Author: Ngartia Bryan

A pictory is a picture and a story speaking of and from each other. That is how Ngartia Bryan and Kimani Wanadaka chose to define this exciting project that basically involves Ngartia (a writer/poet) interpreting Kimani’s (a photographer) images in his own way and then writing a 100-word flash fiction story thereafter. If in deed a picture is worth a thousand words, then this collection of 10 pictories has a lot to say. So listen close.  1. Renovated History We have been coming here, one day before our anniversary, for eight years. It’s simple and fun, part of small traditions we’ve formed to mark…

Let us get something out of the way upfront. I’m not the Good Samaritan kind. I don’t go around adopting orphan puppies and shit like that. So when I heard the thumps and screams coming from the only house in the vicinity, I smiled on behalf of whoever was getting laid, but I didn’t think much of it. It was 10 pm and I was walking home from work, but when the thuds and groans sounded faster, I slowed down to enjoy the show. The whole time, I kept wondering why people use iron sheet for walls. Those things will…

Changing the rat’s bait was Dei’s idea. Mine was just a supporting role. Or so he thought. It wasn’t even the first time he had gotten into trouble. His was a long history of late night beatings; howling, like a trapped dog, into the wee hours. Everyone around Riverside knew him…and his screams. It was common back then to hear a mother warning her kid to quit whatever mischief he/she was up to… “Kana urare ukiuga mbu ta Nderitu…” The idea of spending the night screaming was not only enough to make the kids toe the line; it inspired them…