BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW

BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW

Although mother had always warned me never to extend the game of hide and seek to the hedge of bushes around home, I had given a cold shoulder. In fact all her wise words fell on as deaf as door part ears. It wasn’t long when I learnt my lesson the hard way. That very day started well. The sky was a clear reflection of a better day that had lain ahead. I got up late that morning, prepared myself in a hurry and left for breakfast. After giving me instruction, mother left for her work place. Relieved in her absence, I did all the house chores as instructed and within a jiffy, I was through. Soon I heard the knock at the door and I knew Jane my cousin was ready. After a warm welcome and a short chat, we started our favorite game, hide and seek.

I rushed onto a mango tree nearby. I had just ascended it when I noticed a deadly looking creature coiled on a branch next to me. It was a big black python. My heart skipped a mighty beat as frosty sweat cascaded down my face and armpits. I never believed my eyes and I almost breathed my last out of fright. I sat glued onto the branch wondering what to do next. It had a very rough and scaly body with eyes that seemed to have popped out of their sockets. It was staring at me as if warning its fury would soon reach the volcanic pitch and strike like lightning. Its face glittered as it flashed its tongue outside as though preparing for its meal. This scared me stiff as thoughts of self-pity swirled in my entangled mind. I had already counted myself dead and was just saying my last prayers.

In a twinkle of an eye, I let out a loud squeal to awaken the dead. Little did I know what fate had in store for me. The snake suddenly gave me a brawny wallop that sent me down chaotically onto the sun-baked ground. I wriggled in pain and agony as tears of sorrow cascaded down my face. As if my gods were not at home, the snake followed me and coiled itself around my chest cavity rendering my hands incapacitated. The beast then started pulling me up the tree. It wagged its tail on my face and nose, probably in a mission to suffocate me to death. In a desperate attempt to save my dear life, I valiantly bit its tail, which may have provoked it. It suddenly stretched itself and almost throttled me to death. I made a feeble cry as I was preparing to kick the bucket. I was as helpless as an infant and as blameless as snow asking God why I had to undergo such severe torture yet I would die anyway.

A ray of hope suddenly glistered on my face when I saw a battalion of police officers armed to the teeth, together with my cousin Jane accompanied by my parents and villagers. I looked at my mother’s eyes and all I could see was pity, guilt and concern. Her eyes welled up with tears as she tried to call my name but choked with pain and agony, for sure the pain of a child is best known to the mother. They all cracked their brains to spare my life. I had already lost hope but the encouraging words of my grandmother, never give up, kept my pot boiling. The police cocked their guns to shoot at the snake but, oh no, I was right in the middle of it. This meant my death too.

Everyone had no choice but to rupture into songs of praises and prayers for divine intervention. Surprisingly enough, the creature uncoiled itself and slithered away. This scared even the initiated village men who took to their heels. I fell down with a thud as I was as weak as water. I abruptly passed out and the next thing I remember was seeing my mother sleeping next to my bed in a hospital ward. She was very excited to see me woken up. I apologized and promised her never to play the game again. Since that day, I’ve never disobeyed my parent’s advice.