*Ooh* *Ooh * *Aah* *Aah* The monkeys finally noticed him and their chattering became even more prominent. A horned-monkey at least two feet taller than Wilson dropped from the tree branch. Its fur was an intriguing blend of blue, white and grey.
'This monkey is definitely their community elder!' Wilson thought to himself as he sat exasperatedly under the tree shade. At this point, the sun was setting over the horizon, not that it made much of a difference. After all, the trees were so densely packed, sun rays barely filtered through.
The monkey looked curiously at him and then at his bag and inched closer to sniff at him.
"Huh!! Oh thou great, handsome, benevolent and wisdom-filled elder of the monkey community. I humbly request a truce! To let bygones be bygones and for us to start afresh and on a clean slate!" Wilson said and smiled the biggest, sweetest smile his tired face could muster.
The monkey elder's curious face tilted in confusion as it contemplated. 'How come this unique looking ape did not seem to be speaking the common ape language? Is he perhaps one of the last surviving types of his species? And what is that look on its face? Is he challenging my authority? Such arrogance! Die for me!'
And with no further suspense, elder swung a clawed palm at Wilson. Wilson did not think much. Partly because he was never one to think much, partly because he himself was a hot blooded youth, and mostly because he was too tired to think. Anyway, he swung his tired arms in a bid to parry the pam strike. The result, he was sent flying with a crushed hand and a palm sign on his face.
****************
Wilson woke up with a start. He felt dizzy and all he could see was white.
"Am I dead? Where am I? Heaven?"
"You wish!" Someone answered.
"Wait, I know that voice! Granddaughter!"
"What!!" Granddaughter exclaimed.
"What?" Wilson asked.
"What did you just call me?" She asked. A tone of annoyance could be heard.
"What did I just call you?" Wilson asked back.
"You just called me Granddaughter!"
"I don't know what you mean." Wilson shook his fuzzy head and said.
"You just called me Granddaughter and now you are saying 'you don't know what I mean?" The anger was even more apparent in her voice.
"See, this is what I'm saying. You just said I called you granddaughter and at the same time said 'I don't know what you mean!' Seriously, I can't say two things at the same time. So, did I call you granddaughter or did I say 'I don't know what you mean'? Because you have to pick one. I could not have said both!" Wilson spoke like a professor.
"Do you want to die?"
"I'm too young to die and I should be the one that is offended. What do you mean 'you are my granddaughter'? I am too young and too single to even have a wife!" Wilson laid back down on the bed.
She scoffed; "Who would want to marry you anyway?"
"Also, even if I have a grandchild, it can never be someone as loud mouthed and ugly as you!" He completed his unfinished sentence.
"You....." She was rendered speechless. How could he call a beauty like her ugly? Did he not have eyes?
"Go away! Quit disturbing me. You sound like a ninety year old!"
Old man Jenkins granddaughter was really furious. Her face twisted into something really ugly. Good thing Wilson's eyes were closed. If not, well, (not even the writer knows what he might say next).
Wilson heard the door open, which was immediately followed by multiple footsteps accompanied by a clack-clack sound that was rather loud and annoying to listen to and had no rhythm. Wilson, whose back was facing the door, was vexed.
"What illiterate does not know to be quiet when in a sleeping person's room?" Wilson asked aloud. The entire room gasped in obvious shock. Wilson turned and saw so many old people, including old man Jenkins and his granddaughter staring at him in shock. A woman, obviously the one making those clack-clack sounds slowly walked towards him. She looked very old, most likely the oldest of the group. Her cane was the noise maker and she was definitely making the cane hit the floor at an irregular speed and tempo intentionally. She stared at him for a while. Wilson stared back.
"How rude!" *SMACK*
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
He jumped from the bed. Jenkins granddaughter snickered. Serves him right!
"How loud!" *SMACK*
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
His legs went weak and he immediately fell back on the bed.
"How annoying!" *SMACK*
"son of a..." he yelled in pain but the old woman would not even let him finish.
"How insulting!" *SMACK*
"Ahhh! Hey...."
"How insistent!" *SMACK*
"Oh Moth…"
"Still talking!" *SMACK*
"Okay….."
*SMACK*
"Stop...."
*SMACK*
"I swe….."
*SMACK*
"That…"
"You just don't know how to stop talking! Is this how your mother trained you?"
"How dare you mention my mother?" Everyone in the room sighed together this time. This boy must be slow. How can he not learn? The old woman stopped being lenient.
*SMACK* *PIAK* *THWACK* *CRACK* *SMACK*....
The cane made all sorts of sounds all over Wilson's body. He yelled and yelped and groaned and every other sound his vocal cord could manage. That cane hurts so much.
"I am sorry, I am sorry, I am really, truly, very sorry!!! My mother trained me to respect elders, I just did not listen! I will listen from now on! Just please stop! Have mercy! I was wrong" Wilson went on his knees and bowed as he begged for mercy. Old man Jenkins' granddaughter was shocked. So, this boy could beg for forgiveness? She was instantly glad she was here. Not only did she get to witness Wilson be humiliated but he was also brought to his knees. She must have accumulated so much luck these recent days.
"We were going to take you to the HQ but as you are so rude, your first punishment will be that you have to use the carriage to get there. Little J, since you clearly did not teach him proper manners, you will ride the carriage with him! Tsk, how rude!" the old woman said and walked out, immediately followed by the other oldies and old man Jenkins' granddaughter who walked out last and made sure to snicker at Wilson before shutting the door.
Wilson looked at the only person left in the room with him. This must be the Little J. he looked up to see old man Jenkins frowning at him. 'Wait, is this the little J? how is old man little?' Wilson thought to himself.
On the other hand, Old man Jenkins thought to himself; 'Carriage? I have to ride a carriage? What did she mean by teach him proper manners? I am not his mother for crying out loud. Now, I am getting punished alongside him for his bad character?' he looked at Wilson and said;
"This is all your fault!"
*CRACK*
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Old man Jenkins' granddaughter once again smiled as she entered through the portal.