An Unwelcome Visitor | English Essay for Kids | Elijah Wee | Singapore

An Unwelcome Visitor

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         Bitter.

         Albert and I were not the best of brothers. From childhood, Albert had always been the black sheep of the family. He always got into fights at school and barely made the cut at any exam he did. I was different. Very different. I passed my exams with flying colours and was the apple of our parents’ eyes. As such, Albert grew green-eyed and as envious as a Spaniard. He always bullied me at school with his gang of friends, turning my peers against me with malicious rumours. However, that was not satisfactory enough for him. Growing up, Albert constantly harassed me. However, I did not expect things to turn for the worse that fateful day.

         Sarah and I plopped onto our brown leather sofa. Our eyes were fixed on the television screen as it flashed scenes from “Dracula Untold”. Sarah and I were newly weds. What had attracted me to Sarah was her long raven black hair cascading down her perfectly shaped head. Her skin was as smooth as porcelain. With lovely chestnut-brown eyes, Sarah was like an angel sent from up above. Men would ogle at her with dreamy looks, attracted to her like a magnet.

         Just then, all the lights in our bungalow flickered and went out.

         Almost instantly, the entire house was plunged into suffocating darkness. Fear ripped through my lungs, robbing me of all oxygen. Sarah screamed like a banshee. It ripped through my eardrums, puncturing the serene laid back atmosphere of the estate. A voice replied harshly, “Just shut up!”

         Stiffening like a blood thirsty bloodhound, I peered into the darkness. All I could make out was the silhouette of a masked man. He had a bulldog-like countenance and piston-like legs. His body was rippling with muscles. I was certain I could see a scar on his right arm. A nagging feeling began to incessantly gnaw at me. Somehow, his facial features, his voice, seemed very familiar. It was … the answer came, hitting me like a ten pound sledgehammer.

         “Albert,” I croaked feebly, as hapless as a newborn. With a fluid motion, the masked man gingerly lifted his mask and fished out a match from his pocket He lighted it up. It illuminated the room dimly, making it look like a scene from a horror movie.

         It really was Albert!

         As if Albert was reading my thoughts, he grinned from ear to ear and in a low tone mumbled, “That’s right, brother, it’s me. You two are going to play by my rules. Thus, you exactly have a minute to hand over all your expensive valuables. Otherwise, be prepared to watch this house go up in flames. Boy … “

         Anger coursing through my body like an angry snake, I landed a square punch on his nose.

         Blood trickled down his nose like a meandering stream. Albert roared out like a lion attacking its prey in triumph. “Die in a fiery grave!” Laughing like a witch, he threw the match onto the oakwood floor. Like a pack of locusts in its path, flames engulfed the area. Soot and fumes vomited from the orange cauldron of flames. Without hesitating, Sarah and I fled towards the back door. Almost there.

         A burning beam landed on Sarah’s leg.

         Sarah burst into tears as she was pinned down to the floor. Desperately trying to free Sarah from her ‘prison of fire’, all my efforts were futile. Taking in the severity of the situation, Sarah muttered to me, “Don’t worry about me, honey. Go. Save yourself while you can.” Looking into the loving almond-shaped brown eyes of my wife, I knew exactly what to do.

         My heart pumping like a piston, I tried to lift the burning beam. The fire on it scored my hands. I winced and dropped it Hastily, I looked around for an object to lift the burning beam up. Yet again, as I turned around, I saw a burning beam hurtling towards me. My senses dulled upon impact.

         Falling onto the floor with a thunderous thud, the last thing I saw was Sarah’s lifeless body as stars began to dance in my eyes …

         A sharp pain jolted me up from unconsciousness.

         I scanned my surroundings. Four whitewashed walls greeted me. I was in a hospital ward. Several thoughts raced through my mind. Was Sarah safe? Where was Sarah? Could I see her?

         At that juncture, a nurse appeared as if hearing my thoughts. There was an unsettling graveness surrounding the petite nurse. The words, which slipped through her quivering lips, broke my heart.

         Apparently, Sarah had passed away. The doctors had put in their best to revive Sarah but to no avail. Also, the burning beam, which had fallen on my back, had badly damaged my spinal cord, leaving me paralysed from the waist down. I was wheelchair-bound for the rest of my life.

         As the nurse left, I felt a pang of pain gripping my heart. Almost instantly, a rollercoaster of emotions overwhelmed me as tears began to snake down my cheeks. Oh, the sorrow! I had lost Sarah to the dreadful fire. Now, I was all but a widower. Alone, I felt bitter.

         Bitter at the loss of my dear wife.

         Bitter at the destruction of my house.

         Bitter at my incorrigible brother.

         Bitter.