It was hot and sunny in this part of the world, the forest and grasses were thicker and greener the bushes were really fat and there was hardly any snow, there were weird animals and insects too and a larger number of blacks. These the children had observed as they moved through the most beautiful tropical rainforest in south Africa. They wanted to give the children a clearer view of what Africa view was like. This part of the world was so much different from their home in the states. They found it interesting and fun although the sun was their one dislike of it. The children were on a trip to explore the "Dark continent" and so far they enjoyed their stay. It was truly fascinating. They had gone to the zoo to see some animals that could be found in Africa and no where else
The children were on the trip with three teachers and their tour guide who was a black man from the country they were in. As they moved along they came into a part with many holes on most of the trees and Anthony the tour guide, announced to them "okay kids we have come into the territory of the cape ground squirrels don't panic they're very harmless unless..of course you try to poke your hand into their home or take their nuts". The children, at least most of them, found it rather interesting.
" sir there's no cape ground squirrel in sight where are they?". A little boy with dark eyes and thick black hair said. his name was Tristan Lucrei and he was of course the richest boy in the school he was just 10 and a bully to a lot of them but he took special interest in bullying one girl, Lucia Lambert. He could be friendly at times but he would do anything just make Lucia hate life.
"Umm..look over there there's one on top of that branch right now" Anthony said with his rich African accent as he pointed towards a tree not too far from them and the kids followed his finger when they saw it they all exclaimed in unison "oooo wow"
"Yes they are not so different from the ones you see back in the states the only difference is they are a little bigger and uglier and a little more aggressive from the ones you see"Anthony added
Tristan laughed and said out loud "Is it just me or does Lucia look like a cape ground squirrel " and everyone laughed and turned to look at her some of them even said it was true and they laughed harder comparing her features to that of the animal. Lucia would never get used to this and it always got to her whenever Tristan would say mean things that everyone would laugh to. She had a long silky brunette hair with hazel green eyes and was only 7 but she had been through a lot of bullying. She was rich but not as rich as the others, infact she was the poorest girl in the school but she was actually rich. she had no friends except one who didn't come on the trip so she was actually 'alone'.
"Tristan come over here right now!" Mrs. Rose ordered him and non chalantly he went to meet her and she scolded him for what he said she yelled for everyone to keep quiet
"Now kids I don't want anyone talking about Lucia that way again okay?"
"Yes Mrs. Rose" they said in unison "good" she said. "Now why don't u guys go check out the cape ground squirrels" one of the other teachers Mr Rogers said and the children happily went along squealing.
Lucia decided to stay on her own and sat at the base of a tree without holes she folded herself in her arms and could only think about the worst things the other kids said about her. she spotted a bunny ahead that caught her interest. She loved bunnies a lot and do she happily ran to get it but it kept running away from her and she continued to go after it, leading her away from the others. Soon the bunny stopped abruptly and soon started to shake uncontrollably Lucia stopped too. She didn't know what it was but something told her not to move any further. After seconds and moments of shaking, it dropped to the ground, Dead. She became scared but didn't move, she looked closer to the ground and it stood, A snake, a black one. She recognized it from one of the lessons at school before the trip to south Africa. Mrs Rose had told them of the different kinds of snakes they would see in Africa, the black mamba was one of them. At the zoo, they didn't get to see one. The tour guide said they were very few in population, seems like that zoo didn't have all the animals. They didn't have the black mamba but had some other snakes. At school before the trip, Mrs Rose had told them that, once bitten after less or man than five minutes, your body goes into shock and you have a convulsion and die or you may not have a convulsion but shake hard and still die.
NO. She didn't want to die... Not yet...She was just a kid , she wasn't ready to die, at least not here...not now. But she was too scared to move. She was also also taught to stay still when a snake is seen coming at you so it doesn't get scared. But she was failing, she couldn't be calm, it then raised itself higher. she was about to start crying and started to run.
She kept running but she wasn't fast enough thanks to the rocks, dried leaves and branches that were all around. Soon she tripped on a thick branch and fell, hitting her head hard against a rock and she began to bleed she tried to move but was too weak to do so. She felt herself losing consciousness and the only thing she saw was the snake already so close to her. She knew there was nothing except whisper "Help" with her small voice and no one heard her. From there she blacked out.
*************
Lucia woke up hearing a beeping sound coming from the background. "What is a hospital doing in heaven? do people get sick in heaven too?" She thought to herself and coughed.
"OH SHE'S AWAKE!!" Mrs Rose yelled and came to Lucia quickly hugging her tight, she seemed so worried for her and happy she had woken up
"Are you okay?...do you feel?"Mrs Rose asked immediately and Anthony joined her.
"what happened to you girl?" he asked with his rich African accent. Lucia sat upright and adjusted herself to comfort.
"I don't really know"she said "but I do remember a snake...a black mamba specifically"
Mrs Rose gasped and held her mouth in shock "a black mamba!...but the doctor said u were alright"
"Umm...I don't think it bit me Mrs Rose... I'm...fine"
"I'll go call the doctor" Anthony said and left the ward.
"Lucia you're perfectly fine...but how is that possible?....you bled so badly but there's no lead to the injuries"
"Really??"
"Yes...like you said you're perfectly fine... even the doctor is shocked and amazed...can you tell me what really happened?... it's like a miracle"
There was a pause in the conversation as Anthony came in with the doctor and Tristan. The doctor went on to check her pulse and heart rate, he looked at her head and listened to her heart beat after. "Do you feel pain anywhere?".
"No not at all... I'm perfectly fine..and I feel really good...just need a few stretches" Lucia replied as she stretched her body with her hands and smiled happily. She was Really okay.
"Wow Lucia... you're really doing good... it's a miracle...a huge one. you should be really grateful to God for this... you're really lucky you know...can you brief us on what happened to you?" The doctor said
She smiled "well..." she started " while everyone was busy looking at the cape ground squirrels...I sat alone and saw a bunny. I wanted to hold it but it kept running away from so...I followed it...but then it stopped suddenly and so did I and it started to shake hard. I became scared so I didn't move and then it fell down and died that's when I saw a black mamba "
"A black mamba?" The doctor and Tristan asked. "yes a black mamba "Lucia replied
"what exactly is a black mamba?" Tristan asked.
"I taught you in class before our trip Tristan. don't tell me you weren't listening?" Mrs Rose asked
"no ma'am I wasn't " he said non chalantly.
"it's a very deadly snake ... it's more common here in Africa than in the states "she explained "once you're bitten after a minute or two you start to convulse and die.... it's that deadly that's why you all have to be careful here"
"Really? then how come Lucia isn't dead yet?"
"Hey... Tristan...out NOW!" she commanded angrily.
Tristan sighed loudly and rolled his eyes "I only asked a question...I need answers". Mrs Rose sighed " you'll get them later but for now... OUT " she said sternly. Tristan sighed loudly and rolled his eyes"fine... whatever" he said and left the room.
" am sorry about that Lucia" she said.
" it's okay Mrs Rose"
"anyways...go on what happened next?" Mrs Rose asked.
"well it was about to bite me , I tried to stand as perfectly still as you taught us to Mrs Rose but...I was so scared. I started to run but soon I tripped and fell and hit my head on a rock really hard.."
"oh my Gosh" was heard
"...and I fell unconscious....I don't remember anything after that"
" Wow...it is truly a miracle Lucia. You really are lucky...but I wondered what could have happened to the snake" Anthony commented.
The doctor suddenly received a call. He took out his phone and answered "yes?...who?...the investigators?....yes yes let them in" He cut the call and looked at them " The investigators are here...said they found something "
"Finally! " exclaimed Mrs Rose.
" what's going on?" Lucia asked
"we hired some police men to investigate what happened to you earlier, apparently, they found a lead" Anthony replied and soon a knock was heard at the door. "come in" the doctor said and immediately two men came in. one was plumpy with thick short brown hair and dark brown eyes and the other was a little taller with small black eyes and long black hair , lighter in complexion. He was holding I brief case.
"So...what did u find?" Anthony asked. The two men looked at each other then the taller one with the brief case went over to the side stool and put the case on it, he opened it to reveal two tamper- proof evidence bags .
"We went to the scene and scanned for sometime and this is the only lead we could find" The shorter one was saying while the taller one brought out the bags. Inside one was the head of the snake and in the other was the body. "It was obviously ripped apart by someone or something".
"That means...someone saved me?" Lucia asked surprised even if she was not really surprised.
"it seems like that, when we took it to the lab to run some tests, no fingerprint was found any where" the short man said
"That's really wierd" Lucia said
"But how?" Mrs Rose asked still in awe.
"like I said Rose it's a miracle" Anthony said.
"You're right... as long as you see I wasn't hurt I think we'd better just close up the case... at least for now". The adult continue the conversation amongst themselves.
Tristan was outside standing by the door eavesdropping on their conversation he looked really angry and he glared into an unknown distance.