Letting a stranger in

IT was a bright afternoon. I was reading the newspapers when I saw a man standing outside our front gate.

He shouted in broken English, asking if I wanted the grass in the garden cut.

My parents were out. My mother and our maid were at the grocery store to buy provisions while my father was at work.

Although I knew that letting a stranger into our compound was dangerous, I thought a gardener would be harmless.

As I unlocked the door, my inner voice told me not to. But I chose to ignore it.

Looking at the condition of the garden, which was teeming with weeds, I decided to hire the gardener.

I offered to pay him RM19 but the gardener said he would cut the lawn for RM35. I stuck to my offer.

After almost five minutes of haggling, he agreed to my price.

He started off by trimming the hedges in the garden. I admired his skill.

I didn’t take much notice of his gardening tools – pruning saw, shears and spade.

After the gardener had finished trimming the hedge, he asked for a cup of water.

I ran to the kitchen to get him a glass of refreshing cold water. Just as I stepped out of the kitchen, I heard some commotion in the hall.

I heard my sister screaming.

I stared in disbelief when I reached the hall.

The gardener stood in the hall, armed with a long spade. I staggered back in total shock.

I looked around and saw my brother lying unconscious and my sister on the ground.

“Alex! Alex!! Are you okay?” I asked nervously.

My brother was hurt and unconscious. In anger, I dashed towards the gardener and kicked his stomach.

As he was just about to hit my head with the spade, I flung a double sideway kick on his back. It sent him and the spade flying in the air. He knocked his head on the wall and landed with a thump on the ground.

Thank God my parents enrolled me for martial arts lessons, I thought.

We shouted for help from our neighbours. Within seconds, our kind neighbours came to our rescue. The ambulance ferried my brother to the hospital.

It was a nightmare for me. I have learnt an important lesson – children should never let strangers into their home. – By Sachiev Nair, 11.