THE RAT AND THE BURNT BEANS - PART TWO

After picking the beans, I took the letter and began to read:
"I am sorry I could not cook the fried rice and chicken as I promised. Take the beans and cook it. There are paps in the cupboard, take as much as you can finish and make it for yourself. Uncle Mike summoned me and your father for an urgent discussion. We went with your younger ones. We shall not be back until tomorrow morning. Please, take care of the home.
Your mother."

As I finished reading the letter, I stood pinned to the ground and speechless for a couple of minute. I was thinking heavily on the next step to take: to start cooking or to wash my stained cloths. I was in a state of dilemma. I was too weak and hungry to do anything. I also wished I could catch the rat that had added to my problem and smashed it to death.

At last, I decided to cook first to feed my hungry stomach before doing the laundry.
I took my soaked stained shirt off and left only the singlet and my black trouser. I measured two cups of beans and put it inside a clean pot and added some water. I lit fire on the stove and place the pot containing the beans and water on the stove and dashed off to the parlour.  I was impatient to sieve out the dirt from the beans. I only emptied the two cups of rice into a bowl containing some water, plunge my dirty hands into it, and I scooped the beans into the pot; I just wanted to make everything snappy and eat.

I yawned as I walked into the parlour. I got to the chair and sank into it. I brought out my handset and started playing games. No sooner had I started than I was dead to the world, I was fast asleep. I began to snore like a pig, yes, like a pig. I'm really sad with myself.

"Give me my food… Give me my food," I soliloquized as I gradually went deep into sleep. Then I began to dream.
In my dream, I saw myself in a restaurant.
"Hi!" I called a waiter, "come and attend to me."
The waitress came to me and asked me what I wanted to eat.
"Fried rice and chicken," I replied promptly.
"Ok sir, I will be back with the food in a jiffy," she said and left.
Soon the food was on the table in front of me. I loosened my belt, adjusted my chair and began to eat.

"Give me Maltina," I ordered.
She brought the Maltina and opened it.
While I was busy enjoying myself in the dream world, I imagined the rat busy making another hole of escape. It had perceived the aroma of something and wanted to have a taste of it.

Unfortunately, the new hole it was making was right in front of the pot where the beans was. As it forced itself out of the hole, it entered the uncovered pot. The water in the pot was still warm at that time, so the rat felt comfortable. Little did it know that danger was lurking around.

Watch out for Part Three

By 

Alienyi E. Jeremiah