On 21st June, 2009. It was o a Saturday. I was still asleep when I heard mum and dad's voice. "Jesus!, Jesus!!", was all they could say. I looked at the wall clock, it was quarter past three; it wasn't time for our morning prayers.

"Mum?", "dad?", I called out, "what's going on out there". I could hear some strange voices from their room and noticing strange movements.

"Where's the money?", they said.

"What's wrong mum!!!", I shouted, by this time I was panicking and seeing three shadows.

"Stay in there, don't d-a-r-e c-o-m-e o-u-t", dad stammered.

Did I stayed? Stay for what? Through my life I was never afraid of anything.

Then I opened the door and went for their room holding firm to my red and white torchlight which my grandmother bought as a birthday present last week.

On getting there, dad shouted, "J-e-s-u-s".

"No!!!", mum exclaimed, and I screamed so loud that it drew the attention of our neighbour.

Did I just screamed? What happened? It was one of the strange looking people who shot at me but I was lucky it was my red and white torchlight.

Was I scared? Oh! Gosh!! Was really really afraid of death!!!

We were lucky that our neighbour was a police man, so he had heard all that were going on and had silently assembled some of the other nearby policemen.

With no time, the people - three in number - disconnected our T.V, packed it in a sack-bag they brought along, packaged our radio set and other valuables.

"Didn't they have any food we could manage?", suggested one of then when trying to reach for the doorknob.

"No time", voiced another, "we've got to be quick". And they left with all our valuables not leaving one.

Mum sighed heavily and put my head under her breast; dad was angry; and what was I doing? I don't even know, I was just confused because I was only six.

Unknown to them, the policemen were all ready fie them, and immediately they showed up, the three strangers were arrested and with no time, our valuables were returned back.

Mum then explained everything that had happened while I was still under her bosom.

"They are no other people than thieves", mum had said.

It was then I remembered Mrs. Gbadamosi, my English teacher, taught us of armed robbers invading Obioma's home.

The next day something strange happened again. 'It's them again', I thought.

I packed lots of sharp objects which included cutlass, hoe, knife, blade, and many others you can think of in my small room. It was exactly the same time as yesterday. I placed them side by side on my bed.

What was I doing? Was I ready for a fight? Of course I was. I was ready to fight anyone fight-able.

Then the strange sound came more closer and closer to my door - dim-bang-bam-bang-ding-bang - Oh!!! I was scared. Then I screamed.

"What's wrong?", mum and dad yelled. Then they opened the door and... Oh!! Gosh!!!

IT WAS A RAT.