On That Day

CHAPTER 9 - ANOTHER RECOLLECTION

We are on our way to church. Two of us, Scythe and mum have searched all morning for the church, and found it not.

"All Morning Long! No church!" says mummy

"I'm tired" says Scythe

"Ern-ern?" And I turn to look upon him

"Can't find it, I'm tired. Get me a pillow"

Now, where could the church be?

Daddy says we should go left, right turn, round-about, down, mount, negotiate, zig-zag, alley, compound, short-cut; until, ironically, we find ourselves close to the International Airport!

No, not that way. Look, let's retrace our steps. Let's turn now, okay, straight. Keep straight what?!?

There's the Church!!! Down our street!! In front of our noses

Well, Let's go home. Church issue settled.

**********************************************************

"So you see, Draxler, after me and Samson and Flavius stoned the dog, they ran. It was a mother – so you see: it was very wicked. Me," says Scythe, beating his chest: "I stayed. I caught the dog in mid-heaven, on its neck. I poured cold water on its nose. I punched its eye –"

"Eh-ehn?? Wow"

"See how the dog ran from me. After that –"

A dog confronts us here, looking intently on us

"Uh-oh"

"Run for your life!!" says Scythe and follows his preaching

I stand still, intending to re-enact Scythe's scene. Easy, aint it? Pause, wait till the time; choke 'em; cuff 'em; throw 'em away, and that's all? Well – okay, still . . .

I found myself on the floor, rolling on the grass, scratching myself. Was it myself?! No! What?! A dog on me! Thwack!

"That should do it." says I, and I run towards Scythe, who is far away, near church

The dog catches me, and it holds onto my slippers

"Mad dog! Get off!" Thwack. Kick

"Good. See – now – look here" says I, and the dog surprisingly pauses –" " I won't have any of that – "

It jumps. It is not a local dog. Sure. This one is a madman!

"Come on, Draxler" says Scythe, over me, as I look at my bloody foot: "Let's get you some oil"