TED

TED

Ted lives in a little cottage along the balded bushy path of gurero town; the old cottage stood gallantly, its wall made with coated bricks, a little balcony at the rear overlooking the thick forest. The roof overlaid with old asbestos; scorched by the midday sun. Generally you might say Ted lives in this old structure stricken by time, season and weather.

         Ted, a blond of mid sixteen, brown eyes and an oval face, looks like an old sagged clothes. Some folks think his naughtiness is the reason why, while others do not as to give a damn. He has been the talk of folks in gurero town because of his mucky slickly disposition. Ted, most often had twice tried stealing from Madame Beans the poor trader; bullied Tadde and Takke, the weird, obese twins; and once attempted to burn down the township barn. Darkness clutch to him like a child unto his mother and where ever he went, the tales were of doom.

        On a certain day of which I know not, when the cocks ceased to crow, when the goats refrained from bleating, and the sun concealed its graceful grandeur, I overheard master Holtby yell and curse holding his blunderbuss.

          “Damn you Ted! I will shoot you and feed your flesh to the crows”. Ted ran and mumbled in hushed tones. Dashing through the bushes like a deer fleeing the hunter’s gun, Ted went deeper and deeper into the forest, crossing streams, striding paths. Darkness fell and the melodious singing is drowned by silence. The forest was as blind as black. Only the creaking sound of creatures, of blowing wind and bending trees. Ted, though a naughty brute boy, lurked in the clutches of fear. I fear for him, though I know not why. He was lost, and the thought of gurero made him shudder. I will never see you again, he thought. He wished to return, to beg Madame Beans, to show kindness to the twins and to master Holtby, never to try milking his cow.

       Days had passed, the town of gurero had missed it oppressor. The people seem to move with an aura, I guess of peace, of goodness, of vigor. It’s like the thick dark evil covering over the town has been removed overnight. Maybe they hadn’t noticed, Ted is missing and no one seem to flinch about it. No, maybe Master Holtby does, I saw him talk to the town Sherriff. The Sherriff, in his late forties, possess a pot belly protruding from his oval structure, an unkempt moustache and curved legs. Armed with a pistol and a radio round about his loins sat dutifully in his office.

       Hello Sherriff, nice to see you again. Holtby said

       Same here Holt, have a seat. The Sherriff replied. Only the Sherriff called him Holt.

       Guess you have been nailed by paper work; warrants, bounties, orders of courts and judges. Holtby trying to conceal the reason for his visit, at least for now. But the Sherriff’s response startled him. Holt beat it! What is the reason for your visit? I know you, always working at your farmyard, milking your cows and mowing the hay, you scarcely had time to frolic about.

Well Sheriff you got me, but Ted is missing for days, he said as his countenance fell.

Disdain and rage crept all over the Sherriff’s face like a bunch of soldier ants, I guess it was the name Ted.

        That lad has caused us a great deal of trouble, he mumbled. I don’t like that boy he added.

The Sherriff however, hurriedly picked up some few items which will help in the search and dashed to Cuttle square. A popular place, situated at the middle of gurero; putrid smell of liquor and burnt steak greeted the air. Cuttle square is the heartbeat of gurero and this for good reason. Firing some shots into the air as he does traditionally, the Sherriff has the attention of this dreary inhabitants of gurero town. The crowd converged and stood like old apple trees waiting for rain but unsure when.

      Shouting at the top of his voice, you all know Ted!? That name sure rings a bell. The crowd cursed, mumbled, yelled and spat. I sure got the answer. The Sherriff signaled for silence and continued,” he is missing”. He said. I know you all don’t like him for good reason, he continued. The crowd seem to nod in agreement. But we must find him, for this is my duty. Yeah whatever! A voice from the crowd shouted. Its Billy’s, the town’s reputable drunk. Some section of the crowd agreed and a larger part simply walked away; returning to whatever it is they were doing. The Sherriff thanked the few who remained and led this group of ordinary people.

       The search party combed every nook and cranny with zest as if looking for a lost treasure which was Ted. The forest seem to frown at every attempt, as branches broke, as menacing foots thread aimlessly. They looked and looked, under large mort eaten logs, underneath cluster of flowers, holes, caves and trees. Dusk was majestically creeping in, blurring their vision and slowing their pace; the wind was dank and cool, the shallow returning to its nest, dry leaves swept about by the evening breeze, but this search party unperturbed continued with such urgency.

       Ted is surely gone; maybe devoured by some wild beast, taken by some merciless hyenas and used for dinner, I thought. Suddenly extinguished by a shout from Gusto, the bar tender. A tall skinny man, wide ears and missing molars. I heard he lost them in a fight. There he is! Gusto shouted. The party rushed to the direction of the voice as Ted lie motionless and still. Substantial part of his body was concealed under an old broken branch of oak, his clothes torn and soiled, his face was pale and he had a sprained ankle. Ted was pulled from the rubble and taken home, to gurero where he belonged.

       I heard Ted survived after several days in gurero health care clinic. “He must have nine lives”. The Nurse said. Moments had passed since Ted was found, whether he is still the shadow of his old self, I do not know. Whether he will turn around and be the kind, well behaved and good lad he ought to be is a matter of time.