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America’s Number 1 Problem: No, It’s Not Trump or the Migrants

Posted on 13th Aug 2019 by MsWorldPress

A year doesn’t pass without the news of some mass shootings in America. Each time there is a massacre as such, a debate on changing gun laws reignites in nationwide America. What is more awkward is that while the public revolves around the contention, little is done at the federal level to amend the laws accordingly because after every “mass shootings”, the trend seems to be the proponents of the guns offer condolences, the politicians make speeches about legislative efforts on gun violence, and the National Rifle Association holds on to obstructing, postponing and opposing most proposals to strengthen firearm regulations until the uproar passes, then it’s all back to the same practice until the next time.

America’s gun culture originates from their 18th century’s Bill of Rights under the Second Amendment where it states “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The idea behind this right was to protect people from a tyrannical government such as the Revolutionists who fought against King George III. It had been a long time dispute who may bear arms but in a landmark case, District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), it was explained that America sees all of its citizens as militia and owning a gun is a protected individual right, independent of membership in any organised group or military unit. But long before the Supreme Court’s decision, America’s weapon obsession had been reinforced throughout the centuries by the country’s proliferation of firearms and the its many revolutionary and frontier history.

At first glance, America’s use of firearms is just like any other nation’s practice with firearms; the citizens use weapons to hunt animals, defend themselves, and shoot targets for competitions. But the problem arises when these weapons are used for something other than recreational means such as mass killings by the people who shouldn’t have owned a gun it in the first place.

If we take the definition of the mass shooting as an act of public firearm violence in which a shooter kills at least four victims, then according to the Washington Post, there have been 166 mass shootings in the United States between 1967 and August 2019. In broader definitions, however, this number extends to 2,200. These figures show that the United has more mass shootings than even in the countries with national service where most eligible adults know how to use guns. According to the Business Insider, Switzerland and Finland have the highest numbers of gun owners, and yet America’s mass homicides surpass any of countries-alike in the world.

The American public seems to be divided on the issue of proper use of weapons: the opponents hold that there should be more rules about the type of guns that people are allowed to have and stricter background checks to prevent dangerous people getting their hands on weapons. They also add that in countries where people aren’t allowed to carry guns, fewer people are killed each year by these weapons, therefore, America should change its rules. While the proponents argue that it is their right by law to possess guns to protect themselves if they need to do so.

While it should be noted that restricting citizens’ private gun ownership would violate the American Constitution, it would certainly reduce the killing sprees. Although, upon the will of the Congress, there are obvious ways to get around the First and the Second Amendment.

In the past, some states have taken half-hearted measures such as banning the high capacity magazines and assault weapons for civilian use but these laws proved so futile that they haven’t bothered with renewing them after their expirations. Even though some states ban or regulate ownership of assault weapons, the fact that most states do not require registration of guns and the lack of Federal program to register guns have been calamitous matters. In fact, the American weapon enablers are so concerned with their rights of gun ownership and personal privacy, that under Federal law a national gun registry is illegal.

Citizens can register guns only in California, Maryland, New York, Hawaii and the District of Columbia while other states merely collect data on sales. So despite that simple registration of any guns owned can potentially reduce the sales of illegal arms, disarm criminals and domestic abusers and can help the police trace the illegal guns, the hardcore defenders are adamant to view that tracking who owns what guns will interfere with their gun ownership that may eventually lead to the “rights of using guns may be taken away from them”. Notwithstanding, only reasons that someone might not be allowed to have a gun would be if they have a mental health illness, are a convicted criminal, or if they are not a US citizen but because the rules on gun ownership between different US states vastly vary, there are massive legal loopholes which aren’t sufficient to prevent the widespread killings. The track of the mass murderers are so transparent that it begs the question why no one has done any thing further to amend legal omissions on gun ownership. The killers usually tend to be young, socially dysfunctional, emotionally unstable, and has a history of violence. Yet, as though no one, including their families and friends, could predict the act of such hostility, there are no past records of the threat that person presented to the society. Like every stable government, the US should primarily protect the lives of its civilians and then the rights of its civilians. Consequently, scrutiny on gun owners and their families, should be tightened.

Another issue is that guns are relatively cheap to purchase in the US which explains the wide civilian weapon ownership. According to Bustle, the ordinary American citizens buy 14 million new and imported weapons every year. The American public justify their purchase of guns for their safety.

While, it is said to be the consensus of American citizens is change of laws on gun control, under the political power of the deep-pocketed NRA and the Congress who never agree, taking a decent step toward gun control has proved to be extremely difficult. Amending gun laws on national level is such a laborious step that regardless their political disposition, even a US president cannot change the rules on their own: as witnessed by the Democratic former President Barack Obama’s administration and the Republican house like of the current President Donald Trump’s. Welfare of the American public remains under constant peril especially when Mr. Trump openly supports gun owners’ rights.

However, even if no action is taken at the federal level, most states can utilise United Kingdom’s approach to rules and regulations on owning weapons. The UK has some of the strictest gun laws in the world. To mention a few, every British person who wants to own a gun needs to show a licence issued by the police, for the weapon and ammunition separately. They cannot buy absolutely every gun they want and they cannot buy or own them without special permission from the government. There are also much stricter checks done before they allow a person to have a gun.

Moreover, Switzerland, a country with conscription, also have strict rules for who can get a gun. The decision to issue people gun permits is decided by the Swiss authorities on a local level. Regions and cantons keep a log of everyone who owns a gun. Criminals, former convicts, alcohol or drug addicts aren’t allowed to buy guns in Switzerland. Even
though hunting rifles and some semiautomatic long arms are exempt from the permit requirement, there hasn’t been a mass shooting in Switzerland for 18 years, which is an impressive time comparing to US’s daily record. This recent information, validates the opinions of the anti-gun activists who say that around the world, stronger gun laws have been linked to fewer gun deaths, as this has been the case in Switzerland.

Undoubtedly, taking drastic measures on gun control immediately is a complex process, but beginning to implement minor reforms over the time, can lead to great achievements in the longer term.

The first steps to public safeguarding should be toward enforcing eligibility rules where the gun purchasers must show proof of legal age, criminal record, and mental status. This method would deter the previously violent people from purchasing or possessing arms. Other options of progressive developments on gun control can include regional tracking of the sales and purchases of weapons; increasing the prices of guns, especially the assault rifles and assault weapons; right to report and investigate potentially illegal weapon users; and installing school and centres with metal detectors.

Clearly, implementing only one of the above won’t solve the problem of regular mass shootings, so in an honest effort for the security of the public, the states can adopt some of these rules, along with a campaign of buying back guns and cracking down on illegal weapon sales. Granted that these reforms are open to highly powered polemics on the invasion of privacy but we must question the logic of anyone against such preventative measures for their safety.

Because problems have solutions: because even under the pressure of an imposing organisation like the NRA, unified actions on gun ownership is necessary.

Because if American government do not interfere and impede the voracious regulations of pro gun parties, there will be a lot of news about the killings of innocent people.

And because the prevention of unnecessary deaths is more honourable than protecting gun rights.

ADHD – Tribulations of an Individual with a Restless Mind

In the present day, it isn’t uncommon to hear that someone’s child has been diagnosed with Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder or ADHD. Although it isn’t a serious illness, ADHD is a lifelong neuro-development disorder which manufactures itself in childhood with a long list of symptoms: Chief among them being inattentiveness and hyperactivity-impulsivity.

Despite the fact, we come across with it now more than ever, ADHD isn’t a modern disorder: Specifically, the hyperactivity in children was first identified as a neurological disorder in 1798. According to the doctors, all these children had “behaviour problems” and there were no specific treatment for them.

Currently, in 21st century, treatments to those who are diagnosed with ADHD or ADD (without the Hyperactivity element) vary from cognitive behaviour therapy to high-strength tablets.

As the awareness for this ailment develops, it is no longer a stigma to be labelled with ADHD: As until 1980s, the condition was blamed on poor parenting skills, the social or environmental factors, and even previous infection of or trauma to the brain. The ongoing research, however, since has shown that ADHD relates to genetics.

I have a limited knowledge on how ADHD occurs in the DNA but as a sufferer of ADHD, I’d like to tell you my rocky journey of living with it undiagnosed most of my life; recently discovering it; and overcoming most of its dreadful symptoms.

The first time the net of self-doubt casted over me was in the spring of my twentieth: Sitting at the Army recruitment office when an interviewing corporal had asked me about my biggest accomplishment in life. Sheepishly, I had responded with a nonsense like my biggest accomplishment was yet to come once I join the force, but down inside, not having an achievement worthy to talk about had paved the road to my premature existential crisis.

I could forgive myself for not having achieved something stupendous by the age of twenty, but several years later, realising that I still didn’t have any prideful accomplishment to talk about was getting to a point of impaired self-esteem.

The main questions on my mind were what did I achieve in life, and what was it? Was it giving birth? No, most people can do that. Was it graduating from a university? Again, no. So long as they have the finance, anyone can attend a university and get a degree. Nowadays, most countries are full of people with degrees but without the jobs to go with them.

When I compared my achievements with the people in my generation, my successes looked quite average: I had changed plenty of jobs before I entered financial services; I had acquired some worthwhile and some useless qualifications; but alas, nothing noteworthy, nothing remarkable: Unlike how I planned it to be when I was a teenager. Meanwhile, a handful of my peers, some way or another, had designed their paths and had been walking on it.

Amidst my racing thoughts, an unexpected answer had surfaced: How could I think about a meaningful success when I never had the capacity of focusing on any task? I had had no long-lasting interests to pursue and make into a permanent career choice. I fancied the concept of working or being busy with something but excelling at something never felt possible.

After a lengthy self-reflection, I discovered that it was all rooted in basic but consistent faults: Why was I leaving an important email to the last minute? Why could I never get past that first module of guitar lesson? Why had I never listened to any instructions until the end? Why oh, why oh, why? I considered myself of average intellect, well-read, widely travelled and skills enthusiast. So if it wasn’t my outlook or idle tendencies, could it have been something chemical?

To find out some answers, days shy of my thirtieth birthday, I relinquished all scepticism and went into a mental health clinic. It had taken me years, but finally, I was ready to hear a resolution.

As orderly as I could, I explained my concerns to the doctor. After listening to me, he produced a paper with a list of questions and began assessing me.

“When you are engaged in a task, do you get bored easily?”

“Yes.”

“Do you often miss out on simple details and make mistakes?”

“Yes.”

“Are you forgetful?”

“I’m a bit: Last time I looked for a word beginning with the letter ‘V’ in the dictionary and I couldn’t find it. When I later remembered it, it had been beginning with ‘T’, all along.”

“Okay. Do you find yourself impulsive?”

“Yes, I often find that there is no meaning to my sudden actions.”

“All right. Do you have difficulty completing tasks that often require mental exertion?”

“Oh, yes.”

“And I see that you have been fidgeting with your hands and legs from the moment you sat down, would you say that you aren’t able to sit for long periods?”

“Yes, I suppose.”

“Ms Marko, have you heard of something called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? Because I suspect that you’ve got it.”

“Isn’t that something that some children have ?”

“It begins in childhood, and unfortunately, it goes into adulthood. Now on the scales 1 to 10, 10 being the worst, how do these symptoms affect you, would you say?

“Uh, I often ask myself what’s the point?”

“Since when?”

“All of my twenties.”

“Have you ever been on antidepressants?”

“No. I will never be. I mean, do you know any happy endings with those who have taken antidepressants? Plus, I imagine that I’ll be fine if I treat this condition.”

That was it. I was professionally diagnosed with ADHD. Before I left the clinic, the doctor gave me a leaflet for me to read on ADHD. It was then I’ve got the spirit-breaking lowdown on my condition. It had said that, while manageable, ADHD isn’t curable and sufferers have to live with grave deficiencies in attentional and cognitive functions such as problem-solving, planning, orienting, alerting, cognitive flexibility, sustained attention, response inhibition, working memory, as well as motor difficulties, like problems with sensory-motor coordination, including poor handwriting, clumsiness, and marked delays in achieving motor milestones. All of these symptoms were disheartening, nevertheless, relatable to me.

Ultimately, being diagnosed with a mental disorder was hard to digest. Upon my agreement, the doctor prescribed me a medication called Elvanse to take daily. Some time ago, I had heard that in Sweden it was a regular practice to medicate students with ADHD. Although this practice is nothing new: Attempts to treat this ailment had first started in 1937 when the American paediatrician Charles Bradley gave Benzedrine to children with behaviour problems and found that it improved academic performance and behaviour. Even though the ingredients of Elvanse was better than the Bennys, I have to stress that how much this pill is nothing like in the movie called Limitless, as some of you may think.

Elvanse contains lisdexamfetamine dimesylate: An amphetamine, class II stimulant which affects the central nervous system. It won’t make you smarter or craftier, but blimey does it let you multitask? Does it let you focus and determined until you completed that piece of work? I have to add that before this tablet, I was like a dog chasing its tail circling around my chores, not knowing where to start. During it, there were no more unsureness and no more time-wasting, but only efficiency, followed by a pleasure of a prolific day.

But after three months, I quit Elvanse to face the ugly alone: Unfortunately, even on the smallest dosage, the downsides were greater than its benefits. To mention a few, I could go without sleep for two days easy; I was euphoric for no reason in the mornings and hit the rock bottom by midday; I was sweating so profusely that I had to drink up to 3 L of water and carry a change of shirt with me; my mouth was drier than of Atacama desert, and my speech was like of a rapid-fire: Up to a point, someone at work had asked me if I was on cocaine. It was then I knew I had to up my courage and give it up. In the corner of my mind, thinking about having to stay dependent on a medicine for a lifetime would be as demoralising as the condition itself. I had lived without a medication for most of my life and taking pills hadn’t turned me a bigger winner in life than before.

For all that temerity I had, there were some changes to be enforced, and none of it would be easy. My plan was with some self-counselling and lifestyle changes, I would never depend on synthetics again. After a careful self-analysis, I drew up myself a Rules of Self Discipline to guide me through. Even though I knew, at the beginning, that I wouldn’t strictly bind by it. But having a reference to look at was an assurance that I wasn’t ignorant of my deficiencies. These Rules to myself, which may also work for you, are as follow:-

Task management – Starting from the most urgent, prepare a list of to-do and review it daily. Even if nothing crucial, you might as well deal with the task as soon as instead of contemplating it. The worth of a ticked task is priceless.
Time management – Time on earth is short and precious. Set your alarms for everything from meetings to drinking water. Also being constantly late isn’t a nice reputation, it decreases your reliability. Turn up on time, if not minutes earlier and expect the same from others.
Know your yourself – Think about the times you’re most productive: Whatever time of the day your brain works most, do your mentally laborious tasks during that time, your efficiency is bound to increase.
Decrease your distractions – I’ve never been happier to delete my Facebook and Instagram pages. A few years have passed, I still don’t miss it. But if you aren’t ready for that separation then at least set a schedule for frivolous stuff like quick news update or gaming.
Minimise noise – Goes hand in hand with my point above, at your most fruitful state, switch off the sound your mobile and notifications of your social media. Unless urgent, I never reply to text messages or emails in the morning until my tea break at 11. I also decline calls that can wait until later in the day. Our minds will appreciate the silence and won’t intricate our thought patterns more than necessary. But make sure to let people know your availability between so and so time.
Let go off useless people – This one you will enjoy doing because you will notice how unproductive people can consume your precious time with unimportant pursuits. Let go of that friend who regularly wants to drink to the point of drunkenness or anyone who just complains about their problems but does nothing about it. You will be glad to have more time for your favourite people or more importantly, for yourself.
Bin useless items – Clutter overwhelms me. I don’t know if that happens with other ADHD sufferers but I can’t concentrate when my space is unclean or untidy. So put away everything you finish using back in place or even better, if unnecessary, bin it.
Honour your commitments – Coming from the impulsivity part of the disorder, sometimes, I sign up for stuff I later can’t do. Even if it’s a small promise, if you aren’t sure to follow through, don’t decide upon and verbalised it there and then.
Listen more, talk less – A person has to be an excellent raconteur to captivate me into listening to their entire narrative before I interrupt them and begin my own. But this can be seen rude and possibly miss out on details. You have two ears and one mouth, so listen first, pause and then speak, saves you from embarrassing anecdotes or foolishness.
Run! – Run when you’re angry, run when you’re sad, run away from the people who make you mad. But seriously, depending on the severity of my hyperactivity, walking, jogging or running organises my thoughts, subsides my symptoms and gets rid of the excess energy.
Jot down – Carry a diary or download a good notebook on your phone to note down your ideas or reminders. With us people, words disappear from memory as fast as they show up.
Apologise if overreacted – Sadly, overreacting is one of the critical symptoms of ADHD. Don’t burn that bridge with your loved ones and apologise as soon as you can.
Slow down – In a fit of ADHD, I once paid for an item and left the shop without it. The grinning shopkeeper chased me down to hand me the product. How embarrassing. Always be aware yourself and surroundings if you are doing something.
Daydreaming at appropriate times – When someone’s giving you instructions, it isn’t the time for imagining about what you should have said in an argument the day before. Only when you have a quiet time, reward yourself with fantasies.
Be confident – Don’t fret over your abilities against the normies. Don’t be self-deprecating or arrogant. But accept fun challenges; be it cognitive or administrative: You may discover that you’re good at something else that you didn’t know.
And don’t compare yourself with others – Instead, try to, and be the better version of yourself than yesterday. Minor self-improvements every day bring about excellent results in the long run.

So there they are. In my case, the valuable lesson was not making rules but following them. Managing ADHD, needs patience and consistency. Give yourself time, give time a chance.

Come to think of it now, my biggest achievement was to realise my imperfections and beginning to work on them. Since then, it has been a lot easier to learn teachable abilities and interpersonal skills: Some of my rewards have been working at a good job, proficient skiing, a driving licence, and a finished novel.

Nonetheless, I must admit that it has been hard to stick to my own rules at times, but going it alone without medication brings you a lot of pride. And even if I got my ADHD to a controllable state, there are elements of it which wouldn’t yield to any rules: Do I still spring from my chair abruptly and aimless? Yes. Do I still think twice about the orientation of that right turn on the map (I’m a leftie, too)? Why, yes. And do I still make stupid mistakes on the paper that I proofread over twenty times? Yes, and goddamn yes. But these are small flaws next to what it was like before. For the mental clarity and emotional stability that self-therapy and discipline brings, everyone can live with being a little imperfect.

Brexit! So what?

When in June 2016 it was announced that almost fifty-two percent of the UK population had voted to leave the European Union, there was a bigger hubbub over the drawbacks of this severance than the benefits. Three years fast forward, the negotiations with the Union neither produced an agreement nor the shape of the future laws in the UK.

So what led Britain to withdraw from its 27 years of association with the EU? It all started before the 2016 elections, with the previous government vowing to negotiate a better future for Britain within the EU. As time went on, there was no coming back from the demagoguery which had already impassioned the British for a referendum to take place. By the time the Prime Minister Teresa May ascended the power, the majority of the people had determined to go through with exiting the Union. It should be noted that, regardless of the result, referendums are technically not under any legal obligations to be implemented. Yet the British went ahead with the departure procedures with a view to improve its economy.

But how can the UK benefit from leaving the EU? It looks as though Britain has been trying to save its economy for decades: Prior to joining the Common Market of the EEC in 1973; importing foreign food was cheaper because of the trade with the Commonwealth countries, but the UK was in a dreary industrial decline, significant class division, expensive travelling and in serious economic crisis so much that they had to be rescued by the International Monetary fun 1976. Nevertheless, in 1992, when the Brits joined the EU, having been recovering from the recession, the situation was still not drastically any better than in the 70s. Since the alliance with the EU, Britain has enjoyed easy travelling, a vast choice of exotic food, and other collective trade deals. But the debate is that most pre-EU generation era believes that the major home-reforms are not connected with the membership in the EU, meaning that Britain eventually would have succeeded getting back on its feet with or without the help of the EU.

Polemically, London is currently one of the financial centres of the world; so the question remains whether the UK will find its footing and sustain her global financial position without the lenient organisation such as the European Union. Although the official severance date is set to 29th of March 2019, the MEPs will only leave their Lego replica-like chairs in 2020. But before that, there is a long list of issues to be reviewed such as international trades, tariffs, border checks, migration rights, EU subsidies and British laws when she ceases to subordinate to the Union.

Historically, the UK has been adamant to do things in her own way and even struggled to adapt as well as other EU countries. These include refusing to adopt the single European currency and other social provisions in the Maastricht Treaty of 1992. More importantly, the UK has been selective about the EU policies on migrants and refugees, one of which was opting out from participating in the border-check free Schengen area and declining to accommodate to 160,000 people from Greece and Italy. Instead, she pledged to relocate 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020, as part of the UNHCR Resettlement Program. Although no one can fully speculate the effects of this influx, it is safe to assume that these pledges will be unaffected by Brexit because the UK will continue to be bound by the European Convention on Human Rights. So where will this leave the already critical Britain? Possibly with more frustrated citizens.

While there are ongoing controversies of revoking the Article 50 and running another referendum by the people who hope the outcome would change to “Remain”, there are some points to be reminded: As Britain pledges billions of sterlings for its membership in the EU and allows unrestricted migration, it is widely known that the UK government hardly meets the basic needs of their own people with diluted economy, rising homelessness which includes former service members, near-collapsing healthcare system, poorly funded education establishments, and expensive housing.

But the migrants are not as big problem as Britain’s world of policy errors: With debt-driven consumer spending, poor industrial capacity, the lack of skilled workers, and the country’s growing dependence on the foreign investors, it is undeniable that Britain has hit the lowest quality of life since the war. But if and when the British leave the bloc, it can be a journey toward positive consequences.

First, with the confidence of heading to the sovereignty of its home-laws, Britain may be able to strengthen alliances with other countries where it can lead to mutually aligned goals such as powerful trade agreements. Second, the UK may take back its control their industries such as farming and fishing which were subsided and under stringent regulations by the EU. Although, it is forecasted that the UK may suffer from specific labour shortages, this may encourage the British to design skill acquisition based work programmes. Furthermore, without the EU interfering the UK from fully capitalising on international trade, the freshly formatted trade agreements are bound to lead to more selective immigration for the British job market.

Additionally, businesses will not have the intricate bureaucracy system imposed by the EU regulations; small companies will be able to conduct business in more efficient methods. Lastly, the consumers will not have to pay the costly EU VAT contributions which can save them hundreds of pounds annually. But arguably, these benefits will only show up after an arduous transitioning period. To make this shift easier, the parliament is already discussing the possibilities of “Soft Brexit” type of divorce, where Britain can stay in the single market in the interests of City and free trade, while the Prime Minister is arguing for the “Hard Brexit” separation which would fully honour the referendum and can be the beginning of a reforming Britain.

Despite the fact being warned by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, that the UK cannot “cherry-pick” her access to EU benefits, it is highly likely that the negotiations will be akin to the preceding EU relations because, besides the free movement and trade deals, there are concerns over the potential complications such as hard borders between N. Ireland and the Republic, the departure of the powerful foreign investors, and the difficulties of the lack of deal (Hard Brexit) may bring.

To conclude, the British have always been encumbered by an unjustified scepticism for adopting contemporary methods, even the metric system which was introduced to them in 1969. Therefore, having to manage without the conveniences of the European Union and facing new social challenges are certain to further exasperate the British public, but so long as they seize the opportunities of an autonomic and the self-determined country has to offer, they will turn out just as fine as the other states who are coping well without the European Union.

Recent updates

Greetings!

Posted on 19th Jul 2019 by MsWorldPress

Hello there,

Welcome to my website.

I’m writing from the sweltering heat of Sarajevo where I am about to reach the end of the voyage of my first novel, KAPITALISTA.

I readily confess that I started this journey about two-and-a-half years ago. With the series of trials and errors, and having to take time off writing, it has taken me twice as long to produce a story and style that I am happy with.

For those who know me, writing is a colossal career change for me from the insane world of finance to the even crazier literary industry. Admittedly, it was something I had started during the year of my sabbatical, though; I’ve enjoyed the journey so much that it has become a pursuit which I intend making a permanent vocation.

Aside from writing a lengthy fiction, I have also begun penning short stories and articles. Short fiction helps me to stay inspired in my brief bursts of creativity, and editorial articles enable me to offer my perspective on a range of issues.

Currently, my primary focus is to find an accomplished literary agent to help me publish my novel. I expect there will be sweat and tears in my endeavours but with some luck, I should get there.

Meanwhile, I’d like to invite you to accompany me on the initiation of my new venture. Get in touch with me if you’d like to comment or subscribe to stay updated with my new projects or even better, do both!

I hope that you will enjoy reading my work as much as I took pleasure in writing them.
Until the next update,

Happy readings,

News

Books for the Perpetually Curious

Posted on 18th Jul 2019 by MsWorldPress

Are you a person who constantly has questions? Do you often contemplate and look for answers? If you still have your child-like sense of wonder and enthusiasm, here are six books to diminish your thirst of knowledge, well, at least, briefly. I highly recommend you to read them if you haven’t already done so. No major spoilers. I promise.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind – Yuval Noah Harari – Before reading this book, I didn’t know that there were six (!) different human species before us, the one and only (!) homo sapiens. In his well-written book, the Professor documents the lives of the first human species and the occurrences and effects of the Cognitive, Agricultural and Scientific Revolutions. He also has interesting theories about the psychology behind our actions, such as the need to invade other societies, eating meat, and religions and so on, but notable among them is about the possible extinction of our species in the next 1000 years.

Brief History of Time – Steven Hawking – I couldn’t believe the clarity and the conciseness of this book when I started reading it: Modern physics, simply explained by a Physicist to non-Physics majors. In his mini magnum opus, the Professor talks about major concepts in relativity, cosmology and other studies. He simplifies theories on the Big Bang, Black holes, speed of light, gravity, and time travel. Surprisingly, he also dips into philosophy: His views on God having no place in a finite world without a beginning or an end is sure to create debates with your friends.

Meditations – Marcus Aurelius – How can an Emperor be so humble? How can a human be so wise? The Five Good (Roman) Emperors alumni, Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius’s observations on rationality, emotions and moral virtue coupled with anecdotes, make a wonderful spiritual guidebook. Trivially, he wrote these reflections only for himself in a private diary which he’d never intended to publish: Unbeknownst to him that it would become one of the major literary journals thousand of years after his death. It’s an incredible bedside read: Read it wisely, read it often.

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson – Were you looking for that one book that answers all the big questions from natural sciences, chemistry to quantum physics and other branches? Here’s a lighthearted book of science written by a nonscientist. Years of research, masses of facts compiled into a single book without being mundane and condescending, like the textbooks that we all have read in schools. It’s genuinely humorous and informative. I’d advise you to take your time reading it for the better digestion of a plethora of information.

The Consolations of Philosophy – Alain de Botton – Have you ever had difficulty in associating your worldly problems with of philosophers’ because of their lack of clarity? (Ehm.. Heidegger, anyone?) In his most popular work, de Botton does an excellent job of relating issues such as personal inadequacy, heartbreak, and anxiety to the words of the heavyweights of the philosophy branch, such as Socrates, Seneca and Nietzsche, to name a few. De Botton first explains the lives of the philosophers and then proceeds on to offering consolations in relation to their experiences. A philosopher himself, de Botton’s writing is quite eloquent but straightforward. Despite the book’s intimidating title (Philosophy), it’s an easy and entertaining read.

Introducing Mathematics – Ziauddin Sardar – Admittedly, this is a book a further than an introduction of the mathematical system: For example, you have to know, at least the basics of calculus. Despite its title, the book is more about the history of mathematics. So it won’t make you an algebra wiz but it’s a precise insight into the development of mathematics in different continents. Offering a broad view of various topics under maths, it even dwells into gender equality issues where women’s maths skills were snubbed for centuries before their major accomplishments in fields of code-breaking and space programming. It’s an interesting read with great graphical illustrations for when your mind is most receptive.

Did you like my list? Do you have any recommendations for me? Write them in the comments section. I always have time for a great read.

Happy readings,

Articles

Books for the Perpetually Curious

Posted on 18th Jul 20196th Apr 2020 by MsWorldPress

A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson – Were you looking for that one book that answers all the big questions from natural sciences, chemistry to quantum physics and other branches? Here’s a lighthearted book of science written by a nonscientist. Years of research, masses of facts compiled into a single book without being mundane and condescending, like the textbooks that we all have read in schools. It’s genuinely humorous and informative. I’d advise you to take your time reading it for the better digestion of a plethora of information.

Did you like my list? Do you have any recommendations for me? Write them in the comments section. I always have time for a great read.

Happy readings,

News

ADHD – Tribulations of an Individual with a Restless Mind

Posted on 17th Jul 2019 by MsWorldPress

Currently, in 21st century, treatments to those who are diagnosed with ADHD or ADD (without the Hyperactivity element) vary from cognitive behaviour therapy to high-strength tablets.

To find out some answers, days shy of my thirtieth birthday, I relinquished all scepticism and went into a mental health clinic. It had taken me years, but finally, I was ready to hear a resolution.

As orderly as I could, I explained my concerns to the doctor. After listening to me, he produced a paper with a list of questions and began assessing me.

“When you are engaged in a task, do you get bored easily?”

“Yes.”

“Do you often miss out on simple details and make mistakes?”

“Yes.”

“Are you forgetful?”

“Okay. Do you find yourself impulsive?”

“Yes, I often find that there is no meaning to my sudden actions.”

“All right. Do you have difficulty completing tasks that often require mental exertion?”

“Oh, yes.”

“And I see that you have been fidgeting with your hands and legs from the moment you sat down, would you say that you aren’t able to sit for long periods?”

“Yes, I suppose.”

“Ms Marko, have you heard of something called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? Because I suspect that you’ve got it.”

“Isn’t that something that some children have ?”

“It begins in childhood, and unfortunately, it goes into adulthood. Now on the scales 1 to 10, 10 being the worst, how do these symptoms affect you, would you say?

“Uh, I often ask myself what’s the point?”

“Since when?”

“All of my twenties.”

“Have you ever been on antidepressants?”

“No. I will never be. I mean, do you know any happy endings with those who have taken antidepressants? Plus, I imagine that I’ll be fine if I treat this condition.”

Task management – Starting from the most urgent, prepare a list of to-do and review it daily. Even if nothing crucial, you might as well deal with the task as soon as instead of contemplating it. The worth of a ticked task is priceless.
Time management – Time on earth is short and precious. Set your alarms for everything from meetings to drinking water. Also being constantly late isn’t a nice reputation, it decreases your reliability. Turn up on time, if not minutes earlier and expect the same from others.
Know your yourself – Think about the times you’re most productive: Whatever time of the day your brain works most, do your mentally laborious tasks during that time, your efficiency is bound to increase.
Decrease your distractions – I’ve never been happier to delete my Facebook and Instagram pages. A few years have passed, I still don’t miss it. But if you aren’t ready for that separation then at least set a schedule for frivolous stuff like quick news update or gaming.
Minimise noise – Goes hand in hand with my point above, at your most fruitful state, switch off the sound your mobile and notifications of your social media. Unless urgent, I never reply to text messages or emails in the morning until my tea break at 11. I also decline calls that can wait until later in the day. Our minds will appreciate the silence and won’t intricate our thought patterns more than necessary. But make sure to let people know your availability between so and so time.
Let go off useless people – This one you will enjoy doing because you will notice how unproductive people can consume your precious time with unimportant pursuits. Let go of that friend who regularly wants to drink to the point of drunkenness or anyone who just complains about their problems but does nothing about it. You will be glad to have more time for your favourite people or more importantly, for yourself.
Bin useless items – Clutter overwhelms me. I don’t know if that happens with other ADHD sufferers but I can’t concentrate when my space is unclean or untidy. So put away everything you finish using back in place or even better, if unnecessary, bin it.
Honour your commitments – Coming from the impulsivity part of the disorder, sometimes, I sign up for stuff I later can’t do. Even if it’s a small promise, if you aren’t sure to follow through, don’t decide upon and verbalised it there and then.
Listen more, talk less – A person has to be an excellent raconteur to captivate me into listening to their entire narrative before I interrupt them and begin my own. But this can be seen rude and possibly miss out on details. You have two ears and one mouth, so listen first, pause and then speak, saves you from embarrassing anecdotes or foolishness.
Run! – Run when you’re angry, run when you’re sad, run away from the people who make you mad. But seriously, depending on the severity of my hyperactivity, walking, jogging or running organises my thoughts, subsides my symptoms and gets rid of the excess energy.
Jot down – Carry a diary or download a good notebook on your phone to note down your ideas or reminders. With us people, words disappear from memory as fast as they show up.
Apologise if overreacted – Sadly, overreacting is one of the critical symptoms of ADHD. Don’t burn that bridge with your loved ones and apologise as soon as you can.
Slow down – In a fit of ADHD, I once paid for an item and left the shop without it. The grinning shopkeeper chased me down to hand me the product. How embarrassing. Always be aware yourself and surroundings if you are doing something.
Daydreaming at appropriate times – When someone’s giving you instructions, it isn’t the time for imagining about what you should have said in an argument the day before. Only when you have a quiet time, reward yourself with fantasies.
Be confident – Don’t fret over your abilities against the normies. Don’t be self-deprecating or arrogant. But accept fun challenges; be it cognitive or administrative: You may discover that you’re good at something else that you didn’t know.
And don’t compare yourself with others – Instead, try to, and be the better version of yourself than yesterday. Minor self-improvements every day bring about excellent results in the long run.

So there they are. In my case, the valuable lesson was not making rules but following them. Managing ADHD, needs patience and consistency. Give yourself time, give time a chance.

Quick Reads

The Scheming Bums

Posted on 17th Jul 2019 by MsWorldPress

Adam’s feet moved swifter than usual that day. He believed that the brisker he walked, the faster he’d find a solution to his problem: He had to find and pay £2000 he had borrowed from the local moneylender George in two days. He had collected only £250 so far, and that was also loaned to him from a few people.

Normally, Adam didn’t panic, but he was anxious about the time limit that was looming over him. George wasn’t a man to avoid or delay. He had lent Adam £1125 six months ago and every month that passed Adam would need to pay an additional 10% on his loan. Now that the time was up, George would expect to see his money at 11am sharp on the day, if he didn’t, Adam didn’t want to find out what would George do to him.

Adam also had been looking for jobs in passed six months. He may have been choosey at first but as time went on, he had even applied to menial jobs ten miles walk away. But jobs were scarce, under the drastic economic conditions, no one was hiring. Even if they were, it would take months for him to earn £2000.

Adam heard a splash; he had stepped in a puddle. Tired of cursing his luck, he turned around to walk back up the road. He had until home to invent a way to find that money. Only a miracle would have saved him now. Passing by his block, Adam thought he had better go to Mickey’s; his best friend, he always had some ideas at the last minute, if any of them were unusable, then at least he would have tried cheering him up. Having an ice-cold beer helped Adam to mull over the solution that sparked in his head during his walk. Except there was no solution just yet, but he needed to be brightened up. Adam buzzed the bell three subsequent times. Mickey opened the door with a mischievous cheer.

“Hey, buddy! I thought it’d be you. Come on in.”

“How’s it going?” Adam asked.

“All well,” Mickey dragged out the second syllable. He was one of those people even if he hanged upside down by the window at the third floor, he’d still say that all was well.

Within five minutes, Mickey’s mother rushed in the room with lemonade and a plate of biscuits in the manner of a servile attendant; she had always served them this combination since they were ten years old. Adam thanked Mrs Perry. He thought how lucky Mickey was, she still cared for her twenty-five-year-old son, while his own folks had given him an ultimatum to leave the flat in two months. According to his family, Adam had no business living with them at his age. Mickey, however, wasn’t much better off than Adam: Mickey had debts from gambling but his family were lenient and supported him with monthly payments to his creditors.

“So still nothing from the job applications, ay?” Asked Mickey.

“Still nothing. I even applied shops and restaurants ten miles walk away.” Adam bowed his head in despair. His eyes hurt from the restless nights.

“Hey it’s just an unlucky phase, just when you lose all the hope, you’ll hit your lucky star.”

“I would really like to sleep my unlucky phase off. For the first time, I’ve put more effort into something, and I still have nothing on my hands.”

“Dude, an opportunity is an offer for luck and when you seize that opportunity, you make your luck. So you’ve got to sit back and wait for that opportunity to come along.”

“Yeah, I wish I had the luxury you have. My lot want me gone before September.”

“Let’s talk to ma; she’d make your bed space in a jiffy. After all, she loves you perhaps more than she loves me.”

“Or maybe I’ll just beg the old- lady next door, she lives alone, and she’s loaded.” Adam said with a face that was about to break into a sob.

“How d’ya know she’s loaded?” Mickey widened his eyes.

“I came across with her yesterday. She was looking for her key to unlock the door to her flat. As she took the key out, she dropped a boodle of dosh snuggled in fifties. What’s crazy is that she didn’t even notice it.”

Mickey asked with gaped mouth, “Well, what did you do with it?”

“I was just walking behind her when she dropped the dough, so I picked it up and gave it to her. The poor soul was very grateful.”

“Wait, so you returned ALL the money?” Mickey emphasised on the word all.

“Yeah,” Adam flipped open his hands as though he would do otherwise.

“You crazy S.O.B. Once again, you’ve justified your poverty.”

“Because I helped somebody?”

“Because you don’t seize your chances, man.”

“But that was her money.”

“That could have been just the amount you needed. It dropped in front of you and she didn’t see it, you had your chance and you’ve ruined it.”

“Well, I just treat people in a way I would like to be treated; I’d have liked them to return the money if I had dropped it.”

“But you’re the only fool who’d return it,” Mickey said and offered Adam some hemp papers which he rolled his Golden Virginia tobacco into it.

“Does she have any children? Mickey asked.

“Who?”

“The centenarian.”

“Oh, No. I mean, I don’t even know for a fact. She’s always been alone.”

“Perhaps she’s inherited the money or has been saving it all life. What number does she live in?”

“Why, will you stop by hers for tea?”

“Do you realise the opportunity you’re being presented with?”

“That I could ask her to adopt me until I’m really ready to leave home?”

“No, man, all that money is probably just hidden under her pillow.”

“Well, obviously she needs that money in someway. The notes were crisp had that fresh ink smell, as if they were withdrawn from the bank clerk.”

“Look man, a senile keeps money at home because they don’t trust banks. Think about it, her and her dead husband’s pensions would have accumulated into a big capital by now.”

“Okay, even if so, what’s it to us?”

“Well, maybe we can borrow some and pay off our debts, then return it to her when we get back on our feet.”

Adam smirked wryly but didn’t comment. His face had reddened with an overwhelming feeling that he had momentarily fantasised what Mickey had said. What Mickey said could work, but he knew that once the money’s taken, until them two sorted their lives out, all the intentions for replacing it would become a lie.

“So should we ask the old lady together?” Adam asked.

“Ask? You think she’s crazy enough to lend to two bums? We’ve got no chance mate.” Mickey chuckled.

“So when you said ‘borrow’,” Adam paused momentarily, “Nope. No can do. It’s basically a burglary which is a crime, and it’s from an old, helpless lady which is worse.” “All crimes are immoral.” Mickey declared.

“But what makes an offence graver is its moral devaluation,”

“When’s George’s due? “On Wednesday at 11,” Adam replied.

“Listen, you haven’t got a chance in hell to find that money in two days. And think about your safety when George doesn’t get his money.”

“I know I know.” Adam said irritated and disheartened.

Adam left Mickey’s speaking further about transgressing against the old-lady. Mickey had shown him a possible way of getting hold of the money he needed even though the method wasn’t to his taste. “It’s stupid and dangerous.” Adam tried to suppress the igniting excitement in his mind. Could have the heart to do it? He reckoned not.

As Adam got back from one of his torrid days, he saw his neighbour Kelly cry while walking her pram. She was trying to wipe her tears in agile sweeps but another as soon as she did that they cascaded in volumes. Adam asked her if she was all right. Kelly talked amid her tears. She told Adam that her two-year-old son, Peter, needed an epilepsy surgery but he had to wait for a long time due to the list of patients; she also didn’t have enough money for a private operation. Adam had heard about it when his parents were discussing it. People in the same development had started a campaign for Peter, which Adam’s family had contributed into as well. It was sad for Adam to hear about the little Peter. He knew Kelly from school; she was once a chirpy girl who now wore a veil of despair and looked skin and bones from worry.

At home, Adam had another squabble with his father as George had called in to remind Adam about his debt. Arguments with his dad disheartened Adam so instead of staying home daytime, he would sit on the building stairs when he got tired from walking. Adam sat on the usual set of stairs. It pained him not being to help Kelly: He couldn’t stop thinking about the old lady’s pillow fund. Maybe he could even ask her to lend some money, but what if she refused and worse she told about it to his family? But if instead, he appropriated it, there would be no time limit for paying back.

Most nights, Adam tried to talk himself out of his villainous and unvirtuous thoughts, alas, without a success.

The next day, Adam met up with Mickey again. Adam had been in an emotional decay for some weeks now but tomorrow his body was expendable at George’s hands.

“Well, have you tossed and turned in the bed and decided yet?” Mickey asked.

“I don’t know.” Adam pursed his lips but Mickey knew Adam was finally defeated: He hadn’t the time left to ponder it over for longer.

In the end, Adam decided that he’d go ahead with the scheme. He’d give Mickey’s share, pay off his debt tomorrow, and give Kelly the rest of the money for the little Peter who had been a bigger reason in his decision.

“She goes for a walk every morning at 8.30 for two hours. So, I must get key tonight to bring it to key cutter McCarthy first thing in the morning. Then I can pick the money tomorrow while she’s out. My folks are travelling to visit someone, anyway. They’ll return around midnight.”

“Great.” Mickey rubbed his hands together.

“Then you call at the old-dame’s flat saying that you’re tired, thirsty and you’ve been locked out of home. You’ve got exactly 25 minute to copy the key. Then I’ll go into yours, switch the lights on, that’s your cue to leave her house.”

According to the plan, exactly at eight o’clock in the evening, Adam rang the old lady’s door. She responded with a subtle surprise and invited him inside her house to wait until his parents returned. Adam made up a story that he had been trying to break into his own house without a success and now he was tired.

The old lady listened to him with a deep empathy on her face, “You must be ravished. Would you like a plate of stew? I’ve made it today.”

“Very kind of you, thank you but I’m not hungry. Just a glass of water would do, please.” Adam’s nerves had given him stomach cramps so much that he didn’t need to act tired anymore.

Despite her frail stature and sluggish moves, the old lady insisted on making Adam some tea and left Adam to his own while she heated some water in her small kitchen.

Adam kept on track with his watch, hoping that Mickey would be on time with the plan. Adam was afraid if he stayed longer he might change his mind at the last minute. While the old-lady was in the kitchen, Adam browsed around. Where could be the money? Was it inside the chiming wall clock? Or was it inside the brass trunk? When the old lady sat down, he’d excuse himself to the bathroom and quickly pressed the key on to the salt dough that he carefully wrapped in his pocket.

The old lady returned with a cup of tea and a plate of chocolate digestive biscuits. She watched Adam dunking a biscuit with warmth on her face.

“If your folk don’t return tonight, you can always stay here. I’ve got a blow up mattress. It was my husband’s; I’ve been a widow since nine-teen-seventy-nine. We’ve never had children. So you’re like a son to me,” The old lady said.

Adam thanked her, drank his tea, and as planned, he excused himself to the bathroom. In the corridor, he swiftly imprinted the old-lady’s key and returned to the living room. After realising the signal across the window, Adam left the old-lady’s flat with a sense of sorrow for the lonesome elderly who had been kind to him.

The next morning the two cronies waited for the old-lady leave her flat for her walk: Mickey observed the surrounding area of the estate while Adam went in with the copy of the key he had gotten made. As soon as he stepped in the apartment, Adam inspected the old lady’s room. At the second glance, he saw a fat envelope on the Davenport chest. He had hit the jackpot. There was two stacks of fifties in there; this could have been a few thousand in cash. He briefly hesitated before he took it: Should he leave some money behind? Then his mobile phone rang, it was one of George’s men, most likely to remind to pay his debt later on. Adam cursed for forgetting to put his phone on silence. He switched off the phone, took the envelope, and quickly headed to the door. Since Mickey didn’t alarm him, the coast must have been clear of any people.

Adam got out of the estate and met Mickey around the corner. The content of the envelope amounted to exactly £5000. It had been so easy. Adam handed £1000 to Mickey for his debts. After George, he had £2000 saved for the little Peter. Adam was so proud to be able to help Peter and was looking forward to see Kelly smile after he handed her over the money. But first, he’d sort out his affairs.

On the way back to the estate in the early hours of the evening, Adam and Mickey were merry with the celebrations over celebratory pints. In the development, they saw a commotion and an ambulance. Amidst the crowd, he saw the old-lady being carried on the stretcher. Her eyes were closed. Suddenly, Adam felt an uneasy heaviness in his stomach. What if the old lady had died after he left? He asked a neighbour; she said they had robbed the old lady of the money which she’d planned to pledge to the little Peter’s cause. After her walk, she wanted to go to the hospital to see Peter but there was no envelope to be found. She had had welled up while talking about her misfortune to her neighbour and subsequently had a heart attack.

Adam froze with shock: A cold shower of sweat rushed down his spine. All of that money was the little Peter’s opportunity, after all. Adam had caused agony to the innocent old-lady and had deprived a needy child of his fortune. Adam left the scene at once.

To Adam’s disappointment, Mickey and him had already used the money to clear off their debts. Fortunately, Adam hadn’t given Kelly the money yet or else they would have found out who had stolen it by now.

“Well, what now?” Mickey asked.

“We’ve just deprived a sick child from his surgery fund and caused an innocent to fall sick. And there I was, thinking I was doing someone good. We have to match the sum.” Adam glanced at Mickey for his reaction.

Mickey appeared to be contemplating at instance, then beamed a wry smile. “There’s one place we can get the rest of the money, but it’s a bigger risk than the old lady’s house,” He said.

Adam nodded his head readily to Mickey’s idea.

At midnight, the buddies reunited for their target. They broke into the betting store where Mickey often lost the most his cash. It was his way of getting his money back. Mickey knew that its owner had kept the till in the office. The masked pair clipped the lock with ease, but in the dungeon, they had a surprise waiting for them. The owner of the store was there, on his chair.

As dumbfounded as his visitors, a quick scuffle broke out where Mickey held the man with a knife, while Adam emptied the cash in a bag. As Adam prepared to get away, the shop owner wriggled out of Mickey’s hold and took the knife off of his hands. The owner lunged forward to Adam and stabbed him in the web of his foot. As he lifted the knife again to stab for the second time, Mickey hit him on the head, so Adam ran away.

On the pitch-black uphill streets, Adam’s sprint steadily turned into a hopping of a wounded deer. As he gradually felt the increasing twinge on his foot, Adam smiled; he could now give the little Peter his opportunity back to him.

Quick Reads

For the Best Memories

Posted on 17th Jul 2019 by MsWorldPress

“Dude, what’s taking you so long? Are you spelling your name, or something?” Lexo whisper-shouted from his spot.

Mackie pulled up his zip, “Sorry mate, had a lot to tinkle,” he rustled among the tree leaves while treading lightly back to his position at the foxhole.

Under the starless night, Lexo and Mackie could only hear the whining of the power supply and the chorus of the crickets that had filled in the field. Otherwise, it was a tranquil summer night.

Lexo and Mackie were two army corporals on a sentry duty in a trench. They knew each other from the base, but that night was the first time they worked together. With twelve hours of stag ahead of them, the corporals were trying to pass the time with idle chat.

“The first time we met was through the Machine Gun Kelly, wasn’t it?” Mackie asked.

“Yeah, that’s him,” Lexo answered.

“Heard that he got arrested a few days ago for carrying an illegal weapon. Guess he was a bit of a gun-ho, after all.”

“Nah, that’s because he farts like a bloody machine gun. When we was out together in Bastion, he stank the whole camp.” Both men chuckled.

“Still ten hours to finish,” Lexo sighed at the sight of his Casio watch.

“If you keep the count of the hours, time will never pass. What’s your rush, anyway?” “Sleep.”

“You can sleep on your R&R.”

“I’d love to, but the Missus wants travel a bit, she doesn’t get that my entire life’s already been on the road.”

“Ah, young bloods. The wife and me used to travel around. After the children, we just seem to go to the same places every summer.” Mackie bemoaned and fiddled with his helmet.

“That’s still better than having to be here. Four months more, any plans for when you get back?” Asked Lexo.

“Well, I suppose I first give the wife a good hump; go to football games with the kids; drop by the pub to see friends; and maybe go game-hunting with my best friend Gary. But maybe not in this particular order. And how about you?”

“That’s a full on plan. Well, my girlfriend and me are saving money for touring the South America. So I guess we’ll spend time with friends and family until that happens.”

“Sounds nice. So no marriage in near future for you then?”

“No,” Lexo tittered. “That’s the least kind of rush I am in.”

Mackie grinned. And then his eyes caught a murky figure emerging from the bushy meadow. Mackie quickly hushed Lexo by tapping his shoulder at the same time. From the depth of darkness, an outline of a giant mushroom silhouette approached toward them.

“Password!” Mackie demanded.

“The Green Valley,” answered a man in a combat uniform.

“Thanks Spanny,” Lexo reciprocated.

“How did you know?” When Spanny spoke, his gaped teeth, similar to a spanner, sprang out from his mouth.

“I could see your piano keyboard of teeth from miles away. What are you doing alone here, anyway?” Mackie asked.

“I’m with Jimmy the Artist. He’s over there taking a leak.” Spanny pointed at the abyss.

“How many of yous’ are out there tonight?” Asked Mackie.

“Us and the section from the Charlie Company, as far as I know.”

“Why so few?”

“Well, it isn’t a danger zone, nothing ever happens in this part of the territory.”

Just then, Spanny heard a radio call with his call sign, he had been ordered to patrol the north of the camp with an immediate effect. Spanny acknowledged the call and left the corporals.

“They haven’t planned this thoroughly, I tell you.” Lexo grunted.

“Yeah, once again, we are short of men.”

“I promise myself that I’d leave in summer, then right after it, I find myself back in for another year. What am I doing in a foreign country, hiding in the bushes with another man?”

Mackie let out a snortful laughter, “That’s because you get the blues as soon as you’re away. That’s why I stayed in for fifteen years, anyway.”

“I’ve been in for five, and I’ve already had enough. But how come you’re still a corporal just like me with your kind of experience, if you don’t mind me asking?”

As Mackie opened his mouth to answer Lexo, they heard some indistinct sounds across the grassland.

“Our lot are a bit noisy, aren’t they?” Mackie quipped.

“Yeah, that’s if they are ‘our lot’.” Lexo yawned, “These are the times I need to smoke the most, I’m falling apart, dude.”

“I’m knackered myself, mate.”

“No mobile phones, no distractions, this is a good time to think about the life decisions I’ve made.”

“Or about to make,” Mackie said. The pair laughed like a pair of spotted hyenas.

An hour and half dawdled on the clocks, Mackie and Lexo had ran out of conversation a while ago. The wind sighed through the pasture, which moisten Mackie’s tired eyes; he had hallucinated strange visions. He looked over to Lexo who was quite: Lexo had sat in Fowler’s position with his legs stretched out. His head was slightly downwards; he’d nodded off. Lexo’s lack of stamina surprised Mackie. As Mackie’s eyes struggled remain open, the previously unintelligible sounds near them soon became familiar to him. They belonged to the fleeting locals who could be friendly or insurgents.

In a short amount of time, the bawling male voices in a native language woke up Lexo. Both men rushed to cover their dugout with a camouflaged net, then laid down under it. Amidst the profound obscurity, it was difficult to assess how many of them were there. Even though, their eyes were adapted to the unlit surroundings, they could hardly distinguish the contour of humans from the trees.

At first, the voices went passed by them. But a few minutes later, they heard men groaning in the near vicinity. One of them cursed in English. Then a series of muzzle flashes and a collection of gunfire took the place of the growling men. Mackie and Lexo cocked their weapons in haste and kneeled on their spot.

And then a brief vociferation followed a sudden blaring explosion that shook the ground and caused blood shuddering wailings. The crickets had quietened. The corporals thought that the earth was flattened. All had happened in the bat of an eyelid.

Mackie and Lexo checked on each other, they were both rubbing their ears with the reverberating wave of the blast. After the outburst, there came the erratic thumping of the heartbeats. Not long after, the source of the clatter quickly re-advanced toward Mackie and Lexo’s place.

“If we make it tonight, we must meet up and have an ice cold for the best memories.” said Mackie in a dampened tone.

“For the best memories, indeed,” muttered Lexo.

During the fretful wait, an eerie silence had downed on Mackie and Lexo in anticipation of their foes lurching into them. And then came the sound of a bleep and static, someone talked at a disturbed frequency then the radio died.

“Dammit, I’d left the radio on the entire time.” Lexo glanced at Mackie. Immediately after, they heard a crack of a bullet flying pass by their heads. Mackie and Lexo returned the fire but the next second, Mackie found Lexo on the ground: They had shot him, and it wasn’t obvious where on his body. Mackie set his weapon on burst. The firefight continued for what felt like an eternity to Mackie, but the violent rammy was over in a matter of minutes. There was another set of shootings from across. The reinforcement had come: The opposition had ran away.

Mackie then tried to relay a message on his radio but it didn’t have an adequate coverage. He blasted his luck.

Mackie stooped down to examine Lexo, who laid floppy and breathed shallow. He then promptly applied a tourniquet on Lexo’s pelvic wound. And then he considered his next move: Lexo’s state was grave, and he had to reach the medics as soon as possible.

Mackie assessed his confinements: The camp was five miles away across the prairie, so he had to leopard crawl all the way back to avoid being seen. Briefly, Mackie doubted his chances of achieving his way back to the camp. He hadn’t been physically fit for a long time; this was the reason of his hiatus at a lowly rank despite his extensive time in the army. His tactical belt felt smaller everyday on his ever-expanding waist.

Amid the self-depreciation and hesitation, Mackie recalled his Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape training in case of a capture. He then began concealing Lexo with plants. Right then, Lexo gained consciousness, he saw Mackie laying branches and leaves on his face in a rapid action. Lexo tried to scream, but no noise came out of him. He felt a shiver; he didn’t want to be left alone in the ditch. He wondered whether Mackie was deserting him and whatever had happened to the ice cold if they came out alive.

As Lexo felt his pulse weakening, he fell back into a serene sleep.

On the uneven turf, Mackie crept up; he was dragging the entire weight of his body coupled with body armour, his weapon, and the weighty radio equipment on his back. After a while, Mackie slowed down. He had been going for an indeterminable amount of time when he thought he couldn’t go on anymore. But to Mackie’s relief, he had then heard a distinct pattern of a dog baying at the distance.

Hours later, the coral hued sunbeams hit the dewy grassland. The birds came out to celebrate the nature. It was as though nothing had happened the night before.

Meanwhile, Lexo opened his eyes from what it felt like a peaceful sleep. The bright lights dazzled him at first. Then he saw a pulse oximeter clamped on his finger. He was snuggly covered with a warm air blanket: He was in a recovery ward.

As he steadily checked under his hospital dress, “An ice cold for the best memories, then it is,” Lexo grinned.

Quick Reads

A Solemn Wish

Posted on 17th Jul 2019 by MsWorldPress

“The bumper, the headlamps the bonnet, and done!” Exclaimed Jack. He had put his mini dummy car together by watching an online tutorial.

“Excellent. Dad will love this,” Jack thought to himself. He dashed out of the garage shouting “Daaad, daaaad!” But instead, Jack found his mother whimpering alone in the kitchen. She had crimson marks all over her face. She quickly wiped her teardrops when she saw Jack. Jack sat on the table and mother put his dinner in front of him without uttering a word. He knew what had went down: Another argument between his mother and father. There always an exchange of stern words which followed ear-piercing screams and ended with a physical struggle between his parents.

Every night, before he went to sleep, Jack wished for the rows to stop forever. He had even made a promise to himself; if the fighting stopped, he would try to achieve a hundred percent in his lessons for a gleaming End of Year school report. But it didn’t seem like his wish would come true anytime soon.

Jack bowed his head down in contemplation and ate his food. Later, Jack went to his room: His cars were only consolidation to him. After school, he would watch hours of educational videos about vehicles on his computer. He was a child with knowledge in mechanics like of an apprentice.

Jack’s interest in cars had started with his mechanic uncle John, his father’s brother, who worked at his own garage. Jack loved visiting the garage after school and on the weekends, where his uncle would explain about the parts of a car and how to fix it.

Often, uncle John’s wife would show up at the garage with the most delicious sandwiches in the world. She was always a delight to see, as she was always cheerful. Jack felt loved and secretly wished that he was their child instead.

Jack wanted to become a mechanic just like his uncle when he grew up, so he had already picked up a few skills that his uncle showed him at his work. Jack had also been part of his uncle’s project of building a street legal car over the months, and he had even learnt the basics of driving a car.

Two nights later, Jack woke up to the sound of a blasting quarrel. At first, he waited for the shrieking voices to die down. But there was no end to it. He darted down the stairs and saw his parents locked in a bitter war of words of again. Jack was scared. Suddenly, he felt as though he had nowhere else to go. His father had once again left the house in a huff in the middle of the night, and his mother returned to concentrate on her chores. None of them had even noticed the little Jack standing beside them. And neither of them had remembered it was Jack’s 10th birthday that morning. That day, Jack went to school with a heavy heart.

One afternoon, Jack got back from school, his father was at home: It was an excellent opportunity to show his dad the dummy car he had made a few days ago. But Jack’s father told him that he was too tired to have a look at the car and continued to read on his newspaper. All of Jack’s excitement had burned down by his father’s rejection. As Jack wanted to ask him when he could check the car, Jack’s mother came in the room and began distracting his father with a tiff. Jack thought, “Please, no, stop.” She was ruining Jack’s rare chance to bond with his dad. But his mother didn’t step down. With the escalating voices, his father got enraged and the small feud became a huge wrangle. When Jack laid on the bed that night, he implored silently again that the fighting would stop, he could hear his parents’ bickering through the walls for hours. Jack buried his head in the pillow and tried to sleep.

In the morning, Jack woke up with an idea that he had gotten from his vivid dream the night before. He knew what he supposed to do. That day, Jack had a spring to his step.

At night, there was a beginning of another friction between his parents. But it didn’t continue for too long because his mother had found a printed note that Jack’s grandmother was in the hospital. Jack got sent to his room, while his parents jumped in the car to drive to the emergency two miles away. From the open window, Jack could hear their continuing clash in the car. They were bellowing abuses at each other.

As soon as his father started the engine Jack reached to his computer, opened a software that he downloaded through the dark web, and then he disabled his father’s brake system on his car.

Returning to spy on his parents behind the curtains, Jack murmured, “Now you can argue for as long as you wish.”

Jack slept very well that night.