Visitors are a certainty if you have a house as you’ll all agree
with me and are mostly always welcome, as this presents you with an opportunity
to flaunt your wellness and wealth and also showcase your ‘‘humble’’ abode. But
you’ll also agree with me that the worst kind of visitor is an unexpected
visitor which is worse than an unwanted one as u can chase the latter away but
must admit the former even if grudgingly into your unprepared and mostly
scattered home.
If only that had been the case on this fateful night when the gang
was gathered at Room 24 (which I’ll start calling HQ). Some of us were reading
(i.e pretending to read so our conscience wouldn’t prick us for having too much
fun….), while some were looking for what to eat, and others were playing games.
I was using Eze’s laptop to read while reclining on his bed, Aso was also on
his bed reading his handout and the last person in the room at this time was
Tycoon who was doing God knows what on his computer…when the visitor arrived.
I think I can say I saw it first but didn’t recognize how
important this visitor was. This was because the visitor was just at the edge
of my vision and as it was dressed in black and it was also dark outside, my
mind registered it as a stray nylon. The visitor just walked past Aso’s head
and was on his way to the Tycoon when Aso recognized and heralded his arrival
with a shout.
‘’Can’t you see it? Can’t you see it? ‘’ he cried undoubtedly
getting both our attentions and alerting us to the presence of this august
visitor. I instantly jumped up to accord the homage which was his due (i.e.
jumping up and running for my life)…while screaming ‘’TYCOON TYCOON, get out of
there’’ as I saw that the visitor was about to punish him for not welcoming
him.
In the middle of the room on the sea grass green rug stood a
black scorpion with a red sting all ready to dish out punishment to the
unknowing Tycoon who saved himself just in the nick of time due to our alarm.
As the three of us struggled to get out of the room as fast as our legs could
carry us, the scorpion stood in a defensive pose apprehensive of any attacker,
circling round with pincers held high and sting poised ready to meet whatever
we dished at it. It seemed to be saying ‘’Bring it on suckers’’.
But obviously It had not encountered the one and only Spartan in
the building. The three of us still shocked at our near mishap could only stare
in disbelieve as the scorpion rushed to the Tycoon’s computer and started
entering some codes into it, knowing it had limited time.( We think it was sent
by an enemy company to steal young Tycoon’s trade secrets ).
Then the Spartan arrived and just like Samson of old, picked the
nearest weapon which was a very dangerous slipper and proceeded to duel with
the scorpion. Tenacity must be recognized and we can say the scorpion fought
for his life valiantly but it simply was no match for the fencing skills of the
Spartan. The Spartan checkmated all his moves before he even made them and in
the eventuality was victorious as expected, squashing the evil little agent who
no doubt took his stolen information to the grave (or in this case the dumpster
at the back of the house).
The aftermath of this unwelcome unexpected visitor was that no
reading occurred that night as we listened to friends and neighbours narration
of their encounters with this little buggers and snakes. I also learnt a lot
about scorpions that night. And also my friends couldn t sleep in that room
that night so I enjoyed a lot of bed space too. Oh yeah we also had a vigil
that night (lol na Baba God we go thank na).
P.S. Only 25 out of almost 1500 species are known to have venom
capable of killing a human being (dat one no mean say make u dey kiss am oo).
This account would be
incomplete without d mentioning of a fourth and Fifth character who were present in the room but I decided to
omit because they really did nothing
spectacular in the tale apart from fleeing from the black and dangerous
visitor! (They really cherish their lives). Also, one of them was the person
that called for the fearless Spartan . He also was the photographer of the day
as he took the picture of our important august visitor after he was killed.
These "forgotten characters" remind me of a part in the
movie troy. A young boy was sent to summon Achilles to fight this dreadful
giant. The boy said to Achilles that he would not face the giant if he were to
be in Achilles' shoes. Achilles simply replied saying
"that is why your name would never be
remembered!"
In essence, we have to learn to face our fears!!!!!
