Where Are They? Mom And Dad?

Chapter One. Down in mud.

Joel struggled with the brown muddy nylon ropes of the stubborn goats in the slippery goats' pen.

Rain had just stopped showering. There were still some drizzles cowering in the passing breeze as the African tropical sun's rays emerged again with a vibrating singe on his back.
He pulled the female nanny's rope harder, trying to control his anger. The other goats bleated loudly, perhaps trying to clarify their presence. The stinking bearded billy goat mounted each nanny, like an overgrown hog. They ran away in circles around Joel, bleating, waving their short tails, tangling him in the ropes as he tried to balance all the wet nylon ropes. His bare fit could not support him on the slippery muddy ground.

He staggered on another pull, tried to balance as he wobbled, getting support from the ropes. He lost control, staggered and skidded. His left heel slid away from control and his other followed suit—
—Wham!
He fell, headfirst into a pool of stagnant brown water. Water splattered away as his lips forced a full gulp of the muddy water. All his clothes were covered in mud.

The billy goat came back. Joel gave an annoying smile, but this could not stop its mission. It tried to mount another goat which kept trying to hide away its behinds as it bleated loudly.
Joel rose up again. He was now angry. Like a threatened witch, he pulled the rope hard.
His legs gave way at once and...

WHAM!!
He fell hard again on the ground, landing on his back head, as the legs momentarily waved in air. The back of his head swarm in the dirty water pool which splashed all over.
"Yuck! I hate this most!" He said as he rubbed mud off his butt. The stagnant water at the back of his head dripped down, guided by his spine until it reached the line separating his butts. "When will I get out of this—." He hit the pen walls hard.

"What did you just say?" It was his step mother bellowing from inside the grass thatched round kitchen.
He had spoken loudly. He watched her heave her weight through the narrow kitchen door and come with a ladle in her hand, ready to pounce on him as she always did.
But Joel had pledged to himself never to allow this again. He had decided enough was enough, without considering what the repercussions might be. She ran towards him in small steps her legs could allow. Her body seemed too much for her feet.

Joel felt his nerves swell. His fingers tightened around the ropes—time to let go.
There was a yellow banana peeling that lay in a small water paddle which was displayed in her way. She did not see the banana peeling. She always never concentrated on her way. She wanted the prey first—well, that's what most predators do. Ivan watched her front foot land a centimeter away from the yellow banana peeling. She tried to jump the paddle. It was a mistake she didn't consider. Her right heel landed perfectly on the banana peeling, which immediately drove away with her heel, carrying her weight along into the goats. Her body thumped into the water paddle, she slid and stopped just inches from Joel's feet. The water in the paddle flashed everywhere. Her face was all covered in mud.
"Oi! My God my hair!" She cried. "My clothes."

For a moment Joel stood still, unsure of what to do next. For some reasons, he felt like laughing out loud. Karma. His thoughts raged as he tried all he could to be sympathetic. A very fair teacher.

"JESUS!!" She cried out. Joel let go of the ropes and tried to lift her, but she was too heavy for him.
She continued wailing loudly.
Joel was so scared. He felt lucky though that she had not realized his intention of fighting back. Perhaps God had done it for him. But God is not involved in bad acts. He thought.

Quickly, he ran to the neighborhood, a stone's throw away. He found Mr. Marvin seated in a small shade, roasting maize on fire outside his house. He responded with much haste, running into his house to pick his sandals.