was a rare occurrence sometimes this happened. I wanted to know if there was any possibility that I could be related to the other Richard but my parents immediately told me that such a possibility did not exist.

      It did not take long for this Anancy and me to cross each other’s path.  I was very proud of being a Christian and not only wanted everyone in the class to know it but I also wanted everyone student in the class to become Christians.

     The first activity each day at school was class devotions. I actively led in this activity but other students needed to be given the chance to participitate.  One morning Anancy was asked to lead the class devotions. This he asked that someone else do because he did not know what to do. When asked if he had never been to church on a Sunday morning he responded no. This was a shock to the whole class that there was actually someone alive that had never been to church.

      Some Christian students met during lunch break at school for fellowship. I attended and it was known that I knew my Bible better than even students that were older than me and were in higher grades at school. We met one day each week. The week following the devotion incident Anancy was invited to attend by one of the girls in our class. I did not like the idea of Anancy sitting beside her. That week’s activity was Bible quiz. Anancy must have known the answers to the quiz questions. He was surprised as everyone watched in awe as I gave the correct answers.

      Then a question was asked and no one knew the answer. Anancy whispered the answer to the girl that had invited him and although she was not sure she called out the answer. It soon became a competition between her and I with Anancy providing her with the answers. It did not take long for everyone to know who was supplying her with the answers. In the end she overtook me and she went away the winner.

         Many students inquired about Anancy and were shocked to learn that he had never been to church.  That same female student was assigned to find out the source of this Anancy’s knowledge of the Bible. She was surprised to learn that because Anancy found its instructions good he read it regularly.

         I was sour and declared that I had lost because I was competing against two persons.

         At the end of the term when test results were compared I was disappointed that although I had studied hard I did not do as well as I had hoped. I was even more distressed when I learnt that Anancy had improved    in his marks and he had even bettered me in some subjects.

        Seeing Anancy punished for not completing his home work made me feel good. My home work time was scheduled as well as my study time and I never missed these. Although our teacher was stern he liked me.

        I had not fully understood when Anancy tried to explain to the teacher that if he missed his bus he would have problems getting home. I had never ridden on a bus and had no idea what it was like. I had thought everyone lived near the school. The morning when I heard the rumor that a student had missed his bus I immediately knew it was Anancy and I felt good. When I heard through whisperings that it was the principal that had taken Anancy home I knew someone would be in trouble. Rumor also had it that a report had been made to the police.

        I too was baffled when I heard  two students say that Anancy live so far from school that he probably left his house at midnight to catch the bus and probably did not get home until 2:00am the morning.

        At the end of the school year I was really disappointed that I had not bettered Anancy in every subject area. There was no comfort for me being in a school where the talk was that I was among the top students in the class. I wanted to be the best and there were others that were out performing me. These students that had attended public schools and not the most expensive private school like me were outperforming me in high school.

    I wondered if my parents would agree to a change of school for the following year.

© Prince w Bradford

Download or buy your copy of the book       Available in Print and Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Prince-W.-Bradford/e/B00GM5OKR6

MY Books: If you love poetry and select writings then you wi...

MY Books: If you love poetry and select writings then you wi...: If you love poetry and select writings then you will love  "Set to Rumble" Published by Create Space  Author Prince W Bradf...

If you love poetry and select writings then you will love 

"Set to Rumble"

Published by Create Space 

Author Prince W Bradford

Available:   http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Prince-W.-Bradford/e/B00GM5OKR6

In your Garden

You allowed me into your garden

Oh my senses went crazy and wild

For it was just too much all to experience at one time

 There were not only flowers but fruits also in abundance

And confused I stood not knowing what to do

Non-sense nudged me and said “don’t be a fool, do something”

Commonsense came to my aid and said “let me help you”

Begin by using one sense at a time that will be fine

Begin where you are most inclined to find joy

And do decide who shall rule your head or your heart

Shut down all and concentrate on hearing

The birds and the bees may speak of joy in their work

Yet your sweet voice spoke so much more to my heart

For I could not help but hear promises as you sing

You spoke so much without saying a thing

Ripened fruits and flowers in bloom such heavenly scents

And I know so well each distinct smell and aroma

For the ripened fruit and the blooming flower scents differ

And you nearby make it so heady for none compares to you

This is a little bit of paradise I can tell

How long shall I refrain from tasting the fruits?

Was it not there where Eve first transgressed

The fruits of the trees are just begging to be eaten

Promising such delights and joy in tasting

See they move of themselves saying eat me

Let me not touch for this may be asking too much

And I may just lose control of both heart and head

Your love and care remain on each fruit and each flower

Just by passing them transmits your love to me

And the flowers asked to be placed in your hair

Now there is so much to see

Take control of yourself you tell me

But how can I when there is so much to behold

For I must commit to memory every detail

So that each flower and fruit I can recall to mind

You understood and came to stand by my side

Together we surveyed it all for without me

Your garden was not complete after all

I value your worth for it would be amiss

For each moment spent with you is heavenly bliss

© Prince W Bradford

Scary face and Smiling Face

Scary ugly face and handsome smiling face

You both are always present with me all the time

Scary ugly face belongs to the devil

Handsome smiling face belongs to Jesus Christ

Scary ugly face wants me to do the wrong

Handsome smiling face wants me to do the right

Scary ugly face said I am giving you no choice

Handsome smiling face says let me be your guide

Scary ugly face said I am great big and strong

Handsome smiling face said it is to me that you belong

Scary ugly face said I will give you all this world delights

Handsome smiling face said keep heaven in your sights

Scary ugly face said I will give to you wealth and fame

Handsome smiling face said you already have my name

Scary ugly face said he offers nothing to show with pride

Handsome smile face said be humble on the inside

Scary ugly said then I shall take you away in death

Handsome smiling face said I will be waiting to greet you at your last breath

© Prince W Bradford

Ohh!!!  Women

The ancient gods dwelling on Mt. Olympus heights

Being gods were subjected to wrongs and rights

Tempted by the rather tantalizing sights

They disguised themselves as men in their plight

Then came and enjoyed the women’s delight

Angels too leaving their own estate

Succumbed to temptations that was great

Came they and sampled what was forbidden their taste

For how the women came equipped they too could appreciate

And the angels indulged and with women did procreate

Throughout history many a man that stood so tall

Women has been their down fall

And now the women complain, lament and insist

That us mere mortal men should desist

Wanting what the gods and angels could not resist

©Prince W Bradford

MY Books: If you love poetry and select writings then you wi...

MY Books: If you love poetry and select writings then you wi...: If you love poetry and select writings then you will love my book "Ready to Rumble" Published in print and Kindle by Create Space...

MY Books: If you love poetry and select writings then you wi...

MY Books: If you love poetry and select writings then you wi...: If you love poetry and select writings then you will love my book "Ready to Rumble" Published in print and Kindle by Create Space...

MY Books: If you love poetry and select writings then you wi...

MY Books: If you love poetry and select writings then you wi...: If you love poetry and select writings then you will love my book "Ready to Rumble" Published in print and Kindle by Create Space...

If you love poetry and select writings then you will love my book "Ready to Rumble"
Published in print and Kindle by Create Space
Author Prince W Bradford
Available http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Prince-W.-Bradford/e/B00GM5OKR6

These are taken from the book "Ready to Rumble"

A Tribute to the Almighty God

 The greatest of human philosophers cannot prove by reasoning that you exist

And yet nature testifies that you are real

You are not a magic potion

Still you are the all sufficient one for those that trust you

You are not a charm or amulet

But you banish all darkness, fear and evil

You cannot be inhaled, absorbed, digested, ingested or given intravenously

Yet you empower man’s total being with strength

You cannot be seen, touched, heard, tasted or smelt

And yet you…..

Are seen through the eyes of understanding

Touched by faith that brings about wholeness

Tasted through digestion of your words which is sweet

Heard as you impresses your word upon the heart

Smelt as the heart ponders your awesomeness

Those that mock you in life

Tremble at the thought of meeting you at death

Those who are persecuted because of you

Endure such persecution with gladness and joy

For you control the forces of nature

And uses them to accomplish your purpose

When other need multiple gods to satisfy their needs

You surpass all any man can ever need and more

You are so great no one name adequately describe you

El Elyon, El Shaddai, El Olam, Adanoi, Yahweh, Jehovah and more

El Shaddai – the breasted one, the all sufficient one

El Elyon- the strong one, the mighty one

El Olam- the eternal one, the everlasting one

 Adoni- my owner, my master, my lord

YHWH- the unmentionable name

Jehovah- the eternal self existing one and more

You are the Almighty one, the great creator, Lord of all

You are the most powerful, most magnificent, most glorious being in the universe

You are The Almighty God

© 2013 Prince W Bradford

     A Tribute to Women

Endowed with beauty both in body and disposition
She is the masterpiece of God's creation
And who can add anything to perfection
Designed and equipped so well to care and nurture
Depository of wisdom that will influence the future
Entrusted with bearing earth's great ones
Nourishing body, mind, spirit and soul
Ensuring the whole being is healthy and whole
Ignoring one's place in the social order
Pope, king, president, or pauper
This is the way and no other
Born cherished and cared
By a woman and mother

© 2012 Prince W bradford

 Rising out of Obscurity

 Although you may think you are in obscurity
And you are unable to see any light in the near future
You are down and out and presently living in the ashes
Be patient
The eyes of the unseen One sees all
He is waiting to lift you  up far beyond your wildest imaginations
The things you  have perfected in your private moments
He will reveal to the universe
Don't worry about those who blow their own trumpets
Singing their own praises and touting their achievements
Shouting from house tops to be seen or heard
Neither envy the proud and the boastful
They too have their private hell
Unfortunately for them they live in the same world as you
A world where problems, sickness and death has no friend
Like you  they too are mortal men
Quietly pursue the road you must tread and pursue your calling
In due time your light will shine
Remember it is the Eternal One that weigh hearts and motives
Therefore be ready for destiny's call
It is a sure thing she will come calling
Don't ask her for time to prepare when she calls
Render assistance to every man that ask for it
You  never can tell if this is not just a test of kindness and character
And always have open hands
Only then will you be able to give and to receive
Ask yourself is it better to be at the foot of a ladder or the top?
Be where you best serve your fellowman

© 2012 Prince W Bradford

   Lament of a dog

I know that I was a dog when I was born

Now I do not know what I have become

 For man in his insanity to create

Have gone about me to remake

First he would not have me see a second generation

So it was to the vet for sterilization

Because he would not have my passing on my genes

Lest my off springs behave like his wayward teens

To the store I am brought and bought doggy clothes

I did not know I had anything I need to fear being exposed

Then he went about to change my character

That I am a dog first and foremost did not factor

When I would like to be outside running wild

I am locked in a house as a companion for his child

So I grow lazy and fat

Punishment lay in store if for fun I look at the cat

Imagine me a dog is expected to sit and watch television

And show excitement and appreciation

Where there is deficient in man’s life of love and devotion

I the dog am recipient of those emotions

Now I am no longer a dog

I have become a member of the family

What I have become I really hate

I wish man would my dog hood reinstate

For I must do the things man think a dog should enjoy

When rather I would do what makes a dog doggone happy 

© 2012 Prince W Bradford