A CLEAN-SHAVE(Jason Otieno) A CLEAN-SHAVE

I was preparing my bed when suddenly a loud bang was heard from the main door…I wasn’t expecting anyone and even if I were, the type of banging made me suspicious. ‘Who could that be?’ I asked myself as I tip toed yard by yard towards the main door. Again, the bang went up though this time louder than before. I took a sigh of audacity and made towards the door. I was very cautious not to be taken with surprise for it beats up even the bravest men.

Nothing strange was at the sitting room or near the door. The hinges remained intact. This caught me with shocker owing to the fact that the bang ought to have caused some destruction. I narrowed my eyes to sneak a quick look through the keyhole but it was futile. Nothing peculiar was in sight. I made up my mind to open the door and that was the time I regretted leaping before thinking twice. I bit my lips as my teeth rattled together. Surely the wise never combed our hair with fish-bone when they said that regrets come after.

I stopped still. Did I hear or see something? I asked myself but before my boggled mind came up with an answer, left to right thwacks landed on my cheeks. I froze like a pea in ice as I curdled myself into the letter ‘s’. I was unable to make out what the sudden action meant. No sooner had I turned round to check who or what it was, than my hair stood up and I found myself screaming blue murder. My hand quickly reached the security light switch and I did not like what I saw.

A naked man disappeared into the darkness. ‘Could that be a night runner? I asked myself as I felt unexplainable queasy feeling mixed up with joy and terror. I quickly locked the door and went back into the house. As soon as I settled in bed, rhythmic sound went on the iron sheet used to roof the house. He kept beating the house and at one point threw sand-like substance onto the roof. This irritated me most but he seemed to be enjoying every bit of it.

Impulsive fear suddenly choked my body and I felt weak as water. I became confused and vulnerable like an infant. Something told me to do something that left me laughing for the rest of my night. Surely, bullies are always cowards. I took a club from under the bed and hit the roof deafeningly and the next thing I had was shuffling of feet and sudden scream. I must have caught him with surprise.

Barely had he taken off towards the gate when I heard a loud twang rent the air followed by a big thud. The fear I had was suddenly overwhelmed with courage and I took off like a bat from hell towards the scene. What I saw left my ribs almost cracking into pieces. A body like that of a man was struggling to escape from the ground. I later learnt that as he was running, he was trapped by the new clothes-line tied just that morning.

‘That serves you right!’ I exclaimed as I went back to the house. I could willingly bet he would never come near our house anymore.

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