Drowning

Robbery.

It was 8am in the morning and I was yet to wake up. A blaring car horn at the gate was all it took to get me on my feet, I could not imagine I missed the loud chimes produced by the bell that hung wearily in the old church on my street and helped accentuate it. It was unusual for me to stay asleep for so long, but my unemployed status demanded it as I had nothing tangible doing. The window blinds couldn’t stop the rays of sun from sneaking their way into my room. Agitated as to whether it was Daniel at the gate, I hurriedly went to open it. Imagine my greatest surprise seeing Raymond come out of his red sedan car. In order not to show off my disappointment, a quick smile helped conceal it. I wasn’t pleased with him being at home at that time of the day and so took him to the garden behind my house. There were tables and benches in rows and a glass paneling between them, making some attempt to produce a more intimate atmosphere. We took seats on the opposite sides of a table on the far side of a glass panel. I went to the fridge that was in the garden to get him a drink and strolled nonchalantly to my side of the table. I put the drink down, and slid into the bench. We had our conversation in low tones as I was cautious not to alert my mom of my visitor. As we got deeper and deeper into our conversation, our voices got higher and higher in tone. I could hear my mom ringing my name out of her mouth continuously and so had our conversation concluded. We set a date for dinner as he was soon on his way out of my house. On getting inside my mom was dripping with sweat as she tried containing the fire that was beginning to burn down our cooker. With the help of my brother, we helped contained it as my mom left for her store very late.

At about 3pm in the afternoon, I left for my bedroom after being in the living-room for about four hours as it was getting cold and all I had on me was my pajamas. It was getting gloomy inside as the rain drizzled. I sat on my bed dithering whether to go back to the living-room or not, as the clouds were beginning to gather. And it was while I was dithering there in the gloom that I heard a scuffle of leaves from outside in the garden. Quick as a flash I crawled from my room down the stairs that led to the kitchen. There was a glass door that led to garden from the kitchen and it was locked. I heard the faint sounds of the windows being tried, the front windows first on the right, then on the left hand. After much ado, the next sound I could hear was the shattering of glass on the floor, they were in and were on their way to my living room. I hid behind a huge cupboard that stood opposite the door that led to the living room. I was frightened at first, but on discovering they were only two, I formulated a plan. I crept noiselessly and fearfully to where the frying pan was and gripped it firmly. I was soon on my way to the doorway of the living-room. With a great force I helped land it on the head of one of the thieves, as the other was with my brother upstairs. With a great thud, he landed on the floor, I dragged him carelessly down to the garden. I had a strong desire to get on the phone to my mom, and to alert her of the ongoing event at our home but sensing the danger my brother could be in I didn’t do it. Awaiting the next victim of my attack, I went back to my hiding place. While he was coming down the stairs I heard his voice as he was very close and so came out of my hiding place. On my first attempt to land the pan on his head, I missed. While making the second I was knocked down by a powerful blow from him. My brother quickly dashed to the kitchen, and hurling a ceramic bowl at his head, we had him on the ground. I was still bleeding when I called my mom to inform her of what happened. My brother and I quickly tied the thieves to themselves so they wouldn’t escape. We called the police who promised to come. My mom was home in about thirty minutes, and arrived earlier than the police despite coming from a farther distance. A few minutes after my mom’s arrival, the police were at our house. They had the criminals handcuffed to the station with them as I penned down the details of the incident. It was evening and mom was already preparing dinner. I called Raymond telling him a had forgone the dinner plans we had earlier as the incidents of the had drained my energy. My mom was happy that my brother and I stood up to the robbers, hence, offered to make us ginger bread cookies since she was the only one at home who could make it, having learnt it during her short stint at the US for a vacation. The events of the day were enough to make my day bad, as they all happened simultaneously.

Dinner was set and we all had our fair share of it. Before sleeping, I thanked God for saving me from the disaster of the day.