It seemed the suspect offered some resistance. No one confirmed but I thought so. If I was not the suspect, then why was I there? Before worrying about me, do you know what the crime was? Don’t worry, down the story comes the answer. When the upright posture in a family falls, no man in the family ( according to the african society). When the driver fails to to be serious in their work, then there an accident happens. The passengers may get hurt and in extreme cases deaths are witnessed. The driver too might be unlucky and face the problem. In the case of injuries, the wounds may heal but the scars won’t. I predicted such a fact.
An accident had occurred. It neither involved vehicles nor aeroplanes. Marine structures were not involved. But there was an accident. The chief suspect was at the door accompanied by six soldiers. He bent his head in shame. Fear took control over me. The cold court hid my fear. I was shaking, but not due to the coldness. It was something else. Fear did all these.
Although possibly some may have understood I was in fear, the predicament helped me. I was a minor, not in the case of age, but the weight of the pocket. No one paid great attention in me. The pastor had taught me of obedience. May be that’s why I was there. But why I’m I so tensed? Of all the ties on earth, blood ties are ranked the strongest, I shared none with the suspect. I was there to do my duty. I was there to do what we thought was right. At the court, being almost 18 years old, the following day was to be my birthday, which I never celebrated, my head became heavy of thoughts.
Decision making while excited or out of fear may ruin ones life. This is one of the reasons why I was there. The judge had not arrived, the suspect is at the door. Although no one realised this, I wetted on myself. I never paid attention to what my friend, Costa, used to tell me, ” My brother let this be your patron principle, stay calm at every situation .” I never considered this during this decision making. Have you ever been in a situation, a situation where you have to choose between two issues, hold on! Not just issues but two rights? Either accepting to be in the court or rejecting! I chose to be there. But why should I be there? Keep following. The suspect, on seeing me , sighed, I too did. It’s like he never expected me. It’s like he thought I declined his request. Anyway, his request was my command. I’ll tell you why. Just because of respect. Only that. He became courageous. The men in uniform relaxed. Suspect now seemed to cause no harm. Surrounded by the armed big boys, he stood near me, I sat on a bench along the way. “What will he say to me now?” I wondered. Everyone looked at him.
By patrick Mutinda
patrick's poetry 